Page 87 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

© King Ranch
The King Ranch Today
The King Ranch has continued since 1853
by meeting the challenges presented them. While continuing their beef cattle and Quarter Horse programs, the King Ranch also developed a diversified farming operation. The King Ranch has become a leading producer in cotton, milo, citrus and sod grass on their Texas and Florida farms.
The King Ranch horse program is under the direction of James Clement III. James, a sixth generation King descendant, traces his Kleberg linage to Henrietta Kleberg, a daughter of Robert and Alice Kleberg Sr. Henrietta’s daughter Ida Larkin married Jim Clement and Jim ran the ranch from 1974 to 1987. Their son James Clement Jr. is the current King Ranch Chairman of the Board.
James Clement III started like many of the King descendants as a boy working on the ranch during the summer. After college, he did some internships on ranches in Australia and Florida. He then spent 10 years in the Marine Corps. James returned to the ranch about five years ago to work with Steve Knudsen, the horse manager. When Knudsen retired in 2015 after 41 years on the ranch, James was named the horse manager.
When you listen to James, the history of
the ranch is on his mind and he is working to maintain that heritage and its success. The ranch is currently standing three stallions to the public at 6666’s Ranch in Guthie, Texas. The stallions are Kineños Moon, Marsala Red and The Boon.
Kineños Moon is an eighth generation Old Sorrel bred stallion. Marsala Red is a ninth generation bred Old Sorrel stallion. The Boon
is the latest addition to the King Ranch stallion roster and he is an eighth generation Old Sorrel stallion. These three stallions represent the ranch’s commitment to carry on with outstanding ranch horses that can compete not only in cutting but also in reining and working cow horse.
James explained his dedication to the ranch and its history this way, “It is important for me to stress that just because I am taking over doesn’t mean I am changing what has worked for us. Kineños Moon is a great example of that.”
Kineños Moon carries the blood of Old Sorrel and the Thoroughbred program. He is by Ritas Sweet Badger by Fannin Sugar. Ritas Sweet Badger is out of Little Peppys Rita by Peppy San Badger, who carries the blood of Old Sorrel through Mr San Peppy. The dam of Little Peppys Rita, La Maria Rita, is a King Ranch bred mare that is a granddaughter of Hired Hand II by Hired Hand by Old Sorrel. La Maria Rita is out of La Rita Maria by Ranchero, a son of Old Sorrel.
The dam of Kineños Moon is Lil Badgers Moon by Peppy San Badger. The dam of Lil Badgers Moon is Ima Moon Jet by Nonstop Jet by Jet Deck, a grandson of Top Deck. The dam of Nonstop Jet
is Princess Dial by Johnny Dial by Depth Charge. The dam of Ima Moon Jet is Adalena Moon by Top Moon, a grandson of Top Deck.
Main House at King Ranch
When I asked about the bottom side of the pedigree of Kineños Moon, James responded, “That bottom side you are referring to came from some trades in the 80’s when we got some mares from the Top Deck line through sires like Easy Jet and crossed them back
on some of those King Ranch foundation bloodlines. We have a four-year-old stud that has the same second dam. They make great cow horses.”
The King Ranch website for Kineños
Moon tells us that his dam, “Lil Badgers Moon produced well built, fast, ranch horses for the King Ranch for 15 years.” James added that
the bottom side of Kineños Moon’s pedigree is very attractive to barrel racers, and he has drawn some attention from barrel horse breeders.
The King Ranch is continuing to breed good ranch horses with a new emphasis on all around performance. They are not actively involved in the racehorse business, but they still emphasize the need for speed in their horses.
So, when I asked if the King Ranch would be breeding to some of today’s speed bloodlines, James responded, “It is tempting, and I am not going to say absolutely no because we are always looking for speed.”
You can be sure if they do, it will be a horse with ties to the King Ranch’s influence on Quarter Horse racing. There’s a lot of them out there to pick from.
SPEEDHORSE, April 2018 85