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Oak Tree Special
Heza Fast Dash
Game Patriot
Game Patriot stood his first year, and every year since, at Robicheaux Ranch.
partners decided to sell the property. During this time, Jude managed the stallion Streakin La Jolla, both at Shoestring and later at L-J Farms.
Meanwhile, Ryan was getting into the year- ling prep business and leased the old Shoestring property. Eventually, Jude and Regina wanted to move back home, and they again bought the property, establishing it as Robicheaux Ranch in late 1999. Over the years, they’ve added to the size, expanding to its current 100 acres.
Game Patriot was one of the first stallions to stand at Robicheaux, along with Calyx, Some Dasher, and Jess Special.
Ryan attended LSU, where he studied ani- mal science in the hopes of going to veterinary school. But the family business eventually lured him back instead.
“I think it’s probably for the best,” said Jude. “I think he enjoys this more. He likes interact- ing with the clients and fitting horses. He takes a lot of pride in it.”
Regina also speaks proudly of their son’s abilities, especially when it comes to making every horse look its best.
“He thinks all of the racehorses and sale horses have to look like halter horses,” she said. “He likes every horse to be well fit and taken care of. He presents every horse very well.”
Ryan sale-preps about 150 horses each
year. Though he takes most of them to the Louisiana sale, Robicheaux also has consign- ments at Heritage Place, Ruidoso, and in Texas. It makes sense to sell most of the horses in Louisiana because of the lucrative incentives the state offers.
“If you breed your mare to a stud in Louisiana and you keep your mare there from conception to birth, you get 25% of what that foal earns in breeders’ awards,” said Ryan.
Because of the casino money in Louisiana, purses are healthy. The 2012 LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1 offered a $1 million purse,
and the LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1 grossed
The Robicheaux Family: Jude’s daughter Kayan; Ryan, holding Reese & his oldest daughter Rhylan; Ryan’s wife Danielle; and Regina & Jude (in front)
Jet Black Patriot
38 SPEEDHORSE, March 8, 2013
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Rhodes Gallery
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