Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to . ...
stallion
A stallion is an adult male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cre ...
who excelled at
halter
A halter or headcollar is headgear placed on animals used to lead or tie up livestock and, occasionally, other animals; it fits behind the ears (behind the poll), and around the muzzle. To handle the animal, usually a lead rope is attached. ...
and at
western pleasure
Western pleasure is a western style competition at horse shows that evaluates horses on manners and suitability of the horse for a relaxed and slow but collected gait cadence, along with calm and responsive disposition. The horse is to appear to ...
, as well as being a famous sire of western pleasure horses.Holmes ''Legends 6'' pp. 170–183
Life
The Invester was a 1969
sorrel
Sorrel (''Rumex acetosa''), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock ("dock" being a common name for the genus ''Ru ...
son of
Zippo Pat Bars
Zippo Pat Bars (1964–1988) was an American Quarter horse racehorse and showhorse who became an influential sire in the breed.
Life
Zippo Pat Bars was a son of the Thoroughbred stallion Three Bars out of a daughter of Leo named Leo Pat.Zippo P ...
weanling
A weanling or weaner is an animal that has been weaned, eats solid food independently, and no longer relies on its mother's milk for nutrients. ''Weanling'' usually refers to a horse, though can be used with any livestock. ''Weaner'' is more co ...
at the Oklahoma State Fair in 1969. Later, he described the horse as "He was a cherry-red sorrel with stockinged legs, a real pretty head and neck, and lots of body and muscle. He was also straight and correct and a good-minded colt."Meyer "Living Legends: The Invester" ''Horse & Rider'' pp. 56–59, 96 Wells, however, felt that the original registered name of Hank Lou Bars wasn't a good fit for the colt, and renamed him with the
American Quarter Horse Association
The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas, United States, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many ...
(or AQHA) as The Invester.Campbell "Chairman of the Board" ''Quarter Horse Journal'', p. 12
Show career
During his show career, The Invester earned an AQHA Superior Halter Horse award as well as an AQHA Championship and an AQHA Performance Register of Merit.PItzer ''Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires'' p. 134 He earned points in Halter,
Cutting
Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force.
Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the sca ...
,
English Pleasure
"English pleasure" is the generic term for a number of different English riding classes seen at horse shows in the United States, where the horse is ridden in either hunt seat or saddle seat tack.
In the average English pleasure class, the h ...
, Western Pleasure, and
Reining
Reining is a western riding competition for horses in which the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope (a version of the horse gait more commonly known worldwide as the cant ...
. Although known for being a halter horse, in 1972 The Invester missed making the finals of the
National Cutting Horse Association The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is a non-profit equestrian organization headquartered in the United States. Their primary purpose is to promote and sponsor Cutting (sport), cutting events. His offspring The Big Investment and Impulsions were inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Horse Hall of Fame, along with his grandget January Investment. NSBA Hall of Fame ' In 1980, his offspring placed first through fourth in the All American Quarter Horse Congress Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure Futurity.
Death and honors
The Invester was the second Quarter horse stallion to be syndicated."There's Fixin to be an Invester Revival" ''Southern Horseman'' pp. 20–21 In 1994 he was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame. He was humanely put down on February 28, 2002, due to old age. The Invester was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2004.