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KING ~ AQHA # P-234 ~ 1932 Bay Stallion ~ Zantanon x Jabalina 

KING P-234  1932-1958

Breeder: Manuel Benavides Volpe of Laredo, Texas

• Sire: Zantanon

• Dam: Jabalina

• Blood Bay, 15 hands, about 1200 pounds

Owners of Record:

• 1932 - Charles Alexander of Laredo for $150

• 1933 - Byrne James, a professional baseball player, of Encinal, Texas, for $300.  Mrs. James changed his name to King.  James used him for ranch work

• 1936 - Winn Dubose of Uvalde, TX for $500, used him extensively for calf roping and began standing him for a $10 stud fee.

• 1937 - Jess Hankins of Rocksprings, TX, for $800, stood King at stud initially for $15, then $25 the following year, the $50 the next, then $100, ultimately for $500 whereas he turned away as many as 80 mares one season.

Regarded as very gentle, King died of a heart attack on March 24, 1958.  He is buried at the Hankins Ranch in Rocksprings, Texas.

King produced some of the finest roping, reining and cutting horses of his time. His descendants carry on the tradition.

King is the sire of Poco Bueno, born in 1944.

KING P-234 Probably no American Quarter Horse is considered a cornerstone of the breed any more than King.

There was no AQHA when King was born in 1932, and it would be almost ten years until it was formed.

That a horse, born so long before the association that he helped become the largest registry in the world was formed, could have such an impact, is testimony to his greatness.

Kings bloodlines trace to some of the truly great pre AQHA quarter horses. Double bred Traveler, as well as single lines to Sykes Rondo, Billy, and Yellow Jacket, not only gave him regal parentage, but also combined in that once in a lifetime gene mix, that happens to be just right.

The sire of King was a hardknocking match race horse, named Zantanon. Known as the Mexican Man o'War, his sire, was a legend himself, and renowned for his ability to run, even under the worst of Conditions.

Originally named Buttons by his breeder, Manuel Benavides Volpe, of Laredo Texas, King became royalty when his name was changed to King when owned by Byrne James of Encinal Texas, who played professional baseball for the NY Giants. Certainly the second name was a better fit

When Jess Hankins bought the colt in 1937, for $800, the folks in Rocksprings thought he had grossly overpaid for King. However, by the time 1940 rolled around, and the young stallion had a few foals on the ground, everyone began to realize that Hankins had made a shrewd buy.

Probably no foundation sire put more atheletic ability and cow, in his offspring, as evidenced by the popularity of his great sons, such as Poco Bueno,Royal King, Continental King, and Power Command.

King died in 1958, at the age of 26. He left a legacy of 658 foals, born over 23 crop years, and made an imprint on the Quarter Horse industry that will be never forgotten.

RECORDS:

KING ~ 1932 AQHA Bay Stallion

Zantanon X Jabalina

Hall of Fame, '89 AQHA

HALTER and PERFORMANCE RECORD: none

PROGENY RECORD:
AQHA Champions: 20                           Performance ROM's: 84
Foal Crops: 23                                         Race Money Earned: $5,967
Foals Registered: 658                           Race ROM's: 12
Halter-Point Earners: 104                    Race Starters: 35
Halter Points Earned: 1,088                Superior Halter Awards: 3
Performance-Point Earners: 106       Superior Performance Awards: 10
Performance Points Earned: 2,030
Hall of Fame Offspring: Poco Bueno (AQHA), Royal King (AQHA), Continental King (NRHA)

NCHA WORLD CHAMPION FINALISTS:

Asbeck's Billie -- 4th - 1958 NCHA World Champion

Fred B Clymer -- 6th - 1966 NCHA World Champion

KING'S PISTOL -- 1957 NCHA World Champion

Royal King -- 3rd - 1952 NCHA World Champion

Rocky Red -- 7th - 1952 NCHA World Champion

ROYAL KING -- 1953 NCHA Reserve World Champion

Royal King -- 6th - 1954 NCHA World Champion

Royal King -- 9th - 1955 NCHA World Champion

9 AQHA Superior Cutting Horses

2 NCHA Silver Awards:

King's Pistol, Royal King.

