Skipper W

SKIPPER W -- Hank Wiescamp commissioned me to do an oil painting of Skipper W. When I first went to Alamosa to do research on the famous stallion it was mid winter during the late fifties.  I was 14 or 15 years old. Whatever age, I did not have a drivers license and my mother took me to meet and work for the famous Hank. Photos on line of Hank standing with winter clothes by Skipper W and Skipper's King were ones I took that day.

Cecil Dobbin was the leading Appaloosa producer. He had me do a painting of one of his famous mares, "Eshokinee."  He told Hank of the painting and encouraged Hank to commission me to do things for him. When Hank called I was about age 15 and it was an exciting and scary call. To be selected by the leading horsemen, starting as a teenager with the very top man--who could ask for more.

At that time a normal oil fee was $125. I worked so hard. Everything of any professional appearance was a battle. I did other paintings of Skip's Reward, Nick W, Skipper's King and a second one of Skipper W. Once Hank liked the paintings he was an amazing referral. Everyone who bought his best horses, over time, I photographed or did paintings.

Looking at Skipper W for the first time was like reading the Bible. He was full of new and brilliant pieces. He had the smallest little pin ears I had ever seen which became a Wiescamp trademark. He was a dark rich chestnut color with slight variable lighter tones in his face and legs. He had the smallest hooves--a sign of breediness. His neck had a slight dip in front of the wither, with trimness and length. His muscle structure, inside gaskin, all abundant, but not too much. Any horse with even a forth Skipper family would carry that special look that could be noted by knowledgeable people. Thousands of horses have pieces of the beautiful golden colors and fine lines of a life time of planned Skipper matings by Hank.

Hank taught me a great lesson which I have found true in the breeding of Texas Longhorns. Although Skipper W was excellent conformation, his ability to sire numerous progeny superior to himself was the value trait. Most reproduce themselves, but some do less--Skipper W sired a semi load of great horses far better than himself. That is a genetic miracle.

There is a lengthy chapter in "HORN STEW" about Hank. When Hank was in his prime and the most sought after auctioneer in the nation he had little time to chat with a kid like me. Later as he moved through his eighties I would call him and he would invite me to spend the day with him. I always did. It was more than a college education every day.

He was a master at line breeding. I asked how you could tell if there was too much line breeding. He said, "The first thing you lose is fertility, the second is noticable genetic defects and the third is the mind. Same as with people."

It was legend, that as an auctioneer, he could climb into the auction box, look over the crowd, and tell within $100 what the sale average would be. I asked him how he did that?  Sometimes he would give me a good answer and other times he just floated out blue smoke. He said, "It is a special feeling I have--I can't describe it." That meant I was not going to get a truthful answer.

Skipper W gave Hank more $100,000 progeny sold than any horse of that day. Yet, Hank put very little in cost of sales, or production. Sale prices are of little value if cost of sales is so high there isn't money left to buy ranches. Hank bought a lot of ranches.