Bert (horse) facts for kids
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| Breed | Quarter Horse |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tommy Clegg |
| Grandsire | Sam Watkins |
| Dam | Lady Coolidge |
| Maternal grandsire | Beetch's Yellow Jacket |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1934 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Brown |
| Breeder | Bert Benear |
| Honors | |
| Honors | |
| Inducted into American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame | |
Bert (1934—1956) was a very important American Quarter Horse stallion. He was one of the most influential fathers of horses in the early days of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Because of his importance, he was later added to the AQHA Hall of Fame.
Contents
Bert's Early Life and Background
Bert was born on March 24, 1934, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was officially registered as number 227 with the AQHA. His breeder, the person who bred him, was Bert Benear from Tulsa. Bert was a brown-colored horse.
Bert's Family Tree
Bert's father was a horse named Tommy Clegg. Tommy Clegg's family line went back to a famous horse called Peter McCue. Bert's mother was Lady Coolidge, a mare (female horse) born in 1928. She was a "dun" mare, which means she had a yellowish-tan coat with darker points. Lady Coolidge's mother was known for being a fast "match racing" mare. This means she was very good at racing against just one other horse.
Growing Up and an Injury
A man named Bob Weimer bought Bert when he was just a colt (a young male horse). Bob named the colt "Bert" after his breeder. When Bert was three years old, he was "broken," which means he was trained to be ridden.
However, before he could start his riding career, Bert had a serious accident. He got caught in barbed wire, which almost cut off his right front foot. After many months of healing, Bert was able to walk normally again. But his owner, Bob Weimer, decided it wasn't safe to work him too hard. Bob had mainly bought Bert to be a breeding stallion, meaning he would be used to have many foals.
Bert's Size
When Bert was fully grown, he was quite impressive. He stood about 14.3 hands high. A "hand" is a unit of measurement for horses, equal to four inches. So, 14.3 hands is about 59 inches tall at the shoulder. He weighed close to 1150 pounds, which is about the same as a small car! Bob Weimer said that Bert was very friendly. He could "turn him out in the morning with the mares and drive out in the pasture in the evening with the pick-up and he will come to me as quick as I call him."
Bert's Achievements and Honors
Bert became a very successful father to many horses. His foals were good at many things:
- Racehorses: Some of his children became fast racehorses.
- Roping Horses: Others were excellent at Team Roping, a rodeo sport.
- Ranch Horses: Many were great all-around horses for working on ranches.
Racing Success
Bert had eleven foals who started racing. All of them earned an AQHA Race Register of Merit. This means they met certain speed requirements in official races. His foal named V's Bert earned the most money from racing. V's Bert raced 48 times over six years, winning five races and placing second or third many other times.
Other Accomplishments
Bert also fathered four "AQHA Champions." These are horses that have earned points in both halter (judged on their looks) and performance (judged on their skills). He also sired "Superior Halter horses" and "Superior Performance horses," which means his foals were exceptionally good in these areas.
One of his daughters, Jeanne's Patsy, was named the 1955 AQHA High Point Roping horse. This means she was the best roping horse that year. His granddaughter, Baby Doll Combs, was a famous rodeo mare known as "Baby Doll." She was very good at bulldogging, a rodeo event where a rider jumps off a horse to wrestle a steer to the ground. Baby Doll was so famous that she was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.
Bert passed away in May 1956.
Hall of Fame
In 2007, Bert was honored for his great contributions to the breed. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for horses and people who have made a big difference to the American Quarter Horse breed.
