Muleshoe Ranch named Zoetis-AQHA Best Remuda

To honor the contributions ranch horses have made to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse, the American Quarter Horse Association and AQHA Corporate Partner Zoetis announced the Muleshoe Ranch of Gail, Texas, as the recipient of the 2014 Zoetis-AQHA Best Remuda Award.

Owned by John R. Anderson and family, the Muleshoe Ranch celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2013. The ranch has always depended on the American Quarter Horse for the necessary tasks of operating a cattle ranch. Anderson, one of AQHA’s first 3,000 members, has registered nearly 600 foals with AQHA since 1952.

“We take a lot of pride in the horses we produce. As more and more of our horses become athletes for the public, it is always exciting to see the Muleshoe freeze brand on the left hip,” John and Kevva Anderson said in their 2014 Best Remuda application.

The Muleshoe Ranch aims to produce intelligent, well-built horses with the quickness and cow sense to maintain its 1,200 head of cattle. The ultimate goal is to provide an all-around horse capable of performing in the pasture, arena or cutting pen for any rider. Additionally, the ranch strives to provide horses that will suit every kind of horseman, from the competitive performance rider to the trail enthusiast.

An AQHA 50-year cumulative breeder, the ranch’s top breeding horses contributing to the remuda include Zero Badger Boy, Hermans Whiz, Boy Boon, South Texas Bill and Theres My Poo. The remuda’s top performance horses include Boy Boon, Go Smoke N Badger Go, Texas Poo Boy, Badger Bahama Mama and Bit O Candy Kid.

Muleshoe Ranch halter breaks all of its remuda as yearlings and starts each horse under saddle at 2 years of age to determine their future. Horses are a vital part of the 1,300-acre ranch’s day-to-day duties, such as checking fences, doctoring cattle and dragging calves to the branding fire.

The Best Remuda Award began in 1992 and has since recognized several outstanding ranches for their efforts in raising American Quarter Horses, an important tool of their trade. Any ranch that has five or more American Quarter Horse mares used to produce horses for ranch work and is an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder is eligible for this award. The award will formally be presented to the Muleshoe Ranch during the Working Ranch Cowboy’s Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo on November 8, 2014, in Amarillo.

–American Quarter Horse Association