1/20/09 Big horses for big people

It is a known fact that Americans are bigger today than in our Grandparents era so to compensate for our increasing mass many dude ranches are requesting larger horses. I'm Jeff Keane, stay tuned and I'll be back with more on an Oregon ranch that has found their niche raising horses for this "growing" market. As the popularity of guest ranches and resort riding grows so does the demand for horses to carry large guests. Here is Susan Allen with the story. Jeff, big horses for big people is no longer a niche market, it is a trend. The Whitehorse Ranch in Southeastern Oregon whose clients include a host of Central Oregon's resorts, are now raising quarter horses crossed with a variety of Draft breeds to create the "ultimate" recreational mount, one able to handle first time riders. These are the folks that have fly fished or golfed in the morning, rafted mid day and picture themselves quite the cowboy for the evening ride. Thus their guest horse needs to be unflappable and able to respond to it's riders often confusing clues. The quarter draft crosses create a smart steady big horse that still walks out briskly. If you looked over the herd at the Whitehorse ranch you would see an array of paints, grays, palominos etc because each guest has their own idea of what is beautiful and Dude ranches love colorful brochures. Guest horses deserve recognition they are true workhorses with a "big" job, working seven days a week through summer and fall for over four hours every day. I'm Jeff Keane.