One of the most prolific sires of the cutting horse industry.
This picture of Doc Bar was taken in March 1977 when he was 21 years old. Photo by David Brown of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
By Bob Denhardt, written July 1986
This writer feels that Doc Bar’s conformation, cow sense, and cutting horse ability came from his dam.
Anyone with even a remote interest in the Quarter Horse world will recognize the name Doc Bar, for never has there been such a prolific sire of cutting horses. His influence is also felt in the world of cow horses and reining horses, but it is in cutting where he reigned supreme–and still does through his many sons that have become great sires.
Now 30 years old, Doc Bar still lives on the Double J Ranch of his owners, Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen. The ranch is in California, near the town of Paicines, about 45 miles south of Hollister. The ranch is managed by Charlie Ward and his wife Stephenie, a daughter of the Jensens.
As the accompanying pedigree shows, Doc Bar was sired by Lightning Bar a son of Three Bars (TB), one of the’ great sires of racing Quarter Horses. Doc Bar was out of Dandy Doll, by Texas Dandy, and the aim of this article is to explain why I feel that so much of Doc Bar’s cow sense and agility came from the distaff side of his pedigree.
My first view of Doc Bar was all it took to sell me on him, as he was physically everything I like in a Quarter Horse. Anyone who has roped a calf would admire his height–14.3 hands. On such a horse you can step off to tie without wrecking a knee. His 1,000- pound weight was adequate to trip most any steer on which you have dropped a rope. Early in his life, he showed that he had enough speed to catch a calf or steer without using up the whole arena. He was deep through the heart, clean in the throatlatch, had little fox ears, and a beautiful head that he probably inherited from his dam’s sire, Texas Dandy. Look at Texas Dandy’s picture accompanying this article and see what you think. Doc’s britches were impressive, well-muscled inside and out down to the hocks. His action was true and straight, and he had two of the best hind legs you ever saw on a horse.
20 Comments
Hi! I used to own a Doc Bar line quarter horse 24 years ago. He was bred for cutten horse but He was my pleasure riding horse. He had the best disposition and nature. He was laid back in nature and loving horse. Great blood line going back to Doc Bar. His papered name was Scripture’s Dream. He was built beautiful proptiate. Pretty head and built all around. Beautiful red sorrel with one white sock. And and star, strip and snip on his front face.
I was honered to have owned Candy Bar who was a Doc Bar decedent and the best horse I ever owned. Her colts were very intelligent and had such loving dispositions. Lot of pics with my children on them. Candy was an amazing cutting horse!
Pingback: Doc Leo Epic SSK - Scheherezade Arabian Farms
i own Doc bars great great grandson which is an amazing cow horse and is well bilt.
I own a great great great grandson of Doc Bar here in Australia. I was also fortunate to own his dad by the name of Cracker Jack Morn and won many shows under halter when he was younger. Sadly we lost him when he was about 17 years old to what we think was a snake bite. His son we called Whispering Jack and is just such a beautiful horse……..
so i have a horse called Flyaway Jessie he is Sunfrost great great grandson
40 years ago, I purchased Dee Bar Centivio in 1978 , 2 year s old. He was Doc Dee Bar ‘s first son, Dr. Jensen came to our small ranch in the Bay Area for a visit and to see a grandson of Doc Bar. It was a honor.
I worked for Don and Cindy at deep bar Farms Eugene or
my mom susan hay owned chic pan bar of three bars lil pan peg was his mother and grandfather was doc bar chic pan bar use to race 3 out of 4 races 4th he shin bucked his back leg so he got put to pasture and my mom bought him he lived till he was 25 yrs old a full life he was buitiful all black thourbred with a white star blaze great blood lines for raceing
Hello, I live in germany and I own a doc bar granddaughter out of a little peppy mare. her name is candy dandy doll and i am so happy that she is pregnant for 2021 . i breed her to an metallic cat son and can not wait to see her foal next year.
i love her . she is very good minded and she is a great cowhorse.
How did that foalcome out?
