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Aside The Hideout Guest Ranch string of 75 quarter horses for a max. of 32 riding guests, there is the QH Breeding Program of Flitner Ranch. It is important to distinguish both strings of horses and programs.
Flitner Ranch Quarter Horses, owned by Greg and Pam Flitner, has been cultivating and perfecting its breeding program for well over a quarter of a century. The Flitner Quarter Horse breeding program focuses on producing top-quality using horses through careful selection and by crossing foundation bloodlines with performance Quarter Horse blood. The Flitner program avoids the extremes and show-pen fads but always keeps an eye toward quality, with the goal of producing a medium-sized using horse stout enough to rope off yet retaining remarkable agility.
Flitner Ranch Quarter horses are bred to handle the big rugged country in this part of Wyoming. They cover more miles and see more cattle in a summer than many stock horses will ever see in a lifetime. Most days our horses load in the trailer before daylight and come home in the dark. Our cowboys often bring a trailer load of young horses and usually ride several horses a day. By the time they are three, these horses have drug a lot of calves to the branding iron fire, and by the time they are four, they are on the payroll.
The fact that they are also some of the best foundation and performance Quarter horse bloodlines one could want, may not even matter to the majority of our clients who purchase these horses simply for their outstanding athletic ability and hardiness. For the discerning client who does follow bloodlines and insists on top quality, registered stock; we feature
Doc Bar, Two Eyed Jack, Leo, Doc Jack Frost, Three Bars, and Quick Emotion among the family trees. Our sensible stallions have plenty of muscle and heart and it doesn't hurt that they tend to put their pretty heads on their offspring. Our Quarter Horse studs stand exclusively with Flitner mares, thus allowing control and review of our genetics.
From our broodmare band of fifty, we ride everything we raise. We believe in riding our mares as well as our geldings. Our mares are turned out all year round and only come in to the headquarters of the ranch in the dead of winter. Our mares are good sized, typically standing 15 hands and averaging 1,100-1,300 pounds -- all of it on good feet and bone.
When the breeding shed closes for the season, our stallions are utilized in the riding string. From our broodmares to our weanlings, every horse must earn the right to stay. We select for soundness, common sense, athletic ability, color and disposition. If a horse isn't willing, handy, and sharp; it won't be here for long.
Among our stallions, these four of note are turned out with their respective band of broodmares:
AQHA #2921443: red/bay roan stallion
(PC Stallone x A Little Fog)
Super Horse titled, according to Greg Flitner, "I've never ridden a more intelligent, even-tempered horse with so much power and speed."
AQHA #3807839: palomino stallion
(Meadowlark Clark x Peaks Two Eyed Bunny)
AQHA #2203294: sorrel stallion
(Doc Tari x Gaytani)
AQHA #3666186: sorrel stallion
(Zippo Pat Snap x Ms Zanna)
Flitner-bred Quarter horses wear either our GO or 11-bar-1 ranch brands. We use Low Impact Training Methods to instill trust between our horses and people. We start with groundwork and round penning prior to getting on their backs. We work the youngsters in bosals and/or snaffle bits, then a combination of bosal and bits to create the finished bridle horse that works off subtle cues. Yes, many of the finished bridle horses we offer for sale are like finely tuned sports cars, more suitable for the experienced handler than those just learning how to get around, however we occasionally offer a few well-bred, well-broke horses that an intermediate rider will enjoy.
The Flitner Ranch is working diligently to offer more quality, ranch-raised using horses, off of one ranch than anywhere else in the country. Flitner-bred horses will do well anywhere. We stake our name on it. Every 5 years, we organize our Production Sale, where we proudly offer only Flitner Ranch bred registered Quarter Horses. Our next production sale is planned for May 17 2009. Thanks to a loyal following, this much anticipated event is commonly sold out well ahead of time. We look forward to seeing you there.
Acknowledgement: We thank the ranch crew, Hideout wranglers, our family members and friends, and devoted Hideout guests who help keep this legacy going. The Flitner Ranch is very fortunate to have such talented individuals and enthusiastic people willing to ride for the brand.
Greg and Pam Flitner
For more information please contact peter@thehideout.com
