Key to Starting the American Saddlebred Registry. Hired Tom Bass as his Trainer.
No man in Missouri gave more constructive thought and attention to the upbuilding of Saddle Horse interests than did the late Hon. Joseph Al Potts of Mexico. He was boon in 1843 on an Audrain County farm in the vicinity where the raising of live stock. especially saddle horses, was practiced extensively. As a youngster, he learned the art of teaching a horse the five gaits. This led Mr. Potts into developing horses for the market and the show rings. He derived great pleasure frown the developing of green horses into winning show horses and in doing such, he was a past master.
In the early 1880’s with his brother-in-law, Hon. Cyrus F. Clark. the breeding farm “Prairie Homey” five miles northwest of Mexico was established and they placed the great stallion Mossrose 839 at the head of their stud. In about 1886, with Mr. Clark he founded the Clark & Potts Combination Sales at Mexico. This annual event was conducted by them for many years, and gained international renown. As Mr. Potts’ sons John, Joe and Sims, grew into young manhood, Mr. Potts withdrew from the partnership of the Clark & Potts firm and took his sons into partnership with himself; however, he continued to hold his interest in the Combination Sales Company.
Mr. Potts was one of the leading saddle horsemen of his day; no man was more devoted to the saddle horse’s interest than he. As early as 1883, he advocated a saddle horse registry so that the blood lines of horses might be accurately checked from the then existing records and from the older breeders who had personal knowledge of the founding of the breed. He said at that time, that such information would, in the future, be in demand, but that it might be too late to obtain much that was desired. Although his arguments fell upon deaf ears, he never yielded until there was a saddle horse association organized which began the registration of saddle horses.
The history of Missouri Saddle Horses could not be written with his name omitted, for he had a conspicuous part in all the notable events in connection with the development of the breed. He owned many horses and enjoyed a large Patronage from many states and foreign countries. Mr. Potts was an advocate of, and tireless in his efforts to establish a state fair for Missouri. Due to the activities of his brother-in-law and business associate, Hon. Cyrus F. Clarlk, who as a member of the Missouri Legislature secured the enactment of the law, the Missouri State Fair Was authorized, later located at Sedalia, and the first fair held in 1893.
Mr. Potts was a member of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture and was for many years its president. Due to Mr. Potts’ failing health, with his interesting family, he moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1903, taking with him the good stallion, Mexianl, and a number of brood mares, establishing near Encinal, Texas, a saddle horse ranch. With his family, he continued to reside in San Antonio leaving the active management of his ranch to his eldest son, John. With characteristic energy his interest in saddle horses was maintained until his death in 1915.
(Except as noted, the above is sourced from the book “Famous Saddle Horses and Distinguished Horsemen” by Jack Harrison and edited by W. Rufus Jackson.)
