The Working Lines

By Larry Thornton . . . The Big Investment Part 2 This month’s “Working Lines” is going to take a closer look at the sire record of The Big Investment. Last month we saw that The Big Investment brought a new style to the modern pleasure horse. A style that was based on this wonderful conformation. This month we will look at what a bright future this sire had before his untimely death in 1986 at the age of six. Then we will look at one of the reasons why the influence of The Big Investment may continue through his offspring. The Big Investment sired only 129 foals with 93 of them being born in his 1986 and 1987 foal crops. He sired 74 AQHA performers with 66 point earners that have earned 63ROMs and 27 Superior Awards. This gives him an average of 89% point earners/ performers. This gives him 48.8% ROM from foals produced. He has an average of 56 points per performer. Here is an interesting side note on PHOTO BY PAMELA SNOW The Big Investment’s sire record. The McWhirters have retained 20 daughters or 15% of The Big “...what a bright future this sire had before his un- Investment’s foals as broodmares. timely death in 1986 at the age of six.” Most of these mares have not been shown. During our interview, Steve are happy siring 10% stakes winners Heckaman had this to say about The any of the sires that have a M from foals produced. Domino was Big Investment’s sire record, “Had lasting influence on the industry will foaled in 1891. The Big Investment lived to be the have long and productive careers as Commando by Domino is another same age as , he may sires. Zippo Pine Bar is the all time example of a having a limited have rewritten the record books.” leading sire of Register of Merit show sire record. Commando died after The 1990 AII American Quarter horses. He is the sire of over 1585 siring only 25 foals at the age of eight. Horse Congress Three Year Old foals with 656 ROM to his credit. Commando sired ten stakes winners, Snaffle Bit Futurity will put Zippo Pine Bar is 28 years old, but will which is 40% stakes winners from Heckaman’s statement into have an influence on the modern foals. Commando was foaled in 1898. perspective. and his son Quarter Horse for many years to The blood of Domino and The Big Investment accounted for 6 of come. Commando can be seen in such the top 10 finishers. Investment Asset The legendary sire of speed Domino famous Quarter Horse sires as , was third; Principle Investment was sired only 20 foals and yet his blood and Top Deck. So through sixth; Investment Creditor was eighth flows through the veins of thousands these great the blood of and Vested Glory was tenth. These of Quarter Horses. He died at the age Domino and Commando has had a four horses were sired by The Big of six. He sired 8 stakes winners from lasting influence on the modern Investment. Impulsions was first in the 20 foals, which is 42% stakes Quarter Horse, despite their limited this class with Investor Cluso finishing winners from foals. Many race sires careers is sires. ninth, both sired by The Invester. The Big Investment has an average of 56 points per performer.

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“Prepotency is the ability of a stallion or mare to make their colts uniform in such factors as con- formation, color and markings.”

