Western Horseman ranks the top bloodlines used in today’s working ranch remudas.

Compiled by JENNIFER DENISON and ROSS HECOX, originally published in the October 2007 issue of Western Horseman

Ranchers have bred for the ideal working ranch horse for more than a hundred years. In the early days, cowboys favored Steeldust descendants. Around the turn of the 20th century, Thoroughbred stallions in the U.S. government’s Remount program improved bloodlines of ranch remudas throughout the West. And in the heyday of match racing, famous stallions known for their quick bursts of speed and athleticism began influencing the breeding programs of many working cattle ranches.

The time period from the late 1800s to the early 1900s produced legendary stallions such as Peter McCue, Midnight, Joe Hancock, Oklahoma Star, Joe Reed and My Texas Dandy. These horses became the foundation sires for the Quarter Horse breed and for today’s working ranch horses.

In the mid-1900s, horses such as Driftwood, Bert, Hollywood Gold, Grey Badger III, Sugar Bars, King, Poco Bueno and Leo added another layer to the foundation of the breed.

Within the past 20 years, ranches throughout the country have begun using popular cutting horse bloodlines to enhance their horses’ athleticism and cow sense. And, while they identify their horses by contemporary names such as Little Peppy or Freckles Playboy, those horses trace to the foundation sires of the Quarter Horse breed. At the same time, the names of a few old-time bloodlines, such as Hancock and Driftwood, endure to this day.

After interviewing top ranchers and leading horsemen, and analyzing registration statistics and production sale records, Western Horseman editors and staff members cast their votes for the ranch-horse bloodlines that have had the most influence on today’s working strings.

Here’s our top 5:

5. Driftwood

Driftwood standing by fence
Photo by Katy Peake

Bred by “Old Man” Childress of Silverton, Texas, and foaled in 1932, Driftwood emerged from a relatively unknown pedigree. Nevertheless, he quickly became a top match racehorse in West Texas.

Later, Ross Brinson brought him to Arizona, where he dominated in the rodeo arena. Under Asbury Schell, one of several of the horse’s owners and a top rodeo hand, “Speedy” became a famous rope horse and later was well-known throughout Arizona and California as a top sire of rodeo mounts.

At age 11, Driftwood was purchased by Channing and Catherine Peake of Lompoc, California. The Peakes used Driftwood to establish one of the most respected bloodlines of rodeo and ranch horses, known for their speed, intelligence and ability to cross well on other bloodlines. Mel Potter of Marana, Arizona, is largely responsible for keeping the Driftwood line alive.

Pedigree: sired by Miller Boy and out of The Comer Mare. Traces to Barlow, Hobart Horse and JA Ranch breeding. Descendants: Poker Chip Peake, Woodwind, Driftwood Ike, Lone Drifter, Drifts Chip. Ranches that use this bloodline: Babbitt Ranches, Diamond A Ranch, Bar B Ranch, Wagonhound Ranch.

4. Two Eyed Jack

Two Eyed Jack standing with Pitzer
Courtesy Pitzer Ranch

Jim Brinkman, the grandson of legendary breeder Howard Pitzer, rode Two Eyed Jack as a boy and has ridden the stallion’s descendants all his life. He’s done everything on them, from working cattle to roping to showing them in halter. Their versatility and disposition have made them ideal ranch horses, particularly in Nebraska, where the Pitzer Ranch is located, and throughout the Midwest.

“Whenever someone came to look at [Two Eyed Jack], Howard threw me on him bareback with just a halter on him,” Brinkman recalls. “You didn’t worry about him being broncy or anything. His foals were all gentle horses, on the verge of being a little lazy. But at the same time, they had a lot of bottom.”

Two Eyed Jack was bred by Herman Mass of McHenry, Illinois. Pitzer acquired the stallion in 1964 as a 3-year-old. The 1961 sorrel earned a Superior in halter and AQHA points in a wide variety of events, including reining, working cow horse and Western riding. He sired 1,416 foals and 149 AQHA Champions.

