Pat Heaverne
Pat Heaverne (1922 - 2000)
Pat
Heaverne was born June 30, 1922 at Joseph, Oregon to an Irishman, Andrew
Jackson Heaverne (alias "Big Jack Wilson") and a Spanish mother, Rosita
Olivera.
At age 7, Pat went to live with the Dorrance family on the Imnaha River
in Oregon. Pat stayed with them until he was 12 years old. At age 19,
he started running wild horses with Walter Bowden, while working for the
Jackie Butte Cattle Company. Most of the mustangs were lemonsilla (buckskins)
in color. One of the horses caught during this time was one he called
"Pumpkin". Pat broke and trained him and showed him at the Elko County
Fair. Pat and Pumpkin won the Novice Bridle Class in 1945.
In 1945, Pat went to work for the Quarter Circle A Ranch in Paradise Valley,
Nev. Shorty Riffe was the buckaroo boss there at that time. Pat worked
there for about 4 years, then went to work for the Moffit Cattle Co. and
lived on the Gold Creek Ranch, NV Later Pat worked for the Ellison Ranching
Co. at Squaw Valley Ranch, near Midas, NV.
In 1952, he moved back to Paradise Valley, Nev. and for several years
worked for the William Stock Company, better known as the "96 Ranch".
There he started lots of colts sired by Champagne, one of the first Quarter
Horse stallions in Nevada. He was brought to the 96 Ranch to break colts
by Fred Stewart.
Pat also worked for Lyle and Claude Ellison at the Buffalo Ranch and Orovada
Home Ranch for several years. From there he went to Battle Mt., Nev. and
went to work for W.T. Jenkins Co. on the 25 Ranch owned at that time by
Cap Marvel.
In 1956, Pat bought a home and some irrigated land in Fallon, Nev., where
he started many good horses (colts). Showing the best ones at reined cow
horse shows in Nevada, Idaho, California, Arizona, and Oregon. One of
his top horses Nifty, a straight Thoroughbred gelding and was an exceptional
cow horse. Some others were Cotton Tail, Dick Twist, Peppy, Tutlo, Connie,
Cho Cho's Plaudit and June One Star.
Pat had a natural sense of humor and could keep everyone in a good frame
of mind during the long weeks out with the wagon at roundup time. He loved
to brand and was handy with a rope. Pat also understood how to work and
move cattle with great expertise.
Pat
was married 56 years to Rita Jean Crader. They had three children, Cliff,
Patti and Terry. Pat was 78 years old and still starting and training
horses up until the day he passed away. He was found in his arena next
to his palomino filly. No one ever knew what happened. He always said,
"I hope when I go, I am a horseback."
Pat Heaverne was inducted into the Buckaroo Hall of Fame in September
2006.