Investor Cluso is a full brother to The Invester. Big Investment. Principle Investment was out of Tiger We learned last month that one of Serena by Tiger Leo. Principle the factors that made the decision to Investment was a Superior Performer buy The Big Investment easy was his as well as the leading money winning Love To Invest, 1987 bay mare by The Big ability to mark his colts. Carol NSBA pleasure horse in 1989. Tiger Investment with owners Berleen and Barry Pashby winning the three-year-old Pleasure McWhirter described it this way, “We Serena was by Tiger Leo by Leo. This Futurity Championship at the California Con- were confident because we could see makes Principle Investment 5 x 3 gress. from the beginning he was prepotent. linebred to Leo. Investment Style was His colts all looked alike, real pretty an NSBA money winning full sister to This makes Love To Invest 4 x 5 x 6 x headed, real pretty over the back, real Principle Investment. She also earned 7 x 5 linefeed to Three Bars. pretty in the front legs. A little bit 19 AQHA performance points with a Investment Creditor’s full brother upright in the pasterns, but beautiful in ROM in the youth division. was The Big Asset. This show gelding their tailset. They looked like cookie Secured Investment was an AQHA was Superior in Youth Western cutters, all standup pretty colts in the Pleasure. ’s Bambi was the dam same mold.” of The Big Asset and Investment Prepotency is the ability of a stallion Creditor. Her sire was Sonnys Dyn O or mare to make their colts uniform in Mite by . Sonny Dee such factors as conformation, color Bar was sired by Win Or Lose by Mr and markings. Prepotency is at its Bar None by Three Bars. This makes best when the stallion or mare can The Big Asset and Investment produce this uniformity when crossed Creditor 4 x 6 Iinebred to Three Bars. on a variety of bloodlines. King’s Trinket was the dam of King’s The Big Investment’s Superior Bambi. King’s Trinket was an own performers give us an interesting view daughter of King P-234. The dam of of this sire’s ability to get foals from a King’s Trinket was Flying Diamond, variety of bloodlines. The leading who was out of Miss Hankins by King point earner was Hesa Cute Investor. P-234. This makes King’s Trinket 1 x This good show gelding has earned 3 inbred to King P-234. Superiors in Amateur Hunt Seat Gilt Edged Lady was a Superior Equitation, Amateur Hunter Under Halter Mare. Her dam was Butler’s Saddle, Youth Halter and Tona Reed by Good Booger Bar. Showmanship to go along with his Secured Investment, 1986 chestnut gelding by Good Booger Bar was sired by Hunt’s 783 AQHA performance points. He The Big Investment shown by Jody Gaylean, Good Bar by Good Bars by Three was an AQHYA Reserve World placed 4th in the Congress two-year-old Pleas- Bars. The dam of Good Booger Bar Champion in Hunt Seat Equitation ure Futurity. was Sugar Booger Bar by Sue’s and an AQHA Champion in the open Sugar Bar by by Three and amateur divisions. Superior Pleasure Horse. This horse Bars. This makes Gilt Edged Lady 4 x The dam of Hesa Cute Investment was out of Sugar Walton by Sugar 5 x 6 Iinebred to Three Bars. was A Cute Copy. A Cute Copy came Bars by Three Bars. This makes Investment Venture was Superior in from the Leo sire line. Her sire was Secured Investment 4 x 3 Iinebred to Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and Old Copy Cat by Old Tom Cat by Three Bars. The dam of Sugar Walton Amateur . His dam Robin Reed by Leo. This mare was was Bar Y Bonita by Silver Cash by was Eternal Nellie by . actually 4 x 4 Iinebred to Leo. This Spot Cash. The dam of Silver Cash Eternal Sun was sired by Eternal War made Hesa Cute Investment 5 x 5 x 5 was Sassy Nick by Nick W. This gives (TB) and out of Sierra Glitter by Silver linebred to Leo. Secured Investment Wiescamp King. The dam of Eternal Nellie was Investment Ms was another Superior breeding on both sides of the Poco’s Willa by . The dam Pleasure Horse whose dam came pedigree. of Poco’s Willa was Margie Leo by from the Leo sire line. Her dam was Love To Invest was Superior in McCue Leo by Leo De May by Leo. Leo King Babe by Leo King by Leo. Western Pleasure. This horse was out This makes Investment Venture 5 x 6 This made Investment Ms 5 x 3 of Scoots Reflection by Impresser by Iinebred to Leo. Iinebred to Leo. lnvestment Ms is the Impressive. Impressive was Iinebred Investment Asset was a Superior dam of the young colt sired by The to Three Bars. The dam of Scoots performer that was out of Miss Rebel Invester that the McWhirters are Reflection was Miss Bar Scoot by Bar Rita by Top Rebel. Top Rebel was retaining as a replacement for The Scoot by Royal Bar by Three Bars. sired by Rebel Cause by Top Deck.

