6666 Ranch

By the time George Humphreys took over as ranch manager in 1932, only a handful of horses remained, and he considered most of them old or worn out. Determined to someday have the best horses in the country on the ranch, Humphreys began assembling a new herd by purchasing 20 quality broodmares. The first stud horse was a grey named Scooter, a gift from Tom Burnett, Captain Burnett’s only surviving son. Tom had seen the horse, out of a small Oklahoma sorrel racing mare, win a race and believed Humphreys could put him to good use. However, Humphreys’s favorite stallion was the ranch-raised Hollywood Gold (sired by Gold Rushes), born in 1940, who went on to become a prolific influence in the cutting horse industry and brought top prices for breeding.

During Humphreys’ 38-year tenure managing the Four Sixes, he purchased the race-bred stallion Cee Bars (sired by Three Bars) for $6,500. In the first three years, Humphreys used only Four Sixes mares with Cee Bars and the stud’s offspring set many records for both racing and cattle work. Humphreys kept Cee Bars for seven years, then sold the horse for $15,000.

In 1960, the ranch made a formal commitment to develop an equine breeding program that has since grown into an exceptional operation producing world-class American Quarter Horses for ranch work, arena competition, and the racetrack. This dedication led the Sixes to become an AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses and Race Money-Earners and Winners. The ranch was honored with the AQHA Best Remuda Award in 1993 and was later named AQHA Racing Champion Breeder in 2013.

Of the early days in the breeding program, three stallions had the most influence on the industry: Joe Hancock (sired by John Wilkins), Hollywood Gold (sired by Gold Rushes), and Grey Badger II (sired by Midnight), with Cee Bars still being an enormous part of the foundation.

In 1982, Glenn Blodgett, DVM, was hired by Anne Marion as the resident veterinarian and manager of the horse division at the 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, serving until his death in 2022. He was charged with furthering the breeding management program to include the artificial insemination of all ranch mares as well as investing in more ranch stallions which included San Tip (sired by Peppy San) and Mr Rodeo Jack (sired by Two Eyed Jack).

Another key decision during that time was to breed ten 6666 mares to the King Ranch’s legendary stallion, Peppy San Badger, also known as “Little Peppy,” for three consecutive years. That cross produced 30 foals and left a lasting mark on the ranch’s breeding program that is still evident today. Little Peppy’s influence on the Western performance horse industry is reflected through his sons, which have sired earners of more than $121 million, according to Equi-Stat, including Dual Pep and Peptoboonsmal. His daughters have produced more than $45 million and continue to carry on his legacy through the maternal lines of many outstanding performance and ranch horses.

In 1983, Tenino Badger, a son of Peppy San Badger, was purchased from the King Ranch. While he was one of many foundation stallions, his impact on the Four Sixes Ranch breeding program proved significant. When crossed with the matriarch of the ranch’s 99 broodmare band, Natural (sired by Coe Badger II), whose pedigree traces back to some of the original bloodlines Humphreys introduced decades earlier, including Grey Badger II and Cee Bars, the resulting foal, Natural Pick, went on to become one of the ranch’s best broodmares.

In 1998, Natural Pick was bred to Tanquery Gin (sired by Doc O’Lena) and the cross produced Sixes Pick, who was named the American Quarter Horse Association’s first World Champion Versatility Ranch Horse in 2008. The sorrel stallion now stands to the public at the Four Sixes Ranch.

In the early 1990s, Strait Silver (sired by Quiksil Command) was in training with six-time National Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion, Bob Loomis. The gray stallion stood out to Dr. Blodgett for his color, eye appeal, and compatibility with the ranch’s mares. Over time, he became a favorite among breeders like Ray Hunt for producing versatile, good-minded horses that found success in reining, roping, and barrel racing. While no daughters or granddaughters remain on the ranch today, a few geldings are still around and are known as dependable babysitters for the next generation.

During that same time, another stallion, Be Aech Enterprise (sired by Squaw Leo), emerged as a popular outcross. In 1991, the decision was made to breed the renowned mare, Natural, to his son, Surprise Enterprise, resulting in Natural Enterprise. His show career included a win at the 1995 Southwest Reining Horse Association Open Futurity with Craig Johnson, a top 10 finish at the 1996 AQHA World Junior Reining with Tim McQuay, and a Reserve Championship at the 1997 Fort Worth Stock Show in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Open. His addition to the stallion lineup proved valuable for years, producing a number of standout geldings and broodmares. With the advancement of frozen semen, a few mares are still bred each year for his last owner of Natural Enterprise, Jerry Hodge.