The 2001 American Quarter Horse buckskin stallion Wild Card Dun It, owned by Louis A. Waters of Utopia, Texas, made his debut on the big screen recently in the film “Seven Days in Utopia.” “Wild Card” was selected by the movie’s star, Robert Duvall, over professionally trained movie horses to be featured as his character’s mount throughout the movie.
“We give the credit to his breeding and definitely to the training,” said Wanda Waters. “In the pasture, he’s a macho man with his broodmares but you walk out there and he comes right up to you and drops his head. You put that halter on, and he’s just your riding horse. He’s great. But that’s a tribute to the whole Quarter Horse breed. That’s just how Quarter Horses are. That’s why we raise them.”
Duvall, who was staying on the Waterses’ property, was told about the stallion and asked to see him. He liked Wild Card’s gentle and calm nature, but Wanda said what truly impressed him was the horse’s ability to pick up a lope from a standstill. The Waterses also provided some of their other American Quarter Horses for the movie, and their daughter and son-in-law worked as wranglers on the movie set.
Wild Card Dun It was the 2006 AQHA junior all-around horse with points in heading, heeling, tie-down roping, working cow horse, reining, barrel racing and halter. He was the 2006 AQHA high-point junior horse in heading and heeling. Wild Card Dun It has his AQHA Superior in heading and heeling, AQHA Performance Register of Merit and numerous all-around championships and circuit awards. In addition to his AQHA showing career, at the 2006 National Rope Horse Association Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas, with more than 500 entries, the stallion won the finals in both heading and heeling and was the high-point money winner.
The Waterses own L.A. Waters Quarter Horses where they raise horses from the bloodlines of Colonel Freckles, Doc O’Lena, Boon Bar and Hollywood Dun It. The Waterses have bred approximately 700 American Quarter Horses that have excelled in reining, cutting, roping, working cow horse, ranch horse versatility, barrel racing and team penning. Wanda is a lifetime honorary vice president of the American Quarter Horse Association, has been a AQHA director from Texas for more than 20 years, and was the first female president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association.
In theaters now, “Seven Days in Utopia” follows the story of a talented young golfer, Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black), set on making the pro tour. His disastrous first big shot left him stranded in Utopia, Texas. Utopia is home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall), whose profound way of looking at life forces Luke to question his past and future direction.
