We are entering a very exciting time with Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. Halter horses of these breeds are being radically re-shaped into tall, elegant horses with cut muscle (like the human male with the six pack).

Some years ago, Quarter Horses and Paints had evolved into overly-muscled, pudgy horses called “whales” by some people and “hippos” by others.  They were clearly not the athletes that their heritage demanded.  At Burke Stud we began a new breeding program about 15 years ago, aimed at re-structuring the Paint and Quarter Horse breeds. Over time I researched the great stallions that improved the breeds:  Te n Te and Impressive in particular.

DMB The Innovator (photo @ 6 weeks of age)

Both were failed racing Quarter Horses that were mostly of Thoroughbred blood.  The other great sire was the legendary Three Bars – he was a pure Thoroughbred. 

After ascertaining the bloodlines of all of the Thoroughbreds involved in the crosses, I tracked down descendants of these horses in Australia.  Then over about five years we attended thoroughbred auctions to seek out mares of the correct breeding that had the characteristics that we wanted.

DMB Calamity Jane (photo @ 2 yrs old)

Soon we started to produce some really modern and exciting foals.  One mare called Dance Society has produced two stunning daughters, a Paint and a solid Paint.  The solid, Burkes High Society, has in turn  produced two exceptional foals.  A glorious solid filly by Ford Shameless Cowboy and a wonderful young stallion by USA # 1 Paint sire Mighty Awesome.  His name is DMB High and Mighty.  This stallion will go to the Paint National Show in August this year.  We believe that he could revolutionise Paint Horse breeding in Australia. Our best thoroughbred mare has produced a glorious Paint stallion, DMB Butch Cassidy, who is beginning his show career shortly both in Western Pleasure and at Halter.

She has also produced an excellent black solid Paint filly.  Her crowning achievement though is a truly amazing bay Quarter Horse colt sired by DMB Intimidator.  This colt will mature around 17hh and is the most elegant Western horse that I have ever seen.  His neck is long, thin and elegant: it seems to go on forever.  His head is so very pretty and he has excellent bone and perfect conformation.  A once in a lifetime horse.  His name is DMB Innovator – check him out on our website.

Some Western horse people have disagreed with our breeding program, but then the incredible happened:  De Renzo won World Champion Quarter Horse in the USA late last year.  He is half thoroughbred.  That is, the American judges have taken the same view as us.  That athletic ability, elegance and sound structure need to come back, and that crossing to Thoroughbreds is the way to go.

DMB Calamity Jane (photo @ 2 yrs old)

To breed on with our improved lines we have retained the best structured of the pure Quarter Horses and Paint Horses that we had and we have imported a number of very modern American-bred Quarter Horses and Paint Horses.  We are now mixing the various lines to develop the halter/ridden horses of the future....