Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal
Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal, of Papillion, Nebraska, have been breeding some of the finest American Quarter Horses in the world since the 1960’s.
When rodeo rider, Stan, met Mary Kay, she was riding pleasure horses and barrel racing. Together they developed a breeding program that combined their talents and passion for great horses. A lifetime of dedication to improving the breed resulted in Stan and Mary Kay being on the list of AQHA Leading Breeders since 1987 and on the all-time Leading Breeder list of AQHA Register of Merit performance horses.
Their program focused on combing great pedigrees, great confirmation, soundness, athletic ability and disposition. They have produced numerous winners in AQHA, APHA, NCHA, and PHBA, as well as World and Congress Champions and Reserve Champions. The Steyskals raised the great horses: Good Version, Natural Iron, Son Of A Rebel, Stylish Iron, Crimson Iron, Lonsum Tiger, Good Miss Molly, Mr Gold Invested, Miss Gold Invested, Investment Stinger, Trace Of Goodbar, Tina Tiger Leo, Bill Tiger Leo and many, many more.
The stallions that were the heart of their breeding program were Iron Rebel and Tiger Leo. Iron Rebel was an AQHA Champion and Superior Western Pleasure horse and sire of earners with over 7,900 points, 95 ROM’s and 37 Superior awards. Tiger Leo was an AQHA Champion, earned a AAA-rating on the racetrack, and was the sire of earners with over 5,900 points and multiple Superiors award winners. Tiger Leo was inducted into the NSBA Hall of Fame in 1995, the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
However, the Steyskals are also recognized for having great broodmares and perpetuating great “mare families.” Their mare, Kiowa’s Diana, was the dam or granddam of horses that were named an NCHA Reserve World Champion cutting horse, a Congress Pleasure Futurity winner, an AQHA Champion and an AQHA High-point Hunter under Saddle winner. Her offspring also earned over 2000 AQHA points
Mary Kay explained, “In the back of your mind, you have to remember that good confirmation delivers good performance. We must continue to emphasize correct confirmation, athletic ability and a willing mind to do that.” She went on to add, “You have to have a vision and raise horses that satisfy you first, and hopefully they will satisfy someone else, too.”
For their contributions to the horse industry Stan and Mary Kay Steyskal were awarded the 2001 Jack Benson Award by the National Snaffle Bit Association.
Tiger Leo
Tiger Leo was bred by AQHA Hall of Fame horseman, Bud Warren, of Perry, Oklahoma. The flashy sorrel horse was foaled in June 1958 and was sired by AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, Leo and out of the thoroughbred mare, Connie. As a weanling, he was acquired by Walt Chamberlain of Walsenburg, Colorado. Chamberlain sent Tiger Leo to the race track starting in 1961 where he went on to earn a AAA-rating.
In 1965 Tiger Leo was sent to Nebraska cowboy and trainer, Stan Steyskal. By August of 1966, Steyskal had shown the horse to his AQHA Champion; earning points in cutting, reining and halter. The Steyskals started breeding their mares to Tiger Leo and by 1973 had formed a syndicate to purchase the stallion. He became the cornerstone of their breeding operation and by 1987 they were on the AQHA list of leading breeders, where they remained for more than three decades.
As a sire, Tiger Leo, was extremely versatile, siring 482 registered foals from 24 crops. There are eleven AQHA Champions sired by Tiger Leo. His get earned over 5,940 points, with AQHA Superiors in halter, western pleasure, hunter under saddle, hunter hack, hunt seat equitation, showmanship, horsemanship, trail and barrel racing. He also sired winners on the racetrack. His foals were money earners at the AQHA World Show and in competitions in the National Cutting Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association and the National Reining Horse Association.
He also excelled as a broodmare sire, where his daughters have produced more than 270 AQHA point-earners that amassed over 21,500 points.
Tiger Leo was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2019.
Tiger Leo was laid to rest in 1986.