AQHA Hall of Fame Pedigree Analysis: Volturi’s Legacy

By Heidi Schlenker and Susan Larkin (may she rest in peace)

A few years ago, I wrote one of those long-winded, truth-packed posts about what makes a great breeding stallion. It still holds water today… probably even more so. That post was inspired by what my mentor, renowned pedigree analyst Susan Larkin, taught me about versatility, pedigree saturation, and how conformation tells the truth even when the papers lie.

Fast-forward three years: Volturi’s oldest foals are turning three, and I’m no longer just preaching—I’m proving. That’s long enough to see what traits stick, what structure holds, how they move, and whether their minds are made for work… or for eating halters and escaping fences.

I’ve crossed Volturi on everything from reiners and cutters to halter queens, track rejects, appendix mutts, barrel burners, and pleasure divas. You name it, he’s covered it; literally and genetically. And the results? Absolutely consistent. Pretty heads. Solid bone. Strong toplines. Clean legs. Balanced builds. And that bold, curious “hey world, look at me” presence you hope for when a foal stands up and doesn’t immediately walk into a wall.

He stamps them. Not just with good looks, but with type. And type is the holy grail of breeding. It’s the part most people think they’re breeding for, but actually aren’t. Weiscamp knew it. He culled without apology. If the type wasn’t right, it didn’t matter what the papers or the earnings said. That’s not just breeding… that’s art with backbone.

How Pedigree Translates to Conformation (Even If You’re Obsessed with Earnings)

My breeding philosophy has never been about chasing dollar signs. It’s about building correct, versatile horses that want to work. Not ones held together with magic hock injections and a prayer. Money helps marketing… but it doesn’t help genetics. Earnings and titles can point to potential, sure, but they’re also propped up by the best vets, drugs, and trainers money can buy, and backed by deep pockets. None of that tells you what a horse will actually produce or sire.

And it’s not just me saying that. Susan Larkin, one of the most respected pedigree analysts the breed’s ever seen, put it bluntly:

“A pedigree saturated with Hall of Fame horses is a pedigree full of exceptional horses.”

Her study dug through thousands of pedigrees across disciplines and found what many of us old-school breeders already suspected: when it comes to breeding on, conformation and genetic influence are everything.

But Susan didn’t just highlight fancy names on paper. She tracked how deeply those names were embedded using a 3-part system:

• How many unique AQHA Hall of Fame horses showed up in the first 20 generations
• How many total occurrences of those HOF names appeared across those 20 generations
• And how many duplicated ancestors were in the first 8 generations

Her findings? The most versatile, sound, and consistently built horses had:

• 24+ different HOF ancestors
• 600–1,200+ total occurrences
• 20–35 duplications in the first 8 generations

That’s not coincidence. That’s intentional genetic architecture. Breeders were linebreeding with purpose, reinforcing traits generation after generation. Done right, linebreeding locks in balance, bone, and brains. Done wrong? You get a horse built like a folding chair that moves like a caffeinated goat on gravel.

Unfortunately, today’s trend seems to be:

“What’s he by?”
“Metallic Cat.”
“Say no more, here’s my check.”

It’s backwards. Pedigree drives conformation. Just because it’s well-bred doesn’t mean it’s well-built.

Susan nailed it when she said that half of any bloodline, even the great ones, has garbage conformation and probably shouldn’t be breeding anything other than disappointment. But let’s be real: evaluating conformation has become a lost art. The industry’s more obsessed with show records than shoulder slopes and hip angles.

And that’s how we end up with pretty papers attached to horses built like lawn chairs. Are we really breeding better? Not if what we’re producing can’t stay sound or carry its own weight, literally. You can’t just breed for marketing if you’re breeding for the integrity of the breed. You have to know which horses are pushing which traits forward. Otherwise, you’re not breeding. You’re gambling with glitter glue.