I have had doc bar line horses for years my foundation stallion was a docs weekend remedy son paint threw great color hot the ground very cowy and awesome to work with simply the best🐎
we lived in perris california mead valley area when she had chic pan bar
I am the owner of one of Doc Bars grandsons,DimondScotchBar
Tom was my grandfather and a great man. I love to see his history and his horses that still have an impact today.
We owned Docs cutting color. One of the best horses we ever owned.
I owned and showed Jim Bar Lee out of Doc Bar and Nancy Lee Lauro in 1974-75. We won Intermediate Champion English Horseman and went to State where we won Western Pleasure. I didn’t cut with him but he went on to win cutting and reining competitions with Tommy Manion. Miss him. A little spooky but a great horse. Sadly, I lost all photos of him in the Almeda Fire last year when my home burned down.
I own one of dark bars great great grandsons. I call him Doc. The gentleman Rancher that I bought him from Derek Tooley trained him very well and I could tell loved him very much. Today Doc makes every one of my days that I’m with him so much brighter. Dark has got to be the smartest horse I’ve ever seen. It’s a matter of fact. Derek I’d given him that name of Smarty. I’m extremely grateful thank you Jesus for allowing me the opportunity to buy this horse and good friend, my best friend Doc.
Wonderful article! My first show quarter horse was Miss Bewitched from 1978 to 1990. I showed her son Docs BJ Bar at Pomona Fair Grounds National AQHA All Around 3 day show. BJ was a cutting horse from my g parents ranch and when i asked if i could show him in my last year of Youth Aqha catergory in english and western, they giggled and said, well, hes a cuttin horse, but if you really want to, okay. I practiced very hard for 5 months. Tim Smith, Cutting Horse trainer from chino ca was the live on horse trainer for our Ranch. He saw me working that cow horse over Hunter Hack fences and riding BJ with my english saddle and high black boots and shook his head at us every songle morning when i passed the cow arena and went down to the big arena where i set up cones for western riding, bridges for trail class and even one oxer fence for show jumping. I reserved the very last 2 stalls at pomona that were left. Lol it was so far away from the arena it seemed like. I was happy to have those stalls. English Pleasure Open for Greenbroke horses and non professional riders was my first classes of the show. I remember asking my g ma if i could pull BJ’s very long mane that swayed below his neck for the horseshow and she said, no. Haha! I spent 2 hours braiding and tucking and tying that mane until it was chip chip cheerio ready for english riding. My fingers were fat with muscles after that. Giggles. Our first class had 32 or 33 entries. It was packed! BJ and I placed 3rd. By far, the most memorable award I ever had so far in my lifetime, even until today. It was so unbelievable to my g parents, my cutting trainer, tim smith and even pacific coast quarter horse show association followed my horse i all the way back to our stall by the cars to get a drug test sample from BJ. The first time you are asked for a test sample is a badge of honor at any horseshow really and i got mine from BJ that day. I loved that horse and Ive never been more proud i dont think than i was at the end of that day when i rode BJ for the very last time, to the pomona fair grounds wash racks, bareback and only halter and leadrope and carrying my wash bucket on my arm. Doc Bar, thank you for making that happen. Gretchen Dupree
I own a Doc Bar horse and have for 15 years. He was sold to me cheap. Everyone thought he would be another Doc Bar or Sweet Little Lena because of his build and looks. A top cutting horse school sold him to me with the words, “He can do anything he wants to. He is very smart, has great strength and learns fast. He can go to the top of this competition .. but he wont.” He is the strongest alpha horse I have ever seen, and only does what he wants to, and when he wants to do it. I was getting a little older myself and decided this boy would be fun. I think God gave me to this horse because most other riders would have killed him. He was not quite 4, and he really loved me from the first day we met. I took him to some “great” trainers who knew more than God about horses, and they wanted me to shoot him. I turned him over to my wife, who is more demanding than me, and she has taught him to be nice. I have had him 15 years and I could not have enjoyed an animal more. I am 83 now, and still ride that rascal. Some days he even lets me be the boss.