Standing at just over 15 hands, “Randy” is a shapey gelding with a strong hip. He has been extensively on the ranch from doctoring calves, yearling bulls to dragging calves in the branding pen. He has also been used to pack salt onto the mountain. He is started in the roping pen, you can head/heal or breakaway and is great int he box!He is broke, intern safe and will go all day. “Randy” will be your next “all around” horse.
The Silver Spur is excited to see the 4 Metallic Masterpieces at this years NRCHA Futurity. We wish each competitor the best!!
https://www.quarterhorsenews.com/2020/10/freshman-sires-make-nrcha-snaffle-bit-futurity-debut/
The 6th Annual WRCE Ranch Rodeo is set for July 27th at 3pm at the Encampment/Riverside Lions Club Arena. Free Admission
We were honored to have had President Laurie Nichols and her incredible staff from the University of Wyoming join us at the Ranch for lunch last week. It’s refreshing and exciting to see a true vision for the University and pride in our fantastic state.
Congrats to JOD Ranch and Brown Mill ranch for punching their ticket to the WRCA Finals in Amarillo!Cash Chamberlain from JOD/Brown Mill ranches was the top hand from this years rodeo.
Top Horse award went to SS One Eyed Pepto “Playboy” from Silver Spur Ranches and ridden by Buck Marsh- Nebraska Division of the Silver Spur Ranches team
JOD/Brown Mill – 2018 Winners of the North Platte Ranch Rodeo
“Playboy” ridden by Buck Marsh of the Silver Spur- Nebraska Division takes home Top Horse
The Upper North Platte Ranch Rodeo is set for July 21st, 2018. this years rodeo is scheduled for 3pm at the Encampment/Riverside Arena.
14 teams will compete in Ranch Bronc Riding, Trailer Loading, Wild Cow Milking, Stray Gathering and Team Sorting.
Contact Connie at 307 327 5550 cturner@spurranches.com for more information
Silver Spur Ranches has been a driving force in the U.S. beef industry for many years. They have operations in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. In the last 10 years, Silver Spur has been amongst the top ten largest commercial cattle operations in the United States. Within their four state locations, Wyoming is primarily the commercial cow/calf operation and Colorado is known for the seedstock operation. They also have feedlot locations in Nebraska. Silver Spur is owned by John and Leslie Malone. It takes an army to run this massive cattle operation. Among this army Thad York is the General Manager of the operation and is located in Encampment, Wyoming while Decky Spiller is in charge of the cattle marketing and he is located in the Kiowa Creek Division in Colorado.
There are about 16,000 head of cattle that run through the four branches of Silver Spur, of those 16,000 about 1,100 head of cattle are the registered seedstock. The ranch is fairly new to the Red Angus breed bringing them into their herd about 10 years ago and really amping up their numbers in the last six years. Although registered cattle are just a small part of this large operation they are of high importance to the success that the ranch reaches to achieve through a genetic standpoint. The northern divisions of Silver Spur run at a high altitude, anywhere from about 6,500 feet and 10,000 feet, so they need cattle that can handle and adapt to such conditions. This is why they decided getting into the Red Angus industry would be a great asset to their production herd. As a breed, they have huge potential to be thrifty and efficient mother cows. They have also brought a lot of changes to Silver Spurs cattle herd in a short amount of time.
Silver Spur Ranches has had a lot of success on the showring side of the beef industry. They have been exhibiting at the National Western for the last eight years with the Red Angus and they have also attended off and on with Charolais since around the 50’s and 60’s. Their success at the National Western includes Reserve Champion Pen Red Angus Bulls in 2016. When asked what is significant about the NWSS, Decky Spiller stated “A big part of Silver Spur is maintaining a strong family value. We value getting to see other ranches and seeing other families raising their children in this industry. The National Western also allows us to provide a front end showcase to the public of our top genetic offerings.” They will be exhibiting on the Hill and the yards this year.
The beef industry is the heart and soul of Silver Spur and they work to provide not only top genetics for other breeds but on the feedlot side they work in a vertically integrated beef production business. They strive to sell beef on the rail as an all-natural product for their consumers. Silver Spur is very passionate about the beef industry from the showring to the feedlot they put their pride in providing the best for their customers.
https://www.aqha.com/news/2017/june/06292017-zoetis-aqha-best-remuda-award/
To honor the contributions ranch horses have made to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse, the American Quarter Horse Association and AQHA Corporate Partner Zoetis are proud to announce Silver Spur Operating Co., an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, as the recipient of the 2017 Zoetis AQHA Best Remuda Award.
Silver Spur encompasses historic ranches in four states, and a rich and diverse cattle and equine operation. Owned by Silver Spur Land and Cattle LLC and managed by Thad York, the Silver Spur operates in Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska and Colorado. The original Silver Spur ranch at Encampment, Wyoming, was homesteaded in 1879 by Albert H. Huston. After more than 130 years, the operation grew to include four Wyoming ranches, four Colorado ranches, the historic TO and Bell Ranches in New Mexico, and feedlot and farming operations in Nebraska.
The Bell Ranch has an extensive history with AQHA. An AQHA Legacy Breeder of more than 50 years, it was managed in the 1930s by Albert K. Mitchell, one of AQHA’s founders and the Association’s only four-term president.
Silver Spur’s cattle program is the ninth-largest commercial cattle operation in the United States, it runs 15,000 mother cows. The family oriented operation raises quality American Quarter Horses to provide for its cowboys day-to-day needs. The ranches have more than 200 horses, about half of which are mares. The mares are ridden and worked before they graduate to the broodmare band.
