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Finck Appaloosa Program

by Sherry Byrd - Pedigree Researcher

The breeding program of Dr Vicor Finck had and/or produced several "F' numbered horses. Finck, who lived in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, which was known as 'the metropolis of the Albemarle', was far and away from the Colorado sources of his breeding stock, which came from the anches of Mike Ruby an King K Parsons.

Finck's original stallion was Desert Domino F-1117/CRHA 438, described as a black leopard. Foaled in 1941, this stallion is shown to have been bred by Mike Ruby (Wray, Colorado), and owned by King K Parsons (Boulder, Colorado), according to CRHA Stud Book records. The ApHC Stud Book records shows the horse as owned by Victor Finck, with Mike Ruby being listed as the breeder. The ApHC Stud Book does not show ownership by King K Parsons. Finck would later sell the stallion to Clifford Gorman, of Lithonia, Georgia.

desertdomino
Desert Domino

Desert Domino's pedigree, from the very roots of CRHA history, is quite interesting...

Sire: Polar Bear CRHA 19-N
Sire's sire: Ranger CRHA 4
Sire's dam: Nellie II (7/8 Shire)

Dam: Maxie CRHA 15-P
Dam's sire: Patches CRHA 1-Z
Dam's dam: Colie by Albert Lea, Registered Shire

Along with the Shire ancestry from both sides of the pedigree, Desert Domino also carried Arabian and pinto through Ranger CRHA 4, as well as Arabian and early Thoroughbred (possibly Half-Bred) through Patches CRHA 1. That this stallion was in fact a black leopard, despite all of his non-Appaloosa color ancestry, is a strong focal point on the power of the color genetics in the Colorado Ranger breed.



Desert Domino would sire the following horses, out of various mares:

Most of the Desert Domino foals also had recorded progeny:

1) Domino's Worthy F-2895/CRHA NR-37 was probably the most well known son of both Desert Domino and Goldsworthy F-131. Foaled in 1953, this product of the Dr. Victor Finck program was designated as CRHA-NR-37 in CRHA records. At one time CRHA did try to keep track of unregistered, but known CRHA horses, and started recording them in what was basically to be thought of as a stud book for unregistered horses.

Domino's Worthy F-2895 sired 100% colored foals, as far as the ApHC records show. He sired several foals, some of which would actually return to Colorado, where the family lineage started. Domino Worthy sired:

Domino's Dang Bob 25321, and his full sibling, Due Claw Chippewa T-42585, would bring Coke Roberds' Qhs with Appaloosa color genetics into the mix, back through the famous Old Blue Mare. Domino's Dang Bob was owned by CT Hall of Denver, Colorado, and appears to have gone to Midland, Texas later. He would sire 96% color production, according to ApHC records, with 1 out of 27 registered foals not having color.
His foals include:

Foals by Dang Bob's Little Bob

Domino's Gold Digger T-25320, Cherokee Oak 67970, and Domino's Gypsy Queen T-25322 would also be owned by CT Hall, of Denver, Colorado. Cherokee Oak would produce Annie Oakly S 203811 and Cherokee Slicker 177088.

Domino's Polka T-70095 was bred by Dr William Thomas, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and owned by Augustus Riggs IV, of Woodbine, Maryland. This stallion would sire Honey's Princess T-89433, owned by Agnes Schmidt of Owings Mill, Maryland, out of the unregistered mare Honey Bee.

Pecoso Bravo T-94638/aka Pecosa Bravo CRHA 1014 was bred by Kenneth Johnson, of Briggsdale, Colorado and owned by Ilene G Kerr, of Littleon, Colorado.

Going back to the Dominio's Dang Bob family line of descent --Shu More in 84 #410618 would produce Show-off Shu 526086, Speckled Prospect 567803, and Tip Top Shu 535991. Show-off Shu would sire Little Bob's Nieto 574986 (out of Lady Bar Sue 535989). Little Bob's Nieto 574986 would sire Fancy Shu 640353 (out of Bob's Shu M 640236 by Tip Top Shu 535991.)

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Tip Top Shu 535991 would sire Bob's Shu M 640236 (out of Bob's Lady M T-536583), who would produce Fancy Shu 640353 (by Bob's Little Nieto 574986). Tip Top Shu 535991 would also sire Chicks Painted Boy (g) 569709.

