Thank you for your interest in Ducheneaux Quarter Horses and our story. I've tried to capture all of the
highlights, and as you can imagine each of the stories and horses mentioned could take up an entire website
on their own, so I've tried to be as brief as can be.
When dad was growing up, horses were still the primary source of horsepower for all things that happened
on the ranch. Putting up hay, feeding cows, building dams, any farming that had to be done, even the
occasional trip to town all occurred while looking at the ample rear end of a draft type horse. Because of
the nature of these tasks, things such as performance, disposition, and versatility were sacrificed for
other, more important characteristics. Dad still tells a story about Grampa Ducheneaux's excitement upon
returning home after selecting one such steed; he said, while holding his hands up and apart about the size
of a dinner plate...."He's a good SOB too, must have a foot on him THIS BIG!" Now you can imagine that
a practical man like that is not likely to have a couple separate herds of horses around, one for the heavy
work and another for the cowboyin'. What he did have was a herd of fearless and indestructible kids, and
a bunch of yearling and two year old draft horses. It was one day while doctoring calves on one of these
lumbering beasts that Dad had his epiphany. You see, the method for doctoring calves on this type of
horse pretty much amounted to chasing the calf until he was sufficiently tired that the old draft horse
colt could get you in position for a throw of your rope...he decided right then and there..."someday, I'm
going to have horses fast enough to catch that calf".
This was the beginning of Ducheneaux Quarter Horses, and in the early 1960's the Old Man partnered
with Uncle Ed Ducheneaux on a handful of mares and a gangly 2 year old stud named Sniper Buck; who
would eventually become the cornerstone of the breeding program. The colts by "Buck" had it all;
disposition, ability, and tons of eye appeal, and he was the only stud on the place until the 1970's when an
old Texas stud found his way to our place.
Dandy Fly was a big sorrel babysitter, who could perform in the arena regardless of who was riding him.
My brother fondly recalls his first ride "outside" which was on Dandy, through his mare bunch to move
cows.
During the 80's we had several successful outcrosses, beginning with a red roan Jet Deck grandson named
Dandy Bar Jet who had a pedigree that read like a who's who in the Quarter Horse industry. A towering
14.3, Roany produced bigger than his stature, and you'll still see a lot of white hairs in the flanks and
tailheads of our horses today, Roany's signature.
Breezing Smooth came next, and he brought with him show ring performance along with the all important
disposition and trainability. He came to us from Bob McCutcheon's cutting program, and we used him for 8
years.
Hulk, formally known as WDX Babysbreeze was by Breezy and out of Tye Rye Baby, one of the old mares
from the original band. My Dad's pet, he proved that the Ol' Man knows how to pick em, as you will see
that most of the mares and the horses for sale, will trace back to Hulk.
You'll also see Coconino Sioux, a Roany son, on the pedigrees of some of the horses. Born and bred here,
sold to a cousin, we were fortunate enough to be able to use him for a few years and get some pretty
heads and color from the cross.
That brings is up to the current batch of horses. My family has done such a great job putting this thing
together, my job now, is to "not screw it up" and I take it seriously. Disposition is first above all else,
then performance, trainability, usability, and finally eye appeal. I hope you've enjoyed the brief history,
and look forward to visiting with you!
Zach
highlights, and as you can imagine each of the stories and horses mentioned could take up an entire website
on their own, so I've tried to be as brief as can be.
When dad was growing up, horses were still the primary source of horsepower for all things that happened
on the ranch. Putting up hay, feeding cows, building dams, any farming that had to be done, even the
occasional trip to town all occurred while looking at the ample rear end of a draft type horse. Because of
the nature of these tasks, things such as performance, disposition, and versatility were sacrificed for
other, more important characteristics. Dad still tells a story about Grampa Ducheneaux's excitement upon
returning home after selecting one such steed; he said, while holding his hands up and apart about the size
of a dinner plate...."He's a good SOB too, must have a foot on him THIS BIG!" Now you can imagine that
a practical man like that is not likely to have a couple separate herds of horses around, one for the heavy
work and another for the cowboyin'. What he did have was a herd of fearless and indestructible kids, and
a bunch of yearling and two year old draft horses. It was one day while doctoring calves on one of these
lumbering beasts that Dad had his epiphany. You see, the method for doctoring calves on this type of
horse pretty much amounted to chasing the calf until he was sufficiently tired that the old draft horse
colt could get you in position for a throw of your rope...he decided right then and there..."someday, I'm
going to have horses fast enough to catch that calf".
This was the beginning of Ducheneaux Quarter Horses, and in the early 1960's the Old Man partnered
with Uncle Ed Ducheneaux on a handful of mares and a gangly 2 year old stud named Sniper Buck; who
would eventually become the cornerstone of the breeding program. The colts by "Buck" had it all;
disposition, ability, and tons of eye appeal, and he was the only stud on the place until the 1970's when an
old Texas stud found his way to our place.
Dandy Fly was a big sorrel babysitter, who could perform in the arena regardless of who was riding him.
My brother fondly recalls his first ride "outside" which was on Dandy, through his mare bunch to move
cows.
During the 80's we had several successful outcrosses, beginning with a red roan Jet Deck grandson named
Dandy Bar Jet who had a pedigree that read like a who's who in the Quarter Horse industry. A towering
14.3, Roany produced bigger than his stature, and you'll still see a lot of white hairs in the flanks and
tailheads of our horses today, Roany's signature.
Breezing Smooth came next, and he brought with him show ring performance along with the all important
disposition and trainability. He came to us from Bob McCutcheon's cutting program, and we used him for 8
years.
Hulk, formally known as WDX Babysbreeze was by Breezy and out of Tye Rye Baby, one of the old mares
from the original band. My Dad's pet, he proved that the Ol' Man knows how to pick em, as you will see
that most of the mares and the horses for sale, will trace back to Hulk.
You'll also see Coconino Sioux, a Roany son, on the pedigrees of some of the horses. Born and bred here,
sold to a cousin, we were fortunate enough to be able to use him for a few years and get some pretty
heads and color from the cross.
That brings is up to the current batch of horses. My family has done such a great job putting this thing
together, my job now, is to "not screw it up" and I take it seriously. Disposition is first above all else,
then performance, trainability, usability, and finally eye appeal. I hope you've enjoyed the brief history,
and look forward to visiting with you!
Zach
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Zach Ducheneaux
Ducheneaux Quarter Horses
HCR 3 Box 85
Gettysburg SD, 57442
605-200-1297
Ducheneaux Quarter Horses
HCR 3 Box 85
Gettysburg SD, 57442
605-200-1297