Prepotency: The Science Behind Consistency (Or, How to Tell If Your Stud Actually Stamps or Just Throws Chrome)

Prepotency. It’s the word breeders love to throw around, and even more love to misunderstand. It’s not about having cute babies… it’s about a stallion consistently stamping his foals with his own traits, regardless of the mare. And no… chrome doesn’t count.

So what actually creates a prepotent stallion? It’s a genetic cocktail made up of several key ingredients:

1. Homozygosity at Key Trait Loci
   A prepotent stallion is usually more genetically uniform at specific loci tied to conformation… things like shoulder slope, hock angle, or a clean throatlatch. He’s not necessarily inbred overall… but for those traits, he carries matching alleles that get passed on like clockwork.
   Example: If he’s homozygous for a gene influencing shoulder slope, every foal gets that slope. No guesswork. No gambling.
2. Dominant Trait Expression
   Some traits are dominant or co-dominant, meaning if the stallion carries them, they’ll show up whether the mare likes it or not. A refined head, an upright neck, a solid back… if it’s dominant, it gets passed more often and more obviously.
3. Pedigree Concentration (Linebreeding Done Right)
   If your stallion comes from a strong sire line that repeatedly throws specific traits, chances are higher he’ll keep the pattern going. Pedigrees full of proven producers—not just performers—are usually a good sign.
   Linebreeding to a dominant ancestor can crank up trait consistency. But go too far, and you’re not breeding for balance anymore… you’re playing genetic Jenga and hoping the whole thing doesn’t collapse on your program.
4. Phenotype-to-Genotype Alignment
   This one’s overlooked constantly. What you see on the outside (phenotype) has to be coming from the DNA (genotype)… not just from great feed and a camera angle.
   Example: A short back and strong loin because of bone structure, not just muscle tone or hay belly disguise? That sticks. That passes.
5. Lack of Masking from the Mare
   You can only stamp a foal if the mare doesn’t override him. The more variety of mares he’s bred to—and the more consistent the foals—the more prepotent he truly is.
   In other words, can he clean up a train wreck of a mare and still make something rideable? That’s the test.
6. Track the Foals
   Prepotency isn’t declared in a Facebook ad. It’s proven in real life… over time… with real foals.
   Are they consistent in:
   • Head type
   • Topline
   • Neck set
   • Shoulder slope
   • Hip angle
   • Stifle location
   • Loin depth
   • Croup shape
   • Leg angles
   • Temperament and work ethic
   If the answer is yes, then it’s not a fluke. It’s a genetic pattern… and that’s what real breeders are watching for.

Bonus: Mitochondrial DNA
Just so we’re clear… stallions don’t pass on everything. Temperament, endurance, and metabolic traits are influenced by mitochondrial DNA, which only comes from the mare.
So no… your stud didn’t sire that work ethic alone. Give the mare her credit.

Common Misconceptions (That Make Real Breeders Cringe)

• “He’s a world champion… so he must be prepotent.”
  No. Some of the flashiest, winningest horses out there are absolute genetic flukes. They were built right… performed right… but they don’t reproduce worth a damn. Just because a horse can win doesn’t mean he can sire winners.
• “He throws chrome… so he stamps his babies.”
  Chrome is window dressing. It looks nice on a sales post… but it tells you absolutely nothing about what’s going on underneath. If your stallion is consistently passing on a blaze but not a shoulder… you’ve got a paintbrush, not a blueprint.

AQHA Hall of Fame Pedigree Analysis: Insights on Breeding Success

Revisiting Susan’s Study: Hall of Fame Horses and Why They Still Matter

Before we get into Volturi’s numbers, let’s talk about where this framework came from. The late Susan Larkin was my mentor and one of the most respected pedigree analysts in the breed. She spent years studying the relationship between pedigree structure and versatility, and she backed it up with hard data.

Her study ended in 2017 when she passed. The Hall of Fame list she worked from stops there… but the value of her work hasn’t changed. In fact, with how off-track modern breeding has become, her insights feel more important now than ever.

