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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
 
| American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
During the formative years of AQHA, Joe Hancock caused a lot of controversy. Some swore by the stallion’s abilities and others cussed his breeding. Few horsemen could say what a Quarter Horse was, but they knew, “it dang sure wasn’t a *Percheron.”
Joe Hancock was foaled in 1923 and was by John Wilkins, by Peter McCue, and out of a half-Percheron mare. Joe Hancock’s breeder, John Jackson Hancock, lived in the Canadian breaks of the Texas Panhandle. The rancher kept a band of 35 to 40 mares, and periodically bred five or six mares to a small *Percheron stallion.
As a long yearling, the brown colt was moved to Nocona, Texas, where John’s son, Joe lived. Joe ran a few ranch horses and did not need a stallion. The vet was called and the stallion was hobbled so he could be castrated. The vet, Jim Klingensmith, looked at the colt and said, “Joe, I’ve cut a lot of horses, and I’m fixing to cut another one. But ****, this is a helluva horse.” Joe looked at the brown colt, thought a minute, and said, “Let’s take those hobbles off.”
After using Joe Hancock on cattle, the rancher thought the horse might have some speed. The stallion was sent to Bird Ogles in Oklahoma to race. Ogles took the stallion to a county fair, and the racing secretary asked for the colt’s name, Ogles said, “He doesn’t have one, but he belongs to a man named Hancock. Just call him Joe Hancock.”
After scores of races, the stallion was sold to Bird Ogles’ son, George, for $1,000, an exorbitant amount during the Depression. The new owner turned around and sold the stallion to Tom Burnett, owner of the Burnett/Triangle Ranch, for $2,000. Joe Hancock began his career as a senior stallion for the Burnett Ranches. Horses such as Red Man, Little Joe The Wrangler, Joe Tom, Roan Hancock and Brown Joe are remembered for their powerful builds and level-heads. Horsemen remember half brothers Popcorn and Peanut, sired by Roan Hancock, who won the hearts of ropers Shoat Webster and Everett Shaw.
Joe Hancock died in 1943 at 20, and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1992. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
  
Location: Oklahoma | They are still very much at the fore front too of multiple disciplines...Cowans, Potters, and many more have based their programs around these bloodlines.... I still blame you... |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | TwistedK - 2016-01-22 12:16 PM They are still very much at the fore front too of multiple disciplines...Cowans, Potters, and many more have based their programs around these bloodlines.... I still blame you...
LOL---I accept the responsibility. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| This link has some more cool stories about Joe Hancock.
http://americashorsedaily.com/the-story-of-joe-hancock/ |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | One of my friends own a few who were heavy line-bred in their pedigree. Those she owns, I love them and would love to have one of them. They do not suffer fools though. You better be a good rider/leader or they won't respect you. On the other hand, once they do respect you, there's nothing they wouldn't do for you. |
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Regular
Posts: 82
| http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/mr+maple+duck
I own a daughter and grandson out of this "Hancock" stud. I realize Joe Hancock is quite a ways down the line, but I love both of mine for very different reasons and have NEVER had trouble (knock on wood) with one acting broncy or anything.
The daughter made me fall in love with mares. She is so tough and smart. Has a totally different kind of "try" than any of my geldings. Picked up everything we ever threw at her with ease, and almost over night. I agree with others that have said to not pick at these horses. She used to lock up in the box when I would rope on her, but looking back (and as I worked through the issue over a long period of time), I realized it was my own fault and not just her being a rip. Guide them - they'll do it. Don't force them. They're smart and want to please, but want to do it themselves.
Edited by Two Nickles 2016-01-22 2:42 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Red Raider - 2016-01-22 11:34 AM
One of my friends own a few who were heavy line-bred in their pedigree. Those she owns, I love them and would love to have one of them. They do not suffer fools though. You better be a good rider/leader or they won't respect you. On the other hand, once they do respect you, there's nothing they wouldn't do for you.