6 NCHA Bronze Awards

1 Superior Reining Horse

Hall of Fame, '89 AQHA

Hall of Fame Offspring, Poco Bueno (AQHA), Royal King (AQHA), Continental King (NRHA)

Outstanding Offspring
Asbeck's Billie, 1 HLT & 47 performance points;, '58 O 4th NCHA World Champ.;
Bimbo Hank, 15 HLT & 26 performance points;, '68 O AQHA Champ.;
Black Gold King, 8 HLT & 24 performance points;, '57 O AQHA Champ.;
Brown King H, $4,711 - RC
Continental King, 72.5 performance points;, '66 O Superior RN;
Fiesty B King, 8 HLT & 17 performance points;, '54 O AQHA Champ.;
Fred B Clymer, 4 HLT & 101 performance points;, '66 O Superior CUT;
Gay Widow, 105 HLT & 16 performance points;., '53 O AQHA Champ.; '54 O Superior HLT;
Joe Hank, 29 HLT & 14 performance points;, '64 O AQHA Champ.;
King Glo, 25 HLT & 15 performance points;, '62 O AQHA Champ.;
King Hollywood, 45 performance points;, '70 Y HI PT CUT;
King Joe Jet, 57 HLT & 64.5 performance points;, '61 O AQHA Champ.; '64 O Superior HLT;
King So Big, 15 HLT & 75.5 performance points;, '62 O AQHA Champ.; '62 O Superior CUT;
King Wimp, 30 HLT & 12.5 performance points;, '66 O AQHA Champ.;
King's Francis, 35 HLT & 19 performance points;, '60 O AQHA Champ.;
King's Joe Boy, 15 HLT & 44 performance points;, '53 O AQHA Champ.;
King's Madam, 12 HLT & 25 performance points;, '59 AQHA Champ.;
Kings Pistol, 30 HLT & 67 performance points;, '57 NCHA World Champ.; '54 AQHA Champ.; '57 Superior CUT;
L H Quarter Moon, 121 HLT & 39 performance points;, '54 O AQHA Champ.; '55 O Superior HLT;
Little Alice L, 25 HLT & 25 performance points;, '55 O AQHA Champ.;
Martha King, 2 HLT & 36 performance points;, '58 O HI PT RN M;
Mr Harmon, 15 HLT & 103.5 performance points;, '58 O AQHA Champ.; '60 O Superior CUT;
Olga Fay, 2 HLT & 57 performance points;, '65 O Superior CUT;
Poco Bueno, 37 HLT & 8 performance points;, '53 O AQHA Champ.; '90 AQHA Hall Of Fame Horse;
Power Command, 11 HLT & 18 performance points;, 56 O AQHA Champ.;
Red Bud L, 13 HLT & 8 performance points;, '55 O AQHA Champ.;
Rocky Red, 6 HLT & 103 performance points;, '55 O Superior CUT;
Rose King, 38 HLT & 62 performance points;, '57 O AQHA Champ.; '62 O Superior CUT;
Royal King, 106 performance points, '97 AQHA Hall of Fame; '53 Superior CUT;
Steve Adams, 9 HLT & 129 performance points;, '59 O Superior CUT;

KING
Once proclaimed as the greatest horse of his time, King has become one of the American Quarter Horse industry's cornerstones. While he never won any performance points, King established a dynasty. He sired 20 AQHA Champions, 84 Performance Registers of Merit, 12 Racing Registers of Merit, three Superior Halter Award winners and 10 Superior Performance Award winners. At the time that King was born, there wasn't an American Quarter Horse Association. However, his conformation would later set the standard for American Quarter Horse judging for more than a decade. King died of a heart attack in 1958 but even now, the American Quarter Horse industry is influenced by third, fourth and fifth generation King-bred horses

AQHA Hall of Fame. Breeder: Burney James, Encinal,TX. Owner:Jess Hankins, Rocksprings,TX. Died 1958.A Leading Maternal Grandsire Race ROM,A Leading Sire and Maternal Grandsire AQHA Champions and Arena ROM. Sire Of 2 AQHA Hall Of Fame: Poco Bueno and Royal King. 100% foundation. AQHA#0000234

The legendary KING.

KING and Jess Hankins.

King P-234, the most famous Quarter Horse that ever lived.