What follows is a large excerpt from Susan’s original work. I’ve kept it intact so you can see how her analysis was structured… and why it still matters for breeders focused on building better, not just breeding more.

AQHA Hall of Fame Horses and Versatility

Breeding Toward the Breed Standard

By Susan Larkin

“The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to honor people and horses instrumental in the development of the breed and the American Quarter Horse Association. Induction into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors bestowed by AQHA.”

Below are all of the horses inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame through 2017. These horses represent many of the very best performers and/or the most influential sires and producers of the breed, past and present, from all disciplines:

Azure Te (TB), Baby Doll Combs, Barbara L, Beduino (TB), Bert, Billy Clegg, Black Easter Bunny, Blondy’s Dude, Charger Bar, Cherry Lake (TB), Chicado V, Chicks Beduino, Casey’s Ladylove, Clabber, Colonel Freckles, Corona Chick, Country Classic, Coy’s Bonanza, Cutter Bill, Dashingly, Dashing Phoebe, Dash For Cash, Depth Charge (TB), Diamonds Sparkle, Do Good, Doc Bar, Doc O’Lena, Driftwood, Easy Date, Easy Jet, Expensive Hobby, Fillinic, First Down Dash, FL Lady Bug, Freckles Playboy, Garrett’s Miss Pawhuska, Go Man Go, Goetta, Grey Badger II, Hollywood Dun It, Indigo Illusion, Jackie Bee, Jet Deck, Joe Cody, Joe Hancock, Joe Reed, Joe Reed II, Kaweah Bar, King, Lady Bug’s Moon, Lena’s Bar (TB), Leo, Leo San, Lightning Bar, Lynx Melody, Maddon’s Bright Eyes, Majestic Scotch, Make It Do, Miss Jim 45, Miss Meyers, Miss Olene, Miss T Stuart, Moon Deck, Mr Bar None, Mr Conclusion, Mr Gun Smoke, Mr San Peppy, Oklahoma Star, Old Sorrel, Ought To Go, Parker’s Trouble, Pecho Dexter, Peppy San, Peppy San Badger, Peter McCue, Plaudit, Poco Bueno, Poco Lena, Poco Pine, Poco Tivio, Quo Vadis, Refrigerator, Rocket Bar (TB), Rocket Wrangler, Ronas Ryon, Royal King, Royal Santana, Rugged Lark, Scotch Bar Time, Shue Fly, Skipper W, Smart Little Lena, Sonny Dee Bar, Special Effort, Strawfly Special, Streakin La Jolla, Streakin Six, Sugar Bars, Texas Dandy, The Invester, Three Bars (TB), Top Deck (TB), Top Moon, Town Policy, Traveler, Two Eyed Jack, Van Decka, Wimpy, Woven Web, Zantanon, Zan Parr Bar, Zippo Pat Bars, Zippo Pine Bar, Zips Chocolate Chip.

As a leading international pedigree analyst, I wanted to know if the number of AQHA Hall of Fame horses in a pedigree influenced the type and versatility of a horse. After analyzing thousands of pedigrees of Quarter Horses and Paints, a pattern emerged. The results of this study are significant for breeders interested in maintaining the integrity of the Quarter Horse (and Paint) breeds as versatile, athletic horses that can run, work a cow, and possess the conformation that best represents exceptional breed type and ideal.

Although no pedigree analyst recommends selecting and breeding solely by pedigree, percentages, or numbers, these figures are powerful tools when combined with careful selection of breeding stock based on excellent conformation and type. A pedigree saturated with Hall of Fame horses is a pedigree full of exceptional horses.

The performance arena specialists (Western Pleasure, Reining and Cutting) had the lowest overall numbers, while the Halter and Race-bred horses had higher numbers of Hall of Fame horses in their pedigrees. The numbers are higher in more diversely bred horses. The history of the Quarter Horse has shown that horses bred to race were of major importance in developing the breed’s performance abilities in terms of agility, substance, conformation, and versatility. Without speed, there is no versatility. Legendary breeders were firm believers that if a Quarter Horse could not run, he wasn’t a Quarter Horse. Of the 48 horses that achieved the highest award for versatility (AQHA Supreme Champion), 48 of them were predominantly race bred.

