The Working Lines

By Larry Thornton . . . The Big Investment

is how Carol put it, “The Big Investment was 16 hands and a striking, absolutely beautiful animal. He was such a unique mover. He was very unique in the business. He was a completely different style of mover.” Carol added, “We were confident because we could see from the beginning he was proponent. His colts all looked alike, real pretty headed, real pretty over the back and real pretty in the front legs. A little bit upright in the pasterns but beautiful in their tailset. They looked like cookie cutters, all stand up pretty colts in the same mold.” With the search over, the negotiations completed and the addition of another partner in Mary Lou and Thurman “Dutch” Gay, The Big Investment Syndicate was formed. Darrell Saul of Des Arc, Arkansas later signed on as a partner in the syndicate. Let’s examine the pedigree history of The Big Investment to see where this

The Big Investment with Dan McWhirter at the breeding farm in Doniphan, Nebraska where he stood during the 1985-1986 seasons. PHOTO BY ALFRED JANSSEN

“...16 hands and a striking, absolutely beautiful animal.”

horse should look and work like. They When you study many of the quality may have come from. The Big have set out to breed that type of Investment was bred in Kansas by famous breeding programs in the individual. The horse that set the ideal Quarter Horse industry, you learn that Don Fritzler. He earned his ROM with in their mind was The Big Investment. 11 points. His sire these breeders have developed a The Big Investment came into the standard in their mind of how they was The Invester and his dam was McWhirters’ life when Pam Snow, a The Country Girl. want their horses to look and perform. close friend of Carol’s, approached They have an ideal in mind and they The Invester was a top show horse them about finding a horse her in his own right. He was an AQHA work to get that ideal in their breeding brother, John Hilton, could buy as an program. Champion that was Superior in halter. investment. Dan and Carol set out He earned 53 halter points, 8 This is how Hank Wiescamp put it, looking for the right horse. They felt “I’ve tried to raise what I call model, points, 9 western pleasure points, 2 that the best investment would come points and 2 hunter under useful, versatile horses and I call by buying a stallion. them Quarter Horses. I have my own saddle points. Dan and Carol had heard about The The Invester has become a legend kind, my own type in mind and they Big Investment and went to Kansas to are a family of their own.” Wiescamp in the modern pleasure horse look him over. They found “a big, industry. His record as a sire of set his ideal or type by linebreeding pretty horse that was the type that and inbreeding to Old Fred and his pleasure horses has earned him a would do the hunt seat and the place in the NSBA Hall of Fame. His descendants. Old Fred was the ideal western.” in his mind. foals have earned in excess of Although The Big Investment had a $1,000,000 in western pleasure. Dan and Carol McWhirter of limited show record, he seemed to Doniphan, Nebraska have set an ideal In the AQHA, the Invester is the fifth give the McWhirters confidence that leading sire of AQHA ROM show in their mind of what a great pleasure they had found the right horse. Here PAGE 52  SOUTHERN HORSEMAN JANUARY 1997

