Wind your way through the beautiful Horse Country of North Texas. Texas is the nation's number ONE horse state with more than 1 million horses. Famous for the Quarter Horse, Texas also offers an exciting variety of other horse breeds and many different horse disciplines.
Horses have played a vital role in every facet of human and societal development for the last 5,000 years. They have served farms and ranches around the globe in agriculture and hunting. They provided the fastest and most reliable form of transportation until a mere 150 years ago! They brought the world closer together by facilitating the exchange of information and knowledge between cultures. Horses carried warriors into battle, kings to their thrones, and conquerors into new lands. In this modern era, horses are still mounted for leisure, competitive sport and recreation, hunting, and myriad other reasons. Bred to be the very best performers in specific disciplines and styles, horses provide entertainment, companionship, and competition to thrill humans throughout the world.
The 912 square miles of lush Denton County are located just northeast of Fort Worth and extend almost to the Red River at the Oklahoma State line. Known as "Horse Country USA", the area is populated with more than 300 farms and ranches, many of which are breeding and training facilities. There are an estimated 25,000 horses in Denton County. Horse sales in Denton County during 2004 topped $20 million. Boarding fees alone were more than $11 million. The horse industry represents the number one economic impact in agriculture for Denton County.
Attracted to the area's mild winters, horse farms and professional horsemen began moving into Denton County in the 1970s, settling primarily in the north and east part of the county where the sandy loam soil is perfect for working horses year-round. This area is now a national equine trading center.
The modern horse market has changed its approach to business with farms specializing in narrowly defined disciplines. There are farms that specialize in halter horses, pleasure horses, cutting horses, reining, jumpers, hunters and more. So, a seeker in the market for a halter horse goes directly to a halter farm, simplifying and streamlining his search by quality, breed and discipline. The farms specialize in breeds such as Quarter horses, Thoroughbreds, Paints, Andalusian and more. Along your driving tour you will see miles of pipe and rail fencing, beautiful pastures, impressive barns and, of course, lots of horses.
The farms on this tour are all working farms. We strongly suggest you exercise the courtesy commonly practiced here in horse country. We call it "Heads Up". Horse farms ask that visitors call first to give the "Heads Up" that they plan to visit. In fact, a "Heads Up" is appreciated even if you only plan to drive through a farm on its private roads. Unless gate signage specifically invites drop-in visitors, please refrain from entering private driveways and stick to the main roads. This ensures safety for our visitors, our horses, and a positive visitor experience for everyone. 
Welcome to Horse Country of North Texas!
Trail begins here, in Fort Worth
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
1720 Gendy Street, (817) 336-4475
Will Rogers Memorial Center
3401 W. Lancaster Ave., (817) 392-7469
Amon Carter Museum
3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., (817) 738-1933
National Cutting Horse Association
260 Bailey Ave., (817) 244-6188
Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art
309 Main Street, (817) 332-6554
Stockyards National Historic District
130 E. Exchange Ave., (817) 624-4741
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
128 E. Exchange Ave., (817) 626-7131
Billy Bob's Texas
2520 Rodeo Plaza, (817) 624-7117
American Paint Horse Association
2800 Meacham Blvd., (817) 834-2742
Forging north, into Denton
From Fort Worth heading north on I-35W,
Turn east/right on F.M. 1171
Flower Mound Equestrian Center
7950 F.M. 1171/Cross Timbers
Turn north/left on Red Rock/Porter Rd.
Diamond C Ranch
830 Witherspoon Way (@ corner of Porter Rd.)
Turn east/right on Broome Rd.
Turn north/left on McMakin Rd.
Continue straight onto F.M.407
Curve west / left to continue on F.M. 407 W
Stargate Sport Horses
2700 FM 407 E.
Saddle Brook Equestrian Center
1207 Saddlebrook Way (@ Corner of FM 407 E)
Continue on F.M. 407 across U.S. 377
Turn north/right Stonecrest
Turn west/left on Sam Davis Rd. (gravel rd.)
Fossil Gate Farms
816 Sam Davis Rd.
Return to Stonecrest and turn north/left to U.S. 377.
Turn north/left on U.S. 377
Turn east/right on Denton St. which turns into Hickory Hill Rd.
(Many wonderful small ranchettes are along this route.)
Turn north/left on F.M. 1830, continuing on to U.S. 377.
Continue north on U.S. 377/Fort Worth Dr./Carroll Blvd. through Denton to Sherman Dr.