Pedigree: sired by Two D Two and out of Triangle Tookie. Traces to legendary sires Silver King, King, Grey Badger III and Roan Hancock. Descendants: Watch Joe Jack, Mr Baron Red, Two ID Bartender, Two Eyed Red Buck. Ranches that use this bloodline: Hutchings Cattle Company, Pitzer Ranch, Bartlett Ranch.

3. Joe Hancock

Hancock Confirmation
A photo taken in Oklahoma, probably about 1927, shows the famous horse in racing shape.

Joe Hancock’s history is filled with approximation and uncertainty. Bred by John Jackson Hancock, Joe Hancock was foaled sometime between 1923 and 1925. His sire was the great foundation stallion Peter McCue, and his dam was a grade mare by a Percheron stallion and out of a Thoroughbred-type mare. This unusual cross gave Joe Hancock his stout conformation, calm yet tough disposition, speed and cow sense.

After a colorful match-race career, during which he stood open to race any horse for three-eights of a mile, Joe Hancock retired virtually undefeated. Tom Burnett paid $2,000 for the horse, and retired him to stud on the Four Sixes/ Triangle Ranches.

Today, rodeo competitors, ropers and ranchers appreciate Hancock-bred horses for their big, stout conformations, grittiness and cow sense. Some Hancocks are known for their buck, big feet and plain heads, but staunch supporters say few foundation bloodlines produce such hardworking horses.

Pedigree: sired by John Wilkens, by Peter McCue, and out of an unregistered range mare. Descendants: Hancock’s Dude, Little Joe The Wrangler, Red Man, Roan Hancock, War Chief, Hesa Eddie Hancock, Figure Four Fritz, Red Hot Hancock. Ranches that use this bloodline: Bar B Ranch, Broken Bones Cattle Company, Haythorn Land & Cattle Co., Merrill Ranch.

2. Doc BarDoc Bar conformationWhen Tom and Jack Finley of Gilbert, Arizona, bred AA running horse Dandy Doll to AAA racehorse Lightning Bar, they hoped to produce a sleek speedster. Instead, they got Doc Bar. The 14.3-hand, 1,000-pound chestnut stallion won only $95 in lifetime racing earnings; however, he went on to excel in halter competition and sire a cutting-horse dynasty from 1960 to 1978. His get dominated cutting competition with their cow sense, athleticism and graceful, sweepy moves. These qualities make Doc Bar’s blood popular with today’s working ranch-horse breeders.

John Lacey, owner of Lacey Livestock in Paso Robles, California, stands two stallions and runs several mares that carry the Doc Bar bloodline. He considers Doc Bar to be the product of a perfect nick between Lightning Bar and Dandy Doll.

“I don’t think there’s any question that Doc Bar, through his Three Bars influence, is one of the greatest cow-horse sires there ever was or will be,” says Lacey. “He was a prolific sire, and he was very prepotent; he passed on his cow sense and athletic ability to his offspring.”

Pedigree: sired by Lightning Bar and out of Dandy Doll. Traces to Three Bars on his top side and Texas Dandy on the bottom. Descendants: Doc O’Lena, Doc Quixote, Doc Tari, Doc’s Hickory, Doc’s Leo Lad, Doc’s Lynx, Doc’s Marmoset, Docs Prescription, Doc’s Starlight, Docs Stylish Oak, Dry Doc, Genuine Doc. Ranches that use this bloodline: Bell Ranch, JA Ranch, Lacey Livestock, Raymond Sutton Ranch, Singleton Ranches, Spade Ranch, W.T. Waggoner Estate, Wagonhound Ranch, Van Norman Ranches.

1. Little PeppyLittle Peppy cutting a cowCutting horse enthusiasts are all too familiar with Peppy San Badger, better known as “Little Peppy.” The 1974 sorrel stallion won the NCHA Futurity in 1977 and has sired the earners of more than $25 million.

