050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd

A LEGEND Among Horsemen

Starting with a dream and love of good , Rebecca Tyler Lockhart created a colorful future for generations to come.

By JESSICA HEIN COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

50 u August 2015 u PAINT JOURNAL 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

Enamored with the Western lifestyle, Growing up, Rebecca was sur- Other family members were Rebecca Tyler Lockhart was destined rounded by horsemen, including immersed in ranching and race- to be a cowgirl from an early age. Cheyenne Rodeo-winning cow- horses, and they helped feed boy Foreman Faulker. Rebecca’s love of horses.

rowing up in the heart of Quarter A Horsewoman at Heart GHorse country, north of the Red Perhaps it was her Cherokee heri- River that splices Texas and Okla- tage, or maybe it was her family’s close homa, Rebecca Tyler Lockhart had a ties to ranching, but Rebecca had front-row seat to some of the horse horses in her blood from an early age. industry’s most iconic stock. Legend- Born in 1927, the young woman from ary sires like Leo, Sugar Bars and Joe Ryan, Oklahoma, was surrounded by Hancock called the region home, and ranchers, ropers and racehorses. the opportunity to see such greats in “One uncle, Foreman Faulker, lived the flesh shaped Rebecca’s appreciation out in Pawhuska, Oklahoma—he for quality stock horses. It also planted roped and was a steer tripper, and he the seed for what would later grow won Cheyenne,” recalled Rebecca’s into the world’s second-largest equine daughter, Robin Tyler. “Back in those breed association, the American Paint days, if you won Cheyenne, you Horse Association. were considered a world champion. Forever grateful for her contribu- Another uncle, Taylor “Tate” Faulkner, tions, the Paint Horse world said was the sheriff of Tulsa and had race- goodbye to this legendary horse- horses. One of the Barrett uncles, Silas woman and APHA founder May 31 Sapington Barrett, owned racehorses, when 87-year-old Rebecca closed her too. Mother’s cousin, Dick Barrett, eyes for the last time in Gainesville, was a really good cowboy and a great Texas. Rebecca’s legacy lives on in athlete—he college-rodeoed in five the barns of Paint Horse enthusiasts events. everywhere, stamped indelibly on their “Mother was precocious; she was the hearts through the shared love of stock first grandchild. She was very intel- horses that stand out from the crowd ligent, but she always would rather with the perfect amount of chrome. be out on a horse. The uncles would

PAINT HORSE JOURNAL u August 2015 u 51 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY APHA FILE PHOTO

Rebecca’s appreciation for Marrying noted Quarter Horse trainer The lifelong horsewoman was quality horses continued to George Tyler in 1954, Rebecca found quick to introduce her daughters— grow, and she amassed a herself thrust into the heart of the stock Ruth (pictured) and Robin—to herd of well-bred mares. horse industry. horses, too.

come and get Becky out of school to shipped Mother off to a Catholic Robin said. “A lot of Quarter Horses, work cattle.” boarding school in Tulsa. The nuns like Leo, had an . Back Though her attendance in the made sure Rebecca finished school. then, people didn’t understand the schoolroom was a little spotty, Her uncles used to come get her genetics, however, so they’d just blame Rebecca’s horsemanship skills were on and they would go watch Leo run the mare for cropouts, and Mother just the fast track, both in and out of the on the brushtracks. That was her hated when that happened. Mother saddle. early indoctrination in horses … in was always for the underdog—she had “Mother grew up in Ryan, which good horses.” such a kind heart, and she thought is northeast of Wichita Falls,” Robin something should be done about it.” said. “That area of Texas and Okla- homa had some big ranches, and Kitchen-Ta b l e R o o t s their horses were renowned for being What was missing, With her love of horses firmly in the toughest. They had good using however, was a tow, Rebecca found herself thrust into horses and would run the best ones the heart of the stock horse industry on the track. Growing up in that area, splash of chrome in when she married her second husband, Mother developed an appreciation for an otherwise earth- George Tyler, a renowned Quarter good horses.” Horse breeder, trainer, exhibitor and While Rebecca’s approach to edu- toned world. judge from Gainesville, Texas, in 1954. cation was nonchalant—she valued With name recognition on her side, time spent aboard a good horse more Rebecca carved a spot as a respected so than hours trapped in a school- As a teenager and young woman, breeder and exhibitor in the male- house riding a desk—her mother, Rebecca put together a band of dominated horse industry of the 1950s Oolucha, placed a higher value on foundation-bred Quarter Horse and ’60s. scholarship. broodmares, demonstrating her eye for What was missing, however, was “She could do the work; she just quality horseflesh. Though her horses a splash of chrome in an otherwise didn’t want to,” Robin said about her at the time were of a plainer palette, earth-toned world. Dyed-in-the-wool mother. “Finally, out of desperation Rebecca always had an eye for chrome. Quarter Horse breeders shunned col- to get her through high school, my “She always liked Paint-colored orful cropouts, but flashy and grandmother trumped everyone and horses because the Indians rode them,” always captured Rebecca’s