Pedigree:

KING H, QUARTER HORSE, 1932

Color: b AQHA Hall of Fame. Breeder: Burney James, Encinal,TX. Owner:Jess Hankins, Rocksprings,TX. Died 1958.A Leading Maternal Grandsire Race ROM,A Leading Sire and Maternal Grandsire AQHA Champions and Arena ROM. Sire Of 2 AQHA Hall Of Fame: Poco Bueno and Royal King. 100% foundation. AQHA#0000234 (CLOSE)

KING* b 1932 QUARTER HORSE

ZANTANON* ch 1917 QUARTER HORSE

LITTLE JOE* br 1905 QUARTER HORSE

TRAVELER ch 15.1 1885 QUARTER HORSE

JENNY br 1891 QUARTER HORSE

SYKES RONDO dk ch 1887

MCCOYS BILLY

1872

GRASSHOPPER

1874

MAY MANGUM b 1882

ANTHONY

br 1867

BELLE NELLIE

b 1875

JEANETTE 1910 QUARTER HORSE

BILLY BY BIG JIM QUARTER HORSE

BIG JIM ~1897

SYKES RONDO

dk ch 1887

MCFADDEN MARE

n/a ~

MARE BY SYKES RONDO

SYKES RONDO

dk ch 1887

MARE BY SYKES RONDO QUARTER HORSE

SYKES RONDO dk ch 1887

MCCOYS BILLY

1872

GRASSHOPPER

1874

JABALINA br ~1925 QUARTER HORSE

STRAIT HORSE dun ~1918 QUARTER HORSE

YELLOW JACKET* r.dun ~1908 QUARTER HORSE

LITTLE RONDO* blk 1895

LOCKS RONDO

ch 1880

MINNIE FRANKS

b 1882

BARBEE DUN dun 1881

LOCKS RONDO

ch 1880

MARY LEE

dun 1877

GARDNER MARE QUARTER HORSE

TRAVELER ch 15.1 1885

BAY MARE QUARTER HORSE

TRAVELER ch 15.1 1885 QUARTER HORSE

QUARTER MARE QUARTER HORSE

* - Photo Available

... the Leader of Quarter Horse Cadence ... Then and Now

This article is dedicated to all those King lovers, breeders, riders and older folks, like me, who like the security those Kings provide. To Lois Francis (who always encouraged me to write something on horses and a King fanatic of epic proportions.) Especially to my indulgent family who suffered through all my horse talk and learned all those pedigrees by osmosis.

M.K. Fredlund   ~  (c) Copyright  8/16/98. All rights reserved.

Mark Twain said "If I can't smoke cigars in heaven, I'm not going." Legions of Quarter Horse "persons" have said if it doesn't have KING in the pedigree, "I ain't riding it!" Strong statements, however, King P-234 was a very special horse. He has been the most inbred, linebred, out-crossed and star-crossed sire to ever grace the Quarter Horse industry. No self respecting reiner or cutter ever knowingly rides a horse without a few crosses to King ... and some feel the more, the better.

All bands and military units use a cadence to time their steps. Quarter Horse Breeders have used their special cadence, "KING-2-3-4 " for over 60 years. Breeders, ranchers, trainers, amateurs, backyard horse folks, kids, and others have marched with the tremendous legacy King horses have provided. Comments like: "they're born broke; they train themselves; I can take 'em anywhere; they are so easy to be around." These are the kind of attributes that make the King horses some of the best to ever carry a rider.

King was foaled in 1932, sixty-six years ago, some eight years before the formation of the Quarter Horse registry. He was purchased by Jess Hankins for $800 in 1937. Foolish, some folks thought, but by today's standards ... a downright bargain. Remember, this was the height of the Great Depression. King was a 5 year old stallion when Jess bought him, then becoming King's third owner. He had been used for roping, general ranch work, and had sired a few foals by this time.

King was blood bay and he had a magnificent hair coat. When he shed out in the spring, gold flecks appeared, giving him an unusual sheen. He was quick to learn, easy to get along with, and possessed plenty of cow sense. King, at maturity stood between 14.2 to 15 hands, well muscled and weighed from 1,150 to 1,200 pounds. His excellent conformation became the standard for the Quarter Horse breed. He was greatly admired for his outstanding disposition and willingness. For years Jess Hankins advertised King as the cornerstone of the breed ... in retrospect, an apt description!

Byrne James was one of King's first owners, his wife gave King his distinguished name. "You've heard the expression, 'the King of Beasts'? Well, to me he was the KING, superior to all the rest." Prior to this change he was known as 'Buttons,' not a bit fitting for the sovereign who was destined to become the greatest sire in Quarter Horse history. Quoting Jess Hankins, "He was as good a natured stud as you could find, and he could be ridden by any kid who ever handled a horse." King remained kind and gentle all his life. His outstanding disposition and athleticism are among his greatest legacies, and they passed on!!

