GUTHRIE—2021 will be the first Return to the Remuda in a new era of the Four Sixes Ranch.
Since 1900, when Captain Samuel Burk Burnett established the ranch, legendary quarter horses and superior Black Angus cattle have been the hallmarks of the 6666, only 22 miles from the Dickens County line. When Anne W. Marion, great-granddaughter of the founder, passed away in 2020, uncertainty abounded about the facility which stands some of the most well-respected quarter horse stallions in the industry, with elite brood mares that produce some of the best race, ranch and sale horses available anywhere.
A ranch with a legacy as distinctive as the Sixes, in which its founder included as confidantes Quanah Parker and President Teddy Roosevelt, seems to have secured a similarly exciting new chapter.
Movie and television producer and creator Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone,” “Come Hell or High Water”) will be the face of the new 6666 ownership group and has indicated that the new owners will continue the quarter horse and cattle operations.
Since 1996 the ranch has hosted Return to the Remuda, a two-day horse demonstration and sale, in partnership with Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co., Tongue River Ranch and Beggs Cattle Co.
For those unused to ranch terminology, the term “remuda” comes from the Spanish word “remudar,” meaning to change or replace. Cowboys derived the word to signify the roster of seven to ten mounts they depended on for their daily work. This year’s Return to the Remuda festivities will be Friday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2.
“2020 was the largest crowd we have had at a Return to the Remuda Sale,” said Horse Division manager and resident veterinarian Dr. Glenn Blodgett in a press release. “We are appreciative of the support from the equine industry, buyers traveled from coast to coast to be at this event, with over 20 different states represented.”
Along with the Four Sixes, all of the presenting ranches have deep ties to this area. The Tongue River Ranch, established in 1898, is nestled in the communal corners of four Texas counties: Dickens, King, Motley and Cottle. The Beggs Cattle Company extends across seven counties, including Kent, Dickens, Stonewall, King, Parker, Garza and Cochran. The Pitchfork Ranch, established in 1883, operates in Dickens and King counties.
There is no admission fee for any event, and all activities are open to the public. Year after year, the event continues to grow. Across the board the 2020 sale was strong with gross sales of nearly $2,000,000, a more than 28 percent increase over 2019. The sale also experienced its highest overall average of $12,348, a 27 percent increase over 2019 and a more than 14 percent increase over all previous Return to the Remuda sales.
“Our two-year-olds saw the biggest gains with a 34 percent increase over 2019 and 21 percent over all past sales,” Blodgett commented. “Our goal is to develop horses that are desirable both on the ranch and in the arena. The sale increases we saw in 2020 reinforce that we are all on the right track with our breeding programs.”
Against a backdrop of red barns and outbuildings synonymous with the Sixes, an Old West atmosphere will permeate the Remuda as many of the ranches will have their chuck wagons onsite and will also be selling their ranch memorabilia.
Many attendees will be flying into the private 6666 landing strip, or flying commercial into Lubbock and driving in. Area hotels and motels are expected to fill up, and since many custom horse trailers now include sleeping accommodations, many of the guests will be “camping” at the ranch.
Activities get under way Friday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. For more information, call 6666 Ranch at (855) 674-6773.
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