Waldo Haythorn
Waldo Haythorn was born March 25, 1917 at the Haythorn home ranch.
He graduated from St. John’s Military Academy in Salina, Kansas in 1936. After graduation he entered the Colorado State University veterinary program, but discontinued his education to return to Nebraska and ranch with his father, Walt.
In 1941 he joined the service and was placed in the civilian pilot training program, where he trained pilots for the Army and Navy.
On September 14, 1943, Haythorn married Beldora Cochran, who often claimed their honeymoon was a horse buying trip. The Haythorn’s two children, Craig and Sally, were raised on the ranch.
The Haythorn Land and Cattle Company ranch near Ogallala, Nebraska has produced quality ranch horses for more than seventy-five years. Waldo and his father registered the first Quarter Horse in Nebraska.
In 1992, the ranch received the first American Quarter Horse Association Best Remuda Award, and at one time registered the most AQHA horses in the country.
The ranch was presented with the AQHA Legacy Award in 1997 for fifty consecutive years of breeding American Quarter Horses.
Haythorn was a Quarter Horse breeder, speaker and judge. He conducted seminars all over the world for the benefit and advocacy of AQHA and the American Quarter Horse. He was also an original member of the Cowboys Turtle Association, now known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Waldo Haythorn was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2002 and passed away that year on July 26th.
Howard Pitzer
Howard Pitzer has always been recognized as one of the foremost breeders of American Quarter Horses. His attitude and knowledge about the breeding business earned him the respect and admiration of everyone who did business with the Ericson, Nebraska rancher. Pitzer bred over 75 AQHA Champions and multiple AQHA world champions, high-point winners, all-around winners and Register of Merit earners. Additionally, foals bred by him have earned over 28,000 points in AQHA competition.
In 1956 Pitzer bought his first stallion, Pat Star Jr, and started breeding his own horses. In 1964 he purchased Two Eyed Jack, the horse that made Pitzer legendary. Together the two became icons in the Quarter Horse industry.
Pitzer was an AQHA Director from 1980-1984 and in 1985 was named an AQHA Honorary Vice President. He served on the AQHA show and contest committee from 1977-1992.
He was a past president of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association.
Pitzer was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996. Two Eyed Jack was also inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996.
Pitzer died in 1998, leaving a legacy of breeding some of the best horses in AQHA history.
Two Eyed Jack
Two Eyed Jack was a sorrel stallion foaled in Illinois in 1961 and bred by H.H. Mass. His sire was Two D Two, a descendant of Old Sorrel and his dam was Triangle Tookie, a daughter of Grey Badger III.
In 1964 the horse was purchased by Howard Pitzer of Ericson, Nebraska and the two became so closely connected that you can’t say one name without the other.
Two Eyed Jack began his show career as a yearling and was undefeated at halter. He continued his winning ways until 1979 having amassed over 200 halter points and 70 grand champions. He earned performance points in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, reining, working cow horse and western riding. He was an AQHA Champion and earned a Superior in Halter and an Open Performance Register of Merit.
However, his true achievement was as a sire. His get have earned over 37,000 AQHA points and over 190 Superior awards. In addition, he sired over 30 AQHA world or reserve world champions and three AQHA Youth Supreme Champions. He is the sire of an astonishing 119 Open AQHA Champions and an additional 30 Youth Champions.
Vicki Lee Pine, the first AQHA Superhorse, was sired by Two Eyed Jack. Some of his most famous get include, Watch Joe Jack, Two Eyed Donna, Two Jack Two and Two ID Bartender.
Two Eyed Jack was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1996. Howard Pitzer was also inducted that year.
Two Eyed Jack was euthanized March 2, 1991 due to old age.