Most of the Quarter Horses and Paints today have race-bred Quarter Horses in their pedigrees, although much of that blood is further back if the subject horse is bred to be discipline-specific. One will also find early American tail female lines prominent in the pedigrees of the majority of the most influential horses of the breed, such as Family A1 (Ben Brush TB, Chicks Beduino, Equestrian TB, Lantados TB, Maple Prince TB, Maynard L. TB, Monte TB, Prince Vic TB), Family A2 (Seth TB), Family A4 (Tallwood TB), Family A5 (Grog TB, Master Bunting TB), Family A6 (Dr. Mack TB), Family A10 (Dewey TB, Dr. Howard TB), Family A11 (Martin’s Best TB), Family A15 (Bonnie Joe TB), Family A16 (Erskine Dale TB), Family A18 (Peter McCue, Harmon Baker, Hickory Bill), Family A22 (First Chip TB), Family A24 (Leo), Family A29 (Barney Lucas TB), Wimpy II (A31), Rex Beach (A47), Primero (A79), and Dennis Reed (A89).

“Geneticists and other pedigree experts agree to maintain size, substance, soundness and integrity of a breed an outcross is needed every few generations.“

susan larkin

Many of the specialized horses today are bred for one trait, at the expense of others, while linebreeding to the same horses over and over again. This study began in 2010 and is an ongoing effort to find those horses that might provide the necessary attributes to breed for a versatile athlete. These numbers help determine the potential of a horse as an individual, and its ability to breed on positive traits, without relying solely on a show record, earnings, or get records.

“It’s not who’s in the pedigree… it’s where they’re placed.”

Susan Larkin

There are many horses every bit as good as those who had the opportunity to succeed that do not get used to their potential as breeding horses because of the lack of aforementioned records. However, this is not to say that horses without those records are “always” as good as those with those records. For example, a pedigree can be saturated with Hall of Fame ancestors, but it is where those ancestors are located in the pedigree and where the crosses to those ancestors occur that is of importance in determining an individual’s prepotency in the breeding shed.

Each of the following horses’ pedigrees were thoroughly researched so that all of the AQHA Hall of Fame horses among their ancestors were accounted for through 20 generations. My research focused on the Hall of Fame horses found in the pedigrees of well-known horses (mostly Quarter Horses, and some Paints), as well as up and coming horses in the halter industry. Thoroughbred ancestors up close in their pedigrees would certainly lower their numbers for this particular study, as well as Paints who aren’t predominantly Quarter Horse-bred.

The evaluation involved successful horses as well as obscure, unsuccessful horses in my study. The results were consistent regardless of their status or show record (or lack of). Similar studies have proven useful in the Thoroughbred racing industry, where many pedigree “tools of the trade” are used to determine racing potential and influence; such as evaluating occurrences of Chefs de Race, Dosage, Blue Hen mares, various pedigree patterns, tail female lines, sibling relationships, linebreeding, etc.

In studying some of the top halter sires, I noticed an interesting trend. The first number is indicative of the tendency toward versatility as an individual. The higher the number, the more tendency toward versatility the individual possesses; with anything above 25 to be exceptional, 24–20 being average, and anything below 20 to be more specialized.

The second number can be correlated directly to the horse’s tendency to be versatile, as well as the horse’s ability to pass that versatility on, positively contributing to the breed. The third number, however, seems to indicate how well these halter sires stamp their foals with certain traits. The sires with higher third numbers are passing on consistent traits (good or bad) to their foals.

In addition, most halter sires have more crosses to Peter McCue than they do Traveler. This is important since Peter McCue is responsible for overall versatility and Traveler can be found in higher numbers of horses that are more specialized (such as cutters and reiners). When breeding “outside the box,” the results can produce some outstanding horses. Vital Signs Are Good and Miss N Cash are excellent examples of this. Genetic diversity is necessary for maintaining breed versatility and integrity.