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leading sire, indicating the true quality this stallion has produced over the “ The six foals that come from this cross (by years. In addition to his 656 ROM show horses, he is the sire of 214 The Big Investment and out of Zippo Pine Bar’s Superior Awards winners and 11 World Champions. His foals have won mares) have an average of 53 points/performer.” in excess of $567,000 in Incentive Fund money and they have earned in excess of $1,000,000 in NSBA The dam of Miss Rebel Rita was Steve Heckaman related similar earnings. Rita’s Orphan by Poco Baron, a stories on the quality that seems to Zippo Pine Bar brings together the grandson of . Rita’s come out in The Big Investment/Zippo blood of Three Bars, Leo, King and Orphan was put of Miss Leo Rita by Pine Bar cross. Joe Moore in his pedigree. His sire Leo Tom by Leo. This makes Both stories begin with Zippo Pine was the NSBA Hall of Fame stallion Investment Asset 5 x 5 Iinebred to Bar’s former owner Norman by Three Bars and his Leo. Reynolds. Reynolds was one of the dam was Leo Pat by Leo. Vested Glory is Superior in Amateur first breeders to send mares to The Dollie Pine was the dam of Zippo and Open Western Pleasure. She is Big Investment. They were daughters Pine Bar. This great mare was an out of Jag’s Velvet Ann by Mr Jag by of Zippo Pine Bar. AQHA Champion and an outstanding Jaguar by Custus Rastus (TB). The Carol McWhirter told me that Darrel producer. She was the dam of 14 dam of Mr Jag was Leo Liz by Leo. Saul’s involvement with The Big foals with five ROM and our AQHA The dam of Jag’s Velvet Ann was Investment began with his annual visit Champions. Her AQHA Champions Quincy Ann by Cuellar by King P-234. to Norman Reynolds’ place to buy were Scarborough Fair, Pat Dollie Quincy Ann was out of Leo Ann by pleasure prospects by Zippo Pine Bar. Pine, Two Eyed Dollie and of course Leo. This makes Jag’s Velvet Ann 3 x Saul owned and showed the great Zippo Pine Bar. 3 Iinebred to Leo and Vested Glory 5 pleasure horse Mr Zippo Pine. It was Dollie Pine was sired by Poco Pine, x 4 x 4 linebred to Leo. Saul’s practice to buy a large number the second leading sire of AQHA As we review these Superior of Zippo Pine Bar foals each year. Champions and a very successful performers sired by The Big On one of his trips, Saul saw several sire. Poco Pine was sired by Poco Investment, we see that the most foals by The Big Investment that were Bueno and he was out of Pretty common name in the pedigree is Leo. out of Zippo Pine Bar mares. Saul Rosalie, dam of three AQHA Leo appears Leo appears on both apparently liked what he saw and he Champions. Her sire was Pretty Boy sides of the pedigree in some form in went to the McWhirters to see The Big by Dodger. 6 of the horses discussed. But we Investment. He then bought into The The dam of Dollie Pine was Hobo don’t see any specific broodmare Big Investment Syndicate. Sue. Hobo Sue was sired by Hobo sires dominating the matings until we Steve Heckaman made a similar trip and out of Home Gal by Mr Pardner. get to the Superior performers to Nebraska to look at Zippo Pine Bar Hobo was sired by Joe Moore. Hobo Investors Skippy and Investors colts with one of his customers, Bob Sue was the dam of 13 foals with four Maiden. Both of these horses are out Perry. Heckaman told the story this AQHA Champions. Her foals include of mares sired by Zippo Pine Bar. way, “When Bob Perry bought Zippo Dollie Pine’s full brothers Pine Bo, Investors Maiden earned a total of Pine Bar, I went with him to Norman AQHA Amateur Superhorse and 112 points and Superiors in Youth Reynolds to pick out some colts by Mister Big Pine, an AQHA Superior Western Pleasure and Open Western Zippo that he could take to his ranch.” performer in Open Western Pleasure, Pleasure. She was out of Sura Shady Heckaman continued, “Norman ran a Youth Western Pleasure and Youth Maiden by Zippo Pine Bar. Investors pen of stud colts