Weaver Quarter Horses

this article reprinted by permission of The Montana Horseman, December 1997

RANCH AWARD - WEAVER RANCH, Big Sandy, Montana

This year's award goes to the Weaver Ranch of Big Sandy.

The Weaver family came to Montana in 1888 and have been raising horses ever since. The brand was recorded in the Weaver Name in 1889 and they are proud that their children are the fifth generation to ride for the Weaver brand.

The family has a lot of history in raising and training good horses. "My grand-dad, Elmer Weaver, started breaking horses for the public when he was eleven years old and by the time he was sixteen he was riding as many as 21 horses for clients," said Stan Weaver.

Elmer Weaver, born and raised in Chinook, moved to Geraldine and opened a livery stable. He trailed his horses back and forth between Chinook and Geraldine, always staying with his good friend, Nels Hokanson, at Warrick, 30 miles southeast of Big Sandy.

The year 1925 proved monumental to Elmer. The Geraldine livery stable burned down. Nels told Elmer about some land bordering his that was coming up for sale. Elmer bought the land nestled in the Bear Paw Mountains and moved his horses and family to what is the current ranch. Elmer passed away in 1952 and his youngest son, Arthur, began operating the ranch.

"My dad always had five or six mares and colts. We raised all our own horses for the ranch. He purchased his first registered Quarter horse mare in 1959," remembered Stan. "She was a granddaughter of Poco Bueno." Weavers have been raising Quarter horses ever since.

Under Art's diligent care, the ranch prospered and grew. Upon his death in 1981, Stan took over the ranching operation. His first duty was to retire his dad's good riding mare, "Goldie," an own granddaughter of Pretty Buck. She went into the broodmare band and became the basis for many years of breeding foundation-bred ranch horses.

The Weaver family runs 350 Angus mother cows and 50 registered mares. The operation involves everyone -- wife, Nancy, daughter, KellyAnne, and two sons, David and Daniel. "We raise our horses to be top ranch horses - from there to the arena and show ring. I have always tried to raise horses that are naturally cowy and have a lot of speed, but most of all a good mind that is trainable, " Stan explained. Out of their 50 broodmares, about a half are raised and half are purchased. Stan has concentrated on the lines of Poco Bueno, King, Leo, Peppy San Badger and Blackburn through Pretty Buck. "I also like a little Doc Bar, as well as color in my horses and that is evident in our stallions."

The horses on the Weaver Ranch are used to work cattle in all phases of their operation. To be able to do this in their rocky country, the horses not only must have bone, stamina and conformation, but they must possess the mind and disposition to be able to do whatever is asked of them. "The foundation-bred American Quarter Horse lives up to our expectations," Nancy commented.

Currently the Weavers use four stallions: Poco Ima Doc, a grandson of Poco Bueno, out of a Doc's Prescription mare; Diamonds Cutter, an own son of Doc O Dynamite, out of a Sugar Bars granddaughter; Doc Ima Leo, a grandson of Doc O Lon, out of a Leo bred mare; and a red roan stud that is Sugar Bars on top and out of a Tiny Watch-bred mare.

Weavers market their horses annually on the third Sunday of September at a production sale held in Great Falls, Montana. Stan is proud of the fact that all horses offered for sale, sell without any reserve put on any horse.

"We hold this award in great esteem and are honored to be this year's recipient."

The Stan Weaver Family
(406) 378-2600

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