Where do cattlemen buy the horses to work with cattle in their ranches?
December 302009
Where do cattlemen buy the horses to work with cattle in their ranches?Do you know about some web of a ranch horses breeder ?
Francisco – many of the larger ranches breed their own horses. Ranches like the 4 Sixes and Waggonner are well known for the horses they breed,
the horse has always been such a necessary part of a cattle operation, the ranchers couldn’t afford to buy them. In addition, a cowboy often needs a string of horses with certain capabilities. They might keep a young horse in training and just use him for certain activities within his ability while keeping a well-trained horse for harder stuff like roping and branding.
if you read a magazine called Western Horseman, which can be picked up at about any western store or farm store (and runs about $35 fora 3 years sbuscription), the magazine has a whole section dedicated to information about different big ranches, the people who run ‘em and made ‘em famous and the horses and cattle they raise.
they keep a stud or two – sometimes have maybe even 6 or eight ( I think the 4 sixes keeps quite a few) to stand – they selectively breed these stallions to certain mares to produce certain qualities.
Since it takes a while to properly start and train a bridle horse, the older experienced ones are always growing old and needing younger ones to take their places. These ranches have learned the value of breeding for more than what they need – they make a little money too in the production of good stock for breeding or using. they also now compete in Ranch competitions with winnings and awards going to individual competitors, ranch teams and whole ranches – they win awards for their remudas (their horses they keep and breed) based on performance in the industry.
I’ve seen recently where more and more of these people are starting and selling good horses. A ranch horse is used for real-life activities usually a wider range of activities than a typical recreational owner will encounter. Since their work requires use of a well trained horse- training the horse is a by-product of using it for their needs. They get the use of the horse, the horse gets good training, then it can be sold for a fair price to a person needing a solid mount.
I’ve seen VERY well bred horses that are started VERY well sell for a few thousand dollars – a good buy for a recreational rider. I’ve also seen such horses go for a very high price even as a gelding – I’m of a mind that people are learning the value of a horse that’s been properly started.
the Vaquero are of a mind that it takes 8-10 years to make a refined, finished bridle horse – they also keep a number of them in their string for use depending on what types of need they have at a certain time. You’ll find their type of business ethic and horse training processes at work mostly in the California and Southwest ranches.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:07 am
Many raise their own stock. Others purchase from other ranches with the type of horse they are interested in. Very few ranches purchase anything other than ranch-raised animals.
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December 31st, 2009 at 1:21 am
its all in the training!
although its a good idea to buy stock from another ranch because the youngsters will have hopefully picked up the temperament and overall build enabling them to be suited for the job that the dam and sire had if they were used for cutting or whatever.
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December 31st, 2009 at 1:48 am
From other cattlemen. I’m not trying to be smart, I’m serious. I’m a member of the AQHA and I get the "Journal". There are TONS of advertisements in it for horses trained in roping, cutting, etc.
Check it out. Go to: http://www.aqha.com
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December 31st, 2009 at 2:01 am
they tend to buy them from the markets or go to other farmers homes friends etc
but once they ahve wot they wont they normaly raise there own
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December 31st, 2009 at 2:40 am
the horses that do the actual cattle work are made by there owners…nothing special really usually quarter horses and paints, and commons breeds used in South America are Criollos…the horses that show in rodeos and things like doing barrels and team penning are an entirely different thing…those horses have breeders that breed and train just for the money their horses never actually do real cattle work but are of simialr breeds
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December 31st, 2009 at 3:26 am
They usually buy prov-en horses from individuals, breed and train their own or buy from well known breeders. Also there are auctions, where the horses perform, and they can be obtained there. AQHA puts major ones on all over the country throughout the year. You can buy the horses that are being shown/worked, or the broodmare / stallion that produce / sire the horses being shown. Here are a couple of sites for you.
http://www.americanranchhorse.net/sponsors2008.htm
http://www.matadorranch.com/livestock/horses.aspx
http://aqha.com
These are Just AQHA, other breeds are available in the same way. Just too many to list.
References :
AQHA breeder, showing 30+years
December 31st, 2009 at 3:34 am
Francisco – many of the larger ranches breed their own horses. Ranches like the 4 Sixes and Waggonner are well known for the horses they breed,
the horse has always been such a necessary part of a cattle operation, the ranchers couldn’t afford to buy them. In addition, a cowboy often needs a string of horses with certain capabilities. They might keep a young horse in training and just use him for certain activities within his ability while keeping a well-trained horse for harder stuff like roping and branding.
if you read a magazine called Western Horseman, which can be picked up at about any western store or farm store (and runs about $35 fora 3 years sbuscription), the magazine has a whole section dedicated to information about different big ranches, the people who run ‘em and made ‘em famous and the horses and cattle they raise.
they keep a stud or two – sometimes have maybe even 6 or eight ( I think the 4 sixes keeps quite a few) to stand – they selectively breed these stallions to certain mares to produce certain qualities.
Since it takes a while to properly start and train a bridle horse, the older experienced ones are always growing old and needing younger ones to take their places. These ranches have learned the value of breeding for more than what they need – they make a little money too in the production of good stock for breeding or using. they also now compete in Ranch competitions with winnings and awards going to individual competitors, ranch teams and whole ranches – they win awards for their remudas (their horses they keep and breed) based on performance in the industry.
I’ve seen recently where more and more of these people are starting and selling good horses. A ranch horse is used for real-life activities usually a wider range of activities than a typical recreational owner will encounter. Since their work requires use of a well trained horse- training the horse is a by-product of using it for their needs. They get the use of the horse, the horse gets good training, then it can be sold for a fair price to a person needing a solid mount.
I’ve seen VERY well bred horses that are started VERY well sell for a few thousand dollars – a good buy for a recreational rider. I’ve also seen such horses go for a very high price even as a gelding – I’m of a mind that people are learning the value of a horse that’s been properly started.
the Vaquero are of a mind that it takes 8-10 years to make a refined, finished bridle horse – they also keep a number of them in their string for use depending on what types of need they have at a certain time. You’ll find their type of business ethic and horse training processes at work mostly in the California and Southwest ranches.
References :