Four Sixes Ranch Reveals Meticulous Sales Preparation Process for Elite Horses
TL;DR
Four Sixes Ranch horses offer superior genetics and fitness for long-term performance advantages in any equestrian discipline.
The ranch prepares 50-60 horses annually through halter-breaking, balanced nutrition, joint supplements, and gradual fitness training from weanling stage.
This approach ensures healthier horses with better long-term soundness, reducing metabolic issues and improving overall equine welfare worldwide.
The historic L-branded horses are trained in rough pastures to develop strong bones and feet before sale.
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At the legendary Four Sixes Ranch, sales preparation season represents one of the most intensive and carefully managed periods of the year, where horses destined to carry forward the historic 'L' brand legacy undergo meticulous daily care and training. The process, which officially begins in mid-June and runs through September, involves preparing approximately 50 to 60 horses annually, including yearlings, young riding horses, and seasoned cowboy horses with real ranch work experience.
According to Dr. Nathan Canaday, Horse Division Manager, and Fallon Rand, Sales Prep Manager, the program focuses on building a solid foundation through halter breaking, gentling, and progressive training to produce confident and adaptable young horses. "We really try to give them a solid foundation so that no matter what their new owners want to do with them, they're set up for success," Rand explained. The ranch's philosophy prioritizes fitness over fatness, with Dr. Canaday emphasizing that "fat is everyone's favorite color, but we'd rather have these horses fit than fat."
From a veterinary perspective, fitness is crucial for long-term soundness, as being overweight predisposes horses to foot issues, developmental joint problems like OCDs, and metabolic disorders. The nutritional approach combines high-quality forage with balanced, conservative grain rations, supplemented by the Four Sixes Multi-Vitamin & Mineral from weanling stage through sales season.
Joint health receives particular attention during sales preparation, as moving horses from pasture to stalls introduces new stress on developing joints. The ranch immediately adds Joint Health Pellets for proactive care and Complete Gut Protection to counteract digestive stress during transition. Dr. Canaday advises buyers to maintain gut health supplements and consider Electrolyte Powder to help horses adjust to new environments and water tastes.
This comprehensive preparation ensures that every horse leaving the program embodies the 150-year legacy of the 'L' brand, representing history, quality, and excellence through thoughtful breeding, balanced nutrition, and commitment to equine welfare.
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