Another interesting indicator of a horse’s ability to adhere to, and pass on, certain traits is the number of different horses that are duplicated within the first eight generations of a horse’s pedigree. This number reflects a horse’s potential to possess and/or transmit certain traits to their descendants.

The most influential and talented speed-bred horses throughout history (both TB and QH) have extremely high numbers, such as Ben Brush (55), Secretariat (42), Dash For Cash (39), Domino (42), Peter McCue (40), Doc Bar (31), Te N’Te (31), Chicks Beduino (38), Dennis Reed (46), Joe Reed II (35), Rocket Bar (37), Man O’War (47), Three Bars (40), etc.

“…the best, most consistent results I ever got from my Thoroughbred outcrosses came when I went to Ben Brush horses. It just always seemed to work out that way.”

Holmes, 1996, p. 37.

An incomplete pedigree on a QH or Paint can cause this number to be lower, as well as a horse being very specialized toward one event (other than racing) where tighter linebreeding to a smaller group of ancestors will occur.

The following table lists some high-profile halter sires, followed by working, reining, cutting, ranch, and race-bred horses. Numbers are presented as:

• First: Number of different Hall of Fame ancestors in the 20-generation pedigree
• Second: Total occurrences of those HOF ancestors in the pedigree
• Third: Number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations

As you read through the list, reflect on each horse as an individual, and then their influence as a sire. This information will assist breeders when combined with a similar evaluation on potential mates and foals, as well as the knowledge of the individual horses, their breeding, accomplishments, and individual phenotype (conformation).

The first number represents the number of different Hall of Fame ancestors in the pedigree (correlated to the individual’s potential toward versatility). The second number indicates the number of occurrences of those ancestors in the pedigree in 20 generations (correlated to the individual’s potential toward versatility and his ability to pass on that versatility in a positive way). The third number represents the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of the pedigree (correlated to passing on certain traits whether good or bad).

Halter Stallions

Median HOF Ancestor Count (Halter): 20

Additional horses and the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of their pedigrees (representing the third number of prepotency):
Barlink Macho Man (25), Concention (28), Conclusive (24), Coolest (32), Ima Cool Skip (32), JMK Supernatural (27), Mr Conclusion (25), Mr Sonny Money (25), Mr Touchdown Kid (27), Obvious Conclusion (24), Skipa Star (25), Temon (25), The Secret (24).

Reining, Cutting, and Reined Cow Horses

Median HOF Ancestor Count (Reiners/Cutters): 14

Additional horses and the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of their pedigrees (representing the third number of prepotency):
Be Aech Enterprise (19), Bobs Hickory Rio (23), Boon Too Suen (26), Custom Crome (20), Desires Little Rex (22), Doc O’Lena (23), Doc’s Remedy (26), Dual Pep (24), Freckled Leo Lena (22), Freckles Playboy (15), Great Red Pine (24), Great Resolve (28), Gunnatrashya (19), Haidas Little Pep (27), High Brow CD (26), High Brow Hickory (22), Hottish (23), Hydrive Cat (27), Jewel’s Leo Bars (27), King Of The Cats (27), Leo San (25), Light N Lena (22), Master Remedy (26), Metallic Cat (25), Miss N Cash (21), Peponita (21), Playgun (24), Smart Little Lena (24), Sophisticated Cat (30), Stylish Rey (24), Tanquery Gin (32), Zack T Wood (27).

WORKING RANCH – FOUNDATION – RODEO – ROPING – BARREL RACING

The median number of the first group of numbers for these horses is 15.

Additional horses and the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of their pedigrees (representing the third number of prepotency):
Captain Biankus (20), Caseys Charm (mare, 26), Dash Ta Fame (29), Dr Kirk (38), Four Roan Fly (22), PC Frenchmans Hayday (25), Sixes Country (40), Sun Frost (19), Zan Parr Bar (23).