“We strive to produce big-boned, solid-bodied horses that will hold up to the long-term rigorous demands of a working ranch horse, as well as possessing the athletic ability and cow sense found in a top-notch performance horse,” said York. “By crossing the steadfast and proven lines of yesterday with the progressive cow breeding of today, we breed quality horses that not only shine in the show pen but contribute to the success and livelihood of the ranch.”
The ranch has bred horses such as Versatility Ranch Horse world champion SS Hey One Eye and performers such as SS One Eyed N Style, Penny For Your Thots, SS Two Eyed Annie and SS One Eyed Dualer. The ranch stood the WR This Cats Smart stallion WR One Eyed Jack for several seasons until the horse’s untimely death. The operation’s newest herd sires are Metallic Masterpiece, a son of Metallic Cat with performance earnings exceeding $73,000, and the addition of Light My Dynamite, a son of CD Lights.
The ranch is involved with many outreach projects, including the Colorado State University Legends of Ranching Sale, assisting with youth group fundraisers and helping with community improvement projects. Silver Spur also offers internships for college students interested in agriculture.
“As stewards of the land, we make every effort to preserve the traditions of yesterday as we forge ahead using new and progressive approaches in both our cattle and equine enterprises,” York said. “We strive to raise cattle and horses of the highest caliber while working diligently to pass on our values, faith, importance of family and our love for agriculture to future generations.”
The Zoetis AQHA Best Remuda Award began in 1992 and has since recognized outstanding ranches for raising American Quarter Horses, an important tool of their trade. Any ranch that has five or more American Quarter Horse mares used to produce horses for ranch work and is an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder is eligible for this award. The award will be formally presented to Silver Spur Operating Co. during the 2017 Working Ranch Cowboy’s Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo, November 9-12 in Amarillo. Silver Spur Operating Co. will also be recognized during the 2018 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in Phoenix and at the 2018 AQHA Convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
The ranch will be featured in the Fall Ranch Horse Journal and the November issue of America’s Horse. Subscribe to AQHA’s Ranch Horse Journal or read the digital edition for free at www.aqha.com/magazines.
To honor the contributions ranch horses have made to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse, the American Quarter Horse Association and AQHA Corporate Partner Zoetis are proud to announce Silver Spur Operating Co., an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, as the recipient of the 2017 Zoetis AQHA Best Remuda Award.
Silver Spur encompasses historic ranches in four states, and a rich and diverse cattle and equine operation. Owned by Silver Spur Land and Cattle LLC and managed by Thad York, the Silver Spur operates in Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska and Colorado. The original Silver Spur ranch at Encampment, Wyoming, was homesteaded in 1879 by Albert H. Huston. After more than 130 years, the operation grew to include four Wyoming ranches, four Colorado ranches, the historic TO and Bell Ranches in New Mexico, and feedlot and farming operations in Nebraska.
The Bell Ranch has an extensive history with AQHA. An AQHA Legacy Breeder of more than 50 years, it was managed in the 1930s by Albert K. Mitchell, one of AQHA’s founders and the Association’s only four-term president.
Silver Spur’s cattle program is the ninth-largest commercial cattle operation in the United States, it runs 15,000 mother cows. The family oriented operation raises quality American Quarter Horses to provide for its cowboys day-to-day needs. The ranches have more than 200 horses, about half of which are mares. The mares are ridden and worked before they graduate to the broodmare band.
“We strive to produce big-boned, solid-bodied horses that will hold up to the long-term rigorous demands of a working ranch horse, as well as possessing the athletic ability and cow sense found in a top-notch performance horse,” said York. “By crossing the steadfast and proven lines of yesterday with the progressive cow breeding of today, we breed quality horses that not only shine in the show pen but contribute to the success and livelihood of the ranch.”
The ranch has bred horses such as Versatility Ranch Horse world champion SS Hey One Eye and performers such as SS One Eyed N Style, Penny For Your Thots, SS Two Eyed Annie and SS One Eyed Dualer. The ranch stood the WR This Cats Smart stallion WR One Eyed Jack for several seasons until the horse’s untimely death. The operation’s newest herd sires are Metallic Masterpiece, a son of Metallic Cat with performance earnings exceeding $73,000, and the addition of Light My Dynamite, a son of CD Lights.
The ranch is involved with many outreach projects, including the Colorado State University Legends of Ranching Sale, assisting with youth group fundraisers and helping with community improvement projects. Silver Spur also offers internships for college students interested in agriculture.
“As stewards of the land, we make every effort to preserve the traditions of yesterday as we forge ahead using new and progressive approaches in both our cattle and equine enterprises,” York said. “We strive to raise cattle and horses of the highest caliber while working diligently to pass on our values, faith, importance of family and our love for agriculture to future generations.”
The Zoetis AQHA Best Remuda Award began in 1992 and has since recognized outstanding ranches for raising American Quarter Horses, an important tool of their trade. Any ranch that has five or more American Quarter Horse mares used to produce horses for ranch work and is an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder is eligible for this award. The award will be formally presented to Silver Spur Operating Co. during the 2017 Working Ranch Cowboy’s Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo, November 9-12 in Amarillo. Silver Spur Operating Co. will also be recognized during the 2018 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in Phoenix and at the 2018 AQHA Convention in Jacksonville, Florida.
The ranch will be featured in the Fall Ranch Horse Journal and the November issue of America’s Horse. Subscribe to AQHA’s Ranch Horse Journal or read the digital edition for free at www.aqha.com/magazines.
Kasen York, son of the Silver Spur Ranches, General Manager Thad York was named the 2017 High School All Around Rookie of Year at this years finals in Gillette. 