Speckled Prospect 567803 would sire Mr Easy Shu 639242, who would sire Bob's Easy Shu 653983 (out of Bob's Shu M 640353) and King Shu 646361

Bob's Spotted Lady 409463 would produce Princess Shu Bar 431815 , who would produce Lady Bar Sue 535989, who would produce Little Bob's Nieto 574986 (by Show-off Shu).

Bob's Foxey Lady 414422 would produce Foxey White Dove 526682, who would in turn produce Bob's Lady M T-536583, who would produce Bob's Shu M 640236 (by Tip Top Shu 535991). Bob's Shu M 640236 would go on to produce Fancy Shu 640353 (by Little Bob's Nieto 574986), and Bob's Easy Shu 653983 (by Mr Easy Shu 639242).

Bob's Flying Chick 11101 would produce King's Little Bit 592481.

LSA April Frost 576929 would produce LSA Domino's Wiz Bar 601242 and LSA Frosty Pflash 592660. LSA Domino Wiz Bar would sire LSA April Dawn 638957 (out of a daughter of Howling Wind GHR). LSA Frosty Pflash 592660 (by Howling Wind GHR) would produce Oaks Polar Wind.

2) Desert Flower F-3405 is listed as being bred by Dr Victor Finck, and owned by Robert W Guynn, of Portsmouth, Virginia. Deseret Flower woud produce:

Robert W Guynn is listed as owner of all of Desert Flower's production. His address at that time for the ApHC Stud Book entry was given as Chesapeake, Virginia. As noted below in #5, Guynn's address was Portsmouth, Virginia for other horses.

Princess Sugar Foot F-3406 (by Domino's Worthy F-2895), was bred by Victor Finck. This mare produced the mare Sugar Girl F-4197, when bred to Highland Domino F-1118 (Domino's Worthy x Highland Mate ASHBA). Princess Sugar Foot was owned by Robert Guynn

Sherman's Pride F-3408, bred by Dr Finck, went on to produce Firecloud G 50190 and Firebird's Top Dollar 59137, both sired by Dee's Firebird 15657, owned by Robert Guynn of Chesapeake, Virginia. Dee's Firebird is a son of Irvin's Dee Zee F-1966 (Zero F-369 x Daisy F-366), owned by J Vern Irvin, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, who is said to be from the Camus, Montana rea. Firebird's Top Dollar 59137 was owned by John Trant, of Spring Grove, Virginia.

Freckles Snow Flake F-3407 (by Domino's Worthy F-2895) was bred by Victor Finck, and owned by Robet Guynn. She produced Princess Creek F-4567 (by Highland Domino F-1118) and Firebird's Red Wing 50189 (by Dee's Firebird 15675).

leoparddomino

3) Leopard Domino F-1119 would sire Leopard Domino II F-1397 (out of Gala Rose F-1116) (bred by Dr Victor Finck).

4) Albermarle Leopard F-1395 was named for the Albemarle geographic region in which he was foaled, which included Albemarle County. Many businesses in that area would carry the Albemarle namesake including the Albermarle Hospital, Albermarle Broadcasting Company, the Albermarle Building and Loan Association, the Albermarle Tip Company, and the Albermarle Laundry. The Dr Finck program product, Albermarle Leopard would sire:

Maxie Domino F-4568 (out of Desert Flower F-3405) was consigned to the 10-63 4th Annual Northeastern Appaloosa Association Sale. She is pictured in that respective catalog, as a consigned entry from Robert W Guynn, of Chesapeake, Virginia. She sold in foal to the Guynn's stallion, Dee's Firebird T-15657.

Bee Leopard, Churchey's Blue Flash and Claremont Belle were owned by Howard Churchey, of Sharpsburg, Maryland.

5) Highland Domino F-1118 is being listed as being bred by Dr JA Gill, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and owned by Dr Victor Finck. Highland Domino would sire Princess Creek F-4567 (out of Freckle Snow Flake F-3407-double bred Desert Domino) and Sugar Girl F-4197 (out of Princess Sugar Foot F-3406-double bred Desert Domino). Both Princess Sugar Foot and Freckles Snow Flake were bred by Dr Finck, and owned by Robert W Guynn, of Portsmouth, Virginia. Robert Guynn is also listed as owner of the mares Princess Creek F-4567 and Sugar Girl F-4197.

6) Tigeress T F-1786 out of the mare Goldsworthy F-131, was sold to the Harold Tyner program, in Tipton, Indiana. I have found no produce for her at this point.

