Sundance F-500

A leopard stallion named Sundance created a loyal following unlike any other in the Appaloosa breed — a following so strong his admirers formed Sundance 500 International in 1973 to preserve and promote Sundance-based breeding. Sundance, with his striking white body and deep chestnut spots, became a symbol of the versatile, gentle and colorful Appaloosa for Sundance 500 International and the Appaloosa world.

Most of Sundance’s history predates ApHC records. The stallion, born in 1933 according to his original registration application, wasn’t registered with the ApHC until 1948 at age 15. Director Ben Johnson convinced owner Preston S. “Doc” Edwards to register the stallion with the ApHC. By then Sundance had sired an uncountable number of foals throughout the western United States as a remount stallion, and many of his offspring entered the registry before their sire. Eleven are listed in Sundance’s ApHC production record, including seven mares, three stallions and one gelding.

Information about Sundance came from the paperwork submitted by Doc, which states that Philip Jenkins of Colorado bred his Mustang-type mare Chico (Cheeco in some records) to a leopard stallion named Daylight. Little is known about Chico’s origins, but Phil wrote in a September 1972 letter to Appaloosa News: “He was out of a wild mare I got from the Four Corners area. She was a black mare covered with even blacker spots, very well made with plenty of speed.”

Sundance’s sire, Daylight, was a leopard sired by another spotted stallion called Starbuck Leopard. Daylight’s dam is listed as unknown, but some records point to a daughter of Thoroughbred stallion Sands Of Time.

When Sundance died of colic in 1955, his owners preserved the spotted hide of their famous leopard stallion.

The Colorado Ranger Horse 

"The Using Horse of the High Plains"

A "Rangerbred" is one that is registered with the 

Colorado Ranger Horse Association(CRHA), Inc., which is

 one of the oldest of the western horse breed registries 

still in existence in the United States.  To meet the 

requirements for registration with the CRHA, a horse must 

show a direct descent from at least one of the two 

foundation stallions, 'Max #2' and 'Patches #1'. 

While many Colorado Rangerbreds have appaloosa 

markings, CRHA is not a color registry.  Because CRHA 

is a 'bloodline' registry, it doesn't matter if the horse is a 

solid color or shows the coloration variations typical of the 

appaloosa.  If you have a registered Appaloosa, chances 

are one in eight that your stallion, mare, or gelding is 

eligible for CRHA registration, as well.  

CRHA offers a free pedigree check for your Appaloosa's 

eligibility for Rangerbred registration.