Poco Pine
Encyclopedia
Poco Pine was an American Quarter Horse
stallion
and breeding stallion
. He earned 50 Grand Championships in his showing career
and after his death was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association
's (or AQHA) AQHA Hall of Fame
in 2010. Two of his descendants have also been inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. 37 of his offspring earned an AQHA Championship during their own showing careers.
stallion
, sired by Poco Bueno
, and out of Pretty Rosalie, a daughter of Pretty Boy. As a foal
, he was bought at E. Paul Waggoner's 1954 Waggoner Ranch sale by Paul Curtner. Curtner had originally intended to purchase a daughter of Blackburn and a filly by Poco Bueno, but instead ended up purchasing two different horses – a mare by Pretty Boy (Pretty Rosalie) and a colt by Poco Bueno (Poco Pine). While still at the sale, Curtner was approached by two employees of Waggoner's, both informing Curtner that in their opinion, he'd bought the best mare in the sale. One of the employees, Pine Johnson, Waggoner's trainer, also felt that the colt was the best Poco Bueno colt he'd ever seen. Because of Johnson's praise for the colt, Curtner decided to register the foal as Poco Pine.
Poco Pine was shown about five times as a weanling
, winning all the halter
classes he was shown in. Curtner, however, felt that he was slow to develop and therefore didn't show him as a yearling
or as a two-year-old. By 1957 Curtner felt that Poco Pine was once again ready to perform, and took him to a show in Fort Worth, Texas. Although Poco Pine won his class, Curtner was sure the horse wouldn't win either Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion, and ended up betting B. F. Phillips and Billy Bush that Poco Pine would not win the championship or reserve. Poco Pine won the Championship, which meant that Curtner lost money on his horse winning.
Curtner's goal with Poco Pine's halter career was to have the stallion win 50 Grand Championships, a goal the stallion accomplished on October 27, 1960, when he was six years old. Curtner then retired the horse from halter showing. While Poco Pine was showing at halter, he was also showing in cutting
competitions and standing at stud to a large book of mares. In 1958, for example, he bred 80 mares at a stud fee of $800 (approximately $ in ) as well as showing both halter and cutting. In August 1960, Poco Pine earned enough performance points to qualify for an AQHA Championship and was retired from performance showing. In total, Poco Pine earned 135 AQHA Halter points and 17 AQHA Performance points.
Curtner had two opportunities to sell Poco Pine during his showing career—the first time for $40,000 (approximately $ in ), the second for $100,000 (approximately $ in ) —but both times he turned the offers down.
competition. He sired 37 AQHA Champions, 19 Superior Wester Pleasure Horses, 2 Superior Trail Horses, 15 Superior Halter Horses, 84 Performance Registers of Merit and 4 year end high point horses with the AQHA. He sired 19 foals crops, with a total of 464 foals. His son Poco Pecho was the sire of Pecho Dexter
, who was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Another descendant inducted into the Hall of Fame was Zippo Pine Bar
, who was out of a Poco Pine daughter.
Poco Pine died in his sleep on November 1, 1974. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2010.
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
and breeding stallion
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
. He earned 50 Grand Championships in his showing career
Horse show
A Horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and...
and after his death was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association
American Quarter Horse Association
The American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
's (or AQHA) AQHA Hall of Fame
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
The American Quarter Horse Association has created a Hall of Fame in Amarillo, Texas to honor both people and horses who contributed to the growth of the American Quarter Horse. Any one may nominate either people or horses to be considered. Nominations from the membership are due by October 1. They...
in 2010. Two of his descendants have also been inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. 37 of his offspring earned an AQHA Championship during their own showing careers.
Life
Poco Pine was a 1954 bayBay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
, sired by Poco Bueno
Poco Bueno
Poco Bueno a brown quarter horse stallion foaled April 10, 1944. He was sired by the great Quarter horse stallion King P-234 and out of the mare Miss Taylor who was by Old Poco Bueno. Poco Bueno was named for his maternal grandsire, and the name means pretty good in Spanish...
