Old Sorrel

Old Sorrel, sometimes known as The Old Sorrel, (1915–1945) was a Quarter Horse stallion who was the foundation of the King Ranch linebreeding program for Quarter Horses, and the cornerstone of the King Ranch horse breeding program.

Life

Old Sorrel was foaled in 1915 and was sold that same year to the King Ranch of Texas. He proved himself worth breeding through ranch work on the ranch, before being used as the foundation of the King Ranch Quarter Horse linebreeding program. He died in 1945, with his last foal crop being in 1943. He was a sorrel stallion bred by George Clegg of Alice, Texas and sold by Clegg as a foal along with his dam for $125 to the King Ranch. The King Ranch owned him until he died.

J. K. Northway, the veterinarian on the King Ranch, described Old Sorrel as

Bob Kleberg, the Bob in the quote from Northway, who was one of the owners of the King Ranch and who managed it during from the 1920s through the 1950s, said that the Old Sorrel was "the best cow horse I ever rode, but he was also a good running horse. He had that well balanced look and the feel of a racehorse."