Tequesquite Receives AQHA Honor
State University with a degree in Animal Science, Lyn returned to the ranch to manage the ranch horse breeding program and remuda. “We by SHARON NIEDERMAN had about 125 head stablished in 1896 in Albert, NM, of horses in one of the Tequesquite Ranch was proud to the canyons and 50 receive the 75-year breeders award were broodmares from the American Quarter Horse Associa- with yearlings and tion. The Tequesquite Ranch is known for babies at their side. its venerable history as a fifth generation It was an awesome family ranch as well as its contributions sight.” After talking Horses make good kids. Here is a picture taken circa 1983 of Tanner, to the cattle and horse industries in New with her brothers, Ashleigh, Lisa & Erin Mitchell on ranch raised geldings. Kids are the Mexico. Siblings Tom and Terry Mitchell Lyn states, “My first main priority on our outfit! and Lyn Ray own the ranch and are all task was to reduce actively involved in the ranch manage- the herd to a manageable size.” After selec- in the early days the mare’s job was to proment. As manager of the Quarter Horse tive culling based on soundness, confor- duce ranch horses in the pasture without Division on the ranch, Lyn was humbled mation, and the history of offspring, the many frills. Not much has changed in this and honored to receive this award that ranch kept 20 broodmares out of foun- philosophy. The mares are pasture bred represents three generations of breeders dation ranch bloodlines. “Anything with and colts are weaned in the fall. Lyn says, of American Quarter horses on the ranch. a bad disposition was sold,” she says, “I “Reproductive efficiency and mothering The award, given to only 16 ranches don’t put up with it. In addition, the ranch ability are critical in the mare herd.” in the U.S., is also an acknowledgment of horses have to be eye appealing. It costs Lyn met her husband, Billy Ray, on a Lyn’s lifetime devotion to the ranch and just as much to feed a gentle-minded, blind date and after a short romance they the breed. A fifth-generation member of attractive horse as a bad one.” were married in 1993 on the ranch. Their The ranch broodmares can be traced first daughter, Barrett, was born in 1995. the family, Lyn has always had an inborn fondness for horses since she was a little back to 1932 and the original mares used After a period of drought in the late ‘90s, girl. “My grandfather, Albert K. Mitchell, a by Albert K. Mitchell. The brood mare band many changes began to happen with ownfounder and past president of the American now consists of 10 mares and two stallions, ers having to take off-ranch jobs. Lyn chose Quarter Horse Association, was one of my what Lyn considers a manageable size. In to begin teaching Vocational Agriculture best friends and at Mosquero Schools shortly hero. Since I was the after her second daughyoungest of the famter, Sherrie, was born in ily, I would go with 1999. In order to obtain a him to look at the teaching certification, she horses and listen to earned her Master’s Degree him talk about the in Vocational Education in good and bad things 2004 from NMSU. Lyn now in each of them. teaches full time Vocational Since I was schooled Agriculture, Science, and on the ranch, my Language Arts. She is proud father, Albert J. to have taught and been the Mitchell, would let FFA advisor for all six of her me tag along with nieces and nephews, along him to work on the with both of her children. weekends and after Billy chose a career in the school. Many of motion picture industry in the ranch cowboys New Mexico in transportawould take me along tion. to help work cows The ranch horse program and calves. Weaning is very much a family opercolts was always my ation as Lyn continues to favorite time of the work with her husband, Billy year.” Ray, and their two daughFollowing gradters, Barrett and Sherrie. uation in 1990 Both of their daughters are from New Mexico part of the sixth generation to live on the ranch and Lyn Ray & Teques Dakota
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SEPTEMBER 2015