WESTERN PLEASURE – HUNTER UNDER SADDLE – PERFORMANCE HALTER

The median number for the first group of numbers for these horses is 15.4.

Additional horses and the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of their pedigrees (representing the third number of prepotency):
Barpasser (26), Certain Potential (23), Investment Asset (36), Kay Cee Leaguer (27), RL Best Of Sudden (21), Sweet Talkin Chip (20), The Big Investment (26), Too Sleepy To Zip (23), Zippo Pine Bar (23), Zippos Old Gold (29).

RACE-BRED HORSES

The median number for the first group of numbers for these horses is 26.

Additional horses and the number of duplicated ancestors in the first 8 generations of their pedigrees (representing the third number of prepotency):
Breeze Bar (36), Chicks Beduino (38), Dash For Cash (39), Doc Bar (31), Easy Jet (33), Fast Jet (31), First Down Dash (33), Go Man Go (35), Jet Deck (30), Joe Reed (37), Joe Reed II (35), Kitaman (40), Lightning Bar (38), Meter Me Gone (39), Moon Deck (37), Ocean Runaway (31), Runaway Winner (33), Shazoom (30), Special Effort (30), Strawfly Special (38), Streakin La Jolla (31), Sugar Bars (32), The Signature (43), Tinky Poo (26), Tiny Charger (46), Tiny’s Gay (35), Triple Chick (40).

Breeding does not have to be, nor is it, a crapshoot. Studying the pedigrees beyond the first four generations reveals clues as to how a horse will pass on particular traits, abilities, and more. In addition, the prevalence of a variety of genetic diseases today is of paramount concern making it even more crucial to study the pedigrees of the crosses one intends to make. Another important point is that the popular site “allbreedpedigree.com” does little to ensure pedigree research is conducted accurately. The error rate of that online database is extremely high. One may think he or she is looking at an accurate pedigree because the first three generations may be correct, but please remember there are many horses with the same names, of the same sex, born in the same year. It is not uncommon for the wrong sire or dam to be listed somewhere in the pedigree; thus making the entire pedigree inaccurate.

References:

Holmes, Frank. (1996). The Hank Weiscamp Story. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman.

Limitations:

While the original study referenced ‘duplicated ancestors in the first eight generations,’ some counts, such as where she references 600+ duplications, suggest that the actual scope of analysis may have extended through 20 generations to reach the second number, rather than duplicated ancestors across 8 generations. This is particularly evident in highly linebred pedigrees where certain ancestors appear dozens of times, inflating the duplication count far beyond what is mathematically possible within eight generations alone.

What Susan Got Right… and Why It Still Applies

Breeding isn’t a gamble when you know what you’re looking at. Studying pedigrees beyond the fourth generation reveals clear patterns: traits likely to be passed on, flaws likely to surface, and which bloodlines reinforce structural consistency.

With the rise in genetic disorders and structural breakdowns, intentional breeding isn’t optional anymore. Most of the problems we see today come from breeders who chase trends without understanding what they’re stacking genetically.

And one final note… if you’re still relying on AllBreedPedigree to make your breeding decisions, reconsider. That site is useful for quick reference but wildly unreliable beyond three generations. Wrong horses. Duplicate names. Entirely incorrect sires and dams. If you’re not verifying against registry records, you’re not researching… you’re guessing.

Volturi’s Pedigree: Built with Intention

Volturi was bred by Bob Loomis… the literal Godfather of reining bloodlines. He is the only breeder to show, train and stand 3 generations of NRHA million dollar sires; NRHA #1 All Time Leading sire, Topsail Whiz, followed by West Coast Whiz (Topsail Whiz x My Moon Stone Chex) and Topsail Cody (Joe Cody x Doc Bar Linda). The man didn’t breed haphazardly… he built stallions like he was playing genetic chess. Read more about Bob Loomis here.

