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Passion for horses leads to business dream
By Kylene Orebaugh Horses are their passion. A couple who lives near Ashland, Kan., is living their dream. They are striking out on their own raising quality horses and working hard to accomplish their goals. Dusty and Mindy Voorhies are currently standing two American Quarter Horse stallions, Guyspocketfullofcash and Pollas Jo Pac. The pair has the intention of raising athletic, trainable horses that will fit the rodeo arena or the ranch. "Our passion is horses. For both of us really," Dusty said. "We want to figure out a way to make money and develop a horse that people will want. One that is athletic and easy to train." Dusty was raised in Washington on a ranch, and later moved to New Mexico where he worked for a cutting horse trainer. He estimates through the years he has started around 500 colts and has been on hundreds if not thousands of horses. Mindy, however didn't get her first horse until she reached adulthood. Getting into it Guyspocketfullofcash, who is by Frenchmans Guy and out of Little One Again, came to the Voorhieses on a vacation trip back to Dusty's hometown in Washington state. They purchased the stallion in Montana on their way back home to Kansas. "We had done a lot of research and decided we wanted either a Dash for Perks, Dash to Fame or a Frenchman's Guy stallion. We had a plan in mind," Mindy said. "We bought him in July of 2005 as a yearling." Mindy confesses to watching Frenchman Guy-bred horses while at barrel races and futurities. Frenchman Guy-bred horses are popular in barrel racing and rodeo circles as well as ranching. In fact, the 2006 Barrel Futurities of America World Champion Futurity horse, Frenchmans Jester is a son of Frenchmans Guy. The 2002 sorrel gelding bested a record field to win more than $28,000 for owners, Kristie and Jordan Peterson of Chilton, Texas. Seeing Frenchmans Guy offspring performing so well in the arena drove the Voorhieses to find quality mares that would match the capabilities of their Guyspocketfullofcash. "Frenchmans Guy horses are cow-bred; and are very athletic horses," Mindy said. "We thought if we could combine that with some running bred lines, we could shoot for some all-around horses." In all reality, the Voorhieses want to shoot for the barrel racing market with the offspring they raise from their 15-head broodmare band. However, Dusty does see the versatility of the bloodlines and sees the horses succeeding in roping and ranching as well. "One of the things that I like about these horses is that over the years I have ridden mostly cow-bred horses," Dusty said. "And since I've been around these running-bred/cow-bred crosses, you can't give me a straight cow-bred horse anymore. They (the run/cow crosses) are so smooth and can really stride out and cover some country." During the 2007 breeding season, the Voorhieses bred 26 mares, 15 of their own and the rest for outside customers. "Most of those who bred to Guy this year are local--one came from Oklahoma, another from Nebraska--but the rest were within 60 to 100 miles," Dusty said. "We have him advertised on the Internet and others have found him from our flyer." All the foals from the 2006 crop (Guy's first foal crop) are for sale, the couple said, and photos along with each foal's pedigree can be found on their website, www.jmquarterhorses.net. "All are for sale, and we would like to sell them all, but what we don't sell we will keep and start and see what they make," Mindy said. "We would like to see what they are like." The pair is hoping the foals are athletic as their sire, and are anxious to see how they all turn out. Ultimately, Mindy would like to run barrels on the offspring and compete in futurities, as well as with Guyspocketfullofcash. "Once we get started, our options are unlimited," Mindy said. So far Guy has just been ridden on the ranch and seen some miles that way. "He's very athletic and cowy. When we get some cattle in where we could play around with them, I'd like to see if he could cut," Dusty said. "He's sure athletic enough and gets pretty intense when he's around them" They are planning on running barrels on Guy as well as entering a few futurities on him, as well as eventually showing in American Quarter Horse Association sanctioned shows. Depending upon time, money and what Guy fits in, they hope to enter him in barrels, roping and cutting classes within AQHA shows. "We want to get him proven, because that sells. We want people to breed to him because he's done something," Mindy said. "We'd also like to see if he can be an all-around horse." Dusty agrees. "The more I ride him, I think he's got a lot of ability," he said. An addition Recently the Voorhieses added another stallion, Pollas Jo Pac, a 1989 son of Pacific Bailey. The bay stallion's dam, Polla Kay Bar is a daughter of Bar Money who goes back to Three Bars and Joe Hancock. The Voorhieses partnered with neighbor Katie Giles and Giles Livestock Company on the purchase. "We realize there may not be very many, if any, sons of Pacific Bailey left," Mindy said. "We thought it would be a good way to offer another stud, and hope some of our mares will be a good cross with him." The couple is unsure of Joe's past, but do know he was unraced. His dam's sire, Bar Money, according to Mindy, had a lot of speed and people seemed to have liked their offspring. "We think he will cross good on cow (bred mares) and make good ranch horses," Dusty said. "He does go back to Joe Hancock too. With his great disposition we will keep him in our program." Mindy also hopes with the "hotter" bred mares in their broodmare band, that Joe's attitude will help "even them out." They plan on pasture breeding mares with the 18-year-old stallion. "We should get a few more years out of him," Mindy said. "And eventually we would like to breed Joe's daughters to Guy. We think that would cross nicely." In ten years Down the road, the Voorhieses can see themselves raising and training performance prospects in their own training facility. Dusty will also take in horses to be trained for the public, and the pair hopes to give riding lessons if there is a demand for it. What ever they do decide, this hardworking couple from Kansas will succeed. Kylene Orebaugh can be reached by phone at 620-227-1804 or by e-mail at kscott@hpj.com. 10/29/07 Date: 10/25/07 Advertisement
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