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Ranch's name depicts owners' philosophy of raising horses |
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By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas |
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February 14, 2002 -- There are Quarter Horses and then there are Quarter Horses. One trip to Bredwell Farm in New Ulm will convince you that all horses are not the same, in spite of the breed. Bredwell Farm is owned and operated by L. Jan Johnston and David Greer, and their horse farm is operated much differently than most you will find. "What we offer as a farm is very, very unusual; most especially, in the Quarter Horse industry," said Johnston. They believe that the most important time in a horse's life, and what can determine how that horse will turn out as an individual, is established in the first few hours after birth. As horse breeders, they take their job seriously. Between January and April, each year, the barn is a busy place. "It has to be a passion, I'll tell you that," Johnston said. After keeping watch all through the night, every hour on the hour, during the foaling season, once the foal is born, Johnston and Greer start the imprinting training. That includes talking to the mare and foal as well as physical contact with both. The animals are hugged and petted and talked to as one of the family. Bredwell owners say their horses are "family," not "possessions," as some people believe. All horses on the farm have been raised there, and pedigrees go back many generations, according to Johnson. His idea of breeding Quarter Horses is to be the best of the best. "We show on a National level. We try to hit between 10 and 15 AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) shows per year. We try to hit the big shows," said Greer. Both Johnson and Greer were reared on dairy farms in Texas, but each ended up in the business world before returning to their roots and to follow their dream of a horse farm in Texas. "We spent a number of years promoting a Grullo stallion, which is a very unique color of stallion that is a derivative of a buckskin. We got very involved in the International Buckskin Horse Association on the World level as well. "When we relocated the farm to Texas from Colorado, we realized that to be a prominent player, you really have to play AQHA versus being so specialized. So, although the stallion has phenomenal credentials, points and international exposure, we've not exposed the stallion, per se, in the AQHA arena. "Down here, I've been doing most of the horse showing because we've diversified the farm," said Greer. While Johnson's background is in halter and western disciplines, Greer is becoming more interested in English riding. Greer said his long-term goal is "to be in the Olympics by the time I'm 50." Body positioning and hunt seat are very important to Greer, along with jumping. "In edition to doing hunt seat, I want to jump. My show pony is with a trainer up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area right now," he said. While most riders specialize in one phase of the horse industry, Bredwell Farms participates in all phases, including reining, halter, western pleasure, cutting or hunt seat and equitation. When they are at a show, they are participating over 12 hours a day, said Johnson. "Bredwell Farm is one of of the few horse farms, truly, other than the very old, old traditional farms in ... say, Kentucky. I've raised all of my own brood mares. I didn't take anyone else's word for anything," said Johnson. He said that many people buy, sell and trade horses without know about traits and backgrounds of the horse. "Jan went out and bought world class bloodlines, because as weanlings and yearlings, you might pay 10 percent of what you'd pay if you waited until that same mare was 3- or 4-years-old," said Greer. Breeding horses is the major part of Bredwell Farm, but Johnson, an accomplished and international designer, works with riders to make sure their appearance in the show ring is all it can be. Each customer is given complete attention from the color of the horse to top of the rider's head. Along with designing clothing, Johnson designs "one of a kind" tack equipment using sterling silver, earth tones and some tribal designs. He is not content until the horse, rider and home are at peace with each other. Both Johnson and Greer are obsessed with making sure the horses bred on their farm are the best money can buy, and yet, they refuse to sell an animal unless they feel assured that the animal will be well taken cared for and loved. "We don't want to breed more than we can love, handle, nurture and keep the quality. When someone buys one of our babies, they know that it has been personally stamped, trademarked with Bredwell Farm. "If you follow your passion, you're home free," Johnson said. (For information concerning the farm: www:bredwellfarms.com |
