Decades of raising registered Quarter Horses on Mahlstedt Ranch were recognized this week in Amarillo, Texas. George A. and Jeanie Mahlstedt traveled to Texas to receive the 50 year AQHA Breeder Legacy award for their ranch.
The Mahlstedt family is one of the Montana's largest quarter horse breeders and is known nationally for their quality roan horses. When asked what has contributed to their success, the family attributes having an eye for quality, a desire to match horses to buyers, and integrity in their business operations. We aren't horse traders. Our slogan for years has been 'let us load your next best friend in your trailer' because our goal is a lifelong home for each horse. Repeat buyers have certainly contributed to the ongoing success of this eastern Montana ranch.
[EasyDNNGallery|2929|Width|400|Height|400|position|left|resizecrop|False|lightbox|False|title|False|description|False|redirection|False|LinkText||]John and Mary homesteaded their Circle, Montana, ranch in 1912, with horses always being a large part of the ranch. Their son, George L. & wife, Hannah, took the ranch through the Depression and acquired neighboring land as settlers left. Their son, George A. and Jeanie, continued to enlarge the ranch and develop the horse herd. The Mahlstedts acquired their first registered Quarter Horse stallion, Punkin's Poco (Poco Blackburn-Punkin's Kay by Punkin Smith), in the early 1960s by trading nine bucking horses, one steer and 40 bushels of oats for him. In 1963, George L. and George A. sold some of their other horses and traded two registered Hereford bulls for four registered mares with Peter McCue bloodlines.
Over the years, their operation grew to include 12-15 broodmares and one stallion before reaching its current size of 40 broodmares and three stallions. George A. is still at the helm of the ranch with daughter, Tana and Ross Canen and girls – the fourth & fifth generations of Mahlstedts, working alongside. The ranch sells young prospects by private treaty primarily via its website www.mahlstedtranch.com and FaceBook.
With a motto of “color-class-cow,” the Mahlstedts breed good ranch horses that are versatile with great dispositions. The “color” comes from many of their mares and their stallions: Sanrose Blue Colonel, a blue roan; MRI Snips Spirit, a popular buckskin roan; and Redeemed Lynx, a black (Lucky Joe Lynx-Miss Wimps Freckles by Freckles Solis).
As their primary stallion, Sanrose Blue Colonel, aka “Colonel,” is by Colonel Doc Bar Chex and out of Blue San Rose by Blue Spark Olena. His pedigree is as impressive as they come, with legendary horses Colonel Freckles, Doc Bar, Shining Spark and Smart Little Lena in his family tree. Tana describes Colonel as “the perfect combination of pedigree, conformation, and terrific personality with loads of cow sense.”
Past stallions who have contributed to their operation include; Provocative Cowboy, a bay roan bred for reining and speed with ideal conformation and the sire of many of their mares; Devil Bar Pal (Sea Bar-Miss 3 John by John Red), who produced athletic horses and was actually the beginning of the roan gene in the Mahlstedt herd; Barry Burke (King Burke-Leo's Tacky by Leo), a grandson of King and Leo with halter style quality; and Circle Oak Bar who sired exceptional cow ability.
[EasyDNNGallery|2930|Width|500|Height|500|position|left|resizecrop|False|lightbox|False|title|False|description|True|redirection|False|LinkText||]The family is not interested in winning awards with their horses, although their children and other competitors on Mahlstedt horses have won many 4-H and competitive events. Tana (who manages the horse aspect of the ranch) sees their greatest achievement as having a family that is able to enjoy their horses together and giving others the opportunity to ride top quality horses which are beautiful and affordable.
“My dad (George A. Mahlstedt) gave us the greatest childhood of growing up on a ranch, riding good horses, and working side by side,” Tana concludes.
Source: Mahlstedt Ranch
