American Paint Horse Association honors Crow Nation racehorse owner with Legendary Achievement Award

FORT WORTH, TEXAS— The American Paint Horse Association (APHA)
honored Chuck Real Bird and his talented Paint racehorse Crow Sovereign with the APHA Legendary Achievement award recently at the 88th Annual Crow Fair during the 2-year-old Paint futurity finals race. The Crow Fair took place on the Crow Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana. APHA President Carl Parker presented Real Bird with a custom-engraved plaque highlighting his achievements.

Chuck Real Bird of the Crow Nation in southeastern Montana was honored by APHA for his success in breeding, raising and training American Paint Horses. He is shown here with his American Paint Horse, Crow Sovereign, a successful racehorse. The speedster recently earned an award as APHA’s Regular Registry Running Champion 3-Year- Old Gelding. Hirez JPEG (4.61 mb)

“Chuck has been a lifelong supporter of the American Paint Horse breed and has been instrumental in its success and development over the years,” said Parker. “He has played an important role in the American Paint Horse’s proud heritage and will continue to be a bright part of its future.”

Real Bird’s clan uncle, Vincent Crooked Arm of the Greasy Mouth Clan, sang a special praise song in his honor, and Clayton Mountain Pocket sang the Real Bird family song.

Real Bird got started in the industry as a young boy, being born into the horse culture of the Crow Nation. Each day as a young man, Real Bird assisted his father in gathering and herding horses around their homestead. Real Bird never strayed far from his roots and now spends his time breeding and raising quality American Paint Horses, which are some of the top horses in the breed. He currently owns 17 American Paint Horses, 13 of which have race records.

APHA honored Real Bird for his success, dedication to the breed and respect garnered among his tribe.

“This is the greatest achievement in the history of our family,” said Shawn Real Bird, Crow Nation Economic Development and Planning Cabinet member.

From left, APHA President Carl Parker and Chuck Real Bird display cooling sheet awarded to Crow Sovereign, one of Real Bird's 17 American Paint Horses, 13 of which have race records. Hirez JPEG (2.49 mb)

According to Shawn, his father’s stories and experiences inspire members of the tribe to dream big, set goals high and strive toward overcoming any hardships with which they are faced. The national recognition of his father by APHA will go a long way toward further inspiring people, Shawn said.

“My father is a well-respected racehorse man,” said Shawn, further discussing the influence his father has had on younger generations within the Crow Nation. “On an Indian reservation it is harder to achieve goals and dreams. This one great success will inspire the young Crow racehorse men to dream the dream, live the dream, and to accomplish the dream.”

Real Bird started achieving success in Paint racing in the late 1990s and has continued with Crow Sovereign, one of the most outstanding products of his breeding program. Among his many achievements was obtaining the prestigious status of APHA’s 2005 Regular Registry Running Champion 3-year-old. The champions are selected through APHA racing committee balloting each year. Taken into consideration are such factors as money-earned and total number of wins.

Not only was this the first major achievement to come to a horse from Real Bird’s breeding program, but Crow Sovereign also became the first horse from any Indian nation to win a prestigious APHA racing award, according to APHA racing director Karen Utecht. Crow Sovereign has won more than $16,000, with four wins and two other top three finishes in 14 career starts.

Chuck Real Bird was honored recently during the Crow Nation's annual Crow Fair in Montana with a special APHA award. He is pictured here with friends and family, from left, Dale Old Horn, APHA President Carl Parker, Chuck Real Bird, Kordell Cummins, Ramona Real Bird, Jessi Real Bird, Nicole Real Bird Cummins and Shawn Real Bird. Hirez JPEG (2.56 mb)

The fact that Real Bird is the first member of the Crow Nation to obtain such honors in the Paint racing industry may come as no surprise to those who know him. His father’s Indian name was “Owns A Paint Horse,” and the Paint Horse is significant to the Crow People. There is a legend among the Crow Nation of a mystical warrior who rode a bay Paint in the mid 1800s. The legend tells that all the enemy tribes were planning to annihilate and massacre the tribe from the face of the Earth. However, the mystical warrior on his Paint
horse defended the Crow Nation.

Real Bird takes pride in his breeding program, as he selects stallions with strong race backgrounds that also have beautiful Paint markings. He travels to Oklahoma with his broodmares three or four times a year in order to breed his mares to some of the top Paint racehorse stallions in the industry.

Real Bird originally began breeding Paint Horses for use in the Crow Fair Indian Parade. The parades feature several hundred horses and riders dressed in traditional beaded attire and tack that attracts historians and collectors from all over the world. The parade is meant to be symbolic of the nomadic days when the tribe would move from camp to camp. They would wear their finest attire during the travel because traveling meant moving to a better day.

“Native Americans have long appreciated and valued Paint Horses,” said Jerry Circelli, APHA’s director of public relations and marketing. “APHA is proud to be a part of honoring Chuck Real Bird for the respect and admiration that he has helped bring to the American Paint Horse breed. We owe a debt of gratitude to this great man, to the Crow Nation and to all Native Americans for their enduring support of Paints.”

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