The horse operation has evolved from Judge Freeny’s involvement to Colonel Stuart’s love of Arabians and saddle breds to Bob Stuart’s purchase of Big Shot Dun in 1949 to winning the AQHA Best of Remuda award in 1995. “Big Shot” was purchased from the 3D Stock Farm. He was a son of Pretty Boy out of a daughter of Blackburn. Bob Stuart roped calves on him and used him for ranch work. His mares came from the Swensons, Minnicks, Warrens and Waggonners. On the daughters several horses were used, a son of Croton Oil and a son of Silver King (by Old Sorrel) but Breezy Buck (Red Buck x Breezy D. by Joe Bailey) made the most significant impact.
The Big Shot Dun daughters and the Breezy Buck daughters were crossed on Son O Leo. Son O Leo was purchased in 1961 as a weanling the sorrel son of Leo out of the mare Sue Sugar, (Sugar Bars x Sorrel Sue by King) would surface as a dynamic and lasting broodmare sire. All three stallions were pasture bred and none would sire a great number of horses. AQHA champion Port Command (Commander King x Freckles Boy mare) was purchased to cross on the Son O Leo daughters and the cross was very successful.
Seven S Zanaday (Zan Parr Bar x May Day Hobby) who would become a AQHA World Champion was the next sire to impact the herd. Crossed with the Son O Leo and Port Command daughters,the colts were very successful in the show ring and made good ranch horses.
Today Real Gun (Playgun x Miss war Chips) continues the tradition of quality and performance. As our program evolves we have gone outside to incorporate the blood of Smart Little Lena, Little Peppy, Dual Pep, High Brow Cat, Peptoboonsmal, Genuine Doc and others.
Every foal raised on Stuart Ranch, regardless of its ultimate achievements, spends its first two years in the pasture, then goes on to work on the ranch, gathering, sorting and branding cattle, before proceeding to the show ring.
We will continue to strive to produce that outstanding athlete, with good bone and feet, that will be competitive in the show pen and effective in the pasture.