The War Paint Saga
by Karen Fawcett

When War Paint was foaled June lst, 1959 on a ranch owned by an Ab Cross in Wyoming, little did this sorrel framed overo Morgan realize that with is arrival would begin one of the most controversial rulings ever made by the AMHA.

His sire was a dark chestnut stallion called Chief Justin Morgan born in 1945. Even today his bloodlines are still present (despite War Paint's demise) in that of a bay mare called La Fiesta born in 1987 (as her sire's dam was a daughter of Chief's) and in that of the Palomino Morab Stallion Damar's Diamond Champ whose great granddam was a daughter also of Chief's.

War Paint's dam was Painted Girl a sorrel sabino born in 1947. She was marked with 2 white spots on her sides and high whites as well as a flaxen mane and tail. She was from 3 generations of blacks. Her sire was the black War Hawk born in 1941 or 1942. He was a son of the famous black stallion Flyhawk born in 1926. Painted Girl's dam was Black Girl a black mare born in 1941. Her great granddam was reputed to be of pinto colouring!

When War Paint's registration form was sent in to the AMHA he was accepted on a trial basis due to his pinto colouring. When he began his stud career in 1963 and 1964 sired 6 solid coloured horses(2 Geldings and 4 Mares)his application was given final approval. These 6 horses too were all accepted by the AMHA. These were as follows:

Ogallala Woman a chestnut Mare born by Cinder in 1963, La Mancha a black mare born in 1963 by La Pluma, Miss Tigee a buckskin Mare born in 1964 by Sara, H Pally a Palomino Mare born in 1964 by Yellow Girl, H Warrior a chestnut gelding born in 1964 by Little Squaw and H Buck a buckskin gelding born in 1964 by Cinder.

In 1964 the white started making its presence known when Buzz a chestnut overo stallion arrived. The AMHA continued to accept them despite their high whites or sabino markings. It seemed the older War Paint got the more white his offspring shown. When War Paint turned 12 the results were that of extensive framed overos. It was here the AMHA stepped in saying that he wasn't really a son of Chief Justin Morgan's and pulled his papers and created a high white rule. Also blacklisted were all his sabino and extensive frame overo foals as well. An yet they let the 6 non pinto offspring stay in the registery as well as the foals of those 4 mares. If the AMHA truly believed he wasn't by that stallion why did they allow the above 6 to stay in? Why weren't their papers pulled as well?

At any rate the horse was still allowed to be registered with the AMR as well as his pinto and sabino marked offspring. They were also registered with the Pinto Horse Association as well. All totalled War Paint sired 130+ foals. Despite the AMHA's ruling the two owners a Mr. Coates and a Mr. Rott continued to breed purebred frame over Morgans of War Paint bloodlines.

The Main contributor to their breeding program was the chestnut overo stallion known as Chief War Paint born in 1976. With the Pinto Horse Association he was originally known as "ME Charlie Too". His dam was a black sparsely marked overo mare known as Ella Dominio born in 1969. She had less thatn 3% white yet was banned by the AMHA due to their controversial white ruling. She was a daughter of Buzz whom was a chesnut overo son of War Paint's and Anne's. He sired only 2 foals-both fillies. Ella's dam Chancey was a buckskin daughter of the perlino stallion Chingadero!

Due to a Mr. Coates's failing health he asked Mr Rott to take Chief War Paint and preserve the line. Which he did up until the early 1980's due to falling into hard times. It wasn't until 1992 did he continue this effort.

In 1979 War Paint died at the age of 24. An despite Mr. Cotes spending all his time and energy to get War Paint and his colourful offspring back into the AMHA his attempts were unsuccessful. Shortly after War Paint's death he too died.