great mare Miss Helen. Lad’s Image was out of Shasta Bar “The Invester was sired by … by Bar Mount by DeWitt Bar. Shasta Bar was out of Shasta Nick by Nick another legend in the pleasure industry,” W. This is all Hank Wiescamp breeding. horses with 268 to his credit. He is with foals like The Country Bar, with The dam of Lad’s Zero was Zero’s the sire of 115 AQHA Superior 113.5 points and ROMs in the open, Honey by Johnny Zero by Monterrey performers in 8 events, 15 AQHA amateur and youth divisions; Invester by Pretty Boy. The dam of Johnny Champions and 4 World Champions. Cluso, ROM and Superior in Western Zero was Sturgeon’s ShyAnn by His foals include Impulsions, the 1989 Pleasure with 55 points and Zip To Revenue. The dam of Sturgeon’s Shy AQHA World Champion Two Year Old Ann was Jodie H by Roan Hancock. Snaffle Bit Horse; Iota Invest, 1995 The dam of Zero’s Honey was Honey Congress Two Year Old Snaffle Bit Wilson by Roper Boy by King P-234. Limited Futurity Champion; Investers The dam of Honey Wilson was Daisy Fancy Doll, 1995 Congress Three June Wilson by Wimpy II. Year Old Non Pro Snaffle Bit Derby The dam of The Country Girl was Champion and Vested Pine, 1996 Jodie Durant. This mare earned 1 Congress Limited Open Maturity halter point. She was the dam of one Champion. other performer in Lad’s Imprint, who The Invester was sired by Zippo Pat earned 4 halter points and 5 Bars. Zippo Pat Bars is another performance points. legend in the pleasure industry, and a The Country Girl, (1975-2002) dam of The Big Jodie Durant takes us back to the recent NSBA Hall of Fame Inductee. Investment, pictured at age 23 in Nebraska. Hank Wiescamp breeding program. His greatest claim to fame is as the Her sire was Skip Beware by Skippers sire of The Invester and Zippo Pine The Country, who has earned 2 King by Skipper W. Skipper’s King Bar, the perennial AQHA leading sire western pleasure points. The Country was out of Santa Maria, another of performance point earners. The Bar and Zip To The Country are by famous Wiescamp mare. The dam of sire of Zippo Pat Bars is Zippo Pine Bar and Invester Cluso is Skip Beware was Shawnee Maid by and his dam is the mare, Leo Pat. a full brother to The Big Investment. Shawnee Sheik. Shawnee Maid was The dam of the Invester was the The sire of The Country Girl was out of H J Skippagain by Skipper W. great mare Hank’s Peppy Lou. Lad’s Zero. Lad’s Zero is the sire of This makes The Country Girl Iinebred Hank’s Peppy Lou was sired by Dinky point earners in such events as halter, to Skipper W. Reed by Reed McCue by western pleasure, reining and barrel The dam of Jodie Durant was Joker P-3. The dam of Hank’s Peppy Lou racing. His sire was Lad’s Image, an Mae. This mare was the dam of 5 was Logan’s Miss Lue by Last Hank AQHA Champion son of Skipper’s point earners. They include Hired by Hank H by King P-234. Logan’s Lad. Skipper’s Lad is the sire of such Hand’s Mae, an AQHA Champion; Miss Lue was out of Logan’s Betty by noted horses as the World Champion Wise Queen, Show ROM; Handsome Dinky Reed. This makes Hank’s Halter Stallion Skipa Star. Skipper’s Handy, 16 halter and 1 performance Peppy Lou 1 x 3 inbred to Dinky Lad was bred by Hank Wiescamp and point; Joker Durant, 4 halter and 1 Reed. sired by Skipper W and out of the performance point and Georgia The Invester wasn’t Hank’s Peppy Lou’s only performer. She was the dam of Reinvestment, a ROM performer with 127 working points and 14 halter points. Her other point earner was Nouveau Riche with a ROM and 28 working points. The story on how The Country Girl found her way to the court of The Invester is an interesting one, considering the significance of the foal produced. We’ll let Carol tell the story, “Don and Marian Fritzler had sent a mare two years in a row to be bred to The Invester, without getting a foal. On the third year they switched mares and got a foal. AII of this was a big investment for them and that’s how he became The Big Investment.” The Country Girl earned just one halter point. She was a maiden mare when they took her to The Invester. She has continued to be a producer