Turn north/right on Sherman Dr./F.M. 428
Top of the trail, in Pilot Point
Green Valley Ranch
3952 PR 2718--Located off of F.M. 428, east side
Continue straight on F.M. 428 to Aubrey. Keep straight on F.M. 3524/North Sherman Dr. to U.S. 377
Turn north/left on U.S. 377
Turn west/left on St. Johns Rd. (sign on left side only)
Turn north/right on Oak Creek Dr.
Edgewood Lanning Ranch
9979 Oak Creek Dr.
Turn south/right on Massey Rd.
Turn west/right on St. Johns Rd.
Reata Ranch
10875 St. Johns Rd.
Northwind Ranch
11636 St. Johns Rd.
Continue straight on St Johns Rd. until it dead-ends into F.M. 455. Turn east/right on F.M. 455
Horizon Ranch and Briggs Show Horses
8239 F.M. 455
Hidden Valley Thoroughbreds
8529 Hub Clark Rd. @ F.M. 455
Valor Farm
9599 F.M. 455
To visit Downtown Pilot Point,
turn north/left on U.S. 377 for .5 miles.
To continue the Horse Country Tour, return south on U.S. 377.
Tommy Manion Ranch
10300 U.S. 377
Simons Show Horses
17027 Friendship Rd..
Chip Knost
U.S. 377 across from St. Johns Rd.
Turn east/left on Friendship Rd.
Curve around to left until reaching F.M. 2931
Steve Heckaman Quarter Horses
11411 Friendship Rd.
Turn south/right on F.M. 2931
Turn west/right on Osborn Rd.
Turner Ranch
172 Osborn Rd.
JEH Stallion Station
Osborn Rd. and also located at 8254 FM 1385
Turn south/left on Cole Rd.
Venture Farms
1720 Venture Farm Rd. (corner of Cole & Venture Farm Rd.)
Turn south/left on U.S. 377
Turn east/left on Black Jack Rd.
Circle Y Ranch
Corner of U.S. 377 and Black Jack Rd.
Turn north/left on F.M 2931
Mandolynn Hill Farms
8701 FM 2931
Return south/right on F. M. 2931
Turn west/right on F.M. 428/Spring Hill Rd.
Roger Daly
1936 Springhill Rd./F.M. 428
Winterhaven
10390 Winterhaven Ranch (located on Springhill Rd.)
Clark Rassi Quarter Horses
1019 Springhill Rd.
Return to U.S. Hwy. 377
FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR TOUR
Fort Worth
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit. The museum features interactive exhibits, fascinating artifacts, a traveling exhibit gallery, a multi-purpose theater, and a wild-west-show-themed gift shop. www.cowgirl.net
Will Rogers Memorial Center
Located in the heart of Fort Worth¹s Cultural District, the center includes Will Rogers Coliseum, Auditorium, Equestrian Center and Amon G. Carter Exhibits Building. The entire Will Rogers Memorial Center covers 85 acres.
The center¹s convenient location attracts in excess of two million people a year. This popularity is due to its ability to facilitate an extensive variety of cultural, equestrian and recreational events. The Will Rogers Equestrian Center opened in 1988 and has become known and recognized as a world-class center with more than 100,000 horses having participated in equestrian events. It is the home of the annual Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) competition, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show and more.
www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents
Amon Carter Museum
The Amon Carter Museum opened in January 1961 to house the collection of western art amassed by Fort Worth publisher and philanthropist Amon G. Carter, Sr. (1879-1955). Expanding on Carter's original collection of 400 paintings, drawings, and works of sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell‹the single most important collection of works by these artists‹the museum now encompasses a wide range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture, as well as photographs from the early days of the medium to the present. www.cartermuseum.org
National Cutting Horse Association
The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 16,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $35 million in prize money awarded. Visitors are welcome to visit the offices on Bailey Avenue where many pictures and bronzes of champion horses are housed. www.nchacutting.com
Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art
Located downtown in Sundance Square, this free museum features the incredible works of the two most celebrated artists of the American West: Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. There is also an excellent museum shop where you will find prints, postcards, and books. www.sidrmuseum.org
Stockyards National Historic District
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Stockyards is a great place to celebrate the romance and mystique of the American West. See the Fort Worth Herd, the world¹s only twice daily cattle drive, along Exchange Avenue. The Stockyards covers 125 acres ‹ 15 square blocks of tradition, nightlife, and family fun. www.fortworthstockyards.org
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the cowboys and cowgirls of the Lone Star State and also features the Sterquell Wagon Collection, with more than 60 wagons, carriages, and sleighs that have been beautifully restored. www.texascowboyhalloffame.com
Billy Bob's Texas
Located in the Historic Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas is the world's largest honky-tonk boasting its own indoor rodeo arena for professional bull riding, a Texas-size dance floor, dozens of bar stations, restaurants, arcade games, a Wall of Fame with celebrity handprints, and a general store. Superstar musical acts perform every Friday and Saturday night. www.billybobstexas.com
American Paint Horse Association
If you love horses, be sure to visit the international headquarters of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) at 2800 Meacham Boulevard in Fort Worth. One of the fastest-growing and most popular horse breed organizations in the world, APHA registers new horses at a rate of more than 40,000 every year. In the front of the building, view the larger-than-life-size bronze, which depicts a Paint Horse stallion pushing along a band of two mares and a foal. Inside, take a free tour, view some beautiful Paint Horse artwork and shop at the APHA General Store. www.apha.com
Denton
Flower Mound Equestrian Center
The Flower Mound Equestrian Center is a training facility for riders and horses specializing in Hunter/Jumpers and Dressage. The training is headed by Laura Hightower, who has taken abused and behavioral problem horses and turned them into champions and reserve champion horses. Further, many of Laura Hightower's students have competed nationally with great success and have also had the opportunity to attend SMU on scholarships based on their riding skills. In 2005, the Flower Mound Equestrian Center won first place in the Battle of the Barns.
