Legendary Paint Stallion Receives Special Tribute

FORT WORTH, TEXAS- The Paint Horse Journal, the monthly flagship publication of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), will pay tribute to one of its breed superstars in the upcoming August issue. Mighty Awesome, the 17-year-old sorrel overo stallion who died on May 5 unexpectedly from liver cancer, will be the subject of a special tribute.

Mighty Awesome, owned by Keith and Cherrye Tittle of Bullard, Texas, had championship breeding. The stallion was sired by two-time APHA national halter champion Barlink Macho Man. His dam was an AQHA mare, Son Sweet Dreams, a great-granddaughter of AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, Two Eyed Jack.

With years of hard work, honesty and integrity, the Tittles guided their stallion to the top of the APHA record books.

The stallion is the APHA lifetime leading sire of halter horses, both in point earners and points earned. In addition, he is prominent in several other lifetime leading sires’ lists, including Register of Merit earners (#6), Superior earners (#6), Reserve World Championship earners (#6), Reserve World Championships earned (#11), Superiors earned (#18) and Registers of Merit earned (#25).

Jeannie Putney, editor of the Paint Horse Journal put her staff in high gear to get the special tribute to one of the industry’s most influential stallions into the August issue of the magazine.

“It’s hard to say how often a horse like Mighty Awesome comes along,” said Putney. “His impact is literally felt and seen around the globe, which is why the Journal is honored to pay tribute to this truly magnificent creature and all that he has done for our breed.

“The Journal staff has been inundated by touching and delightful stories about Mighty Awesome from people all over the world, at all levels of involvement in the Paint Horse industry,” said Putney. “Although we can’t repay Mighty Awesome for all that he’s done, we hope the August issue will give readers an idea of the enormity of his impact.”

The Tittles have been touched by the outpouring of tributes from around the world for their stallion, aptly nicknamed “Awesome.”

“Awesome was a joy to have,” said Cherrye Tittle. “I knew he had an impact [on the Paint industry], but I’ve really been amazed at how much. I always knew he was an amazing horse, but I’ve been amazed at how many other people know it too.”

“The loss of this stallion hit hard,” commented Kath Peterson of Coronation Park Stud in New South Wales, Australia. “Those who met Mighty Awesome loved him. His sweet nature, his commanding presence and the love he showed to Keith and Cherrye will stay forever in my memory.”

Don and Gail Fox of Van, Texas, currently own three of Mighty Awesome’s get.

“The Paint Horse industry has been enhanced many times over by the Mighty Awesome influence,” said Don Fox.

More about the Paint Horse Journal and APHA

The award-winning Paint Horse Journal is widely regarded as the premier magazine covering Paint Horse topics worldwide. The magazine reaches approximately 15,000 subscribers in 35 countries.

To find out more about APHA and how to become a member, call (817) 834-2742 or visit apha.com. For more information about the Journal, including subscription and advertising rates, visit painthorsejournal.com. To subscribe, call toll free (866) PHJ-4-YOU (745-4968) or contact [email protected].