King wasn't just a horse to the Hankins family, he was family. He certainly put Rocksprings, Texas, on the map and helped make the Hankins brothers some of the most famous breeders in Quarter Horse annals. When King died in 1958, at the age of 26, the Quarter Horse Journal noted, "No other stallion now living can boast such a record as King's, and only time will tell when another will equal it." Forty some years later, no other stallion has ever come close. In the 1950's King's breeding fee was $2,500 ... phenomenal money to spend on a stud! Today, in the 90's this fee represents some of the top end prices for sires offered. Will any of them prove to have the same success that "King" horses have provided all these years?

King is on the All Time Leading Broodmare Sires of AQHA Champions list. Not only is he ranked #2, with 20 Champions to his credit, he is also represented by 4 sons, Poco Bueno, Royal King, Beaver Creek, and Hank H, and 2 grandsons, Poco Pine and Poco Dell. Of note, a half brother, Ed Echols, appears on the same list. No other sire equals King's standing. Three Bars (TB) and Wimpy are the only other sires represented by more than 1 son. Of the 22 stallions listed, King has direct ties with 8. If this isn't enough to excite you, consider his producing daughters!

King daughters have produced some of the most successful get in Quarter Horse history. Squaw King (a father to daughter breeding), King Bars, Leo Bob, Mora Leo, Red Bars, Bar Feathers, Gay Bar King, Joe Cody, Okie Leo, Thirsty, Coaster, Baca Leo, Puro Tivio, Aledo Bars and Enterprising King are a few of the more famous King grandget. His daughters' (317 in all) produce records are very interesting reading. Many were inbred to his sons, grandsons, and as mentioned above, daughter back to sire. When it's all said and done, his daughters produced offspring earning 13,054 points in all divisions, 210 ROMs, 50 AQHA Championships. Not bad for an $800 horse.

Perhaps Larry Rose, a leading reining trainer and breeder of reining horses, sums it up best. "I'm a King fanatic! If King had never been born, we would still be in the dark ages of horses." (source)

(c) Copyright 1998 - 2001 by M. K. Fredlund. All rights reserved.  

FOOTNOTES:
Quoting from Larry Thorton's article "Boggie Bee" published in The Southern Horseman, October 1995.

King P-234 - Likely the only significant contribution that I can make on the subject is that most of the photos we see of him were taken when he was very old, and his neck had thickened badly. (It happens - I used to wear a 15-1/2" collar, now a 17" is a little tight.) The point is, countless articles and opinions say things like "King - who set the standard of Quarter Horse conformation for decades". Well, with the pictures that we usually see, it would be fair to suppose that the better sort of foundation animals were expected to have necks like he did later in life.

With scant apology to any wannabe Alec Ramseys, King was not "The Black Stallion" and his get are not magical Disney creatures. The "typical" (if such a thing exists) King/Poco mind has reasoning ability on an almost human level. This may include working out how to untie knots, turn on water, operate stall door latches, even opening snaps. Some spare time may be spent thinking over the events of the day, rather perceptively - and - if they are treated like slaves, drawing the reasonable conclusion that life is a little unpleasant.

Check out the articles and info they  have on King over at PremierPub

	right - Quote from Don Dodge, Diamond in the Rough article, by Sally Henderson, Southwestern Horseman, Oct. 1994.
	right - Moving on to King himself - from the same article by Sally Henderson. I think Don Dodge has put more animals from this general family into the limelight than anyone else, and the fact that he generally "tells it like it is" makes his words mean more than if they came from some trainers. (I have sometimes read the nicest things said about animals that I know had major problems with disposition or whatever. Don Dodge doesn't B.S.).

Photo above from 1943 AQHA studbook

	As pieced together from Nelson Nye's "Outstanding Modern Quarter Horse Sires" (1948), King's pedigree would look like this:

The picture on the right comes from an article by Garford Wilkinson, which appeared in the Quarter Horse Journal, August, 1962. Manuel Benavides Volpe, seated on the left, purchased Zantanon in 1931, producing King, among many other notable animals. It is an interesting article, which I will eventually contact the AQHA hoping for permission to present in its entirety. Until then, here is a little from it: At the time the article was published, Manuel ("Meme") Volpe was one of a few people still living whose personal involvement with the development of the Quarter Horse extended back to a time when it had only begun to emerge as a recognized type.

		The picture below appeared with King's obituary in the 1958 Quarter Horse Journal, Jess Hankins up. It is worth noting that at that age (around 16) his neck (the horse's neck) was not terribly heavy. (The pictures most commonly circulated show him in old age, when the throatlatch had become very thick.)

	The obituary from 1958 QHJ, below.