Bred by E. Paul Waggoner’s Three D Stock Farm, Poco Tivio was foaled in 1947, and was the first foal out of a then 4-year-old mare named Sheilwin. His sire, Poco Bueno, was also owned by Three D.
When “Tivio” was 3 and already started in cutting training under Pine Johnson, he sold to Fort Worth car dealer Cliff Magers for $5,000. Milt Bennett took over the horse’s training for a year until Don Dodge bought the stallion for $15,000, reportedly the highest price ever paid for a cutting horse at the time.
Immediately, the pair started winning. In 1951 and 1952, they placed fifth in the National Cutting Horse Association year-end top 10. In 1952, Dodge showed Tivio to his AQHA Champion title, consistently winning in both cutting and halter.
Soon Dodge retired Tivio and stood him to outside mares for $300. But it wasn’t long before the trainer had Poco Lena, Tivio’s full sister, in his barn. So, Dodge sold Tivio to California horseman Charley Araujo.
As a stallion, Poco Tivio was known for passing on his low-key temperament and flashy working style. His offspring showed as well in halter as in cutting.
Tivio received the NCHA Certificate of Ability Bronze Award, had $11,000 in NCHA earnings and is a member of the Working Cow Horse Hall of Fame. He sired 308 registered foals in 25 crops. Of those, 81 were AQHA point earners, 10 AQHA Champions, 26 ROM earners, and six Superior award winners that won 10 Superior performance awards in five events.
Tivio’s daughters have produced the winners of more than $2.2 million in AQHA, NCHA, National Reining Horse Association and National Reined Cow Horse Association competition. The foals of those mares have earned 6,641 AQHA points in halter and performance, 10 open and youth world championships and two open reserve world championships.
Araujo stood Poco Tivio for several years and then just before his death gave the stallion to his farrier, Floyd Boss, in 1971.
Poco Tivio died in 1976. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2013.
Biography updated as of March 2013.