Bert was born in 1934, six years before the AQHA was  formed. He was bred by his namesake, Bert Benear, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The young stallion was by Tommy Clegg, and out of a Yellow Jacket mare, named Lady Coolidge. Over his lifetime he had several owners, some of record, others not, and ended up being owned by Earl J. Mayes, also of Oklahoma.

Although Bert himself had no AQHA performance record, (in fact he was never broke to ride because of a severely cut foot he suffered as a yearling), he sired four AQHA champions, Bert's Lady, Janie Bert Watts, Sutherlands Dwight, and Thomas Bert. This fine foundation stallion also sired Jeanne's Patsy, who was the 1955 AQHA highpoint calf roping horse, and eleven others who received ROMs in racing . Like many of the great foundation sires of his day, Bert did not have a beautiful head, and a lot of people thought him a little common looking. But with the ropers of the day, performance was what counted, and those who were mounted on a Bert bred horse, seemed to always be at the pay window.

One of the most desired crosses, put Bert blood on Oklahoma Star mares. This produced good looking horses, with tremendous muscle, nice hips, and plenty of heart. Another very successful cross was with Hancock bred mares, but the offspring were usually criticized for having big heads, although as roping horses they were much sought after.

Because of Berts reputation as a sire of great using horses, and because many of them were common headed, a lot of his sons and grandsons were gelded rather than used for breeding, causing the pool of Bert blood to not be as deep as one would expect, from a stallion who sired 292 registered foals.

Many old-timers feel that Bert could have been one of the greatest of foundation sires, if only he had put better heads on his offspring, but the cowboys who rode, and those who still ride, Bert bred horses over the years, have proven beyond a doubt that anyone who wants a using horse, has to look a long way to improve on his progeny.

Bert died in 1956, at the age of 22, leaving a legacy that is worth preserving, and a part of western Americana, unsurpassed.

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