As the highly anticipated Season 4 of “Yellowstone” premiered on Sunday, November 7, fans were eager to see how the dramatic plot would unfold. While many tune in for the stunning Montana landscapes, compelling character arcs like those of Rip and Beth, or the captivating storyline, the spectacular American Quarter Horses have also carved out a significant presence in the series. This article delves into some fascinating facts about the show and the prominent role of these magnificent animals.
The characters of “Yellowstone” have captured the audience’s attention, with favorites including Rip, Beth, Jimmy, Jake (of Jake Ream Cutting Horses), Kayce, and of course, John Dutton. However, a special mention must be made for the American Quarter Horses, both reiners and cutters, that play pivotal roles throughout the series.
The Vision Behind “Yellowstone” and Its Equine Stars
FACT 1: The creative force behind “Yellowstone,” its writing, direction, and production, is AQHA life member Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan’s personal passion for reining and cutting competitions directly influences his decision to feature these equestrian sports and their athletes prominently in the show. His dedication to the western lifestyle and the American Quarter Horse was recognized with the AQHA Spirit Award in 2019 and an induction into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Sheridan’s deep connection to the American Quarter Horse has not only shaped his career but has also introduced these remarkable animals to a global audience through television screens worldwide.
Taylor Sheridan, writer, director, and producer of “Yellowstone,” is pictured here on Pale Black Gun, with his reining trainer, Tom Foran. (Photo courtesy of Tom Foran)
FACT 2: Season 1, Episode 5, saw a treat for reining enthusiasts with the appearance of AQHA reining world champion and National Reining Horse Association Futurity champion, Lil Joe Cash. He shared the screen with NRHA $5 million rider and trainer Andrea Fappani. Lil Joe Cash, a 2008 sorrel stallion, boasts an impressive pedigree, being by Nu Chex To Cash and out of the renowned AQHA Superhorse RS Lilly Starlight.
Lil Joe Cash, under the expert guidance of AQHA Professional Horseman Andrea Fappani, secured the 2012 AQHA junior reining world championship. (Credit: Journal)
FACT 3: The equine world eagerly awaits the expanded role of the celebrated stallion Metallic Cat in upcoming seasons. Bobby Patton, Metallic Cat’s owner, secured his horse’s inclusion in the “Yellowstone” script by purchasing the exclusive casting rights for $165,000 at a gala during the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity. The proceeds from this purchase benefited the NCHA Charities Foundation. Metallic Cat’s impressive career includes being an NCHA Futurity champion and NCHA Horse of the Year, and he is now recognized as a leading sire for cutting and reined cow horses.
The striking red roan stallion, Metallic Cat, was a leading sire of cutting and reined cow horses in 2019. (Photo courtesy of NRCHA)
FACT 4: Custom Made Gun, a distinguished American Quarter Horse with accolades including The Run for a Million co-champion and World Equestrian Games medalist, also made an appearance in Season 1, Episode 5. This 2011 palomino stallion, owned by Maria Cecilia Fiorucci of Italy, is by the famous sire Colonels Smoking Gun (affectionately known as “Gunner”) and out of Custom Made Dunit, a daughter of Hollywood Dun It.
Cade McCutcheon showcases a powerful sliding stop on the palomino stallion Custom Made Gun at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Cade and Custom Made Gun were instrumental in Team USA securing the gold medal in reining. (Photo by @Sportfot)
FACT 5: While Custom Made Gun achieved significant success in the show pen with Cade McCutcheon, NRHA’s youngest $1 million rider and trainer, it was Cade’s grandfather, NRHA $3 million rider and trainer Tim McQuay, who rode Custom Made Gun in Season 1. In Season 2, Episode 5, Cade reappears alongside his parents, NRHA $1 million rider and trainer Tom McCutcheon and NRHA $2 million non-pro rider Mandy McCutcheon.
FACT 6: NRHA professional trainer Matt Mills also graced the screen in Season 2, Episode 5, participating in a reining competition that included the McCutcheons, Travis Wheatley (portrayed by Taylor Sheridan), and Yellowstone ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstrom. Mills, who also featured in “The Last Cowboy” on the Paramount Network, has shared valuable tips for improving reining circle scores in an article on AQHA.
Matt Mills, who has appeared in both “Yellowstone” and “The Last Cowboy,” offers insights into improving reining circle performance in this article. (Credit: Shane Rux Photography for AQHA)
FACT 7: In Season 1, Episode 5, reining trainer Tom Foran is seen riding Walla Walla Starbuck. This 2012 red dun stallion, owned by Taylor Sheridan, has accumulated over $50,000 in NRHA earnings.
FACT 8: The series also features Spookernickerin, an NRHA money-earning sorrel gelding owned by Jules Stewart, and Dun It Chexinic. The latter is a 2007 bay gelding with over $32,000 in reining earnings, and it happens to be owned and shown by Taylor Sheridan himself.
Immersive “Cowboy Camp” and Actor Training
FACT 9: Beyond casting exceptional horses, Taylor Sheridan’s commitment to authenticity extended to the actors. He sent the cast to “cowboy camp,” an intensive four-day experience in the Utah mountains, under the tutelage of his cutting horse trainer, Jake Ream. This immersive program involved camping, herding sheep, and hands-on horse care, significantly enhancing the actors’ on-screen riding abilities.
Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy Hurdstrom, was new to the equestrian world before “cowboy camp.” This experience, and his subsequent role in the series, allowed him to develop his riding skills alongside his character. (Credit: Emerson Miller for Paramount Network)
FACT 10: While the character Beth Dutton is famously portrayed as having an aversion to horses due to a past trauma, the actress Kelly Reilly is a seasoned horsewoman with a lifelong passion for riding. Having primarily trained in English riding, Reilly collaborated with Tom Foran (Sheridan’s reining trainer) and the renowned animal wrangling business Gentle Jungle to refine her western riding skills for scenes where Beth returns to the saddle.
Kelly Reilly, the talented actress behind Beth Dutton, has a long-standing history with horses and fulfilling a lifelong dream of appearing in a Western. (Credit: Emerson Miller for Paramount Network)
The Legendary Four Sixes Ranch Joins “Yellowstone”
FACT 11: The prestigious Four Sixes Ranch, a recipient of the AQHA Best Remuda Award, is now an integral part of the “Yellowstone” narrative. Scenes filmed at the ranch in Guthrie, Texas, are set to be featured in upcoming seasons. Furthermore, a spinoff series, aptly titled “6666,” will be filmed at this legendary ranch, exploring its deep-rooted history and its enduring mission to breed the finest horses and livestock. This is a place where the tradition of the cowboy is forged. Reports indicate that the Four Sixes Ranch has been purchased by the Yellowstone Creators Group.
(Photos of the Four Sixes Ranch courtesy of Chas. S. Middleton and Son)
Looking Ahead to “Yellowstone” Season 4
As Season 4 of “Yellowstone” premiered on Sunday, November 7, audiences eagerly awaited the fates of Beth, John, and the rest of the Dutton family, alongside the thrilling equestrian sequences showcasing the American Quarter Horses that Taylor Sheridan has so passionately featured. The series continues to celebrate the rugged beauty of the West and the profound connection between humans and these magnificent animals.
