Most Appaloosa mares and stallions make their way into the Hall of Fame through a combination of production, promotion and performance. On the track, it’s easier for a gelding to run into the ApHC Racing Hall of Fame by setting world records and winning major races. In the regular Hall of Fame, Caliente’s Baldy is the only gelding.
Caliente’s Baldy (Caliente Jr x Lucky, Unreg.) joined the Hall of Fame based on virtue of his performance record and the recognition he brought to the versatility of the breed. He also touched many lives as he collected ribbons.
The gelding, born in 1963, came under the ownership of Debbie Peavler of Waverly, Kansas. Debbie, who became an ApHC judge as an adult, grew up riding “Baldy” and used the gelding as her high school rodeo mount. She never sold him, although she allowed many kids and adults to ride and compete with Caliente’s Baldy.
Much of Caliente’s Baldy’s competing took place before the national points system existed, so many of his winnings are unrecorded. “If we’d had a points system back then, he’d be in the multi-hundred point club,” Debbie says.
However, after the national points system took effect, Caliente’s Baldy earned a heading and heeling National championship in 1974 and a rope race World championship in 1976. He also amassed seven heading and heeling points, four steer daubing points, eight Camas Prairie stump race points, seven Nez Perce stake race points and nine rope race points. The gelding also excelled in English classes.
Caliente’s Baldy won ribbons, trophies, saddles and trailers with youth and non-pro riders in Appaloosa and open shows. He also helped Debbie teach kids how to ride. “He was a super horse,” Debbie says. “He did a lot for kids and made a lot of people happy.”
Caliente’s Baldy died of natural causes related to old age in the 1990s.
