With a name meaning “strong and brawny,” Pecho Dexter lived up to his name.
Pecho Dexter was foaled in 1963 on John King’s ranch at Cleburne, Texas. The sorrel colt was sired by Poco Pecho by Poco Pine and out of Miss Hogan by John Dexter.
In 1966, Pecho Dexter won three AQHA Honor Roll titles, which are now known as high-point awards. The grand champion halter gelding also won a grand champion title in western pleasure and reserve in trail. The following year he held Honor Roll titles in halter and western pleasure.
In 1968, en route to a show, a semi passed the two-horse trailer in which he was riding. The wind drag caused the trailer to whip from side to side, break loose and roll over. A steel support broke loose and stabbed Pecho in the chest. For the next six weeks, the sorrel went through extensive therapy.
Before the accident, the gelding was 30 points ahead in western pleasure. By the time he was ready to show again, he was 30 points behind. That same year, AQHA adopted English classes. Exhibitor John Cratty’s wife, Barbara, showed Pecho Dexter in the English classes. Pecho Dexter won the Honor Roll title in halter geldings, trail, English pleasure, now known as hunter under saddle, and reserve western pleasure.
Pecho Dexter continued to do well the next two years. In 1969, he won four more Honor Roll titles: halter geldings, western pleasure, trail and English pleasure. In 1970, he won three titles: halter geldings, western pleasure and English pleasure.
Pecho Dexter was retired in 1970. He ended his career with 1,058 halter points, 1,135.5 western pleasure points, 233.5 hunter under saddle points and 141.5 trail points.
Pecho Dexter died in 1984. The gelding was the second horse to be inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2005.
Biography updated as of March 2005.