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King P-234. Her dam was Flying Diamond, a granddaughter of King P- “Skipper’s Lad [bred by Hank Wiescamp] is 234. Investment Creditor was a full brother to the great show gelding, The the sire of such noted horses as the World Cham- Big Asset. The Big Asset earned an AQHA Superior in youth western pion Halter Stallion Skipa Star.” pleasure and 172.5 points overall in the AQHA.. Durant, a halter point earner. sire of pleasure horse money winners The leading point earner sired by The sire of Joker Mae was Little with $121,042 in earnings in 1989. He The Big Investment appears to be Joker by Joe Bailey P-4. Little Joker had three foals in the top 10 money Hesa Cute Invester. This AQHA show was out of Yellow Jacket’s Sister, a earners, including Principle horse has earned 783 AQHA points full sister to the famous Yellow Jacket. Investment with $50,919; Investment as the 1993 AQHYA Reserve World The dam of Joker Mae was Sequoia Asset with $22,273 and Investment Champion Hunt Seat Equitation Horse by Arthur by Chicaro (TB). Creditor with $20,996. (All three of and with AQHA Championships in the Fate would quickly step in and The these horses were born in his last foal open and youth divisions. He is a Big Investment left the McWhirters’ crop.) The Big Investment was still Superior performer in Youth Halter, life as fast as he had come into it. On #11 on the leading sires of money Youth Showmanship, Hunter Under August 26, 1986, shortly after arriving winners in 1990 with no new two year Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation. at Kansas State University for colic olds to add to the list. surgery, The Big Investment died. Principle Investment was the leading Dan and Carol only had The Big money winner in 1989 after winning Investment for two foal crops, but the such events as the Congress mold was set. He would be their ideal. Pleasure Futurity, the Texas Classic, The loss of The Big Investment The Solid Gold Fall Futurity and the devastated Dan and Carol. Dan has Indiana State Fair Futurity. He is an often told people that, “When The Big AQHA Superior Pleasure Horse with Investment died, that was the closest 66 points and placed fourth in the we’ve come to quitting the horse 1989 World Show Two Year Old business.” Snaffle Bit Futurity. But it may be the words of Jody The dam of Principle investment was Galyean that sums up best the loss of Tiger Serena, a daughter of the great Principle Investment, 1987 bay stallion by The The Big Investment. Galyean once Tiger Leo, NSBA Hall of Fame Big Investment and out of Tiger Serena, in told Gary Trubee the following: “We member. Investment Style was an 1989 earned NSBA High Point Two Year Old and NSBA High Money Earner All Ages Titles. finally found a horse that made it easy NSBA money winning full sister to His Championships at the Major Futurities and for us. Then he up and dies.” Principle Investment. the Congress garnered earnings in cash and Carol uses Darrell Saul’s ride on The Investment Asset was the seventh prizes in excess of $75,000. Big Investment to show how easy this leading money winner in 1989. He PHOTO BY DON SHUGART horse was to ride. Darrell got on The earned $49,875. He was a Reserve Big Investment and loped him around. World Champion Junior Pleasure The dam of Hesa Cute Invester is A The horse just knocked it out. He Horse and an AQHA Superior Cute Copy by Old Copy Cat by Old didn’t go anywhere and pointed his Pleasure Horse with 72 points. Tom Cat. Old Tom Cat was sired by front toe with a perfect length of The dam of Investment Asset was Robin Reed by Leo. The dam of A stride. It couldn’t have been any the McWhirters’ great mare, Miss Cute Copy was Plum Cute by Mr prettier on a completely loose rein. Rebel Rita by Top Rebel by Rebel Dynamo, a grandson of Leo. This Darrell loped him around a few circles Cause by Top Deck (TB). The dam of makes A Cute Copy 4 x 4 Iinebred to and said, ‘How’d you train him to do Miss Rebel Rita was Rita’s Orphan by Leo. this’, We said, “Darrell, we didn’t train Poco Baron. Investment Asset was The show record of The Big him to do this, it’s just him.” That was her first foal. Investment’s foals isn’t limited to the when Darrell Saul bought into The Big Investment Creditor was the ninth pleasure class. Gilt Edged Lady is a Investment Syndicate. leading NSBA money winner in 1989, Superior Halter Horse. She has The sire record of The Big earning $20,996. He was the earned 54 halter points, 16 Investment is another indication of Champion of the Nina Stallion Owners performance points and was twice an what the industry lost with the death Futurity with top ten finishes at the AQHYA Top Ten Halter Mare. of the horse that was easy to ride. He Congress, Reno Spectacular and the Gilt Edged Lady was out of Butler’s was foaled in 1980 and sired 129 Solid Gold. Investment Creditor has Tona Reed becloud Booger Bar by AQHA registered foals with 74 joined the stallion roster at the Hunt’s Good Bar. The dam of Butler’s performers earning 66 ROMs. He McWhirters. Tona Reed was Tona Reed by Star sired 27 AQHA Superior show horses. The dam of Investment Creditor was Tona by Star Deck. His performers averaged 56 points the legendary show mare Kings Some other performers sired by The each. Bambi by Sonnys Dyn O Mite by Big Investment would include According to Equi-Stat records in the Sonny Dee Bar. The dam of Kings Investment Venture, an Amateur “Quarter Horse News”, The Big Bambi was King’s Trinket by King P- Superior performer in Hunter Under Investment was the second leading 234. King’s Bambi was 1 x 3 inbred to Saddle and Western Pleasure;

