Winks History

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Winks History

This page is dedicated to the indelible mark the Winks breeding program has made, both on the American Shetland, and on the American Miniature.

The Winkelman name has long been known in the Shetland industry, having become involved with the ponies in the 1880's. The current head of the program, Bill Winkelman Jr, is a third generation pony man. I have a few pictures of him as a child on a shetland with his grandfather. Bill Sr and Bill Jr were well known for their chariot races, one driving a team of whites, the other a team of blacks, and thrilling crowds all the way back in the pony haydays. They were well respected breeders of show ponies also, doing well at the highly respected Devon Show even.

The culmination of their program was born in the form of Winks Showdeo Kid in 1958. Mr. Winkelman has told me he was the result of 50 yrs of careful, planned breeding, and the fact that his line is STILL one of the winningest lines in Shetlands is testament to the quality of said breeding! Red Rock, Jess's, Masters, Michigan, Wa-Full, LeLand, JC, Grassmere, and many other top farms have based programs on the Showdeo Kid blood. It is THE black and white Shetland bloodline, to this day. It linebreeds with spectacular results, and outcrosses equally well, and we are glad there are many shetland breeders preserving Kid's Shetand influence to this day.

Then there was a little mare...Winks Roja. She spent much of her life at the Winkelman farm, and finished at Vern Benna's. Roja, a beautiful red and white pinto, was out of the acclaimed Winks Coed. Coed was considered by many to be one of the best Shetland mares of all time we have been told, and not just by Winkelmans! Roja was a small mare, refined and feminine from description. Kid was bred to Roja for a few foals, one of which was a small black and white mare named Winks Showdeo Dawn. Unfortunately, despite many years of trying, we have found no photographs in existence of any of these ponies. Kid won at the famed Devon Show, and I'm still hopeful that one day something will turn up...the only known photo was accidently destroyed.

Dawn had full siblings that stayed in the Shetland industry, however she was utilized twice in a new venture that began in 1973...the Winks Miniature. Mr Winkelman, along with friends, formed a syndicate and purchased at auction a young small buckskin stallion, and named him Iowa's Little Kernel. The impact this small stallion has had on the breed despite a life of trials cannot be underrated.

Kernel went home to the Winks farm to begin his program and was bred to two mares--the aforementioned Winks Showdeo Dawn, and a small red and white pinto mare bought at the Branaman dispersal named Wink Decision. Decision's heritage could not be proven, but I was told was heavily researched and of strong, quality shetland lines. Her name came as she entered the ring, an unnamed yearling, whom Bill Jr saw and told me "when I saw her she took my breath...she was 30 yrs ahead of her time, with a head like no other I had seen it was so exquisite, and I made a split second decision I would not leave without her". He didn't, and the foundation of his Miniature program was laid, for Decision foaled 9 of his 11 first generation Winks Minis!

Showdeo Dawn and Decision each foaled colts in 1976 --Winks Jangles and Winks Jingles. Jangles was a breathtaking silver bay pinto, Jingles a gorgeous golden palomino. Both of these stallions have made an impact on the Miniature, esp in the midwest. Dawn and Decision foaled full siblings, brothers again, both of which have been lost, named Moses and Manx. The Kernel and Decision had a total of 5 foals: Prayer, Jingles, Wendy, Rejoice, & Manx. Kernel was then unfortunately sold out from under Bill, and went into many years of relative obsurity, siring for farms that did not register foals often. He was found later in life, and brought back by another syndicate, for whom he continued siring very quality foals. If I remember right he was shown in his 20's and did well! He died at the age of 28.

Jangles and Jingles stepped into their sires shoes though at the Winks Farm, Jangles being crossed onto Decision and a few smaller Shetland mares, and Jingles primarily breeding Shetlands and Winks Heritage ponies (Shetlands that lost their papers due to the recertification program the ASPC ran in the 60's or 70's). These were pure Shetlands Mr Winkelman told me, that had been being bred for generations as far back as his grandfathers breeding, and he did not want the blood lost. Jingles was sold after a few years to Dick Payne, and also shows up in Riems Minis. He sired many many foals for the DD prefix, refined, balanced, and many dilutes. When DD dispersed, he was bought by the Anlikers of Flying H Farm, and was their foundation for many years. We acquired Jingles at the age of 28, crippled and in need of care, but a grand old gentleman nonetheless. He was beautiful despite his handicaps and we will post pics when my scanner is working. He was also a love, and would lay his head in my hands, close his eyes, and just enjoy company. He died a short 4 months after bringing him home, due to his crippled front legs, but his last months were filled with love & gentle handling. He is laid to rest at the front corner of our barn.

Jangles produced with Decision 3 foals, Winks Revelation, Rhema, and Noel. Noel is lost. Rhema was crossed many years with the great Choco's Little Specks Red Boy, and was one of three Winks mares that helped make his name! Rhema, Wendy, and Rejoice were the basis of his mares for the Jess's and later the Lowreys, producing such famed stallions as JJ's Prairie Fire, JJ's Black Diamond, JJ's Lowrey's Red Boy, multiple Top Ten mares Lowrey's Miss Tiffany & Lowrey's Princess Bobette. Rhema was sold at the Lowrey's dispersal, along with Wendy and Rejoice, and sold very well despite some age and in Wendy's case blindness. Rhema is still owned by her sale buyer, High Country Miniatures, and producing! Wendy died a few years later at Oklahoma's Mane Place, and Rejoice in 1994 at Teuts. Winks Jangles died at the age of 24 in an accident.

Of the 31 registered Winks Miniatures, more than half were lost. Most of the rest are dead. Remaining alive today are Winks Revelation, Winks Excellence, Winks Rhema, & Winks Spirit (to our knowledge). It is possible that Zaccheaus and Constant are out there, but we have not been able to verify that as of yet. I have never been able to make contact with Constant's registered owner so have considered him lost, although he does have foals in the AMHR books.

SilverWind is pleased to be able to preserve this wonderful heritage. Most of the Winks-bred Minis ended up in programs "strengthening" or "improving" those herds, and the blood is still respected as very prepotent, strong producers. It's influence is often seen to the 4th generation even, something not often found in the breed! Following the lead of such breeders as Vern Benna and Harold Lowrey, HH Jess, and Bill Jr, we have incorporated the Chocolatico blood, particularly through Red Boy, into the program. Below are the pictures we have been given to date. Pictures of Wendy, Rejoice, Polly Pearls' dam, and others will be posted asap (scanner again). We hope this history whets your appetite for more, as we will continue to selectively linebreed and outcross the Winks blood for many years to come. Feel free to contact us, and please, if you have information on the whereabouts of any Winks minis, Winks bred minis, or related mares for sale, contact us! Pictures will be updated soon..I did not realize I had saved them .art and need to reformat to .jpg or .bmp for them to show. I apologize!