Wing Commander (horse)

Wing Commander (1943–1969) was an American Saddlebred show horse out of the mare Flirtation Walk and by the stallion Anacacho Shamrock. Wing Commander was a chestnut with four white socks and a white star on his forehead. He was trained to be a five-gaited horse, meaning he performed the walk, trot, canter, slow gait and rack. Through both sides of his pedigree, Wing Commander traced back to the highly influential Saddlebred stallions Rex McDonald and Bourbon King, who were themselves successful show horses. In 1948, the stallion won his first Five-Gaited World Grand Championship, a title he kept for a total of six years. In total he won 6 Five-Gaited World Grand Championships, and was the first of only two horses to accomplish this. In 1950 Life magazine featured Wing Commander as an example of a fine athlete and an American Idol. He was owned by Dodge Stables, and trained and ridden by Earl Teater. Wing Commander stood at stud at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and died at the age of 29.

Wing Commander

Breed	American Saddlebred
Sire	Anacacho Shamrock
Grandsire	Edna May's King
Dam	Flirtation Walk
Maternal grandsire	Kings Genius
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1943
Country	United States of America
Color	Chestnut, four white socks and star
Owner	Dodge Stables
Trainer	Earl Teater
Major wins
6 Five-Gaited World's Grand Championships

Life and career

Wing Commander was foaled in 1943. He was a chestnut stallion with four white socks and a white star on his forehead. He was out of the mare Flirtation Walk and sired by the stallion Anacacho Shamrock. He was bred and owned by Dodge Stables, a part of Castleton Farm near Lexington, Kentucky which at the time was owned by Frances Dodge.[1] His bloodlines traced back to Rex McDonald and Bourbon King, who appeared on both his sire and dam's side.[2] Wing Commander was a five-gaited Saddlebred, meaning that in addition to the default walk, trot, and canter, he also performed a slow gait and rack. He was trained by the notable Saddlebred trainer Earl Teater and groomed by Gregory Pena. Wing Commander began his show career in 1946, as a three-year-old. He won every show he entered that year, but lost twice the next year, 1947, when he was shown against older horses. Both losses ended with him placing second.[3] In 1948 Wing Commander and Teater won the first of six World's Grand Championships at the World's Championship Horse Show, part of the Kentucky State Fair.[1] In addition to being shown under saddle, Wing Commander was trained to pull a fine harness cart, although he was not shown in harness.[4] Following his show career, Wing Commander was retired to stud and was the leading Saddlebred sire from 1963 to 1968.[5] Wing Commander died January 19, 1969.[6] Wing Commander was grandsire to Sky Watch, who won five World's Grand Championships,[7] and maternal grandsire to Imperator, who won four World's Grand Championships. The two horses were also known for their "duels" or shows where they competed against each other.[8]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Wing Commander [2]

Sire Anacacho Shamrock	Edna Mays King	Bourbon King	Bourbon Chief
			Annie C
		Edna May	Rex Peavine
			Lee Wood
	Sally Cameron	Highland Squirrel King	Forest King
			Nellie P
		Al Tadena	Prince Arthur
			Mania
Dam Flirtation Walk	King's Genius	Bourbon King	Bourbon Chief
			Annie C
		Princess Eugenia	Chester Peavine
			Queen of Lincoln
	Spelling Bee	King Vine	Rex Peavine
			Bourbon Belle
		Daughter of Red Light II	Red Light II
			Daughter of Happy Bell

References

1. http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/wing-commander-great-american-show-horse
2. "Wing Commander Saddlebred".
3. "LIFE". 1954-10-04.
4. "LIFE". 1955-04-25.
5. Millard, James Kemper (2007-06-20). Kentucky's Saddlebred Heritage. ISBN 9781439617755.
6. "The Passing of a Legend - Redd Crabtree | the Saddle Horse Report".
7. http://www.kyhorsepark.com/equine-theme-park/park-memorials-statues/memorial-walk-champions/ch-sky-watch-bio
8. http://www.kyhorsepark.com/equine-theme-park/park-memorials-statues/memorial-walk-champions/ch-imperator-bio