Cowboy Gear: Why Cowboys Ride Hancock Bred Horses

Cowboys have a lot of tools at their disposal, but certainly one of the most important tools of the trade is a cowboy’s cow horse. A good horse can make all the difference in working cattle, competing in rodeo events and, generally, in getting work done on the open range. And as cow horses go, the quarter horse are the breed of horses preferred by cowboys due to their muscular build, cleverness, agility and calm demeanor. In a world of famous quarter horses, there are a select few that stand above all others. Certainly San Peppy and Mr. San Peppy come to mind, as do Wimpy P-1 and Old Sorrel. But of all the well-known ranch horses used by cowboys, there is only one foundation horse that carries almost equal parts praise and head-scratching confusion. And, in that, a very unique horse.

A unique breed is born

Joe Hancock was registered as number 455 in the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA). He was foaled most probably in 1926, based on the best information we have. What we do know is that he was a brown stallion, registered as bred by an unknown breeder, but later research determined that his breeder was Mr. John Jackson Hancock. His sire was a son of Peter McCue named John Wilkens and his dam was a half Percheron mare noted as being “a dark bay mare of solid, smooth and well balanced proportions,” although the…