Copper Spring Ranch Sponsors Ranch Horse Competition
Bill Brewster , The Big Sky Sun
Published 07/31/2008 – 9:17 a.m. MST
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Because of an unshakable belief in Montana’s ranching heritage and a love for the foundation bloodlines of the versatile American Quarter Horse, Copper Spring Ranch stepped up recently to sponsor the Ranch Horse competition at the Gallatin Summer Fair.
The event on July 19 showcased everything that is great about this classic type of Quarter Horses that works every day on working cattle ranches in Montana and across the remote Western landscape. Whether the horses are cutting and sorting cattle, out on the range to doctor calves, or competing in ranch horse events in the arenas, this versatile athlete of the equine world puts its heart and soul into performing with a level-headed excellence.
“We wanted the ranch to support this competition for a number of reasons,” said managment. “Ranch Horse classes show the versatility of the breeding programs that excel in these events and put a spotlight on the foundation bloodlines that come from outstanding ranches like the Four Sixes and the Haythorn Ranch.”
“From a rancher’s point of view, we want a well broke, level headed horse that can be used for a variety of work on the place with a combination of speed, athletic ability and common sense so the horse is a good partner.”
“As the western landscape changes, the age of specialization is showing up in Quarter Horse breeding programs. Barrel racers, for example, are selecting the bloodlines that result in the speed needed to win at rodeos and futurities. Cutting horse riders seek that magic “cow” ability and pleasure horse competitors and halter horse showmen have their own specialized agendas.
“Without events like the ranch horse competition, we are losing a vital part of both our ranching and true western horsemanship heritage. We have an obligation to keep these traditions alive but we also need to make sure our breeding programs contribute to raising these types of horses on our ranches.”
At Copper Spring Ranch, the bloodlines being used in the breeding programs are ones that emphasize the versatile ranch horse as well as some of the other popular performance bloodlines. The Tanquery Gin breeding from the Four Sixes ranch is an example of the genetics that “does it all” for a rancher, according to management.
Sixes Pick, a ten-year-old sorrel stallion, won the American Quarter Horse Association’s First Versatility Ranch Horse open championship during the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado.
By Tanquery Gin and out of Natural Pick by Tenino Badger, Sixes Pick was the 2005 reserve high point senior versatility ranch horse. He represents well the historic ranch’s legendary Quarter Horse breeding program that includes such individuals as AQHA Hall of Fame horses Joe Hancock, Hollywood Gold and Grey Badger II. The ranch was the 1993 Best of the Remuda award winner. Sixes Pick comes from our most prolific mare family line, the 99 mare family,” according to Glenn Blodgett, D.V.M., Burnett Ranches’ Four Sixes Ranch horse division manager. “Generations of those horses are proven, all-around ranch horses. Our goal (at the Four Sixes) is to raise the world’s best ranch horse,” Blodgett said.
“Our goal at Copper Spring Ranch is to develop our own outstanding bloodlines of Quarter Horses that establish a breeding legacy in the West.
Working with events like the Ranch Horse class helps to keep our ranching tradition alive as our landscape changes in Montana.”
The Gilhousen Family, along with their management team, are following Copper Spring Ranch’s well thought out goals and plans to keep the ranching traditions alive in Montana through their Quarter Horse breeding programs