Like many folks, I enjoy seeing pictures of handsome horses’ flash across my social media feeds. Several caught my eye, and I began to notice a trend in the account they were being shared from Clay Ranch Quarter Horses. As I began to learn more of their story, as told by Dan Mullin and family, I was even more impressed with this family’s devotion to producing quality quarter horses that serve as partners for riders in both the United States and in the ranch’s home country of Canada.
Several traits stand out about the Clay Ranch and the Mullin Family–their connection with the land, commitment to quality and integrity, and focus on the family. These horses may bring financial gain, but they are spoken of with such reverence and respect that it is obvious they are recognized for their unique personalities and are part of the family themselves.
Dan Mullin grew up around horses on a family farm in Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada. He remembers most folks had horses then, and that for his family they served dual purposes. The horses helped with the typical ranch work of pushing cows, but also were a source of entertainment for him and his eight siblings. While the years spent around horses has no doubt been an education in itself, Mullin credits his Uncle Larry Hicks with teaching him core horsemanship.
With as many horses as have gone through their gates in the thirty-plus years, they’ve been ranching, it is no surprise the Mullins find it hard to pick a favorite. Yet Dan recalls memories such as his two daughters each winning the year-end award in the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association. The girls won this award for barrel racing and were competing on geldings they raised and trained themselves. Not only were the horses and girls tough to beat on the barrel pattern, but the geldings were true all-around performance horses and finished well in four additional events.
His wife Colleen remembers watching their stud-horse Little Peppy Jac compete at a futurity event and bring home two bronze reining trophies. Although Little Peppy Jac passed away a couple of years ago, his offspring have been an integral part of the ranch, and speak to the breeding standards they strive for.
The Mullins take care to pair mares with studs that complement their strengths and cover their quirks, producing offspring as good as or better than its parents. One common cross occurs between their Peptoboonsmal stud and their High Brow Cat mare, creating a top-notch cow horse. They also like to cross cow horses with runners, or off-the-track bloodlines, to get the best of both disciplines channeled towards cattle work.
Truly a family operation, each individual plays a unique role in making Clay Ranch Quarter Horses the thriving operation it is. While Dan deals with maintenance, daily operations, and assists with a community pasture, his wife Colleen does all the photography, keeps up with books and bills, and also holds down a job in town. Their children Ali, Quinn, and Von all have the same work ethic and contribute their talents to the family trade. Ali’s degree in Ag Business along with her visual artwork adds beauty to the Clay Ranch QH branding, whereas Quinn manages the online side of the business (including working hard to coordinate the article with me-thanks so much!) and teaches riding lessons. Ali and Quinn also enjoy training horses alongside their dad. Their brother, Von, puts in hours on the tractor and helps check pastures when not pursuing his passion for hockey and baseball.
The thought that goes into their breeding program and the pooled family talent that runs the ranch will continue to keep Clay Ranch at an elite level. You can find their weanlings at the sale in Ravenna, Michigan, each year, and their saddle horses at the Cypress Hills Registered Horse Breeders Association Production Sale in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. Their horses are also sold privately at the ranch, and I have no doubt they will continue to appear in well-known performance horse sales in the US and Canada.
If you’re interested in Quarter Horses, spend some time getting familiar with the Clay Ranch–you’ll hear their name again.
Straight from the ranch:
What does the western lifestyle mean to you?
To us, it has always meant honesty, integrity, and good, wholesome living. I was raised by hard-working, dedicated farming parents and have always felt that was the true picture of raising livestock and being in agriculture. Just good people trying to make a living doing what they love.
What’s your favorite part of the ranch lifestyle?
Riding. You just can’t beat that feeling when you swing your leg over a horse that you have bred, raised, and trained. Riding a horse like that to ranch, rodeo, show, or just ride down the road at the end of a long day is something that never gets old.