in. These was one Horsemanship. As we can see, the Skippy earned 62.5 points and a colt that just stood out beyond the rest pedigree of Zippo Pine Bar gives him Superior Western Pleasure. She was in conformation and movement. I the credentials to be a great sire. out of Zippos Skippy by Zippo Pine picked that colt out and asked Zippo Pine Bar has proven to be a Bar. Norman what he was, and he said, good sire with a variety of bloodlines. The success of these two show ‘You don’t want him, he’s by The Big His foals include Mr Zippo Pine, horses in reinforced by four more Investment and out of a Zippo mare.’” Zippos Mr Goodbar, Zippo Cash Bar, foals by The Big Investment and out “So he ran a pen of fillies up,” added Zippo’s Shasta, Zippos Social Bar, of Zippo Pine Bar’s mares. They are Heckaman, “and I picked a filly and Melody Zipper, Zips Chocolate Chip Investors Jack with 15 AQHA points, the filly struck me the same way the and Zippos Heaven Sent. Investors Zipper with 78.5 points, stud colt did and Norman said, ‘You Mr Zippo Pine and Zippos Mr Invest Ina Legend with 27 AQHA don’t want that one, she’s by The Big Goodbar are full brothers out of points and Zippos Lost Desire with 25 Investment and out of a Zippo mare.’” Tamara Wess, a daughter of Blondy’s AQHA points. The six foals that come The success of Zippo Pine Bar over Dude, a grandson of King P-234. Mr from this cross have an average of 53 the years is a very fine story in its Zippo Pine has earned over $200,000 points/performer. own. Let’s take a closer look at this in western pleasure and Zippos Mr The success of The Big Investment stallion’s career. Zippo Pine Bar came Goodbar is the earner of more than cross on Zippo Pine Bar was profiled out of Nebraska to become the all $50,000. in two stories related to me by two time leading sire of ROM show Zippo Cash Bar was out of different people. Carol McWhirter and horses. He is the AQHA’s perennial Wiescamp bred mare. She was sired

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western pleasure points. Then she was the dam of The Country Bar by “ Zippo Pine Bar brings together the blood of Three Zippo Pine Bar. The Country Bar earned 113.5 AQHA performance Bars, Leo, King and Joe Moore in his pedigree.” points. The next foal we will look at out of The Country Girl is Investors Cluso. Investors Cluso is a Superior by Dollars Cash and out of Nick’s Zipper’s dam Jaguar Sue, we see that Western Pleasure Horse with 55 open Busy Bee by Nick W. Zippos Cash she is Iinebred to King. But her sire is points. His sire was The Invester. The Bar was a Superior Halter Horse and King Jaguar by Jaguar by Custus last performer out of The Country Girl an AQHA Champion. Rastus. will be Zip To The Country with a Zippo’s Shasta was a Superior Zips Chocolate Chip was the 1989 limited show record of 2 western Halter Horse as well. Her dam was AQHA World Champion Junior pleasure points. He was sired by Social Shasta by Social Reward and Western Pleasure Horse. His dam Zippo Pine Bar. The Country Girl’s she was out of Skip Shasta by was Fancy Blue Chip by Custus produce record indicates that this Skipper’s King. The dam of Skip Jaguar by Jaguar by Custus Rastus. mare was a good cross on Zippo Pat Shasta was Shasta by Buck H by Zippos Heaven Sent was a NSBA Bar’s greatest sons, Zippo Pine Bar Nick. High Money winner and a Congress and The Invester. Zippos Social Bar was another Pleasure Futurity winner. His dam The Country Girl was sired by Lad’s Superior Western Pleasure Horse. His was Heaven Sent by Custus Rastus, Zero by Lad’s Image. The sire of dam was Social Kitty by Social the sire of Jaguar. Lad’s Image was Skipper’s Lad. The Reward and she was out of Kitty Bar Now that we have seen some of the dam of Lad’s Image was Shasta Star by Seven Bars. Social Reward by good crosses for Zippo Pine Bar, let’s by Bar Mount and her dam was Skipper W. Social Reward was out of look at some pedigree factors that Shasta Nick by Nick