Wimpy P-1, born Wimpy, was foaled on the King Ranch in the Spring of 1935. Sired by Solis, a direct stallion sired by Old Sorrel, the King Ranch’s foundation stallion Wimpy would become one of the most known horses in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Solis’ dam was an unregistered and unnamed mare of Thoroughbred breeding who was by Right Royal and out of a mare by Martin’s Best. Wimpy’s dam was a mare named Panda, also sired by Old Sorrel. Panda’s dam was a roan mare by Hickory Bill. Wimpy came be traced three times to Hickory Bill, making him quite inbred to Hickory Bill.
Wimpy was a chestnut colored stallion, with a star and a sock on his left hind leg. When fully grown he was 15 hands high and weighed about 1200 pounds. Horse’s height is measured in hands that equal 4 inches.
When the AQHA was founded in 1940, the founders agreed that the Grand Champion Stallion of the 1941 Fort Worth Southwestern Exposition Quarter Horse Show would be recorded as number one sire in their stud book.
Kleberg decided Wimpy was more than adequately equipped to handle the position.
In the arena were Judge Jim Minnick, ring steward Robert Denhardt and John Burns, president of the show. Preceding Wimpy was Silvertone, a palomino owned and shown by Lee Underwood; Little Joe Jr., by Joe Gonzales; and Silver Dawn, bred by the Waggoner Ranch. Each contestant entered the ring and began circling the arena. Once satisfied Minnick stopped the horses to get a closer look and then continued their walking. After extensive consideration, the blue ribbon went to Wimpy and with it P-1 in the stud book.
In his lifetime Wimpy would sire 174 registered foals, the majority of which stayed on the King Ranch. However, the few that left the ranch left a lasting impact in the horse industry. The stallion produced sons and daughters that went onto produce AQHA Champions. His direct offspring includes Bill Cody, Kip Mac,Caballero, Wimpy’s Image, Silver Wimpy, Wimpy II, Lauro and Showdown.
In 1958, Bob Kleberg gifted Wimpy to George Clegg, the original breeder of Old Sorrel. Unfortunetly, Clegg fell on hard times and sold Wimpy to oilman Rex Cauble. Wimpy sired a few foals for Cauble before his death on August 13, 1959 at 22 years of age.
Wimpy was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1989. A bronze statue was erected of the famous horse outside the AQHA Headquarters in Amarillo, Texas.
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