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Sporting the brand ByJosh
Brecheen
Within the last year, the American Quarter Horse Association performance industry has seen the progeny of OSU, both man and mount, move from spectator to center spotlight. What may appear to be a fast track to success, however, started at a slow lope more than 100 years ago. In
the beginning
In
the early 1940s, the draft horses were fazed out due to advancing technology.
However, Clark "Andy" Kinkead, who oversaw the draft program
and also taught a horse production class, was a horse enthusiast and
wanted OSU to keep horses as a part of its academic curriculum. With
this in mind, the department head at that time allowed Kinkead to retain
five Quarter Horse mares to continue the program.
From the mid-1950s to the late 1970s, the horse program was essentially nonexistent and was eventually shut down with the removal of the Horse Barn. A
new start "I
recognized a need for a horse program, knowing that the Oklahoma equine
industry has a greater economic impact than any other livestock species
with the exception of cattle," said Totusek. "I was very fortunate
to have a dean of the college of agriculture, Frank Baker, and a university
president, Larry Boger, who also recognized the need." Upon
university approval, the OSU Quarter Horse program began with no horses
and one faculty position. Doyle Meadows filled that position, taking
on the job in equine class instruction, research and extension. "Doyle
got the program off the ground," said Totusek. "He grabbed
the horse by the tail and ran with it." Meadows,
in conjunction with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, generated
enough contributions from Oklahoma horsemen to build the current horse
barn on the grounds of the OSU dairy in 1980. In addition, they remodeled
the existing dairy calf research barn and converted it into the horse
breeding facility and stud barn. Totusek
soon facilitated the construction of the $25,000 white vinyl fencing
that encloses the horse farm today. Over a period of time, Oklahoma
residents donated the horses that became the foundation of the breeding
program. "The
horse industry of Oklahoma made that program possible," said Totusek.
"It was all done from donations. In reality, the OSU program of
today is a showcase of the Oklahoma horse industry." Following
Meadows' resignation in 1983, Totusek lobbied for an additional staff
position. Don Topliff and David Freeman were brought in the following
year. "Topliff
and Freeman knew exactly the kind of horses they wanted to produce,"
said Totusek. "In the beginning they just needed horses; it did
not matter what kind. Using the donations, they skillfully used the
available genetics to work toward a goal of quality. Some equine donations
were quality and some were not. After the conception of the program,
they had the freedom to keep and cull, and that is what they did." They
would breed the mares to whatever available studs they had, said Freeman,
but they mostly used stallions outside of OSU. That
changed in 1984, when Harry Hudspeth from Bixby, Okla., donated a stallion
by the name of Harlan Okmulgee. "He
was a son of a well-known foundation sire, Harlan, and the first quality
stud we owned," said Freeman. Harlan
Okmulgee served as the cornerstone for the breeding program for seven
years and produced 90 registered foals. In 1991, Harlan Okmulgee died
at the OSU horse farm. "We
had been keeping stud prospects back," said Freeman. "After
Okmulgee died, we focused our program on one of his offspring, OSU Sonny
Slider. We started breeding to him in 1994, and he remains our keystone
stud today." Today,
as the OSU horse program celebrates the 25 year anniversary of its reinstatement,
it consists of 60 horses maintained on a 50-acre farm located at the
corner of McElroy Road and Western Avenue. A 120-acre pasture located
at the OSU airport is also a component. Horses are used for laboratory
experiences, judging practice and extension activities. In
1998, the addition of the OSU Women's Equestrian athletic program increased
the number of retained riding horses. From the mid-1980s until now,
a main horse stall barn, several outdoor arenas, two small barns for
storage of hay and equipment and a new equestrian team headquarters
have been added to the horse farm. Freeman has remained as the equine
extension specialist, and in 1999, Steven Cooper replaced Topliff as
the equine judging coach and equine undergraduate course instructor.
"The current success of the OSU horse program can be found in two areas: the progeny of OSU Sonny Slider and the industry successes of OSU graduates," said Freeman. Slider's
offspring success "OSU
Sonny Slider is a quality producer," said Cooper. "OSU Pistol
Pete is an example of his siring ability."
