Four Sixes Ranch Prioritizes Fitness and Joint Health in Elite Horse Sales Preparation
The Four Sixes Ranch's meticulous sales preparation process emphasizes long-term equine health through fitness-focused nutrition and proactive joint care, ensuring horses carry forward the ranch's 150-year legacy of excellence.
At the legendary Four Sixes Ranch, sales preparation represents a carefully managed process that prioritizes long-term equine health over short-term aesthetics. The ranch prepares 50 to 60 horses annually for the Return to the Remuda Sale, focusing on creating fit, confident animals rather than simply fattening them for market appearance.
Dr. Nathan Canaday, Horse Division Manager, emphasizes that "fat is everyone's favorite color, but we'd rather have these horses fit than fat." This philosophy stems from veterinary concerns about developmental issues, with overweight horses predisposed to foot problems, joint disorders like OCDs, and metabolic complications. The ranch utilizes the Four Sixes Multi-Vitamin & Mineral supplement from weanling stage through sales season to support balanced nutrition.
Joint health receives particular attention during the transition from pasture to stall living. Dr. Canaday explains that moving horses into structured environments creates new joint stress, leading the ranch to immediately implement Joint Health Pellets for proactive care. The supplement program includes Complete Gut Protection to manage digestive stress during this transitional period.
Fallon Rand, Sales Prep Manager, notes that the program begins with halter-breaking weanlings before turning them out, creating a foundation that continues when they return as yearlings. The goal is producing adaptable horses ready for various disciplines, with seasoned ranch horses bringing real work experience rather than formal sales fitting.
The ranch's nutritional approach combines high-quality forage with conservative grain rations, believing that good genetics must be paired with proper feeding for optimal results. Dr. Canaday references the saying "good feeding and good breeding" as fundamental to their success, with results speaking for themselves through horses that carry the historic 'L' brand representing 150 years of quality and excellence.