He was a black stallion standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and was bred by Joe McDonald.
[4][5] Rex McDonald was a five-gaited horse who was initially trained by Billy Davis.
[6] In 1893 Rex McDonald was shown for the first time at the St. Louis National Horse Show and won a championship.
[7] At the time, there was a strong rivalry between Kentucky and Missouri about which state produced the best Saddlebreds, and Rex McDonald was a star for the Missourians.
[1] Rex McDonald sired over 200 colts that were registered with the American Saddlebred Horse Association.