"That
is our niche at OSU," said Cooper. "We are seeing that Slider's
offspring are excelling in the roping horse world." OSU Pistol Pete is not alone in showcasing the program. OSU Sonny Slider has had 87 registered offspring, according to AQHA. OSU Sonny Slider's offspring have earned a total of 1,299 performance points in the AQHA (948 in open events, 315 in amateur and 20 in youth). Total AQHA earnings for OSU Sonny Slider's offspring are $21,567. To date, OSU Sonny Slider has produced one world champion, OSU Pistol Pete, and two other offspring, OSU Power Slide and OSU Watch Sally Slide, that were among the top ten in the AQHA roping standings. Graduate
success "One
of our best examples of successful OSU graduates who were active in
the OSU horse program is Dave Dellin," said Cooper. At
age 24, making his first AQHA World Show debut as a professional trainer,
Dellin won the 2001 AQHA World Championship in the 2-year-old Western
Pleasure Open division. Dellin is a 1999 OSU animal science graduate,
and he competed on the 1997 national championship horse judging team,
coached by Topliff. "One
of the reasons I took first was because I remembered something Topliff
told us when we judged the world show in 1997," said Dellin. "Topliff
had judged that show and told us that one of the things to look for
was a horse that immediately loped out when the judges called for it.
Most contestants hesitate to lope out immediately in order to make their
horse appear to be slower moving, but Topliff said that at the World
Show the judges would discount for it. "All
that day I remembered his words," said Dellin, "and when they
called for a lope I fired my horse off immediately. The judges later
told me that was one of the best things about my run. My experience
at OSU definitely paid off." Other OSU graduates who are horse industry leaders include Bill Brewer, AQHA executive director; Cam Foreman, AQHA senior director of shows; Ed Roberts, American Paint Horse Association chief executive official; and Dan Wall, National Reining Horse Association executive director. Global
outreach "The
Oklahoma horse industry has a responsibility to the world," said
Freeman. "Our state serves as a host to many worldwide horse association
competitions and sales. We are seen around the world as a horse industry
leader, and programs such as this are essential in continuing our role.
Not only does it benefit international students, but also our own." For
the last two summers, Cooper along with several students have traveled
to Germany, Austria, Denmark and England to conduct the seminars. "I
will never forget the experience and how it broadened my view of the
horse world," said Amber Moffett, OSU graduate student seminar
instructor, who was hired as The Ohio State University equine specialist
in January 2002. Instruction
in western riding styles and horse management was provided at the seminars.
"We
chose OSU to participate in this outreach because it is one of the very
few programs in the nation that is so well-rounded," said OSU graduate
and current AQHA International Affairs Director Trigg Rentfro. Cooper
said their vision for the future of the OSU equine program is certain. "Our
goal is not to just leave our brand on our horses, but on the industry
as a whole," he said. From draft horse to dream horse, from pulling to performance, from culls to keeps, the OSU program has maintained a steady uphill trot. So at the next equine exhibition, watch the center spotlight for an OSU legacy, representing excellence and sporting the OSU brand. |
Throughout
the years, hundreds of horses have carried the brand of the Oklahoma
State University equine program, but not until recently has this mark
truly been recognized as more than just a symbol of ownership, but rather
as a sign of excellence. 
"The
draft horses were an important part of OSU's heritage," said Robert
Totusek, animal husbandry graduate and former department head. "In
the '20s and '30s, OSU had some of the best draft horses in the country
with several studs and mares imported from Europe." 
A
large solid brick structure that housed 40 to 50 head of draft horses,
known as the OSU Horse Barn, was built in 1902. It burned in 1922, and
Willard Hall was later erected on its site. The replacement for the
OSU Horse Barn was built in 1926. It remained standing at the current
site of the OSU Colvin Annex until the late 1970s. 
"When
I returned to OSU and began coaching the livestock judging team in 1952,
we used those few Quarter Horses in teaching and in judging practice,"
said Totusek. "At that time, livestock judging included horses.
Every livestock judging competition consisted of at least one or two
horse classes, and those OSU horses were useful for preparation."
In
1977, due to a recognition of the enormity of the Oklahoma horse industry,
the extinct OSU horse program was resurrected with Totusek at the reins
as the animal science department head.
In
2000, OSU Pistol Pete, a son of OSU Sonny Slider, became the AQHA High
Point, All-Around, Junior Horse of the Year. In 2001, OSU Pistol Pete
again excelled winning a world championship title in senior dally team
roping.