With Mr. Rott he continued on where a Mr. Coates left off. With Chief War Paint plus his 3 full brothers and 5 daughters he is getting grandchildren that are about 50% spotted. He also bought the chestnut registered Mare Funquest Swiftwing breeding her to Chief War Paint for 6 foals before her death in April 2001 due to complications in foaling. Also making its presence felt was the early foal loss syndrome problem that had also affected the Tb farms in Kentucky was occuring in Missouri as well since 1997. Due to it they lost 18 foals in the last 4 years and 6 so far this year.

The foals that were of Chief War Paint and Funquest Swiftwing bloodlines are: Chief's Wing's of Spring a chestnut mare born in 1993, Chief's Flashy Flyhawk a chestnut stallion born in 1994, Chief's Hot Fudge a dark chestnut mare born in 1995, Chief's Redwing a chestnut mare born in 1997 and Chief's Crown Jewel a chestnut Overo Mare born in 1998. I have enclosed pictures of Chief's Flashy Flyhawk, Chief's Hot Fudge with her foal and Chief's Crown Jewel.

With the brown mare LCS African Queen the result was the chestnut Overo stallion Chief's Voodoo Mentor born in 1997. See picture of his daughter. There also was the chestnut overo son of War Paint's called Chief Wauconda. He was owned by a G Larson of Illinois.(see picture). Kreme De Koko was also sired by War Paint and was a Half bred Morgan in a black/white Tobiano pattern. Her dam was a Lady Tomahawk.

In 1996 or 1997 the AMHA's High White Rule was rescinded, therefore allowing the high whites or sabino marked Morgans back into the registery. Yet they still refused to accept War Paint's Sabino and overo marked offspring into the AMHA claiming his owner didn't have him bloodtyped before his death. An yet the 6 solids are still on file with them. This has prompted a Mr. L Rott to launch a multi-million dollar lawsuit against them due to this discrimination.

I am hoping that in the near future I can add to this article more information and pictures of War Paint's sabino and overo marked Offspring, with maybe even pictures of his parents. An when I do I will certainly do an Update in Bloodlines on them! I have referred to the Morgan Horse March's 2001 issue for information on War Paint's family tree. With the Archival Morgan Horse Record I received some information on War Paint himself and his 6 registered offspring plus the address to snail mail a Mr Rott and a Kathy Firch(whom I have yet to write to). She has foals by the registered War Paint Mare La Mancha. I also received 8 pages of 4 generation pedigrees on the offspring of Chief War Paint's and Funquest Swiftwing's 7 foals, as well as one for Chief's War Paint, Chief's Voodoo Mentor's and Chief's Kreme De Koko's(lists only the dam's name)

When I wrote to a Mr Rott he sent me a leaflet on the Spotted Horse Association that has War Paint and Chief Wauconda's pictures on the back, a coloured picture of Chief's Flashy Flyhawk, a 6 generation pedigree sheet for Chief's Flashy Flyhawk as well as the years, names colours and sexes of the other offspring by Chief War Paint and this mare plus an lengthy letter. I also found some pictures and information pertaining to War Paint on the Internet as well. The one woman also did a write up on him and her website is http://www.perlinomorgan.com.

Pedigree of War Paint

-----------Juzan ch. 1934(Jubilee King x Liza Jane)
----------Brunkey ch. 1938
-----------Fanita ch. 1931(Tiffany x Benita)
--------Chief Justin Morgan Dk. Ch. 1945
------------King De Jarnette ch. 1932 (Jubilee King x Deura)
-----------My Lynda black 1940
------------Glenalla bay 1924 (Allen King x Ruby Reade)
War Paint Chestnut Frame Overo Stallion 1959-79
------------Flyhawk black 1926(Go Hawk x Florette)
-----------War Hawk black 1942(or 41)
------------Sentola ch 1928 (Penrod x Daisette)
---------Painted Girl Ch. Sabino 1947
------------Glider ch. 1935 (Jubilee King x Gizea)
-----------Black Girl black 1941
------------Dimples ? ? (Imperial x Hired Girl)

karen_fawcett@hotmail.com

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