Volturi’s sire: Smoking Whiz (by Topsail Whiz, out of Glendas A Smokingun by Colonels Smoking Gun)
Volturi’s dam: Surprize Me Mercedes (by Cromed Out Mercedes, out of Moms Little Prize by Be Aech Enterprise)

This isn’t just a pedigree with recognizable names. It is a lineup of sires that bred true and left traits behind you could actually build on.

In Volturi’s first eight generations, you will find some of the most structurally influential horses in Quarter Horse history:

• Topsail Cody
• Topsail Whiz
• Colonels Smoking Gun
• Colonel Freckles
• Custom Crome
• Be Aech Enterprise
• Hollywood Jac 86
• Joe Cody
• Doc Bar
• Three Bars (TB)
• King
• Leo
• Poco Bueno
• Poco Tivio
• Wimpy
• Zantanon
• Peter McCue
• Lightning Bar
• Rey Del Rancho
• Chicaro Bill
• Pretty Boy

These names appear frequently throughout the pedigree. That’s not noise… that’s repetition by design. It is the kind of stacking that locks in shoulder slope, hip angle, stifle location, loin connection, and balance. Not just once in a while… but across the board.

Then there is Princess In Diamonds. She appears in Volturi’s maternal third generation and brings something critical to the equation. Maternal prepotency. Known for a long, clean neck that ties in high, a smooth, well-laid back shoulder, and a compact body that still carries depth and power, she was elegance in motion. Her foals are consistently balanced, uphill, and smart. She did not just make winners… she made good-minded, correct horses that could do the job and look good doing it.

And don’t overlook Glendas A Smokingun, Volturi’s paternal granddam. Her contribution is often underestimated. She was a mare that brought substantial bone, a strong loin, and a deep hip into the mix. She anchored the Gunsmoke influence with more substance and depth, and she passed that on consistently. Her foals didn’t just move… they drove. From behind, with power and balance, even at a standstill.

Volturi wasn’t just bred with good intentions. He was bred with structure in mind… and the results are showing up in the dirt, not just on paper.

Comparing the Big Boys: Where Volturi Ranks

Susan Larkin’s data gave us a consistent framework for evaluating pedigree influence, prepotency, and versatility. By her three-number model—unique Hall of Fame ancestors, total occurrences, and number of duplications within the first eight generations—you can get a measurable sense of whether a stallion is built to breed on… or just built to ride.

Let’s put Volturi side by side with some of the industry’s most talked-about sires:

Volturi sits right in the company of the greats. His number of unique Hall of Fame ancestors outpaces nearly everyone in this group. His overall occurrence count aligns with the best-siring sires on the list, and his duplication count reflects targeted reinforcement rather than reckless inbreeding.

He is not just genetically qualified. He is functionally correct. And more importantly, he is siring foals that reflect both.

This is what it means to be bred to sire. This is what it means to plan for the future of a breed rather than chase a check or a logo. This is what it means to look at conformation, movement and pedigree, before the marketing, earnings, and trainers. The data doesn’t lie. It’s repeatable.

Breeding Like Bob Ross

Breeding horses is a lot like painting a Bob Ross landscape. You think you’re adding a happy little tree… and suddenly, you’ve got a steep croup, a kicked-back stifle that doesn’t align with the SI, a massive dip behind the wither, or no wither at all. The shoulder is straight, the neck ties in so low to the base of the shoulder it’s practically in their chest, and you’re left staring at what we politely call a “nest.”

This is how people end up with foals that look nothing like the stallion ad… and ride like a folding chair in a windstorm.

But when you understand conformation, biomechanics, and pedigree structure, breeding becomes more than guesswork. It becomes intentional. It becomes repeatable. And sometimes… it even becomes art.

So what conformational traits does Volturi consistently stamp?