Diamond C Ranch
Established in 1996, this Quarter Horse ranch is a broodmare operation that focuses on imprinting foals and ground training young horses with cutting pedigrees. The farm also boasts Morgan driving horses and horse drawn equipment, horseshoe art, leather work and custom metal work.
Stargate Sport Horses
Established in 2002 this facility specializes in Dutch Warmbloods and Hanoverians. Their main focuses are the disciplines of dressage and jumpers and serving as a breeding facility. Stargate Sport Horses is the home of Calimero, a Grand Prix Dressage Stallion.
Saddle Brook Equestrian Center
The Saddle Brook Equestrian Center is easily recognizable by the landmark statue ³Noble Champions² at the front entrance. This residential community represents a growing trend towards urban horse lovers to continue their equestrian lifestyle and still live in a city environment by offering community stables, paddocks and pasture area for residents and their horses.
Fossil Gate Farms
This beautiful farm owned by Gary and Linda Gordon was established in 1976 and specializes in Quarter and Paint Halter horses. This ranch boasts Sock Broker, the American Paint Horse Association¹s all-time leading sire of Paint Halter Horses and two-time Reserve World Champion. Also in residence is Im Tee Totally Cool, AQHA two-time World Champion at halter and sire of several world champion foals. Another famous horse, My Yella Fella, is a four time world champion at halter in both AQHA and PBHA. He is also one of today¹s leading sires for AQHA Halter Horses. Fossil Gate Farms was the #1 breeder of Halter Horses for the APHA in 2004.
Green Valley Ranch
Established in 1999, this ranch specializes in Reining Quarter Horses. It is the home of Tom McCutcheon¹s reining horses including Lil Ruf Peppy, one of the top 10 leading sires of reining horses. Other famous Quarter horses among many that have hailed from this spread are Wimpys Little Step, NRHA Futurity Champion and All American Quarterhorse Congress Futurity Champion; Smart Starbuck and Major Vaquero, sires of finalists in both NRHA Derby, and Futurity.
Other farms/ranches to visit in
Southern Denton County
Riding Unlimited, Inc.
9168 T.N. Skiles‹Just north of F.M. 2449 off of F.M. 156
Ponder, TX 76259
Founded in 1990, Riding Unlimited provides safe and affordable therapeutic horseback riding instruction for physically, mentally and emotionally disabled individuals in the North Texas Region. Riding Unlimited is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Premier Accredited Center. Riding Unlimited participants range in age from 2 to senior adults. Visitors welcome.
Chapel Creek Ranch (Medievel Times)
5937 F.M. 455 West, Sanger, TX
Established in 1992, this ranch raises Andalusians for all 9 of the Medieval Times and Tournament Restaurant locations throughout the United States. The horses and performers are taught Dressage, Games and Jousting.
Pilot Point
Edgewood Lanning Ranch
Established in 1997, Edgewood Lanning, Inc., is owned and operated by Bill and Ann Lanning and has been one of the premier Quarter Horse Ranches in the industry for 18 years. Through their first rate promotion and breeding program, the famous Mr. Conclusion became the all-time leading sire of AQHA as well as the World and Reserve World Champion of AQHYA, a record that will likely never be equaled by any other stallion. They offer a full range of services which include breeding, foaling, sales, fitting show prospects and brood mares for sale, and year-round mare care. Visitors are always welcome at the ranch.
Reata Ranch
These gorgeous acres are home to some of the finest Quarter Horses in the area. Reata Ranch specializes in Halter Quarter Horses. Their most famous claim to fame is Coolest, an AQHA leading sire. Coolest has sired more than 30 World and Reserve World Champions.