Little Peppy will forever be linked to the legendary King Ranch and famous horseman Buster Welch. Bred by Joe Kirk Fulton of Lubbock, Texas, the sorrel blazed-face stallion was purchased by the King Ranch in South Texas as a 3-year-old. He was trained, shown and used on the ranch by Welch.

Even though Little Peppy remains the patriarch of dominant lines in the cutting, reining and reined cow horse industries, some of the best ranch remudas in the country descend from the stallion.

“He was an outstanding ranch horse,” recalls Welch. “He had a smooth trot and a smooth lope. He was always attentive, but never fractious. He really studied what you were doing.”

Pedigree: sired by Mr San Peppy and out of Sugar Badger. Traces to legendary sires Leo and Grey Badger III. Descendants: Peptoboonsmal, Paddys Irish Whiskey, Haidas Little Pep, Grays Starlight Ranches that use this bloodline: King Ranch, Four Sixes Ranch, Douglas Lake Cattle Company, Waggoner Ranch, Lacey Livestock, Bar B Ranch, Pitchfork Ranch.

19 Comments

  1. K4 Ranch in Arizona owned Driftwood Ike and the majority of their broodmares still have Driftwood Ike on their papers as well as a Stallion.

  2. Floating Rochards Reply

    I own a Doc Bar Peppy San Brad mare and have to totally agree with your results. She can chase a cow run and win at barrel then put a 2yr old child on her . She’s a wonder horse for sure.

    • Marty Grantier Reply

      I have a 13 year old gelding double bred Doc Bar & Peppy San Badger on both top and bottom. Great for heading in #8 – #13 but also can throw any young kid on him and will be just fine. He Also knows exactly who is on his back and the job that needs to be done at a high level.

      • Ben F Willis Reply

        I thought Skipper W bred stock would be in the top. I have raised two Skipper w bred foals , one of them was Sipper W / Two Eyed Jack (One in a lifetime for me, but lost her). The other double bred Skipper W, and , short and to the point, He Can Buck, I’m seventy six and he bucked me off last summer, border collie long story, he’s got a nice handle started on him but everyone has almost got me convinced I need to slow down. I worked all my life to get the things I love, this place in Idaho . How about some feed back. This colt has a Swirl on his jaw and one in the middle of his far head. Nice Big Colt with plenty of speed.

      • Lori Lovdahl Reply

        I have a 2 year old Hollywood Dun It granddaughter who also has Hancock in her line, she’s so smart and talk about stout with an amazing natural slide to die for. I absolutely love her and what’s she’s going to accomplish

  3. Hello, I have had horses since 1968. My first mare had King on her papers and was so patient with a green and horse loving Lil girl. Sweet and smooth and I will never forget her. Many horses have /are in my life. I have had several Two Eyed Jack mares and 2 at this time. Their personalities and talent is /was exactly as the description of this amazing stallion. We had &loved TDE Megan Two Eyes for 23 awesome yrs and Blessed me and my family with many , many awards, from lead line , western pleasure and halter.
    I currently own a bay roan filly who is Peptoboomsal, Shining Spark, “She Big N Rich, earning money in reining derbies.
    Baron Bell is on my mares papers “She In Love” who sadly passed away 2 weeks…..a huge mare that had the build of the way aN AQHA horse is supposed to look like from these famous stallions. I could go on but I will end it here…….Traditions are the best in most all ways of life, if one listened and respected the legacy of these all around stallions.

  4. I’m been Riding Good Ranch Horses for 45 years . Ya’ll Can All Those Hancock Bred Horses You Want I’d Walk Before I ‘d Ride Anything Hancock Bred And There’s Much better Well Bred Cow Horses That A Hancock.

    • JC Quarter Horses - Oregon Reply

      Hi Walter – Sorry you’ve had bad experiences.

      We can’t keep enough colts coming out of our well bred quarter horse mares crossed with our Blue Valentine / Hancock stallion.

      They’re smart, well made, sturdy and kind. Everyone of them so far.

      We have several rancher clients that have bought 4,5,6 colts from us.

      They ride in crazy rough terrain and depend on these level-headed horses all day long.

      Everybody has different tastes.

