I was bred and raised on a cow and row crop farm in northwest Louisiana USA on the Texas state line many (many!) moons ago. I've been involved with horses since I was in the 4th grade (can't remember what age that was!). I left the farm to attend college. I then took a 30 year hiatus to complete a couple of degrees and raise my family. Back on the farm we rode a lot of grade quarter-type horses and mules. We roped a lot too and did some of the speed events but mostly just rode around the farm. I returned to owning and showing Quarter Horses nine years ago and haven't looked back.
I don't rope or show in the cow classes anymore (wasn't very good at it in the first place). I breed and show halter horses now. I stand a stud that is an AQHA World Show top 10 and 3x qualifier, Open ROM, 16 Grands, 23 halter points, and 3x state high point champion. He stands at Four Winds Equestrian Center in Salem, WI. I also have two broodmares; one 4-yr old show mare; one 5-yr old reining mare; and two futurity winning yearling fillies sired by my stud. The yearlings are for sale. They're being shown until sold. The 4-year old filly has been state high point champion in halter three years in a row in Illinois. We're debating whether to breed her or continue showing. She needs 3.5 points to get the open ROM. Started her under saddle last month and have her out on the trails already. Working on leg cues and suppleness currently. She's one smart filly! I raised the 5-yr old reining mare from a weanling. She's Hollywood Dun It and Reminic bred and is the apple of my eye, although the stud is my best friend. I acquired her right out of the weanling pen at the 74 Ranch in Huntley, WY. The Herbsts breed some darn fine horses there. We show only AQHA show her in some of the reining classes. She's also my favorite saddle horse and I take her on trail rides too.
In terms of breeding, I tend to like the Doc Bar and Poco Bueno lines of quarter horses crossed on the Impressive line, especially the Cool Skips. Weird, I know, but I really like the Impressive horses! I think the Doc Bar breeding helps them mind-wise and ability-wise, and the Impressives bring a lot of body and 'pretty' to the Doc Bars. All of my horses are HYPP: N/N. All of my horses are broke to ride and ridden regularly, except the broodmares and of course the babies. Yes, we ride our halter horses. We start the serious ground work on the babies in November of their weanling year, so these two yearlings are quite advanced in their training and one is an exceptional Longe Line prospect already. When its time to ride them either as 3 years olds or 4 year olds we just climb on and they walk away. Like the experts say, there truly is no replacement for good ground work. They are then solid citizens forever just like their sire -- who was one of the easiest horses ever to break.
My horse interests outside the show pen include being a Board Member in the Land of Lincoln Quarter Horse Association and an a Board member in the Illinois Quarter Horse Association (IQHA), where I also coordinate the Recreational and Trail Riding Programs. Yes, trail riding and halter are a strange combination but I like 'em both. You can see more about the horses at www.lawrencelouisianaranch.com. Visitors are always welcome and I would love to show them to you.
Barnmice Admin
Oct 15, 2009
Barnmice Admin
Oct 16, 2009