 Cover Stories The Versatile American Quarter Horse: By Sharon Aller, NWHS The stallion made his way smoothly across the track, past the starting gate, turned and found his spot. The handlers eased him into place, and he stood waiting as the other horses took their places. His muscles quivered with excitement. He knew what was coming. As the gate clanged open in front of him he lunged toward an imaginary line three hundred and fifty yards down the track. His nostrils flared as he lightly bumped the horse to his left. In a flash he could see the crowd in the stands rise to their feet. Intoxicated by the accompanying flow of adrenalin, his legs moved in a blur and his hooves pounded the ground. In 1988 he was on his way. Lucks Easyfanta Boy took his first steps toward becoming one of the best in the world. He had begun the journey to become an AQHA Supreme Champion. It's long been said that the quarter horse is the most versatile horse in the world. The quarter horse excels on the race track, in a halter class, on the rail and in the roping arena. The quarter horse is also the horse of choice on working ranches and on the trail. Most folks would say that attempting to get all of those great qualities into one horse is nigh on impossible. However, they've been proven wrong forty-six times. In the history of the American Quarter Horse Association, and with over four million horses registered, only forty-six horses have achieved the ultimate honor of being named Supreme Champion. However, in recent years, with the onset of the AQHA World Show and the accompanying specialization that has resulted, the Supreme Champion Title has become somewhat obscure. Jim Wells, owner of the only living AQHA Open Supreme Champion stallion believes that "an understanding and display of the versatility of the American Quarter Horse has also been obscured. However, even with the attempts to specialize and improve a particular characteristic, the original Quarter Horse is alive and well." Wells has become a passionate student of the history and horses behind the title in hopes that he can educate others and recapture a focus on versatility. While Wells is passionate about his cause, he has no intent to draw attention away from AQHA World Title holders. "That is a great achievement," says Wells, "but there is some confusion in the industry resulting from show titles such as "super horse" that have been recently coined." Super Horse is a prestigious title that is awarded to a horse that meets certain criteria at the World Show. Beginning in 1978 a new and important award was given to the top competitor at the AQHA World Show based on the number of points earned in three or more open classes at the show. The award was recognition of the show's all-around best performer. The Super Horse Title may be achieved numerous times by the same horse since it is based on achievements during one World Show. While there is no mention of the "Super Horse" in the AQHA rule book, it is understood to be a show title associated with a particular AQHA World Show. Having addressed some of the confusion surrounding titles, just what does it take to become a Supreme Champion? The requirements for Supreme Champion are clearly defined in the 2003 AQHA rulebook, and are a once in a lifetime award that stays with the horse for life. The Supreme Champion title is awarded to any mare, gelding or stallion that has made outstanding achievements in racing, halter and performance in five or more different shows under five or more different judges. Racing: The horse must earn at least two official speed indexes of 90 or higher. Halter: A minimum of fifteen points must be earned in halter with a minimum of eight of these points earned during or after the horse's two-year-old year. Additionally, the horse must earn at least two grand champion awards with five or more horses in the same sex division under two different judges. Performance: At least twenty points must be earned in performance or racing events at AQHA approved shows, with at least eight of the points being earned in one or more of the following events: cutting, calf roping, dally heading, and dally heeling. Think for a moment about what a top race horse should look like. Then picture what a top halter horse should look like. Today these two pictures are as different as night and day. The race horse is typically a lean, tall, sleek machine of a horse, with incredible contained energy that is released as the starting gate opens. Conversely, the halter horse is typically a heavily muscled, beauty queen with a well mannered and quiet disposition. Assuming that a horse is both fast, and beautiful, and he meets the required race and halter criteria, to be named a Supreme Champion, he must perform. He must be able to cut a cow, rope a steer, or run a perfect reining pattern. Add to that the fact that he must perform over a period of time, in different shows and under various judges. The only living Supreme Champion stallion is a fine ambassador for Quarter Horse versatility. Lucks Easyfanta Boy ran eight speed indexes of 90 or higher at four different distances on the track. He earned his halter points, standing Grand Champion fourteen times, and he worked five different events to earn the required performance points including, reining, team penning, working cow horse, dally heading, and dally heeling. This stallion has not only earned this prestigious life-time award, but has far surpassed the requirements, boldly attesting to the versatility of the American Quarter Horse. Supreme Champions are definitely in the blood. "Because the versatile horse is so uniform in size, conformation and type, it is evident that they inherit these characteristics" says Wells. Three Bars has sired four Supreme Champions and has had more influence in the breeding of Supreme Champions than any other single horse. His name appears prominently in the pedigrees of thirty-one Supreme Champions. Are people breeding today with Supreme Champions in mind? Wells believes that they are; not so much in the show arena, but certainly in the working horse arena where the Quarter Horse first earned its fame. During a recent exhibition of Lucks Easyfanta Boy, a rancher informed Wells that he had driven 250 miles just to see his Supreme Champion. He explained that on his ranch they try their best to breed horses that have Supreme Champions in their bloodlines. The reasoning behind this type of breeding is that Supreme Champions had to have good minds and quiet dispositions to accomplish all that they were able to do. From this rancher's perspective, they make the best all-around working horses. Wells is convinced that there are still horses with the capability of carrying on the traditions of past greats like Goldseeker Bars, Cat's Cue Bar, Diamond Dividend, Western Otoe, and the others (We need to insert the names of those we have photos for at this point). Besides bloodline and breeding, it takes something very specific to turn a Quarter Horse today into a Supreme Champion; the horse must be asked. That is just what Wells hopes he can inspire others to do by educating horse owners and challenging them to think versatility. Wells believes that the versatile horse will regain popularity and the title of Supreme Champion will once again be sought after, if horsemen will express their preference for the versatile horse. -------------------- To obtain more information about the Supreme Champion Title, contact Jim Wells at 360.978.5329, Email:cowboy@myhome.net Lucks Easyfanta Boy currently stands at Cedar Creek Ranch, in Washington State. Visit www.cedarcreekranch.net for pedigree, accomplishments of offspring and breeding fees. Special thanks to Paul and Andrea Mattson for information and photos taken from The Real American Quarter Horse, Premier Publishing, 1991. The American Quarter Horse He's half a ton of poised and controlled energy, held on an easy rein and a hair trigger. He's a workin' man who can earn his keep on the ranch all week…and be a handsome dandy at the track on Sunday afternoon. He's proud when he stands; looks lazy when he walks…but when he runs he can whip the tears from the corners of your eyes and plaster your hat brim against the crown. He's big in the haunches, supple in the withers, stout in the neck and wide across the chest…to hold his great heart. He's cow smart and brave, though sometimes a clown, and to the man with sky in his eye and mud on his boots, the American Quarter Horse is a faithful hand…and a friend. Anonymous Copyright © 2009 The NW Horse Source |