      Happy, Safe trails to you 🐴

  5. Kathryn King Reply

    I was gifted a son of Mr.San Peppy out of a daughter of Hired Hands Cardinal by my, then, husband, an heir to the King Ranch.I raised lots of colts by him and everyone that owned his get was thrilled to have one of his foals.
    I have ridden and owned, hundreds of horses and never had one as wonderful as ” Mr. Peppy Le Pew. “

    • Becky Williams Reply

      Some time ago I had a grey gelding a big 16 hands lived to be around 31 years old. He had a 73 branded on his cheek an L on his shoulder and a 0 on the back of his hip.my hose shoer fron Oklahoma said he was a Grey Badger horse from the fmFour 6’s Ranxh. His name was Foggy and he could Buck every once in a while.Bucked me iffat 39 yrs old just because he was feeling good !🐎😁

  6. W.A. ORR III Reply

    There should have been LEO and Colonel Freckles Highbrow Cat in the list.
    I’ve trained horses for a living since 1977 and I’ve never ran across one Cowboy riding a Two Eyed Jack horse on a ranch. In TX.
    I’ve seen them at a few team roping but not under a Cowboy doing Day Work.
    Highbrow Cat,Colonel Freckles, Freckles Playboy..
    Mr San Peppy mostly

  7. When I was growing up in the late 30s and during WWII my Dad, Babe Rees, would take my brother, Frankie Rees, and I to all the local rodeos and matched races in the Phoenix, Arizona area. There was a stud named “Clabber” owned by a gentleman named Mr. Abe Nickles from Highly AZ. He would rope off him (even goat rope from him) then match him in a matched race. He would then take him home to breed a mare in the same day or weekend. Now Clabber was one fast horse and very well-built. HOWEVER, he had roman nose. People would laugh at him before the races but divvied up their money after the races. Now Mr. Nickles had two sons name Buck and Gilbert. They were very good team ropers and would rope in the annual Phoenix Rodeos and make money each year. Clabber sired a lot of sons and daughters but I can only remember one named Chester C. He was so fast out of the shoots that he would leave his back shoes in the shoots at times. The Nickles families still live in Gilbert Arizona.

  8. When mentioning Doc Bars dams side you didn’t mention Barmaid F Dandy Dolls damher sire Was Bartender2 out of Nellie Bly by Red Joe of Arizona a 3/4 brother to Joe Teed the second the sire of the great Leo a heap of Cowhorses breeding and they could all run that lot of horses were owened By Chick Logan a great hand and mentor The late Tom Finley saidLogan sold them the first decent Broodmare they owened.

  9. I have owned mostly Bar and King crosses best natured bloodlines and intelligence I’ve also had Leo and Hancock bred horses in my experience Leo bred mares were hard headed and required a lot of patience but they had a lot of bottom had one Hancock bred mare she was a good little mare a little bit difficult just took a little more patience but a great mare

  10. Becky Williams Reply

    Some time ago I had a grey gelding a big 16 hands lived to be around 31 years old. He had a “73” branded on his cheek an “L” on his shoulder and a “0 “”on the back of his hip. Ny Horse Shoer fron Oklahoma said he was a Grey Badger horse from the Four 6’s Ranxh. His name was Foggy and he could Buck every once in a while. He Bucked me off at 30 yrs old just because he was feeling good !🐎We also had a mare named Lil’ Stormy Star out of Stormy Martha by Star Brand Dandy by Texas Dandy from the King Ranch !

  11. Shelley Frederick Reply

    My dad had a horse- King Cutter Cody- cutter bill- we also had a horse poco bueno- I loved those short neck cutting horses- they were smart and quick

  12. Janis Hampton Reply

    Two Eyed Jack in my mare, her mom, and her grandmom. Best ever! When I read up re Two Eyed Jack—one of the attributes was their ‘baby doll heads’ and all of them have had it. She’s got such a good mind, too!

  13. Brett Repton Reply

    All grand horses and memorable sires for certain, but give me Mr Gunsmoke horses every time.

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