52 u August 2015 u PAINT HORSE JOURNAL 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd APHA FILE PHOTO APHA FILE PHOTO COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

Paints like L.N.’s top cutting mare Cherokee Maiden was one For the association’s early marketing efforts, Uvalde Doll, helped motivate of the first mares registered Rebecca often turned to family and friends Rebecca to start an association to when Rebecca founded the for promotional images. Her daughters are give colorful stock horses a place American Paint Stock Horse pictured here with horseman L.N. Sikes. Association in 1962. to shine.

attention; they were, after all, the other associations, but Rebecca per- On February 16, 1962, a group of perfect way to stand out in a mono- severed, her mind’s eye focused on 16 supporters of painted stock horses chromatic marketplace. Through her the end goal. Taking action, Rebecca gathered at the Curtwood Motel in industry connections, Rebecca knew picked up the telephone in the early Gainesville for what would become the good stock-type Paints were out there. 1960s and started dialing likeminded inception of the American Paint Stock A few, like Junior Robertson’s Wahoo friends, outlining her plan for the Horse Association. There, Rebecca was King, were making waves in the rodeo new association. Handwritten notes elected secretary of the fledgling breed, pen; others were relegated to barns about supporters and registerable Paint and it wasn’t long before those scraps and back pastures, full of potential but of paper on her kitchen table turned without a place to shine. into hand-painted registration certifi- “I knew we had a good product to cates recognizing the organization’s promote,” Rebecca said in a July 1992 first registered horses. Paint Horse Journal article, titled “A “I saw a need, “We liked the challenge of coming Day with Rebecca Lockhart.” “I could from behind. The other stock horse see a need for an association devoted and I knew breeds had been organized for more entirely to the painted, stock-type I could make than 20 years when we started,” she horse. The Pinto Horse Association said in the 1992 story. “We had seen a was already in existence, but I wanted it work.” few good Paints and realized we could an association that specialized in combine conformation, ability and and Quarter Horse class with an extra dash of color and bloodlines and the qualities they rep- Horses covered her wooden kitchen individuality—and hold our own with resented. I saw a need, and I knew I table, and her efforts ignited interest the other breeds.” could make it work.” among horsemen around the Red The “Good ’Ole Boy” network was Like a spark to kindling, that desire River and beyond. firmly entrenched in the 1960s stock to give colored stock horses a place of “People rallied around Mother,” horse industry, but Rebecca didn’t let their own in the pedigreed livestock Robin said. “She was the kind of per- that minor hurdle detour her vision. world caught fire in Rebecca’s mind. son that people wanted to rally around “They were starting registries left Plenty of obstacles stood in her way in anyway; Mother never had an ego. It and right in those days. When she an era that saw the birth of countless was always about the horses.” started, there were a lot of raised

PAINT HORSE JOURNAL u August 2015 u 53 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

Though Rebecca was best known for her behind- the-scenes work as the association’s founder, she Always a fan of chrome, Rebecca and her daughters made was a noted showman, too. The horsewoman cherished memories from the backs of their Paints. successfully showed Cherokee Maiden and many others at and under saddle.

