The Story of Steel Dust

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The Story of Steel Dust
Follow Two Bits to Learn about

• American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame

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Steel Dust

• was just a colt in 1844 when he moved to Texas
  with his two families from Illinois.

Texas
Illinois
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• Following the covered wagons on the trail to
  Texas, he saw many new sights.

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• He crossed rivers and creeks. He saw plants that
  he had never seen before, such as the feathery
  branches and seed pods of the mesquite .

Mesquite Tree
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• They met Indians on the way. They saw wagons
  carrying supplies for the Army.

There were wild cattle with long horns. They
looked so fierce that Steel Dust was happy to
stay out of their way.
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• It was a long trip. Steel Dust was glad when the
  wagons rolled to a stop at the Ten Mile Creek,
  and his families decided to stay.

Steel Dust liked the mild climate in Texas, and
that there was plenty of grass to eat.
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• He quickly became a fine stallion. Some of the
  neighbors horses were more handsome than Steel
  Dust, but he was a very fast sprinter!

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• There was much work to do, and the young horse
  was glad when it was time for fun. Sometimes,
  the families would get together for picnics or
  fishing trips.

Other times, someone would suggest a horse race
for fun. The neighbors liked to see whose horse
could run faster. Soon, Steel Dust had many
friends.
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• People in other towns, near Steel Dusts home.
  had heard of this fast horse. They came to the
  town of Lancaster to see him run. Sometimes, they
  would match their best runners against him.
• Once, so many people came to see
  the race they had to
• camp out.

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• In 1855, a horse that lived 50 miles to the North
  of Steel Dust had become popular for his speed as
  well his name was Monmouth. The owners arranged
  to have a match race between the two horses.

No one had telephones, TV, or radios in Texas
then, but news of the race spread quickly from
person to person.
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• By now, Steel Dust was twelve years old and no
  fans from the North thought that he would have a
  chance.

The two horses leaped to the start. Monmouth was
fast, but Steel Dust still sped out in front.
Steel Dust easily won the race that day. He was
the Hero of Dallas County!
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• Steel Dust went back to Ten Mile Creek where no
  other horse owners dared match their horses
  against him. He went back to work on the farm.

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• Eventually, Steel Dusts owner did find someone
  for him to race against. Before the race, Steel
  Dust suffered an injury to his shoulder which
  never let him race again.

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• Even though he couldnt race, Steel Dust became a
  very famous sire, or father, and his fame spread
  across the prairies.

Soon, some of his colts were working on ranches
with cowboys, and others were winning races.
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Pictures borrowed from

• http//www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/es/mn/es_mn_
  prairie_1_e.jpg
• http//www.locallender.info/images/states/texas.gi
  f
• http//www.saguaro-juniper.com/i_and_i/treesshrub
  s/mesquite/06-05blooms4730_lge.jpg
• http//www.nativeamericans.com/QuanahParkerHorseba
  ck.jpg
• http//www.quartermaster.army.mil/OQMG/Professiona
  l_Bulletin/1998/Winter_1998/art.htm
• http//www.texaslonghornbreeder.com/images/longhor
  ns_the_lineup_r1_c2.jpg
• http//www.senecatrail.org/stlgrass.jpg
• http//www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/sb/5
  31.jpg
• http//www.stikine.net/images/tent.jpg
• http//artfiles.art.com/images/-/Norman-Rockwell/G
  ossip-Print-C10032348.jpeg
• http//www.sl.nsw.gov.au/images/exhibitions/moore/
  031.jpg