7) Kelley's Lucy K T-3213 foaled 1950 is a total oddity in this list of production for Desert Domino F-1117. The ApHC Stud Book entry for this mare lists her breeders as Ed Carpenter, of Eckler, Colorado and her owner as LR and Helen M Kelley, of Limon, Colorado. This 1950 Colorado-bred and owned mare is right in the middle of Desert Domino's North Carolina production timeframe, with North Carolina bred and owned foals in 1946, 1948, 1950, as well as 1952 and 1953.

LR Kelley was one of the early Appaloosa breeders, but his horses and program are virtually unknown to the Foundation faction, who seem to choose to acquaint themselves with only well promoted and most promoted foundation lines. Kelley stood the stallion Siver Leopard II [T-1554 CRHA 248-N]. He also used such mares as Red Wing (by Little Banjo by Banjo), and Zona [T-1970] (by Parson F-1187 - Jess D Brandt program, another early breeder.).

The CRHA Horse Owner List, in the CRHA Stud Book lists Ed Carpenter, but with the address of Benkleman, Nebraska. The ApHC Stud Book does not list Carpenter as an Appaloosa owner or ApHC member. The ApHC Stud Book does list LR Kelley, of Limon, Colorado as an Appaloosa owner. LR Kelley, although a known CRHA bloodline breeder, is not listed in the CRHA Owner List in the CRHA Stud Book.

Finck also owned the Colorado-bred mare Gala Rose F-1116. She too is shown to have been bred by KK Parsons, and foaled in 1947. Finck would later sell the mare to Susan Strickland, of Jacksonville, Florida. Her pedigree is only horses of unknown heritage:
Sire: Firethorn F-180
Sire's sire: Rondolier
Sire's dam: Rose Thorn
Dam: Spanish Rose (parentage not given)

Gala Rose produced the following horses for Finck (as breeder):

Gala Rose produced the following horses for her next owner Dr JM Strickland, of Jacksonville, Florida (as breeder)

Dr Strickland would also own the Gala Rose son, Gala Rose's Leopard F-1396, from the Finck program.

Gala Rose is one of several horses that came from KK Parsons' program that have always been questioned as to whether they were or were not Rangerbreds. Prior to 1984, correspondence between KKP and the then CRHA Pedigree Researcher Nancy (Van Orden) Botelho showed that KKP stated that the horses Wolf Song and Gay Lady (parents of Applejack F-158), Rondolier and Rose Thorn (parents of Fire Thorn F-180), Wyoming (sire of Red Desert), and Toots (Karen's Pride T-4258) were NOT CRHA bred horses. But in a 1984 letter, KKP does state that the mare Toots was in fact CRHA registered. This flip-flop does lead to some doubt as to whether KKP was in fact truthful about the heritage of the other horses mentioned above, as well as others not mentioned here, like Starbuck Leopard II F-129, Gray Goose, etc. Fire Thorn is recorded as being bred by Warren Brewster, of Irney, Montana, and owned by KKP, in the ApHC Stud Book. KKP would later sell the stallion Fire Thorn to Harry Burton, of Austin, Texas.

Another mare Finck purchased from Parsons was Goldsworthy F-131, foaled in 1934. The ApHC Stud Book entry show Goldsworthy bred by Harold Goldsworthy, of Boulder, Colorado, and owned by KKP. The recorded production of Goldsworthy is quite sporadic, with a 1945 son Thunder Call F-192, and no other foals until 1950, 1952, and 1953. (Albermarle Leopard F-1395, Domino's Worthy F-2895, and Tigeress T F-1786, respectively for Finck in North Carolina.) Goldsworthy's pedigree brings even more Rangerbred lineage and questionable bloodlines top the Finck stable, being sired by Sheik Jibbah ApHC -NR/CRHA-Nr-100; out of the mare Bella Donna of unknown breeding. Sheik Jibbah, of course, being said to be the son of the mysterious Starbuck Leopard. Shiek Jibbah is also the sire of Starbuck Leopard II F-129 (out of Columbine), Dixie II F-247 (out of Columbine), Pagan Leopard F-130 (out of Bonita), and Lady Rose F498 (out of Columbine). Pagan Leopard, bred by KKP, would be sold to SK Johnson, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Goldsworthy's son, Thunder Call F-192, would be progenitor of the noted performance families of Jagady F-3432 and Little Red Leopard F-3431, through his unregistered daughter Kimethel, and her 1952 daughter, Dilly A T-542.