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So just where does this top line come from? My conversation with “ We didn’t train him to do this, it’s just him.” Heckaman came up with at least one common denominator for the strong top line. Heckaman developed his Secured Investment, a Superior money winning rider in 1989 when appreciation for a strong top line while performer in Western Pleasure and The Big Investment was the second working for Larry Sullivant. Vested Glory, a Superior performer in leading sire. Heckaman’s leading Here is what Sullivant taught Amateur and Open Western Pleasure. mount was Principle Investment. He Heckaman. “Larry always told me on One of the great crosses for The Big fully credits a strong top line as the a halter horse everything hangs from Investment has been back on key to The Big Investment’s unique the top. lf the top line is not right on a daughters of Zippo Pine Bar, the other style. Here is what he had to say, halter horse, nothing below it can be great son of Zippo Pat Bars. This “The Big Investment, and through his exactly right. It took me a while to cross has produced such noted sons, have probably got the most understand what he was talking horses as Investers Maiden, the incredible top line of any line of about, but if a horse has a perfect earner of 112 points with Superiors in pleasure horses. From form to kind of top line, then the back fits the Western Pleasure and Youth Western function, they’re probably the most shoulder, and the loin fits the back, Pleasure; Investors Skippy, the earner correct because they’re higher in the and the croup fits into the loin, the of 62.5 with a Superior in Open wither than in the hip. If everything in way it should, and they’ve got that Western Pleasure; Investers Jack, the the top line is right, then the legs and level symmetry that they should have, earner of 15 points; Investors Zipper, all the foundation is bound to hang off then the hocks are supposed to hang the earner of 78.5 points, Invest Ina the top correctly. When a horse has right because everything hangs from Legend, the earner of 27 points and an up and down top line that drops off the top line down. The angle of the Zippos Lost Desire, the earner of 25 in the croup or they’re low in the back hocks has to be about right if the points. These six performers have a or high behind, the foundation horse is made right in the croup.” point average of 53.5 points per structure is changed.” He continued, “The mare The Big performer. lnvestment was out of is a beautiful When you discuss the unique mare. She has that kind of top line. movement of The Big Investments, That halter conformation top line the conversation seems to focus on we’re talking about. Skipa Star had the strong level back and this sire’s the ultimate top line on a halter horse ability to instill this conformation into and she had that same kind of top his foals. line. I think that could very well be Trainer Gary Trubee describes the where that came from. It looked like movement of The Big Investments big The Big Investment was deeper in the way, “When The Big Investments heart girth and a stretchier version of move they are so strong in their back the mare, but from the wither to his and loin that it is effortless for them to croup you could see that he got his propel themselves, to push top and his back from his mother.” themselves along. They are correctly Heckaman also explained that made for a pleasure horse and they although The Country Girl was not a don’t have a lot of knee. They lift in big mare, he believes The Big the front end and then put it down. Investment got his size from his They don’t get into a front wheel drive mother. syndrome. They use their hooks so Whata Investment, 1984 sorrel/tobiano stallion The common denominator in well allowing them to pick up the front by The Big Investment out of Skiparado’s Joy, Heckaman’s discussion of the top line end and go in unison.” is an APHA World Champion sire. is Skipper’s Lad. Skipper’s Lad is the Carol has her own unique way of PHOTO BY RICK CHILDRESS sire of Skipa Star and the paternal describing the movement of The Big He continued, “The Big Investment grandsire of Lad’s Zero. Investments, “When they loped it was had such an unreal top line and Whata Investment is the only paint like they were a marionette and there horses bred that way seem to move stallion sired by The Big Investment were strings in the middle of their from the top line like they use their and he adds some interesting food for back, and they’d take a stride and the hind legs out of the stifle — instead of thought on the role of Skippers ad and marionette would be lifted into the air bending their hock and placing it a strong top line, The McWhirters are and then laid back down. It wasn’t forward, they seem to swing their legs proud to say that Whata Investment necessary for the head and neck to from the top line. The stallion I won looks the most like The Big pump up and down to help carry them the Congress on and was Reserve Investment of any offspring they’re along.” Carol also explained that they World Champion in the Junior this involved with. Whata Investment would appear suspended in the air year, Potential Investment, has the makes this interesting because he is because they were lifting with their same top line, shoulder and heart linebred to Skippers Lad through his back and that the whole procedure girth that his sire Principle Investment sire and his dam. He is 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 was in unison, making for a pretty has and Principle inherited that from Iinebred to Skipper’s Lad. His dam picture. The Big Investment. So it is a pretty carries three of these crosses. Steve Heckaman was the leading strong trait in that line.” Carol has done some research of

