Page 49 - December 2017

2016 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 winner Duponte was sent to SERF for rehabilitation and went on to become the leading 3-year-old colt of 2017.
Bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, Hotstepper finished 2nd in the 2017 Texas Classic Futurity-G1 and 3rd in the All American Futurity-G1 and is a leading 2-year-old gelding of 2017.
wants to diversify our program. She’s taken some of these mares that are royally bred, but may have never done well on the track due to injury or for whatever reason — she’s taken those genetics and crossed them. We just took six horses, our first crop of yearlings since my father’s death, to a barrel horse sale and I think we came out very good. She was pleased with the feedback we got from people about how good they looked and how good-minded they were. I think that’s a credit to her and Kurt both. They’re trying to do something a little different to get different results and we’re seeing the benefit of it.”
The bottom line is, Tim says, that they
know their horses. “We know everything, good or bad, about our horses,” Kurt agrees. “We’re very hands-on owners. We’re there when they’re born, we’re there when they’re weaned, and we’re there when they’re yearlings. We know how they react to every situation. They’re each individuals and they each have different needs, from feeding to handling to breeding. And being hands-on allows us to make better decisions. That, and our teamwork, has helped us succeed.”
“Tim and Kurt and Larry and I all sit down and really study out this breeding program each year,” Merle says. “It’s not a one-day deal. And
we also couldn’t do this without all our help who have been with us for decades.
“The other thing is,” Merle adds, “it’s wonderful to have someone I can share that with. It’s fun to get to watch the babies now as they’re playing, or to see them born. And to see what we did together.
“One of the things Joe Kirk told me before he died was to live my dreams,” Merle says. “And my dream was to show people that these horses have flawless conformation, and if they’re raised right and have the right minds, they can do just about anything.” And that ability to do anything seems to hold true for all involved with the Fulton Quien Sabe Ranch.
“At the end of the day, whatever discipline they end up in, we’re trying to raise sound, athletic horses with great minds so whoever the buyer is can take those horses and train them to do whatever they want.” — Kurt Harris
SPEEDHORSE, December 2017 47