Scamper (horse)
Encyclopedia
Gills Bay Boy nicknamed "Scamper", is a bay American Quarter Horse
gelding
. He became notable for his success in barrel racing
competition. Barrel racer Charmayne James rode Scamper from 1984-1993 in the National Finals Rodeo
, with the pair winning the WPRA World Championship ten years in a row, from 1984 through 1993. Since being retired from competition, Scamper is still alive as of 2009, and he has been cloned
. The clone, nicknamed "Clayton", has been kept a stallion
and stands at stud
.
papers. Initially the horse was prone to buck
at the lope
. Ultimately, the pair qualified for the NFR finals
in barrel racing
for the first time when James was 14, and they won the event even though Scamper's bridle
broke during one of their runs. The two ended up winning the WPRA World Championship every year from 1984-1993. After a record 10 straight WPRA World Championships he was semi-retired from competition before being fully retired a few years later.
and as such cannot reproduce, James made the decision to clone
Scamper. The animal genetics corporation Viagen performed the cloning, and the ensuing foal
, nicknamed Clayton, was born in 2006, kept a stallion
and now stands at stud. Because the AQHA does not accept cloned animals for registry, Clayton and his offspring cannot be registered. However, breed registration is not required for horses to compete in barrel racing or other rodeo
events.
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...
gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
. He became notable for his success in barrel racing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...
competition. Barrel racer Charmayne James rode Scamper from 1984-1993 in the National Finals Rodeo
National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the...
, with the pair winning the WPRA World Championship ten years in a row, from 1984 through 1993. Since being retired from competition, Scamper is still alive as of 2009, and he has been cloned
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
. The clone, nicknamed "Clayton", has been kept a 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 stands at stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
.
Career
Charmayne James and her father bought Scamper from a feed lot when James was 12. He was given the name "Scamper" before James got his registrationBreed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
papers. Initially the horse was prone to buck
Bucking
Bucking is a movement performed by a horse or bull in which the animal lowers his head and raises his hindquarters into the air, usually while kicking out with his hind legs. If powerful, it may unseat the rider enough so that he falls off....
at the lope
Canter
The canter is a controlled, three-beat gait performed by a horse. It is a natural gait possessed by all horses, faster than most horses' trot but slower than the gallop, and is used by all riders. The speed of the canter varies between 16-27 km/h , depending on the length of the stride of the horse...
. Ultimately, the pair qualified for the NFR finals
National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the...
in barrel racing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...
for the first time when James was 14, and they won the event even though Scamper's bridle
Bridle
A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, the "bridle" includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit....
broke during one of their runs. The two ended up winning the WPRA World Championship every year from 1984-1993. After a record 10 straight WPRA World Championships he was semi-retired from competition before being fully retired a few years later.
Endorsements and Retirement
A feed company has endorsed James and Scamper, renaming a feed after the horse. Because he is a geldingGelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
and as such cannot reproduce, James made the decision to clone
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
Scamper. The animal genetics corporation Viagen performed the cloning, and the ensuing 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...
, nicknamed Clayton, was born in 2006, kept a 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 now stands at stud. Because the AQHA does not accept cloned animals for registry, Clayton and his offspring cannot be registered. However, breed registration is not required for horses to compete in barrel racing or other rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
events.