PAGE 55  SOUTHERN HORSEMAN JANUARY 1997 her own on where the size of The Big Champion. Investment Creditor is the Investment may have come from. She sire of such noted horses as feels that Jodie Durant is a key to the Investment Advisor, 298 points with size of The Big Investment. She got Superiors in Youth Western Pleasure the following description of Jodie and Horsemanship and Lazy Levis, Durant from long-time Nebraska with 40 AQHA points. Whata horseman Elmer Epp: “He said, ‘Jodie Investment is the sire of Accountants Durant was ahead of her time. She Girl, an APHA World Champion in had a lot of size and she was a big Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. modern elegant mare.’ And from the But the McWhirters’ commitment to description Elmer gave me of Jodie reach their ideal is summed up best Durant, The Big Investment takes by what Carol said at the end of our after her. At least the stretch came interview. “When The Big Investment from Jodie Durant.” Jodie Durant has Investment Ms, 1987 sorrel mare by The Big died, we based our breeding program her pedigree roots in the Wiescamp Investment out of Leo King Babe shown win- on him. He set our standard, our breeding of her sire, Skip Beware. ning the Junior Pleasure Championship at the ideal. We feel are fortunate to have 1990 National Western Livestock Show. The Carol’s story of Darrell Saul riding earner of $7,475 and 51 points, she is the dam been associated with a horse like The The Big Investment seems to give us of Absolute Investment. Big Investment. They come along an indication of the natural ability of PHOTO BY BROWARNY once in a lifetime. I believe he is why this line of horses and the strong we have been successful in the traceability of the line. Here is how money. The seven money earners breeding business, because we Trubee described the traceability of averaged $5,346. The leading money started with the best. You can’t get to The Big Investments, “It’s like they winner was Ultra Asset. what you want until you know what read the book on how to be train- Ultra Asset gives us a tie between you want. By having The Big able. These horses are hogbacked The Big Investment, the leading Investment first, we knew what we and that makes them special in the broodmare sire and The Big wanted.” fact that they are physically capable of Investment, the leading paternal The McWhirters put the pleasure doing it but they are also mentally grandsire. Ultra Asset is sired by world on notice in the early. 1990s capable of doing it.” Investment Asset and out of Ultra when they became principal members Investment, both sired by The Big of The Invester Syndicate along with Investment. Wayne Atchley, The move to The Big Investment was the fourth Nebraska allowed The Invester to re- leading paternal grandsire of money establish his credentials as a top sire winners in 1994. The top money of pleasure horses. winners were Ultra Asset and With The Invester working towards Potential Investment. Potential the end of his breeding career, they Investment is sired by Principle have been looking for a replacement Investment. for this great sire. They believe they The Big Investment has carried on have two very good prospects. One of his strength as a paternal grandsire them is a son of The Invester that is by being third on this list in 1995. out of a Zippo Pine Bar mare. Dan Investment Asset was #5 on the feels this colt is as good as any horse Investment Asset, 1987 bay stallion by The leading sire list in 1995. His money they’ve bred. Big Investment out of Miss Rebel Rita, shown winners include Little Bit Of Asset, The other prospect is by The winning the 1990 Junior Western Pleasure Regal Asset, Heza Snazzy Asset and Invester and out of Investment Ms, a Reserve World Championship. Smart Asset. Principle Investment Superior Pleasure Mare by The Big PHOTO BY HAROLD CAMPTON was #7 on the leading sire list in 1995. Investment. Carol used words like Trubee went on to explain that he His money winners include Principles “neat” and “real tall” to describe this had found this trainability to be Miss and Gab Hot Investment. colt, Absolute Investment. He even especially true of colts out of The legacy of The Big Investment is has The Big Investment’s unique style daughters of The Big Investment. He certainly well represented on the of movement. By the way, these two states, “The colts out of daughters of current sires lists. But there is another colts aren’t for sale, indicating the The Big Investment seem to be legacy being carried on through the ideal established by The Big reading the book and saying ‘What McWhirter breeding program. The Investment is still alive and that the can I do to help you’, They already McWhirters have kept 20 daughters pursuit of this ideal is an ongoing know what you want. They just want and three sons of The Big Investment. legacy from The Big Investment. to know how you want them to do it. The three sons of The Big Very, very trainable horses and I think Investment are Custom Investment, Editor’s Note: Larry Thornton is a pedigree that trainability and conformation go Investment Creditor and Whata analyst and breeding consultant. If you have any questions about this article or other hand in hand.” Investment. Custom Investment is bloodlines, feel free to call him at 501-293- The Big Investment daughters made unshown, but proving to be a sire with 3101. Larry is the author of the book “The him the second leading maternal foals like Custom Glow, with 53.5 Working Lines”. If you are interested in getting a grandsire of money earners in 1994. points and Miss Custom Charlie, a copy, you can contact Southern Publishing, P.O. Box 71, Meridian, MS 39302-0071, or This is from only 7 grandest to earn Nebraska Breeder’s Futurity phone 601-693-6607.

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