Fun Facts About Your Tour
Fort Worth
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit. The museum features interactive exhibits, fascinating artifacts, a traveling exhibit gallery, a multi-purpose theater, and a wild-west-show-themed gift shop.
www.cowgirl.net
Will Rogers Memorial Center
Located in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District, the center includes Will Rogers Coliseum, Auditorium, Equestrian Center and Amon G. Carter Exhibits Building. The entire Will Rogers Memorial Center covers 85 acres.
The center's convenient location attracts in excess of two million people a year. This popularity is due to its ability to facilitate an extensive variety of cultural, equestrian and recreational events. The Will Rogers Equestrian Center opened in 1988 and has become known and recognized as a world-class center with more than 100,000 horses having participated in equestrian events. It is the home of the annual Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) competition, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show and more.
www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents
Amon Carter Museum
The Amon Carter Museum opened in January 1961 to house the collection of western art amassed by Fort Worth publisher and philanthropist Amon G. Carter, Sr. (1879-1955). Expanding on Carter's original collection of 400 paintings, drawings, and works of sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell‹the single most important collection of works by these artists‹the museum now encompasses a wide range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture, as well as photographs from the early days of the medium to the present. www.cartermuseum.org
National Cutting Horse Association
The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 16,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $35 million in prize money awarded. Visitors are welcome to visit the offices on Bailey Avenue where many pictures and bronzes of champion horses are housed.
www.nchacutting.com
Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art
Located downtown in Sundance Square, this free museum features the incredible works of the two most celebrated artists of the American West: Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. There is also an excellent museum shop where you will find prints, postcards, and books.
www.sidrmuseum.org
Stockyards National Historic District
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Stockyards is a great place to celebrate the romance and mystique of the American West. See the Fort Worth Herd, the world's only twice daily cattle drive, along Exchange Avenue. The Stockyards covers 125 acres ‹ 15 square blocks of tradition, nightlife, and family fun.
www.fortworthstockyards.org
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the cowboys and cowgirls of the Lone Star State and also features the Sterquell Wagon Collection, with more than 60 wagons, carriages, and sleighs that have been beautifully restored.
www.texascowboyhalloffame.com
Billy Bob's Texas
Located in the Historic Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas is the world's largest honky-tonk boasting its own indoor rodeo arena for professional bull riding, a Texas-size dance floor, dozens of bar stations, restaurants, arcade games, a Wall of Fame with celebrity handprints, and a general store. Superstar musical acts perform every Friday and Saturday night.
www.billybobstexas.com
American Paint Horse Association
If you love horses, be sure to visit the international headquarters of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) at 2800 Meacham Boulevard in Fort Worth. One of the fastest-growing and most popular horse breed organizations in the world, APHA registers new horses at a rate of more than 40,000 every year. In the front of the building, view the larger-than-life-size bronze, which depicts a Paint Horse stallion pushing along a band of two mares and a foal. Inside, take a free tour, view some beautiful Paint Horse artwork and shop at the APHA General Store.
www.apha.com
Denton
Flower Mound Equestrian Center
The Flower Mound Equestrian Center is a training facility for riders and horses specializing in Hunter/Jumpers and Dressage. The training is headed by Laura Hightower, who has taken abused and behavioral problem horses and turned them into champions and reserve champion horses. Further, many of Laura Hightower's students have competed nationally with great success and have also had the opportunity to attend SMU on scholarships based on their riding skills. In 2005, the Flower Mound Equestrian Center won first place in the Battle of the Barns.
Diamond C Ranch
Established in 1996, this Quarter Horse ranch is a broodmare operation that focuses on imprinting foals and ground training young horses with cutting pedigrees. The farm also boasts Morgan driving horses and horse drawn equipment, horseshoe art, leather work and custom metal work.
Stargate Sport Horses
Established in 2002 this facility specializes in Dutch Warmbloods and Hanoverians. Their main focuses are the disciplines of dressage and jumpers and serving as a breeding facility. Stargate Sport Horses is the home of Calimero, a Grand Prix Dressage Stallion.
Saddle Brook Equestrian Center
The Saddle Brook Equestrian Center is easily recognizable by the landmark statue Noble Champions at the front entrance. This residential community represents a growing trend towards urban horse lovers to continue their equestrian lifestyle and still live in a city environment by offering community stables, paddocks and pasture area for residents and their horses.
Fossil Gate Farms
This beautiful farm owned by Gary and Linda Gordon was established in 1976 and specializes in Quarter and Paint Halter horses. This ranch boasts Sock Broker, the American Paint Horse Association's all-time leading sire of Paint Halter Horses and two-time Reserve World Champion. Also in residence is Im Tee Totally Cool, AQHA two-time World Champion at halter and sire of several world champion foals. Another famous horse, My Yella Fella, is a four time world champion at halter in both AQHA and PBHA. He is also one of today's leading sires for AQHA Halter Horses. Fossil Gate Farms was the #1 breeder of Halter Horses for the APHA in 2004.
Green Valley Ranch
Established in 1999, this ranch specializes in Reining Quarter Horses. It is the home of Tom McCutcheon's reining horses including Lil Ruf Peppy, one of the top 10 leading sires of reining horses. Other famous Quarter horses among many that have hailed from this spread are Wimpys Little Step, NRHA Futurity Champion and All American Quarterhorse Congress Futurity Champion; Smart Starbuck and Major Vaquero, sires of finalists in both NRHA Derby, and Futurity.
Other farms/ranches to visit in Southern Denton County
Riding Unlimited, Inc.
9168 T.N. Skiles‹Just north of F.M. 2449 off of F.M. 156
Ponder, TX 76259
Founded in 1990, Riding Unlimited provides safe and affordable therapeutic horseback riding instruction for physically, mentally and emotionally disabled individuals in the North Texas Region. Riding Unlimited is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Premier Accredited Center. Riding Unlimited participants range in age from 2 to senior adults. Visitors welcome.