Hidden Valley Thoroughbreds
The horse, Thomas Jo, was bred and raised at Hidden Valley and in 1998 finished 3rd at the Belmont, which is the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown Races for Thoroughbreds. Later on that year, Thomas Jo was named Horse of the Year in Texas. Hidden Valley is a working Thoroughbred ranch owned by Larry and Mary Jo Smith. This ranch produces Thoroughbred babies that are sold as yearlings (2-year olds) or they are raced by Hidden Valley under the name of L.T. Smith Enterprises. Hidden Valley maintains an average horse population of 50, which consists of brood mares, weanlings, yearlings and racehorses.
Valor Farm
Valor Farm is owned by Clarence Scharbauer, a former president of the American Quarter Horse Association. Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. has been prominent in the industry for over 40 years and is a member of the breed's Hall of Fame. Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, who passed away in 2005, owned racehorses from a very young age. She learned much about the industry from her father, Fred Turner, who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby with Tomy Lee. With the goal of winning another Kentucky Derby, the Scharbauers began buying Thoroughbred yearlings in 1984. By 1987, Dorothy and daughter Pam had captured the roses with the great Alysheba, who became the all-time leading earner and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1991, the Scharbauers purchased the 393 acres on which Valor Farm sits and the buildings and fences were completed in just over two years. Currently the stallions at Valor Farm include; Wimbledon (winner of the 2004 Louisiana Derby), Gold Regent, Magic Cat, Hadif, and Gold Legend (sire of Heritage of Gold, winner of nearly $2.4 million). Valor Farm has also stood notable sires such as Marfa, winner of the 1983 Santa Anita Derby. Their stallions rank among the leading Texas and national sires each year.
Tommy Manion Ranch
Established in 1979, this ranch specializes in cutting Quarter horses. This spread is home of ³Smart Little Lena², NCHA Triple Crown Champion and all-time leading cutting sire. It is also home to ³Smooth as a Cat², the 2005 NCHA Horse of the Year winning in excess of $500,000.
Chip Knost
Chip Knost has shown 41 AQHA World Champions. The ranch is home to CK Kid and the well-known He¹s Tee Totally Cool.
Steve Heckaman Quarter Horses-
This ranch offers breeding, raising, conditioning and training of fine pleasure horses. The ranch is home to Potential Investment, the Champion and Reserve Champion at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Turner Ranch
Ted Turner is known as a trainer. To date he has trained and shown more than 57 AQHA World Champions, 45 Paint Horse World Champions and 125 Appaloosa Horse World Champions.
JEH Stallion Station
Owned by Jim and Marilyn Helzer and established in 1993, this racing farm specializes in Quarter and Thoroughbred racing horses. Some of the famous horses at JEH Stallion Station are Leaving Memories, This Snow is Royal, Heza Fast Man, Corona For Me, Feature Mr. Jess, Tres Seis, Mighty Invictus, Oak Tree Special, Marked Tree, Gen Stormin' Norman, and Touch Tone. www.jehstallionstation.com
Venture Farms
Established in 1995, this farm boasts Arabians and Saddlebreds that specialize in English and Western Pleasure. Venture Farms¹ premier broodmare, The Small Town Blues, has had 18 foals who have won 16 National Championships, 11 Reserve Championships and 29 top 10 awards.
Circle Y Ranch
Established in 1980 and owned by Penny Youngblood, this farm has Quarter horses that specialize in reining and cutting disciplines.
Mandolynn Hill Farms
Established in 1987 and owned by Michelle Morgan, this farm focuses on Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Mandolynn Hill Farm is a unique farm that has been successful in many areas for years. The goal at Mandolynn Hill Farm is to produce correct, pretty, athletic horses that have futures in many venues. Mandolynn Hill has won Farm of the Year and many other awards. This farm is a one-stop center for horse necessities. Mandolynn Hill Farms welcomes visitors.
Roger Daly
Established in 1975, Roger Daly primarily works with Quarter and Thoroughbred horses. Roger Daly prepared for sale and sold the filly "Falling In Love Again", just prior to her winning the Million Dollar American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in 1998. Daly sale preps about 300 horses for major sales and breaks about 100 horses per year.
Key to Equine Industry Speak
AHC-Appaloosa Horse Club
APHA-American Paint Horse Association
AQHA-American Quarter Horse Association
AQHYA-American Quarter Horse
Youth Association
NARHA-North American Riding for the
Handicapped Association
NCHA-National Cutting Horse Association
NRHA-National Reining Horse Association
PHBA-Palomino Horse Breeders Association