7 Best and Famous Quarter Horse Bloodlines

Quarter horses need no introduction – they are America’s most popular horse breed after all! Moreover, some of the best Quarter horse bloodlines are used when breeding to produce top-quality steeds. Wondering which Quarter horse bloodlines are the most famous and highly sought after by horse breeders? This is exactly what we are going to reveal in this article!

Scroll on if you wish to learn about the 7 best and famous Quarter horse bloodlines of all times.

Best Quarter Horse Bloodlines

Why is it even important to learn about famous Quarter horse bloodlines? Well, the answer is pretty obvious. Over the years, the best Quarter horse bloodlines have been chosen within the breed to develop exceptional equines that excel in specific equestrian disciplines.

Hence, to find out which one perfectly fits your specific needs, you need to understand their lineage first. Besides, the knowledge is even more vital if you plan to use the equine for breeding purposes.

Poco Bueno

The English translation of Poco Bueno reads “too good”. This wishy-washy compliment was made for the bloodlines belonging to the decades of 1940s to1960s. Poco Bueno was foaled in 1944 and belongs to Miss Taylor and King P–234. The late bloomer brown colt is famous for not possessing the traditional color of regal blood bay of his sires. The beautiful brown yearling was bought by Waggoner ranch for $5,700 from Hankins who brought him from San Angelo, Texas in 1945.

The brown stallion was shown to cutting fame by Pine Johnson, but the two years old Poco Bueno was broken to ride by Bob Burton. The duo of Johnson and Poco Bueno won through the toughest competitions and consistently ranked several prizes. The stallion was shipped by Waggoner to Arlington, Texas in his farm “Three D Stock”. The brown colt Poco Bueno began showing and won multiple shows.

Poco Bueno was sent back to the arena by Waggoner to prepare him to earn his title of AQHA Champion. His daughter Poco Lena and he won the award in the same championship. 405 foals were sired by Poco Bueno and 36 won the AQHA championship out of them. Nearly all of the colts were steady as him but the most renowned are Poco Lena, Poco Stampede, and Poco Mona.

In 1969, the brown stallion Poco Bueno died and he was buried across the Waggoner ranch entrance, standing tall. The special spot was marked by a 4-ton heavy granite marker. The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inducted him in 1990.

Doc Bar

Crossbred in 1956, Doc Bar has the bloodlines of AA Dandy Doll racehorse with the AAA lightning bar racehorse. The 14.3-handed, 1,000-pound stallion earned just $95 in his life as a racehorse; nevertheless, he was in excellence as a conformation horse and stallion of a cutter dynasty from 1960 to 1978. Later on, Doc Bar became a halter horse and won nine grand horse championships. His dominating ability in cutter competitions with his sense of cattle, athleticism, and grace in his movements make the line of blood.

On the whole, Doc Bar was a prolific stallion and passed on his cattle sense and his athletic ability to his progeny. Its offspring are widely known for their gracefulness, calmness, and intelligence.

Playgun

Although Playgun was born in 1992, the grey stallion is already widely used among ranches, mainly in the southwestern United States. He is recognized for being one of the best ranch horse producers in horse bloodlines. Playgun won multiple cutting competitions and his offspring is famous for winning over 5 million dollars in reining, roping ranch versatility, and cutting competitions.

Some major ranches are already using Play gun’s sons as their stallions. For example, Four Sixes Ranch breeds some mares every year with Playgun and also with Seven from Heaven, son of the stallion. Four Sixes’ Dr. Glenn Blodgett says, “I have always said that the Playgun has a lot of potential. He was a great competitor in the arena and he has the size and bone structure that we look for in a good ranch workhorse. The grey color also helps him.”

Playgun has played a great influence on ranching bloodlines. He was born in 1992 and made a name for himself in the quarter horse breed. His offsprings are famous for their size and their phenomenal skill to work with cattle.

Driftwood

Born in 1932, Driftwood arises from an unknown pedigree; however, he soon became one of the most important horses in pair racing in West Texas. In fact, it won’t be wrong to call it the best Quater horse bloodlines of all times.

Ross Brinson took him to Arizona where he dominated in the Rodeo Arena. With Asbury Schell one of his owners and rodeo man, “Speedy” became a famous roping horse and later became well known throughout Arizona and California as a stallion producer of excellent rodeo horses.

At the age of 11, Driftwood was bought by Channing and Catherine Peake of Lompoc, California. The Peakes used Driftwood to establish one of the most respected bloodlines for rodeo and ranch horses, known for their speed, intelligence, and ability to breed well with other bloodlines. Overall, the equine is a fabulous working horse.

Peppy San Badger

Born in 1974 the sorrel stallion, also known as little Peppy in 1977, won the NCHA Futurity. The famous shiny and observant horse was sired by Mr. San Peppy and proved to be one of the best Quarter horse bloodlines of the ranch. Peppy, as a foal, won the title, despite suffering from distemper, a viral disease amongst animals.

As a peaceful cutting horse, Peppy San Badger was brought to King Ranch and became famous for stellar athleticism. Peppy’s health tells another story but his pedigree demonstrated exhilarating potential. Little Peppy was famous for staying attentive and calm, and these qualities made him shine while working.

His offspring have continued to rein, reining cow horses and shining as cutting. He got numerous praises for being one of the best breeds of ranch horse bloodlines. His unbelievable talent in cutting has been passed down to his offspring, who earned around $25 million.  Peppy’s legacy is still famous for shining in working horses today.

Two Eyed Jack

Foaled in 1961, Two Eyed Jack was raised by Herman Mass of McHenry, Illinois, and began its flourishing career as a halter horse when Pitzer acquired the stallion in 1964 at the age of 3. The stallion won confirmation and points in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) at a wide variety of events, including reining, working cow horse, and Western Riding.

