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Our American Quarter Horses are consistently ranked among the best in the breed, as evidenced by our receipt of the AQHA Best Remuda Award and as an AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses and Race Money-Earners and Winners. A steady stream of champion performance, race and ranch horses bred and produced by the Four Sixes and our clients are often featured in the news.
Andrew Hancock.
Horsepower
The Four Sixes is known worldwide, not only as a historic Texas cattle operation but also for producing top quality American Quarter Horses for racing and ranch work and are consistently ranked among the best in the breed. Not only is the ranch privileged to stand some of the most well-respected stallions in the industry, but the Four Sixes’ mares form an elite broodmare band that produces some of the top young prospects available, many of which are marketed each year at premier auctions at the ranch and across the country.
The ranch’s resident veterinarian and Horse Division Manager, Dr. Glenn Blodgett, directs the award-winning equine breeding program. A recipient of the AQHA Best Remuda Award and as an AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses, Race Money-Earners and Race Winners. Dr Blodgett has cultivated a steady stream of champion performance, race and ranch horses produced by the Four Sixes and our clients.
“Our goal with these ranch horses is to produce the world’s best ranch horse,” Blodgett said. “The horse here is the vital component of our everyday operation of the ranch from gathering the cows to sorting the calves and calf branding time. The horse is a necessary component of our everyday operation here on the ranch.”
The ranch stands some of the most popular stallions in the Quarter Horse industry, and modern technology allows for semen to be cooled, frozen and shipped almost anywhere in the world. Fourteen pastures make up approximately 10,000 acres of annual grain crops, improved grasses, and native rangeland, which are managed primarily for horse production.
With rolling hills and rough, rocky terrain, the Four Sixes’ pastures are large. Gathering cattle is not an easy task and requires a talented partner. “We can’t handle and work the cattle with four wheelers like many people do today,” Blodgett said. “Back when the ranch was established, four wheelers didn’t exist, so necessity transcended over the years into having these really good cow horses to do the work.
“We have to have a horse that is sound, good-legged and good-footed,” Blodgett added. “A horse with a good back and good set of withers that will carry them all day long is needed. No one likes to have to constantly be shifting a saddle around. Of course, we like a horse with endurance—it is extremely important here, we have to have a horse that will carry a man possibly all day. We must have horses loaded with stamina, and everybody likes a smooth-traveling, smooth-moving horse. Speed is important in doing a lot of things, cow sense is extremely important to sort, gather, move cattle around. We all like to ride a good-looking horse.”
“This is the best broke, big remuda of 75-100 saddle horses that I have ever seen as far as every one of them,” said longtime Four Sixes Ranch Employee Boots O’Neal. “The ranch bred really good horses and selected their mares that goes back several generations of this certain mare. She’s had good colts, and the guys kept them long before they had records like we have now. These are really good horses. I think that is bred in them. They are real cowy.” O’Neal added, “They stress the value in good horses and good men.”
The winning combination at the Four Sixes is good cattle, good cowboys and good horses.
Mare Families
Over the past 100 years or so, certain “mare families” have proven to deliver desirable traits in their offspring. The Four Sixes has always focused on producing the best possible ranch horses, and, in more recent years, successful arena performance and race horses, as well.
The predominant 6666 mare families are identified by number, the most important of which include: 99 (our most dominant line), 96, 59, 4, 23 and Triangle 29 (V29). The unique traits of each are taken into consideration when breeding decisions are made each year.
Some ranch-type mares from time to time are crossed with racebred stallions, as we recognize the historic influence of Thoroughbred lines in a good breeding program. The resulting offspring often make excellent performance horse prospects in several disciplines, including various cattle classes, roping and barrel racing – as well as good breeding stock.
6666 Broodmare Selection Criteria
The decision to retain a broodmare is based on the following:
- Conformation
- Pedigree
- How well (gelding) siblings perform, usually on the ranch
- Her show or race record, if shown or raced
- Siblings’ show or race records
- Quality and performance of offspring (retention over time)
Behind the brand.
Dr. Glenn Blodgett
Blodgett is an award-winning veterinarian and long-time breeder of American Quarter horses. He received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and his degree in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University; he has since been recognized as an outstanding alumnus by both universities.
An active member of the industry he began representing Texas as an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) director in 1991. In 2011, he was elevated to director-at-large, and in 2012 was elected to its Executive Committee—a five-person committee responsible for implementing important decisions made by AQHA members through the board of directors. He has served on multiple committees and foundations over the years and his impact on the industry has not gone unnoticed. In 2012 he received the AQHA Racing Council Special Recognition Award; in 2013 Dr Blodgett was inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame; in 2017 he was awarded the Golden Spur Award by the National Ranching Heritage Center; in 2019 he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
In 1982, Blodgett became the resident veterinarian and manager of the horse division at the 6666 Ranch, Guthrie, Texas. During his tenure at the 6666, the ranch has become an AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses and Race Money-Earners and Winners; in 1993 it won the AQHA Best Remuda Award and in 2013 was named AQHA Racing Champion Breeder. The ranch’s foundation stallions included Joe Hancock, Hollywood Gold, Grey Badger II and Cee Bars.
6666 Brands
Left Jaw
Brand here designates old Triangle Ranch lineage or other mare family lineage on Four Sixes Ranch horses.
Left Shoulder
The “L” brand, recognizing ancestor M. F. Loyd, is placed on Four Sixes Ranch horses. On Triangle Ranch mares, a brand here designated a particular mare family.
Left Buttock
Designates the year the horse was foaled.
Right Buttock
Designates the horse’s sire.
