CUTTING HORSES

James Drury's achievements as an accomplished horseman go far beyond his acting roles on television, and the big screen.  He was the 1997 Cutting Horse Champion for the "9th Annual Roundup for Autism" held at Northside Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.  He also participates in other disciplines including polo, riding to the hounds, dressage, and show jumping.
 

Betty and husband, Connie Wills, are no strangers to the Quarter Horse industry.  They were long time breeders of top quality Quarter Horses at the Circle W Ranch in Ft. Worth, TX, where they stood the popular pleasure horse sire, "CHARLIE POLITE", a son of Don Bar by Three Bars, and out of Pueblo Miss. In 1979, Charlie Polite was displayed on Stallion Avenue at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, and received a standing ovation from spectators as he was led through the Congress arena during the stallion parade.  

Charlie Polite always managed to shine above the rest, in temperament, personality, and as a sire.  He proved time and time again to be an outstanding sire of good-minded, versatile athletes - from the race track, to the halter and pleasure arena, to the cutting horse pen.  Charlie Polite sired Otis Polite, the gelding Betty showed to win the 1985 NCHA Non-Pro Area Work-Off Championships in Jackson, MS. 

Connie's years in the cutting horse business date back to the days of E. Paul Waggoner, and his famous Quarter Horse stallion, Poco Bueno.  Pine Johnson was showing Poco Bueno in cutting horse competition when Connie first went to work for Mr. Waggoner.  Some of the old cutters will probably remember the late Pine Johnson and Poco Bueno as the famous cutting horse team that was replicated on all the championship belt buckles for many years.

Poco Bueno was an AQHA leading sire for many years.  He is probably best remembered in cutting horse circles as the sire of champion cutting mare, Poco Lena, dam of two NCHA Futurity Champions, Doc Olena, and Dry Doc, who were both by Doc Bar. Doc Olena and Dry Doc generated millions of dollars in revenues for their owners, and the legend continues.  Doc Olena sired Smart Little Lena, a million dollar earner, and NCHA's first "Triple Crown Winner".  Smart Little Lena was syndicated for a reported 6 million dollars, and in keeping with the family tradition, is a leading sire of NCHA money earners.