eyebrows around the country,” said “The only time we really got our to get out there and promote the Sam Ed Spence, APHA executive pictures taken was when it was for good horses while also enjoying the secretary from 1964 to 1975. “She had promotional images for the Paint experience.” foresight and understanding coupled breed,” Robin laughed. “Mother The hard work and dedication of with great horsemanship, which was a was very visual—she could see in Rebecca and other Paint Horse pio- rare combination.” her mind what she wanted, and she neers promised success for the young “Her dedication and determination could stay true to that vision. Pro- breed. By the end of 1962, APSHA were just beyond belief. The odds were had registered 250 Paint Horses, and really against her, but she just wouldn’t the association counted 150 members. quit,” quipped Ed Roberts, who served The following year, APSHA had more as APHA executive secretary from 1975 than 1,250 registered Paint Horses, to 2001. “Above all, she was such a “She was such and its numbers continued to sky- respected horseman by everyone. She a respected rocket from there. knew pedigrees, she knew bloodlines, “It really took off beyond anyone’s she knew people and she knew confor- horseman by expectations,” Robin said. “The aim mation like no one I’d ever been around ” was to give the underdog horses— before. She was absolutely incredible.” everyone. Paints—a place of their own and a Armed with a typewriter and way to recognize their value. The rolls of brown ribbon, Rebecca cor- growth of it all was just icing on responded with horsemen far and moting them and really getting the the cake. And the fact that so many wide who shared her love for colored people together was done by pure wonderful people went on with stock horses, encouraging them to instinct.” them and did well, that was a really register their Paints and join the young Key to the association’s success was neat thing.” association. And without any formal its emphasis on camaraderie between After the association gained a training—but always with the goal of likeminded horsemen. firm foothold, Rebecca took a step promoting the Paint Horse—Rebecca “It was just fun, and that was what back, choosing to let others take over spearheaded the association’s early Mother had wanted,” Robin said. the spotlight as leaders in the Paint marketing campaigns. “The emphasis was for everybody industry.

54 u August 2015 u PAINT HORSE JOURNAL 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

Promoting the breed was done by instinct, Robin says about Rebecca put a premium on the breed’s fun, fam- her mother’s efforts. From competitions to parades and every- ily atmosphere, using it as a catalyst to attract new thing in between, Rebecca was always championing Paints. members and their horses.

“I felt that I had done my job,” with the ingredients it took to keep at impressive—perhaps even more so—is Rebecca said in the July 1992 inter- it, and you had creative people around the fact that the organization was view. “I had reached my goal and felt it her who had the credentials, skills and founded by a single hand, an anomaly was time for some of the members to abilities to make it come to fruition. in the world of breed registries. start playing a more active role. I knew It was Mother’s idea and she led the “It’s one of a kind. I don’t know we had good people and that they way, but she had amazing people sup- of any other that was would do an excellent job.” porting her. Mother never had an ego entirely founded by one person that Rebecca’s humble departure per- stayed the course this long,” Ed said. fectly encapsulated her personality. She “Lesser people would not have had the never sought the spotlight for herself spirit to continue on, because it was en route to doing what was best for the not easy. If she wasn’t a pioneer, I don’t horse. “ know what is.” “Mother never thumped her chest It was a case For Robin, who was only about 5 at about anything—if you didn’t know where the stars the time the association was gaining a her, you’d never know she had founded foothold, Rebecca’s boundless enthu- the association,” Robin said. “But she lined up.” siasm for promoting the breed left a was very proud for the horses, and she lasting impression. was proud that she was able to have a “I learned so much, and it shapes part in it.” you in ways you don’t even realize. to feed—she didn’t need the notoriety People sometimes think you have to be Paint Pioneer or the recognition; she just wanted the a Type A personality or aggressive to Visionary, tenacious, dedicated— horses to have a chance. And she got get things done,” Robin said. “Mother each word helps paint the picture of that done in her own way.” was Type Z. She did it her way—a Rebecca’s contributions to the horse From Rebecca’s kitchen table in kinder, gentler way—but it worked. industry, but none completely captures Gainesville, the American Paint I learned from Mother to always be her impact. Stock Horse Association grew into honest and that a lot of times, if you’re “It was a case where the stars lined APHA, the world’s second-largest patient, you can get more done that up,” Robin said. “You had a visionary equine breed association. Equally has longer-lasting effects. Mother was

PAINT HORSE JOURNAL u August 2015 u 55 050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen Modified: July 14, 2015 9:08 AM Files:Publications:PHJ:08.15 Journal:08.15-Sent to Rip:050-057-LegendAmongHorsemen.indd APHA FILE PHOTO HUBLEIN PHOTOGRAPHY APHA FILE PHOTO

