With 2013 officially here, preparations for breeding season are in full swing at the Four Sixes Ranch. You don’t have to look far to see new faces around the ranch as interns from various parts of the United States have arrived at the ranch. And speaking of new arrivals, we are also welcoming our first foals of 2013! The breeding season will officially begin the first week of February, and is always a busy, yet exciting time for us. The Four Sixes Ranch currently stands 21 resident stallions as well as manages the frozen semen of several off-site or deceased stallions. Throughout the season we will breed more than 1,500 mares and welcome more than 150 foals into the world.

One of the more exciting preparations underway is the installation of our brand new hydraulic phantom. One of only three in the country, the phantom automatically lowers once the stallion has ejaculated. This prevents injuries and reduces stress, especially on our aged stallions, by aiding them in an easy dismount. We are very excited about the benefits this new phantom will bring to our stallion program.

The ranch has the luxury of enjoying the race, ranch and performance horse aspects of the industry, and the Four Sixes breeding program has consistently produced and developed American Quarter Horses that are sought after for their high levels of performance and marketability. The past year has been no exception as AQHA Racing Champion, and resident stallion, One Famous Eagle became the #1 All-Time Freshman Sire of Money-Earners, surpassing the record previously held by First Down Dash. One Famous Eagle is sired by long-time resident stallion Mr Jess Perry, who is one of only three stallions in AQHA History to sire earners of more than $40,000,000. As for our ranch and performance stallions, all of the aged stallions have sired foals that have shown and performed successfully in a wide variety of disciplines including: cutting, working cow horse, ranch versatility, reining and roping. We are excited about our younger up-and-coming stallions such as: NCHA World Champion Bet Hesa Cat, whose foals are yearlings as of 2013.

In May of 2012 Mallory Canaday took on the semen freezing and reproduction technician duties at the ranch. Born and raised in North Texas, Mallory attended Colorado State University after high school where she received a BS in Equine Sciences and an MS in Equine Industry and Leadership. While pursing her degrees she gained experience at a Colorado equine breeding operation and spent a year living on-site as the foaling manager. In the summer of 2007 Mallory worked for the Four Sixes Ranch as an intern, and returned in June 2011 full-time as a veterinary technician before taking her current position.

We are looking forward to another successful year as a Select Breeders Affiliate Lab!

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