Karen’s Quarter Horse & Buckskin Ranch is dedicated to breeding high-quality Quarter Horses with rare and beautiful colors, including Grullo, Champagne Grullo, Champagne, Buckskin, and Dun. The ranch focuses on producing horses eligible for registration with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), American Buckskin Registry Association, and International Buckskin Horse Association. [This program is also dedicated to the memory of Karen’s father, Ray Gauger, who passed away in 2006 after a battle with kidney cancer.]
The ranch’s mission is to offer exceptional horses in unique colors such as Silver/white colored Grullo, Smokey Grullo, Champagne Grullo, and Silver Bay. Several of their stallions are homozygous, ensuring color predictability in their foals. These stallions are noted for their quiet temperament, athleticism, and ease of handling. Currently, the ranch offers cooled shipped semen only on their double homozygous Grullo stallion, Mark Me Famous. Live cover is available on their homozygous black Grullo stallion, Hollywood Glo Cody, and their homozygous dun Grullo Splash stallion, Shining C Silva King.
Breeding Philosophy and Quality Assurance
KQH Ranch places a strong emphasis on disposition and quality. They meticulously select mares that complement their stallions, prioritizing those with calm temperaments and strong bloodlines. The ranch maintains a diverse group of mares to produce well-rounded horses suitable for various disciplines. Recognizing the demand for color in the show pen, they have acquired daughters of prominent pleasure horses to infuse these desirable colors into the Western Pleasure discipline. Additionally, they own top-tier halter mares to produce high-quality colored halter prospects and foundation Quarter Horse mares to maintain quality and color in those lines. The overarching goal is to produce usable horses in distinctive colors, all while maintaining a focus on quality and a quiet disposition.
Proven Success and Show Records
The dedication to quality and unique coloring has led to success in competitive events. In 2016, KQH Ranch had two horses achieve top 5 placings at the International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA) World Show in Dun Factor. Notably, their stallion Mark Me Famous is an IBHA World Champion in Dun Factor. The ranch actively pursues breeding programs involving mares with strong dun factors, crossed with their World Champion Dun Factor stallion, to produce “loud” dun-factored horses. For those interested in understanding the Dun Factor, the ranch offers a dedicated page on their website. In 2016, a three-month-old brindle filly from the ranch also secured a top 5 placement, with anticipation for her future as a broodmare.
Sales and Future Expectations
KQH Ranch currently offers foals for sale and has a select number of broodmares available. Information on horses for sale can be found on their dedicated sales page. They also have mares that are currently in foal and will be available for purchase. Potential buyers are encouraged to inquire about foals and mares in foal, as babies from the ranch often sell quickly. Prospective buyers can also message the ranch to be added to a waiting list for specific foals. Detailed breeding information, including contracts and shipment fees for all stallions, is available on their respective stallion pages.
A Legacy of Passion and Dedication
The ranch operates with a deep passion for breeding unique and high-quality horses. The ranch’s website is also maintained in memory of Karen’s father, Ray Gauger, who passed away in 2006 after a battle with kidney cancer. KQH Ranch is recognized as one of the few members accepted into the AQHA Breeders Referral Program, a testament to their adherence to strict business reputation and success standards. Visitors are welcomed to explore the site and provide any comments.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37.