W. Sock Bar by Bar Mount. More of that may contribute to The Big Investment/ The dam of The Country Girl was Wiescamp breeding. Zippo Pine Bar cross. We will start Jodie Durant by Skip Beware by Melody Zipper was one of the all with The Invester, Zippo Pine Bar and Skipper’s King by Skipper W. The time great show horses. His greatest The Country Girl. dam of Skip Beware was Shawnee title was the AQHA Amateur Last month we saw that The Country Maid by Shawnee Shiek by Nick W Superhorse title in 1983. He was also Girl was the dam of several very good and her dam was H J Skipagain by a two-time Amateur All Around show horses. Her first foal was The Skipper W. Champion with about six Amateur Big Investment by The Invester. The Several of the horses sired by Zippo High Point titles to his credit. Big Investment has a limited but good Pine Bar were out of mares that When we first look at Melody show record with his ROM and 11 carried the blood of Hank Wiescamp’s breeding program. They included Zippo’s Cash Bar, Zippo’s Shasta and Zippo’s Social Bar. Zippo’s Shasta was out of Social Shasta by Social Reward. The dam of Social Shasta was Skip Shasta by Skipper’s King and Skip’s Shasta was out of Shasta. The sire of The Country Girl was Lad’s Zero by Lad’s Image by Skipper’s Lad. Lad’s Image is out of Shasta Star, who was out of Shasta Nick. Shasta Nick was out of Shasta, the dam of Skip Shasta, the dam of Social Shasta. Zippo’s Social Bar was out of Social Kitty. Social Kitty was sired by Social Reward by Skip’s Reward by Skipper W. Zippo’s Social Bar was a full sibling to Zippos Skippy. Zippos Skippy was the dam of Investors Skippy, by The Big Investment. Investors Skippy was a Superior Pleasure Horse. Three horses that gave Zippo Pine Bar a lot of notoriety as a sire were Zips Chocolate Chip, Zippos Heaven Sent and Melody Zipper. These three Invest Ina Legend, 1987 sorrel gelding by The Big Investment (left, shown by Dan McWhirter) win- show the ability of Zippo Pine Bar to ning the Nebraska Breeders Futurity Two-Year-Old Championship. Investment Ms, 1987 sorrel mare by The Big Investment (right, shown by Kevin McDavitt) in the same class, won the Reserve cross with the blood of Custus Championship. Rastus.

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Vested Glory by The Big Investment World Show Two Year Old Western was a great show mare, earning her Pleasure Class. She is sired by Good Superior in open and amateur Asset and out of The Big Obsession western pleasure. This mare is out of by The Big Investment. The dam of Jag’s Velvet Ann by Mr Jag by Jaguar The Big Obsession was Zippos Sandy by Custus Rastus. by Zippo Pine Bar. This gives Good We saw that The Country Girl has Obsession 3 crosses to Zippo Pat the ability to cross with both The Bars with a linebreeding pattern of 4 x Invester and Zippo Pine Bar. This 4 x 4. Good Obsession finished eighth brings the discussion to crossing at the World Show out of 73 entries. these two fine stallions which Touched By Asset is sired by constitutes inbreeding to Zippo Pat Investment Asset and was a Two Bars. Year Old Western Pleasure entrant. Inbreeding to a great horse can be His dam is The Light Touch by Zippo both rewarding and troublesome to Jack Bar by Zippo Pine Bar. The dam the breeder. The breeder always of Zippo Jack Bar was Fair Eyed hopes for the best. One of the best Jack, a daughter of Scarborough Fair, out of The Invester/Zippo Pine Bar Good Obsession, 1994 sorrel mare, by Good a full sister to Zippo Pine Bar. This cross would be Vested Pine. This Asset out of The Big Obsession by The Big In- gives this filly a linebreeding pattern of vestment, shown by Patricia Woodrick placed 8th consistent pleasure horse was the in the 1996 World Championship Show Two- 4 x 4 x 5 to Zippo Pat Bars. Champion of the 1996 AII American Year-Old Pleasure Class. Another 2 Year Old Western Quarter Horse Congress Limited Pleasure entrant was lnvestment Open Maturity. Vested