• He corrects shoulder slope and balance through the front end
• He adds depth and length to the hip, with a round, usable croup
• He strengthens and shortens the topline and loin connection
• He raises the neck connection at the base of the shoulder
• He maintains consistent bone-tendon circumference and clean legs
• He stamps a refined, intelligent head that matches the body it’s attached to

Most importantly, he improves flaws—real ones. Weak loins. Downhill builds. Straight shoulders. Short hips. He doesn’t just cover them… he fixes them. And he does it over and over again, across a wide range of mares.

That’s not luck. That’s prepotency.

“He’s not just throwing pretty… he’s throwing purpose.”

Heidi Schlenker

The Third Generation is the Secret Weapon

Susan always told me, “Don’t dismiss the third generation. That’s where the blueprint lives.”

She wasn’t wrong. The third and fourth generations are where phenotype re-emerges. That’s why you can breed to a flashy stallion and end up with a foal that looks like its great-granddad during his awkward yearling phase. It isn’t random. It’s genetics showing you where the real influence lives.

In Volturi’s case, the third generation is stacked with heavy hitters that actually built structure. These aren’t just recognizable names. They are proven contributors to balance, soundness, and functional type.

• Be Aech Enterprise brought balance, bone, and trainability. His foals had correct loins, smart minds, and the kind of consistency that built breeding programs.
• Custom Crome added hip length, loin depth, hock integrity, and elegance through the shoulder. His influence shows up in shape and softness without losing substance.
• Colonels Smoking Gun gave Volturi presence, movement, and structure. His foals carried a longer hip, more forward drive, and that unmistakable eye-catching front end.
• Topsail Cody reinforced functional correctness and durability. He passed on good feet, strong toplines, and a natural balance that didn’t need a trainer to create it.
• Princess In Diamonds contributed refinement, a high neck tie-in, a laid-back shoulder, and a strong topline. Her maternal influence shows up in the foals that think, try, and stay sound doing it.
• Glendas A Smokingun, Volturi’s paternal granddam, is often overlooked, but her role is critical. She added substance and depth, particularly in the loin and hip. She strengthened his base and gave him the bone and muscle pattern needed to hold up under work. Her foals didn’t just move well… they moved correctly, with strength behind and balance up front.

This is where Volturi’s consistency comes from. It isn’t luck. It’s the result of structure appearing consistently in the same generation… over and over… from proven horses that bred true.

If you ignore the third generation, you’re skipping the chapter where the real story is written.

“Earnings sell a breeding… conformation sells a legacy.”

susan larkin

If You’re Not Breeding for Better… You’re Just Breeding More

Volturi’s foals aren’t just pretty. They are smart. They are trainable. They stop hard. They come with balance, bone, and a mind that stays with you through the ride instead of checking out halfway through a turnaround.

This stallion isn’t a TikTok trend. He’s not a flash-in-the-pan name that looks good in a hashtag but leaves you guessing in the breeding shed. He is a blueprint. And he’s producing foals that reflect it.

If there’s one takeaway from all this, it’s that consistency matters. Not just in pedigree, but in structure, temperament, and trainability. Earnings can help market a horse, but they can’t build one. And they definitely can’t tell you what he’ll reproduce.

Breeding better horses doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by learning to see conformation clearly… by understanding what a pedigree is actually telling you… and by making intentional decisions that stack good traits, not just popular names.

We have the tools to do it better, but we are too in a hurry to chase earnings, larger purses, futurities, and fame to put time into the art form. The next generation of horses depends on whether we use the tools we have accordingly, or keep chasing the almighty dollar at the expense of true longevity, soundness, trainability, and the integrity of the breed. In the meantime, be sure to Like and Follow Volturi on Facebook to keep up with more great content!

References

• Larkin, S. (2010–2016). AQHA Hall of Fame Horses and Versatility
• Legends Series Vols. 1–6, Western Horseman
• Holmes, F. (1996). The Hank Weiscamp Story
• AQHA Registration Records for Volturi
• NRHA & AQHA Hall of Fame Archives
• Select Breeders Services – “Evaluating Structure in Breeding”
• Bob Loomis Quarter Horses Archives
• Personal observations and breeding records (2000–2025)