The mare Goldsworthy produced the following horse for Dr Finck:

Tigeress T would go into Harold Tyner program at Tipton, Indiana, of Shavano fame.

Pedigrees of many horses coming from the KKP program remain suspect in authenticity today. The famous stallion Pavo was one of the well known cases, and falsifying his pedigree may have been most or part of the reason KKP was banned from the ApHC. He also falsified the pedigree of the foundation stallion Barrendo Red [F-150], the pedigree of noted CRHA sire Rio Dinero (purchased by the Knisleys), and the pedigree of the noted foundation stallion Rainy Moon F-181 ("All Shoshone stock of the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming" according to Parsons.) The questionable pedigree for Rainy Moon F-181, naturally leads to questioning the pedigrees of horses shown to be sired by him. The research timeline shows that KKP probably did not even own Rainy Moon when he registered him and started crediting foals sired by him. People who knew KKP's program and his horses, like Lorne and Vera Knisley, say that the Rainy Moon son Granite Canyon was not sired by Rainy Moon, because Rainy Moon was in fact deceased at the time of breeding that produced Granite Canyon. There were three stallions in the field with Granite Canyon's dam Palomar, when Granite Canyon was conceived--Pavo, Fire Thorn, and another stallion. Granite Canyon resembled Fire Thorn in build, coloration and markings, according to the Knisleys.

KKP, his wife Marion, and their children raised Appaloosa horses. One of their daughters, Virginia Aragon, says the horses raised were not "performance horses", but all of them were "breeding stock". An unreferenced ad for Parsons' Wineglass Horse Ranch, that featured a picture of the stallion Fire Thorn, states that Parsons had sold horses to 21 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. Not only was KKP banned forom the ApHC, according to Pat Mefferd research, he was also banned from writing articles for the Western Horsemen magazine. Parsons had written articles in the past, promoting the 'Libyan Leopard' story, as well as connections between the Appaloosa and the Aztecs. These myths were used to promote the Appaloosa horse in the early years of the ApHC, and the Libyan Leopard myth remains yet today.

Sources

ApHC Stud Books
CRHA Stud Books
http://boulderlibrary.org/oralhistory, OH1492V, interview with Virgionia Aragon
Pat Mefferd research
Nancy Botelho research/letters
Photocopy of Wineglass Horse Ranch ad (Fire Thorn), from Victoria Bell, no source listed
http://appaloosaterritory.com/Articles/foundation3401.html
"In Search of Rainy Moon", by Mike Alvarez (true ownership and pedigree of Rainy Moon)
A Kingdom for My Horse by Vera Knisley
ABDB
"Links of HOrse History Lost???", by Elaine Weiman and Suzan Armstrong, Appaloosa News 3-62
http://appaloosaterritory.com/Articles/foundation1301.html
King K Parsons letter 12-10-1970, Mike Alvarez research
www.archive.org/stream/millerselizabeth08mill/, Miller's Elizabeth City, North Carolina, NC City Directory 1942/1943
CRHA Bloodlines Volumes 1-6
"Dilly A T-542" by Sherry Byrd, Sundance 500 International Reprints of Articles About Sundance F-500 Descendants Published in the Sundance Newletters 1973-2007, Volume 1

Note: Suzan Armstrong, of Cypress, Texas, co-author of the AN 3-62 article "Links of Horse History Lost???", bred and owned the Rangerbred horses Chinook's Rayya #735 and full siblings Chinook's Velvet #736 and Dutchess Chinook #734.These horses were sired by Simcoe's Chinook F-1610, out of the mare Nenamosha A CRHA 644. Nenamosha A was sired by Apple CRHA 605/ApHC F-621, out of the mare Gentle Freckles F-2199, and was a product of the JD High program, at Corpus Christi, Texas.

Note: The mare Carlisle Honey Bear T-8940, produced Honey Blaze T-39283 and Domino's Gypsy Queen 25322 for the Finck program. She also produced other foals. One foal was Nacoma Kiowa T-55857 (photo 8th Annual Mountain and Plains Registered Appaloosa Sale catalog 1-20-1967), who was multiple halter placed, including 3rd at the Colorado State Fair. Another foal was a multiple yearling halter winner in Canada, and was a 2 year old Grand Champion at the Swift Current Show in Saskatchewan, Canada.

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This page posted April 2021.