, and out of Pretty Rosalie, a daughter of Pretty Boy. As a foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
, he was bought at E. Paul Waggoner's 1954 Waggoner Ranch sale by Paul Curtner. Curtner had originally intended to purchase a daughter of Blackburn and a filly by Poco Bueno, but instead ended up purchasing two different horses – a mare by Pretty Boy (Pretty Rosalie) and a colt by Poco Bueno (Poco Pine). While still at the sale, Curtner was approached by two employees of Waggoner's, both informing Curtner that in their opinion, he'd bought the best mare in the sale. One of the employees, Pine Johnson, Waggoner's trainer, also felt that the colt was the best Poco Bueno colt he'd ever seen. Because of Johnson's praise for the colt, Curtner decided to register the foal as Poco Pine.
Poco Pine was shown about five times as a weanling
Weanling
A weanling is an animal that has just been weaned. The term is usually used to refer to a type of young horse, a foal that has been weaned, usually between the ages of 6 months and a year. Once a year old, the horse is referred to as a yearling.-References:...
, winning all the halter
Halter (horse show)
"Halter" is a term used to describe a type of horse show class where horses are shown "in hand," meaning that they are led, not ridden, and are judged on their conformation and suitability as breeding stock...
classes he was shown in. Curtner, however, felt that he was slow to develop and therefore didn't show him as a yearling
Yearling (horse)
A yearling is a young horse of either sex that is between one and two years old. Yearlings are comparable in development to a very early adolescent, they are not fully mature physically, and while they may be in the earliest stages of sexual maturity, they are considered too young to be breeding...
or as a two-year-old. By 1957 Curtner felt that Poco Pine was once again ready to perform, and took him to a show in Fort Worth, Texas. Although Poco Pine won his class, Curtner was sure the horse wouldn't win either Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion, and ended up betting B. F. Phillips and Billy Bush that Poco Pine would not win the championship or reserve. Poco Pine won the Championship, which meant that Curtner lost money on his horse winning.
Curtner's goal with Poco Pine's halter career was to have the stallion win 50 Grand Championships, a goal the stallion accomplished on October 27, 1960, when he was six years old. Curtner then retired the horse from halter showing. While Poco Pine was showing at halter, he was also showing in cutting
Cutting
Cutting is the separation of a physical object, or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. An implement commonly used for cutting is the knife or in medical cases the scalpel...
competitions and standing at stud to a large book of mares. In 1958, for example, he bred 80 mares at a stud fee of $800 (approximately $ in ) as well as showing both halter and cutting. In August 1960, Poco Pine earned enough performance points to qualify for an AQHA Championship and was retired from performance showing. In total, Poco Pine earned 135 AQHA Halter points and 17 AQHA Performance points.
Curtner had two opportunities to sell Poco Pine during his showing career—the first time for $40,000 (approximately $ in ), the second for $100,000 (approximately $ in ) —but both times he turned the offers down.
Breeding career
Poco Pine's foals earned $14,794 in National Cutting Horse AssociationNational Cutting Horse Association
The National Cutting Horse Association is an equestrian organization in the United States that promotes and stages cutting events. It was founded in 1946 at the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, and put on its first competition that same year at Dublin, Texas.It is currently...
competition. He sired 37 AQHA Champions, 19 Superior Wester Pleasure Horses, 2 Superior Trail Horses, 15 Superior Halter Horses, 84 Performance Registers of Merit and 4 year end high point horses with the AQHA. He sired 19 foals crops, with a total of 464 foals. His son Poco Pecho was the sire of Pecho Dexter
Pecho Dexter
Pecho Dexter was an American Quarter Horse. He earned his slot in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame by the claiming 13 year-end high point awards in four years, showing in halter, western pleasure, trail horse, and what was then called English Pleasure, but is now Hunter Under Saddle...
, who was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Another descendant inducted into the Hall of Fame was Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar is the leading Western Pleasure sire of Quarter Horses.-Life:Zippo Pine Bar was a 1969 sorrel son of Zippo Pat Bars out of Dollie Pine, a daughter of Poco Pine. Poco Pine was a son of Poco Bueno...
, who was out of a Poco Pine daughter.
Poco Pine died in his sleep on November 1, 1974. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2010.