Best description I've read! |
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 Transplant Okie
Posts: 1206
Location: Always on call..... | We have two that each came from different breeders that specifically bred the Hancock line for ranch/rope horses. The gelding is old now, 24, but was my husbands ranch and rope horse for over 10 years. He was broncy when he was young - hubby got him for free because he bucked everybody off. He was a tough SOB, though. Could literally be used all day on a 6000 acre ranch and then taken to a team roping at night. It took hubby a couple of years of using him hard but then he became the reliable horse everyone wanted to ride. He hasn't totally lost his broncy personality, though - 2 years ago I jumped on him to heel a few steers and he crow hopped down the arena with me. Lol.
We have a younger mare that has even more Hancock bloodlines but she is the sweetest horse. Has been a lover ever since we got her as a two year old. Never once bucked, picks up on everything fast. She's hubby's current ranch horse. I wouldn't hesitate to put anyone's kid or grandma on her.
So I think it just depends on the breeding and early handling. Both of ours turned out to great horses, but one was definitely a bronc for awhile. |
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Regular
Posts: 73
| I have a Hancock mare I have had her for 13 years I got her when she was a yearling she was not even halter broke. She spent the first year of her life in a pasture. She was the easiest horse I have ever had to ride she is smart willing and fun. She does everything I ask her and it's always easy for her. She rides with a piece of string around her neck she is just so broke. She never gives me a hard time. I did let a friend ride her for a few weeks while I was busy and she claimed she sucked her head down hard and fast once and bucked but I never ever had the experience with her. She is by far the best horse I have had. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I bought my paint horse at a sale because he was a grandson of Cherokee Indian. I didn't know the breeding on his sire's side. Turns out the sire is linebred Hancock off the Gist Ranch. www.allbreedpedigree.com/buck+hancock+gray
This horse honestly scared me because of his bloodlines. I expected to get bucked off everytime I rode him and he never bucked - never has.
He is the smartest horse I've ever ridden. He is very bonded to me, never liked strangers as a young horse, but is better now that he's older.
So in summary, he's a little strange, but he will give 110% and aims to please. He was super easy to train.
Edited by Fun2Run 2016-01-22 1:31 PM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| The ones I've had were really line bred. I've had two geldings, one was tall and fast and ugly. The other was short, stout, and couldn't outrun a bumble bee. I started them both as youngsters and they were easy, intelligent, and both absolutely loved me. They were very in your pocket. They were pretty hard headed but once you convinced them of your way, they stuck to it. Both were tough tough tough and didn't recognize pain.
If I were a team roper rather than running barrels, I'd want some roany ponies under me for sure. The tall fast horse was a great barrel horse, but he really excelled as a using horse on our ranch and cowboying on the mountain. Neither one knew how to quit.
That said, one of the worst wrecks on the mountain working cows involved a half sister of my good roan gelding and my friend Brandon. She blew up like a rodeo bronc and nearly killed him. She was a nasty piece of work.
I think Hancock bred stuff should be taken as individuals, and not grouped into a whole. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | The mare I have now is hancock bred mostly through Blue Valentine. She is my first experience with this type of breeding. I got her as a late started 3.5year old barely 30 days on her. In a lot of ways she has really impressed me with how well she picked up things. Then in others she has been super tough. You definitely can't fight her so best to come to a compromise and start fresh the next day. hahaha. She is super sweet and seems to really like attention. She had never bucked since i got her two years ago until this past week, which I believe is due to being on stall rest due to a hoof injury (she has never been stalled till now) and the cool weather. But man did she buck totally surprised me since she had never done that before. So hopefully it was a freak thing. I got her cause i wanted something with foundation breeding to hopefully get some toughness but wanted something known to have some speed and I heard they have both. we will see. I also thought she was running bred on bottom but once i got papers realized that wasn't exactly true.... but i already had my mind up to buy her. lol
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/bvh+bad+fast
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Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | HorsesNHarleys - 2016-01-22 2:09 PM The mare I have now is hancock bred mostly through Blue Valentine. She is my first experience with this type of breeding. I got her as a late started 3.5year old barely 30 days on her. In a lot of ways she has really impressed me with how well she picked up things. Then in others she has been super tough. You definitely can't fight her so best to come to a compromise and start fresh the next day. hahaha. She is super sweet and seems to really like attention. She had never bucked since i got her two years ago until this past week, which I believe is due to being on stall rest due to a hoof injury (she has never been stalled till now) and the cool weather. But man did she buck totally surprised me since she had never done that before. So hopefully it was a freak thing. I got her cause i wanted something with foundation breeding to hopefully get some toughness but wanted something known to have some speed and I heard they have both. we will see. I also thought she was running bred on bottom but once i got papers realized that wasn't exactly true.... but i already had my mind up to buy her. lol
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/bvh+bad+fast
Also in her defense I was 8 months pregnant when I bought her and then soon bought a house so I really havn't put much time on her like she deserves and needs. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I have a little Hancock mare I post about all the time. She was a great momma before I got a hold of her. She's short, stuby, and has the neck and jawline of a miniture draft. She is not perfect in her conformation by any means but her disposition is HONEST. If she doesn't like something she is for sure going to tell you. She stays humped up when we ride but the only time she bucks is when something is hurting or when something isn't right. She's the best little mare. Tho she be but little she is fierce.
