Clabber (horse) facts for kids
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| Breed | Quarter Horse |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Racing Rodeo |
| Sire | My Texas Dandy |
| Grandsire | imported Porte Drapeau (TB) |
| Dam | Blondie S |
| Maternal grandsire | Lone Star |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1936 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Sorrel |
| Breeder | Frank Smith |
| Owner | A. A. Nichols, Frank Vessels |
| Honors | |
| Racing awards | |
| 1941 World Champion Quarter Running Horse | |
| Honors | |
| American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame | |
Clabber (1936–1947) was a famous Quarter Horse stallion. He was known as the Iron Horse. This nickname came from his amazing ability. He could work hard on a ranch all day. Then, he would still win horse races!
Clabber's Early Life
Clabber was born in 1936. He was a sorrel horse, which means he had a reddish-brown coat. His official name was registered as number 507. This was with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The AQHA is a group that keeps records of Quarter Horses.
His father was named My Texas Dandy. His mother was Blondie S. Clabber was bred by Frank Smith in Bigfoot, Texas. Later, A. A. Nichols from Gilbert, Arizona owned him.
When Clabber was a young horse, called a yearling, he had very big feet. His owner's friends joked about his feet. They said they looked like "clapboards," which are wooden boards used on houses. That's how Clabber got his unique name! He wasn't the prettiest horse. He had some body features that weren't perfect for a horse.
Clabber's Racing and Rodeo Career
Clabber became a champion racehorse. He earned a special award called a Race Register of Merit. He was also named the World Champion Quarter Running Horse for 1940–1941. This means he was the best Quarter Horse racer in the world during that time!
In 1944, Clabber won a race against another famous horse, Painted Joe. In another big race, the Stallion Championship, he finished in a dead heat with a horse named Bartender. A dead heat means both horses crossed the finish line at the exact same time.
What made Clabber truly special was his other job. He wasn't just a racehorse. He was also a working ranch horse! During the week, he helped ranch hands. On weekends, he would race. Sometimes, he even competed in rodeo events. He won awards in events like team roping and calf roping. Because he could do so much, he earned his famous nickname: "The Iron Horse."
Clabber's Offspring and Legacy
In 1944, Frank Vessels Jr. bought Clabber for $5,000. Frank Vessels Jr. lived in Los Alamitos, California. Clabber only had two groups of foals (baby horses) before he passed away.
Even though many of Clabber's babies had some of his body imperfections, they were still very talented. They had his strong desire to run fast and his intelligence. Some of his most famous offspring were Chester C, Buster, Jeep, and Tonta Gal.
Clabbertown G, a sorrel stallion born in 1946, was Clabber's top earning foal. He won over $16,000 in races. Twenty-six of Clabber's offspring also earned a Race Register of Merit. This shows how good his children were at racing.
Clabber died on January 1, 1947, from a head injury. In 1997, Clabber was honored for his amazing life. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for horses who have made a big impact.