Pine is sired The Big Investment colts that Steve Award. This horse was sired by Zippo by The Invester and out of Zippos Bay Heckaman saw at Norman Reynolds’ A Ward by Zippo Pine Bar. The dam Lady by Zippo Pine Bar. This makes place has stuck with him over the of this horse was Investors Skippy, Vested Pine 2 x 3 inbred to Zippo Pat years and he has bred his Zippo Pine the Superior Western Pleasure mare Bars. Bar mares to Principle Investment and we discussed earlier. She was by The The six Big Investment/Zippo Pine now with Potential Investment. His Big Investment and out of Zippos Bar crosses we discussed earlier are faith in this cross is indicated by the Skippy by Zippo Pine Bar, This gives all 3 x 3 Iinebred to Zippo Pat Bars. Principle Investments listed below. us a 3 x 4 x 4 linebreeding pattern to This is a common linebreeding Principle Investment is an up and Zippo Pat Bar. pattern. The horses that carry this coming son of The Big Investment It will probably be a long time before pattern are Investors Zipper, Investors and several of his foals indicate his we truly know the full impact of The Maiden, Investors Skippy, Zippos Lost success with Zippo Pine Bar mares. Big lnvestment on the modern Desire, Investors Jack and Invest lna These foals include Principle N pleasure horse. But this great stallion Legend. Interest, Unprincipled, The Principle seems to have the inside track to The definition of Linebreeding makes Zip, Principle Player and Principle having a lasting influence. He has set the influence of Zippo Pat Bar on this Payment. AII of these show horses the standard by which the McWhirters cross an interesting favor. are out of mares by Zippo Pine Bar have developed their breeding Linebreeding is the breeding system except Principle Payment, who is out program. He has proven to be a solid used to keep a high relationship to of a granddaughter of Zippo Pine Bar. cross with the all time leading sire of some outstanding common ancestor. Investment Asset is proving to be a performance horses. So now only In this case, the outstanding ancestor good siring son of The Big time will tell us how this unique is Zippo Pat Bars. Investment. His foals include stallion will influence the modern Our discussion of Zippo Pine Bar’s Esteemed Investment and These pleasure horse. foals started with the full brothers Mr Eyes Adore You. Both are out of Zippo Pine and Zippos Mr Goodbar. Zippo Pine Bar mares. Esteemed Editor’s Note: Larry Thornton is a The dam of these two were Tamara Investment is out of Zippos Tammy pedigree analyst and breeding Wess, by Blondy’s Dude. When Te, a 3/4 sister to Zippos Mr Goodbar. consultant. If you have any questions Zippos Mr Goodbar was crossed on AII of the Principle lnvestment/ about this article or other bloodlines, Gold Seal Investment by The Big lnvestment Asset foals listed above feel free to call him at 501-293-3101. Investment, they got the good looking were World Show entrants in 1996. Larry is the author of the book “The stallion Good Terms. Good Terms They show a linebreeding pattern to Working Lines”. If you are interested won over $12,700 as a three year old Zippo Pat Bars of 4 x 3 or 4 x 4. in getting a copy, you can contact in Western Pleasure. Good Terms is 3 Good Subsidy was sired by Good Southern Publishing, P.O. Box 71, x 4 linebred to Zippo Pat Bars. Asset, the McWhirters’ son of Zippos Meridian, MS 39302-0071, or phone The crossing of a son of Zippo Pine Mr Goodbar. Good Subsidy is out of 601-693-6607. Bar on a daughter of The Big Investment Subsidy by The Big Investment gives us an indication that Investment, Good Subsidy was a The Big Investment/Zippo Pine Bar 1995 Congress Limited Open Two cross has a future. Here are some Year Old Futurity Finalist. Good more examples of this cross having Subsidy is 4 x 4 Iinebred to Zippo Pat an ongoing place in the pleasure Bars. industry. Good Obsession was in the 1996

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