In recognition of her efforts As the association got rolling in the 1960s, Rebecca, accompanied by in founding APHA, Rebecca Rebecca stepped back from her leadership roles daughter Robin, was the first was honored with the National as founder and secretary, but she never gave up inductee in APHA’s inaugural Golden Spur Award and is a her Paints. She’s pictured with Dusty Siemon, a Hall of Fame class in 2012. National Cowgirl Museum and 1994 stallion descended from Hall of Fame inductee. her great Paint and Quarter Horse dynasties.

such a good role model for little girls members owe a great deal to this hum- ability. The ability and conformation who have dreams.” ble horsewoman, who quietly defied always has to come before the color, In recognition of the heart and soul the odds in pursuit of a dream. but when you’ve got all those ingredi- Rebecca poured into the Paint Horse “I hope people will continue to ents, it’s magic.” industry, she was honored in 2000 as enjoy APHA and the fun and fellow- an inductee to the National Cowgirl ship with other horsepeople, kind of Museum and Hall of Fame; in 2003, like what we had back in Gainesville Jessica Hein is editor of the Paint Horse Rebecca received the National Golden around the kitchen table or at the Journal. To comment on this article, Spur Award from the National Ranch- Curtwood. I hope they can keep it email [email protected] ing Heritage Center. And during that way while still breaking records APHA’s 50th anniversary celebration in and showcasing the beautiful horses,” 2012, Rebecca was the first inductee— Robin said. “To me, there’s nothing as fittingly—in the association’s inaugural pretty as a good Paint Horse. There’s Hall of Fame class, along with her a balance between breeding for color great tobiano mare, Cherokee Maiden. and breeding for conformation and “I don’t think Mother, in her wild- est dreams, ever imagined it would become the No. 2 registry. She was very, very proud,” Robin said. “Mother “ would have been so pleased that so Mother was such a many people are still following her good role model for little dream and that the horse is being valued, promoted, bred, used and girls who have dreams.” enjoyed.” Rebecca’s vision—creating a place of prominence for Paint Horses—lives on in the hearts and pastures of Paint Horse lovers everywhere. APHA COURTESY ROBIN TYLER COURTESY

56 u August 2015 u PAINT HORSE JOURNAL The Horsewoman’s Herd A noted breeder, Rebecca’s influence in the stock horse world spanned multiple breeds: Quarter Horses, , and, of course, Paint Horses. The horsewoman is credited with several early APHA notables; they include:

Cherokee Maiden—a 1960 tobiano mare by Osage Dan (QH) and out of Maggie. Purchased by Rebecca as a yearling, Cherokee Maiden was one of the first mares Rebecca regis- tered in the young association. Shown at halter and in Western pleasure, Cherokee Maiden racked up an impressive show re- cord. She was named national champion in halter at the 1963 APSHA Finals, forerunner to the APHA National and World Shows; later, Cherokee Maiden produced five foals. The mare was inducted into APHA’s Hall of Fame in 2012. APHA FILE PHOTO

Lone Wolf—a 1963 blue Cherokee War Chief—a tobiano stallion by Leo 1964 tobiano stallion San Siemon (QH) and out of by Leo San Siemon (QH) Gray Eagle. Sired by one of and out of Papoose. Spend- Rebecca’s top Quarter Horse ing his first three years in stallions, Lone Wolf was Rebecca’s barn, Cherokee bred by Rebecca’s brother War Chief earned his APHA but owned by the horse- Championship in 1971 and woman herself. A four-time became Supreme Champi- national champion, Lone on No. 8 in 1972. All told, he Wolf earned titles at halter in earned points in 13 events, 1964 and 1965 and captured along with a 1971 reserve the 1967 championship in national championship in halter and Western pleasure. Pole Bending. APHA FILE PHOTO APHA FILE PHOTO

Linda Siemon—a 1965 Tom Tom—a 1965 brown sorrel tobiano mare by Leo overo stallion by Leo San San Siemon (QH) and out of Siemon (QH) and out of Painted Linda Bird. Bred by Mama Bear. Bred by Rebec- Rebecca, Linda Siemon was ca, Tom Tom was an APHA another good product of Champion with points in six Leo San Siemon. She won a events. 1967 national championship at halter and went on to pro- duce four foals. APHA FILE PHOTO APHA FILE PHOTO

Hank-A-Chief—a 1969 bay tobiano stallion by Skip’s Lad and out of Cherokee Maiden. Bred by Rebecca, “Hank” was sold as a 2-year-old and left his mark as a sire. Among his get are 18 APHA Champion earners and four national champion- ship title winners. APHA FILE PHOTO