The Four Sixes Ranch, a name synonymous with Texas heritage and ranching excellence, is globally recognized not only for its historic cattle operations but also for its exceptional breeding program of American Quarter Horses. These horses are consistently ranked among the best in the breed, specifically tailored for western performance and the demanding tasks of ranch work. The ranch boasts some of the most respected stallions in the industry, complemented by an elite broodmare band that produces top young prospects, many of whom are successfully marketed at premier auctions annually.
Guiding this award-winning equine breeding program is Nathan Canaday, DVM, the ranch’s resident veterinarian and Horse Division Manager. Under his leadership, the Four Sixes Ranch has earned accolades such as the AQHA Best Remuda Award and has become an AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses, Race Money-Earners, and Race Winners. This sustained success reflects the ranch’s dedication to cultivating a steady stream of champion performance, race, and ranch horses, benefiting both the Four Sixes and its clients.
The overarching goal of the ranch’s breeding program is to produce the world’s finest ranch horse. For the Four Sixes, horses are not just a tradition but a vital and necessary component of their daily operations. From patrolling pastures and gathering cattle to sorting pairs during weaning and dragging calves to the fire at branding time, the quality of their horses directly impacts the efficiency and success of these tasks.
The Ideal Ranch Horse: Traits and Requirements
The ranch currently stands some of the most sought-after stallions in the Quarter Horse industry. Modern advancements in technology allow for semen to be cooled, frozen, and shipped globally, expanding the reach of their superior genetics. The ranch’s infrastructure is meticulously managed for horse production, featuring fourteen pastures covering approximately 10,000 acres dedicated to annual grain crops, improved grasses, and native rangeland.
The landscape of the Four Sixes, characterized by rolling hills and rough, rocky terrain, necessitates large pastures for the horses. Gathering cattle in such an environment is no easy feat and requires a truly talented equine partner. Unlike modern operations that might rely on ATVs, the cowboys at the Four Sixes continue to work cattle from horseback. This tradition, rooted in the ranch’s founding era before the advent of four-wheelers, has shaped the development of their breeding program to consistently produce exceptional cow horses capable of performing these demanding duties.
The operational demands of the ranch require a working partner that is sound, with strong legs and feet. A horse with a robust back, well-defined withers, and the endurance to carry a cowboy all day long is essential. Horses possessing stamina, smooth gaits, and speed are crucial for many ranch chores. However, “cow sense”—the innate ability to sort, gather, and move cattle effectively—is paramount. Beyond these functional attributes, there’s also an appreciation for aesthetics; the ranch values riding good-looking horses.
Longtime Four Sixes Ranch Employee Boots O’Neal commented on the quality of the horses, stating, “This is the best broke, big remuda of 75-100 saddle horses I have ever seen as far as every one of them.” He elaborated that the ranch’s success stems from breeding excellent horses and carefully selecting mares with lineage tracing back to specific, historically productive mares. These horses, he believes, possess an inherent quality, a “cowy” nature bred into them over generations. O’Neal emphasized, “They stress the value in good horses and good men.”
Ultimately, the winning combination at the Four Sixes Ranch is a synergy of essential elements: good cattle, good cowboys, and good horses. This integrated approach ensures the continuation of their legacy in both ranching and equine excellence.