Chapel Creek Ranch (Medievel Times)
5937 F.M. 455 West, Sanger, TX
Established in 1992, this ranch raises Andalusians for all 9 of the Medieval Times and Tournament Restaurant locations throughout the United States. The horses and performers are taught Dressage, Games and Jousting.
Pilot Point
Edgewood Lanning Ranch
Established in 1997, Edgewood Lanning, Inc., is owned and operated by Bill and Ann Lanning and has been one of the premier Quarter Horse Ranches in the industry for 18 years. Through their first rate promotion and breeding program, the famous Mr. Conclusion became the all-time leading sire of AQHA as well as the World and Reserve World Champion of AQHYA, a record that will likely never be equaled by any other stallion. They offer a full range of services which include breeding, foaling, sales, fitting show prospects and brood mares for sale, and year-round mare care. Visitors are always welcome at the ranch.
Reata Ranch
These gorgeous acres are home to some of the finest Quarter Horses in the area. Reata Ranch specializes in Halter Quarter Horses. Their most famous claim to fame is Coolest, an AQHA leading sire. Coolest has sired more than 30 World and Reserve World Champions.
Hidden Valley Thoroughbreds
The horse, Thomas Jo, was bred and raised at Hidden Valley and in 1998 finished 3rd at the Belmont, which is the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown Races for Thoroughbreds. Later on that year, Thomas Jo was named Horse of the Year in Texas. Hidden Valley is a working Thoroughbred ranch owned by Larry and Mary Jo Smith. This ranch produces Thoroughbred babies that are sold as yearlings (2-year olds) or they are raced by Hidden Valley under the name of L.T. Smith Enterprises. Hidden Valley maintains an average horse population of 50, which consists of brood mares, weanlings, yearlings and racehorses.
Valor Farm
Valor Farm is owned by Clarence Scharbauer, a former president of the American Quarter Horse Association. Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. has been prominent in the industry for over 40 years and is a member of the breed's Hall of Fame. Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, who passed away in 2005, owned racehorses from a very young age. She learned much about the industry from her father, Fred Turner, who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby with Tomy Lee. With the goal of winning another Kentucky Derby, the Scharbauers began buying Thoroughbred yearlings in 1984. By 1987, Dorothy and daughter Pam had captured the roses with the great Alysheba, who became the all-time leading earner and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1991, the Scharbauers purchased the 393 acres on which Valor Farm sits and the buildings and fences were completed in just over two years. Currently the stallions at Valor Farm include; Wimbledon (winner of the 2004 Louisiana Derby), Gold Regent, Magic Cat, Hadif, and Gold Legend (sire of Heritage of Gold, winner of nearly $2.4 million). Valor Farm has also stood notable sires such as Marfa, winner of the 1983 Santa Anita Derby. Their stallions rank among the leading Texas and national sires each year.
Tommy Manion Ranch
Established in 1979, this ranch specializes in cutting Quarter horses. This spread is home of Smart Little Lena, NCHA Triple Crown Champion and all-time leading cutting sire. It is also home to Smooth as a Cat, the 2005 NCHA Horse of the Year winning in excess of $500,000.
Chip Knost
Chip Knost has shown 41 AQHA World Champions. The ranch is home to CK Kid and the well-known He's Tee Totally Cool
Steve Heckaman Quarter Horses-
This ranch offers breeding, raising, conditioning and training of fine pleasure horses. The ranch is home to Potential Investment, the Champion and Reserve Champion at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Turner Ranch
Ted Turner is known as a trainer. To date he has trained and shown more than 57 AQHA World Champions, 45 Paint Horse World Champions and 125 Appaloosa Horse World Champions.
JEH Stallion Station
Owned by Jim and Marilyn Helzer and established in 1993, this racing farm specializes in Quarter and Thoroughbred racing horses. Some of the famous horses at JEH Stallion Station are Leaving Memories, This Snow is Royal, Heza Fast Man, Corona For Me, Feature Mr. Jess, Tres Seis, Mighty Invictus, Oak Tree Special, Marked Tree, Gen Stormin' Norman, and Touch Tone.
www.jehstallionstation.com
Venture Farms
Established in 1995, this farm boasts Arabians and Saddlebreds that specialize in English and Western Pleasure. Venture Farms' premier broodmare, The Small Town Blues, has had 18 foals who have won 16 National Championships, 11 Reserve Championships and 29 top 10 awards.
Circle Y Ranch
Established in 1980 and owned by Penny Youngblood, this farm has Quarter horses that specialize in reining and cutting disciplines.
Mandolynn Hill Farms
Established in 1987 and owned by Michelle Morgan, this farm focuses on Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Mandolynn Hill Farm is a unique farm that has been successful in many areas for years. The goal at Mandolynn Hill Farm is to produce correct, pretty, athletic horses that have futures in many venues. Mandolynn Hill has won Farm of the Year and many other awards. This farm is a one-stop center for horse necessities. Mandolynn Hill Farms welcomes visitors.
Roger Daly
Established in 1975, Roger Daly primarily works with Quarter and Thoroughbred horses. Roger Daly prepared for sale and sold the filly "Falling In Love Again", just prior to her winning the Million Dollar American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in 1998. Daly sale preps about 300 horses for major sales and breaks about 100 horses per year.
Key to Equine Industry Speak
AHC-Appaloosa Horse Club
APHA-American Paint Horse Association
AQHA-American Quarter Horse Association
AQHYA-American Quarter Horse
Youth Association
NARHA-North American Riding for the
Handicapped Association
NCHA-National Cutting Horse Association
NRHA-National Reining Horse Association
PHBA-Palomino Horse Breeders Association