Bill Hudlow, who now lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma, purchased Navajo Britches from Carl Miles, forming a horse-human partnership that would last 20 years.
Although official Appaloosa Horse Club records describe O.B. Haley as the stallion’s breeder, unofficial documents point to Pete Smith of Tatum, New Mexico. Pete owned Navajo Britches’ sire Whistle Britches and dam Trammels Rusty, who’s described as an unregistered Quarter mare of Steel Dust (AQHA) heritage. Navajo Britches, foaled in 1953, had already proven himself as a successful rodeo and show horse when Bill purchased him in 1958.
Bill hauled his new horse to the 1958 National Show in Hutchinson, Kansas, where Navajo Britches stood as grand champion stallion. At the 1960 National Show, he won the reserve champion get of sire title.
The stallion sired 367 registered Appaloosa foals during his lifetime, producing winners in the performance pen, with eight foals earning 95 points. Two also earned a total three registers of merit.
Navajo Britches is most noted as a prolific sire of racing Appaloosas. Although ApHC racing records are incomplete for the time period, Navajo Britches produced at least 50 starters that collected combined earnings of $82,496.29. Of his starters, 15 went on to become winners, seven earned stakes wins and 11 became stakes placers. Five foals earned champion titles on the racetrack. His most-winning colt, Boogie Britches (out of Ginger Girl F.), won the 1963 World Wide Futurity and the 1964 World Wide Derby, both held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Navajo Britches died after undergoing colic surgery in 1978. Bill, who shared so many memories with Navajo Britches, held the stallion’s head as the great horse succumbed.