She leaves all the guys in the rope box when they think they don't need to grab a hunk of mane when she takes off. She was quick on the barrels and a beautiful mover, but she hated it. So I just kept roping on her instead. She's on the heel side and has the best stop. I love my mare.
Here is her ped. I went ahead and had the doubles on her Sires side highlighted for those curious: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/index.php?query_type=check&search_bar=horse&h=miss+lefdore+hancock&g=5&inbred=All+Duplicates |
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Expert
Posts: 1446
Location: California | Mighty Broke - 2016-01-22 9:09 AM Driftwood on Hancock was one of the first "Magic Crosses" for rodeo competition.
I have a 3 year old out of a linebred hancock by a line bred driftwood, and her first week of being broke to ride you could rope a dummy and pull it off of her. I have her full younger brother and he is the same way. What I like best about them is they are not spooky, flighty horses. So it makes me feel safer. But, they also have never been broncy. At most she may have crow hopped a little when learning how to lope with someone on her. . . They are a little bit more dominate personalities, but like I said, I prefer that way over flighty spooky horses. |
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Hot Mama On A Fast Broom!
Posts: 14990
Location: Cap'n Helga Deadbones | Whiteboy - 2016-01-22 9:39 AM When people are refering to Hancock, it rarely means the same thing. Joe Hancock was a 1923 model and is not even going to be within the first 5 generations of a horse. There are hancock breeders that try really hard to stick to that line, and that isn't because he was trash. The problem is that lots of line breeders get hung up on the name or color and not the quality. So just because a horse has Hancock in the name doesn't mean he is going to act like all the othe "hancocks" that people have touched.
Agreed!
Mans the part about color and conformation. I have seen some good looking ones from the nose to the butt. Then when I see the hind legs they suck. No gaskin muscle, no bone density. Too much paying attention to color. And too many people who never learn what a Quarter Horse's conformation is supposed to be.
I have looked and looked at mares for sale for two years now. Still cannot find the quality I want. People need to LEARN what calf knees are, Buck knees, what angle the pasterns should be and how that angle should stay in sync with the shoulder and hip, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Move been around some "Hancock" horses out West. Go all day and night and go some more with tons more heart to give. But I don't ride them till they quit bucking. |
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 Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | We live not to far from where the Blue Valentine sale is held every year and have bought quite a few young horses from them. When Dan broke his back and had the 2 hip replacements when it came time to ride again the horse he chose to trust out of all of ours was a high percentage linebred Hancock/Blue Valentine 3 yr old ranch broke gelding we called Rocky. Sure I'd buy another :)
 Hancock is a ways back on this Eddie mares side on this filly we had by Slim last year, and I swear she would follow you in the house and sit on the sofa if you let her :)
We've never had any that were renegades or rank and all have been easy to be around.
Edited by teehaha 2016-01-22 5:41 PM
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 Ima Cool Kid
Posts: 3496
Location: TN | Kindyl Scruggs & her amazing Hancock horse " Blue" went to the IFR # 46 ranked 2nd in the world !!!!!! |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Owned one many years ago. He was an awesome working horse, BUT you had better keep him hooked up with hard work because the minute he had a free second he was going to bury his head and attempt to drive your head into the ground. He liked to buck, he meant it, he was good at it and several years of hard labor did not diminish his zeal. The day my husband stepped up on him and he bawled and buried his head and bucked until he ripped thru three sets of holes in a brand new off-side latigo, he departed to a new home. |
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