How the Four Sixes Ranch Prepares Horses for Sale

Weatherford, United States - September 8, 2025 / Animal Stewards International /

At the legendary Four Sixes Ranch, sales prep season is one of the most intense, rewarding, and carefully managed times of the year. Horses destined to carry forward the legacy of this historic ‘L’ brand are prepared for the annual Return to the Remuda Sale —an effort that requires not only excellent genetics but also meticulous daily care.

To gain a behind-the-scenes look, we sat down with Dr. Nathan Canaday, Horse Division Manager, and Fallon Rand, Sales Prep Manager at the Four Sixes Ranch.

Sales prep season officially begins in mid-June, and runs through the end of September, but preparation starts earlier. Weanlings are halter-broke and handled before being turned out, giving them a head start when they come up as yearlings.

Day one of sales prep as a yearling picks up where it was left off - with lessons in halter breaking and gentling. From there, the program progresses steadily with the goal of producing young horses who are not only fit, but also confident and adaptable.

"We really try to give them a solid foundation so that no matter what their new owners want to do with them, they’re set up for success," Fallon explained.

Each year, around 50 to 60 horses are prepared for sale, including yearlings, young riding horses, and seasoned cowboy horses. The latter, having gained their education out on the ranch, are not formally sales-fitted, but rather offered with real ranch work experience.

One of the guiding principles at the Sixes is striving for excellence, whether that is through genetics, training, or nutrition.

As Dr. Canaday puts it, “Fat is everyone’s favorite color, but we’d rather have these horses fit than fat.”

Fitness means preparing horses for long-term soundness.

“From a veterinary perspective, being fit is very important no matter what somebody’s goals are for that horse. Being overweight sets horses up to have foot issues, and if you are feeding young horses too much, too aggressively, you predispose them to developmental joint issues, like OCDs, which impact them for life. If somebody wants to use these young horses as a broodmare, being overweight sets them up to have metabolic problems later on. From the performance or ranch horse perspective, you want these horses to be strong and in shape because the more fit a horse is, the more likely they are to withstand everyday ‘wear and tear.’”

“I really do believe in the old saying ‘good feeding and good breeding,’ says Dr. Canaday. “If you combine good genetics with good feeding, the results speak for themselves. You can't take horses who are not bred well and feed them into something good. Similarly, you can have a really well bred horse, not feed them well, and they will underperform.”

From a tactical perspective, the Ranch focuses on steady, balanced nutrition with high-quality forage and balanced, conservative grain rations.

Vitamins and minerals also play an important role. Horses begin receiving the Four Sixes Multi-Vitamin & Mineral as weanlings, and remain on it through the sales season.

Joint health is a particular priority during sales prep. Moving horses from pasture to stalls and structured exercise routines changes their activity levels and puts new stress on developing joints.

“I'm a firm believer in ranch horses being ranch horses,” says Dr. Canaday. “The more that young horses can be out on pasture, it helps stimulate proper bone growth, and it helps their feet grow strong. We often put our young horses out in one of our roughest pastures called ‘Big Bull.’ It has a big canyon and a lot of rough country, which helps them develop really good feet and really good bones.”

“As we start bringing these horses up for sales prep, this is the first time they are getting stalled, which applies stress and pressure to their joints. I heard it worded best by an older farrier who said that ‘motion is lotion for your joints.’ You’ve probably experienced this yourself. If you're used to moving and going all the time, and then you quit moving, you get stove up quick, to use a cowboy term.

Not to mention the stress of exercise conditioning, getting fit, and general sales fitting stress. When horses come up into stalls, we immediately add Joint Health Pellets for proactive joint care, and Complete Gut Protection to help counteract any digestive stress in the transition.”

One of the main messages that Dr. Canaday and Fallon want buyers to know is that change is stressful for horses. New environments, new feeds, and new routines require lots of adjustment.

“I would encourage people whenever they buy a horse at a sale, to think about two things. One is to keep them on a gut health supplement, like Complete Gut Protection. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of gut health, which is now referred to as the gateway to health. Second, is to consider electrolytes. That’s top of mind right now with how hot it is, but some horses are also very particular in their water taste. Sometimes they don’t want to drink as much water when they go to a new home, so supplementing with Electrolyte Powder helps encourage them to keep drinking.”

Every Four Sixes horse is branded with an ‘L’ on their shoulder. Originally an anti-theft measure 150 years ago, this brand now represents history, quality, and excellence.

Sales prep season at the Four Sixes is busy, no doubt, but it is also a ritual of sorts. Through thoughtful breeding, balanced nutrition, careful training, and a commitment to excellence, the Ranch ensures that every horse leaving their program carries the meaning of the brand.

See this legacy in action at the 2025 Return to the Remuda Sale, September 26-27, in Guthrie, Texas.

Contact Information:

Animal Stewards International

325 Adams Drive, Suite 537
Weatherford, TX 76086
United States

Emily Dickson
https://6666equinesupplements.com

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