From the time these colts are born, they share pastures with cattle.
They are raised around cattle and in big pastures and know how to get around.
As far as knowing about cattle, they begin from day one!
We’re going to tell you the history of our ranch horses and where we are headed.
The present day breeding program was started by Ralph Gardiner, Henry's father. He had a passion for horses and worked with them all his life. Ralph enjoyed racing horses and in the 1950s was among the top ten money winners nationally. He bred several mares to the thoroughbred horse named Three Bars before he became famous. Three Bars was a speed sire and Ralph had several AAA+ rated sons. This was the top speed rating before there were speed index figures. Many of the mares in today's band trace back to Three Bars.
Ralph also liked a good cutting horse. In 1958 a horse by the name of Leob was a three year old, who was both the novice and open cutting champion in Kansas. He was also the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) High Point Halter Gelding and received his Performance Register of Merit in cutting. After his show career, Leob lived out his life on the ranch working cattle. These were the kind of horses Ralph Gardiner enjoyed raising and we still strive for today.
Without doing a pedigree search, many people would not know the influence Gardiner bred quarter horses have had on today’s breed leaders. One breed giant in particular is a horse by the name of Hollywood Dun It. This stallion won the 1986 National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity Reserve Championship and was the 1987 NRHA Derby Champion. He is the all time leading sire of reining horse money winners. To date his foals have earned in excess of $4,000,000. The dam of Hollywood Dun It is Blossom Berry. Through her maternal line she traces back to Skychief Bar, a Three Bars son, and a mare named Souvenir. This maternal line of horses leading up to Blossom Berry were born and raised and used on our ranch. Many of today’s GAR mares carry the blood of Skychief Bar and Souvenir.
The bloodlines we are using today to cross back on these Three Bars based mares are packed with performance. One sire we have used is a horse by the name of Tee J Jolly Jack (#2896299). He is a grandson, on the top side of his pedigree, to the all-around sire Jackie Bee. On the bottom he is out of an own daughter of the World Champion Roping horse Gold Fingers. We have used Tee J Jolly Jack all of his life on the ranch sorting, doctoring and team roping off of him. He was born in 1990 and as a sire he has had many gray, red roan and sorrel colts. We have several of his daughters in production and are roping off of his sons. They are the kind of horses Ralph would be proud of, with plenty of speed and cow sense. These horses are heavy boned with good feet and legs, and are easy on the eyes. They are heavy muscled and can work all day and play all weekend. Right now besides ranch work, several of these horses have gone on to compete in AQHA shows, 4-H and Professional Rodeos. We still work cattle with our horses and we like to use them in team roping events.
Our junior sire that we are very excited about crossing back on these Jackie Bee – Gold Finger's daughter is Royals Red Rap (#4008776). He is a 2000 red roan that traces back to King-P234 on the top side and is out of a Sugar Bars – Leo – Joe Reed II mare. With this foundation breeding at its best we are striving to maintain the athletic cow horse that is quick footed and heavy boned.
Whether you are looking for a good ranch horse prospect or a future roping horse that the whole family can enjoy, keep us in mind on the first Saturday in April. Request more information or contact us directly:
Greg Gardiner • 1136 CR Y • Ashland, Kansas 67831 • (620) 635-0233