Moreover, Two Eyed Jack also secured the topmost position in AQHA. He engendered 149 AHQA championships with 16 AHQA World champions. Another reason that contributes to the equine’s fame is the fact that this American Quarter horse was ridden by the grandson of Howard Pitzer, a legendary personality of his time when he was just a child.

Joe Hancock

Born in 1925, Joe Hancock was named after his owner Joe Hancock. He was sired by stallion Peter McCue, the legendary foundation, and came out of the thoroughbred-type mare and a Percheron stallion. This proves Joe to be sired by many roping champion horses. He was sold for far less than his actual value of $1000 during the great depression.

Moreover, Joe Hancock is known to have performed exceptionally in racing and worked equally well along with cattle. His offspring proved him to be a stellar working breed, along with hardy confirmations. Several registered foals of Joe Hancock sought out many breeders by their natural famous cow sense. Roan Hancock and Red Man are Joe’s famous offspring, the latter Everett Shaw and Shoat Webster were his famous and favorite ropers.

Hancock horses have rumors of bucking potential, several claims are unclear and these rumors have nothing to do with the potential of the championship.

Famous Quarter Horses of All Times

Quarter horses are not only popular in America, but all around the globe due to their versatility and speed. They have proven themselves as outstanding performers in several disciplines such as reining, trail riding, jumping, racing, and dressage, all thanks to the bloodlines used in breeding them.

The table below depicts some of the best and famous Quarter horse bloodlines that have made their way to the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Hall of Fame Museum:

Horse NameSexColorYear FoaledDiscipline
Doc BarStallionChestnut1956Breeding Stallion
DriftwoodStallionBay1932Breeding Stallion
Joe CodyStallionBrown1952Reining
Old SorrelStallionChestnut1915Breeding Stallion
Peppy San BadgerStallionSorrel1974Cutting
Poco BuenoStallionBrown1944Cutting
Two Eyed JackStallionSorrel1961Showing
Cutter BillStallionPalomino1955Cutting
Dash for CashStallionSorrel1973Racing
Doc O’ LenaStallionBay1967Halter Cutting Sire
Easy DateMareBay1972Racing
Jackie BeeStallionGray1962Breeding Stallion
Moon DeckStallionBrown1950Racing
Country ClassicGeldingSorrel1969Showing
Diamonds SparkleMarePalomino1974Showing

FAQs Regarding Best Quarter Horse Bloodlines

Quarter horses of America are famous in the entire world for being the most popular breed of horses. For the production of exceptional performer quarter horses, many high-rated bloodlines were matched to develop the best of the breed over the years. Let’s get to know all the information you need regarding Best Quarter Horse Bloodlines.

What two breeds make a Quarter horse?

Quarter horses are descendants of English and Spanish horses. They originated in the 1600s in the American colonies. Later these horses were locally crossbred to produce American quarter horses and Chickasaw horses. The name of their breed came from their dominance in quarter-mile races. Also, they were famous for sure footedness among settlers.

What type of blood is a Quarter horse?

The Appaloosas and American quarter horses are famous breed descendants of hot blood. They are considered originally from American Warmblood by many. Due to the blood continuum is on the cold blood/hot blood side with a lot of thoroughbred blood of the Arabian hot blood. Technically, they were started as warm blood because they were founded from draft horse’s breed, remount stallions thoroughbred with occasional Arabian.

How can you identify a Quarter Horse?

Quarter horses are stocky, have a wide head, and are short. They have heavily muscled forearms along with tremendous hindquarters with more bone which gives them tremendous burst speed in the distance of a quarter-mile. They start steadily, turn fast, and can stop and speed in short distances.

What are the three types of Quarter horses?

Quarter horses are distinguished by their body type and the type of discipline they perform in. The following are the three types of equines you’ll find within the Quater horse lineage:
1. Heavy bulldog – Their body is formed as a substantial barrel and these horses have large hindquarters with massive muscles and shoulders.
2. Popular intermediate – Their body is deep with a short back and they have good bones and substantial muscles.
3. Thoroughbred – This type has shown frequent two breeds’ crosses. The musculature is lean, and fine bone structure along with sleek legs than other types of quarter horses.

Who was the first registered Quarter horse?

The world-renowned King Ranch’s Wimpy P-1 founded in 1940, holds the title of being the first one, who got registered in the American Quarter horse (AQHA). He was the first stallion, decided by founders to be recorded in the studbook. He took the title of Grand Champion Stallion in 1941 at the Fort Worth Fat Stock show which gave him steady success.

What is the best Quarter Horse breed?

For more than a hundred years ranchers have been breeding to attain the ideal working ranch horse. In today’s working horses ranch the foundation sires of quarter horses breed are:
– Poco Bueno
– Peppy San Badger
– Doc Bar
– Joe Hancock
– Two Eyed Jack
– Driftwood

Are Quarter horses good for beginners?

According to Quater horse facts, the quality of their even temperature makes them great horses for beginners. They are easy to train due to their friendly nature. Their attributes of reliability, dexterity, adaptability and spritely spirit of quarter horses make them efficient first horses for beginners. They are often used as family pets and working ranch horses.

Conclusion

Whether you are buying a Quarter horse, or breeding one, it is crucial to study their bloodlines first. This helps in identifying any behavioural or genetical problems in the animal and whether or not it will be a reliable choice.

Nonetheless, there are several AQHA Hall of Fame Horses but the top 7 Quarter horse bloodlines among these are definitely Poco Bueno, Doc Bar, Peppy San Badger, Driftwood, Two Eyed Jack, and Joe Hancock. These best Quarter horse bloodlines have withstood the test of time by outperforming the others, while their descendants remain constant in representing the equines as the finest American Quarter horse breed that ever existed.