Spring roundup on the 7S

Although there's a Fall roundup on the bigger outfits, it's smaller than the Spring version. The roundup in the Spring is to the big ranches what harvest time is to the farmer. On the Stuart Ranch, spread out over 36,000 acres over two stretches of land in southern Oklahoma, the Spring roundup is a three to four day affair. The calves gathered from different pastures are seeing humans for the first time.

The 7S was founded at Caddo, Okla., in 1868 by Robert Clay Freeny, when Oklahoma was known as Indian territory between Texas and Kansas. A ranch as old as the Stuart has to have a place in cattle/cowboy history. It does. When cattle drives were in progress in the late 1880s, one of the most famous trails north, the Chisholm trail, ran through the Waurika division, 120 miles west of Caddo.

Cattle are not the only product of the Stuart Ranch. The operation is known just as well for their fine remuda of Quarter Horses. A visitor to the Waurika division will be shown the horse barn, where two superior studs stand. One is Seven S Zanaday, a handsome 14-year-old brown son of Zan Parr Bar and out of a daughter of Hobby Horse. An AQHA World Champion roping horse, Seven S Zanaday is muscular and impressive in appearance, but he's as gentle as a month-old kitten. In fact, Littlefield gathers up mares on the stud, a task the horse performs as if he were a 20-year-old gelding. The other resident stallion is Real Gun, a 5-year-old gray by the famous cutting and reining sire Playgun. He's out of Miss War Chips by War Leo. The two studs service a broodmare band that numbers 60 mares.

The Stuart Ranch has been recognized by others for their contribution to the Quarter Horse industry. In 1996 the Stuart won the Best Remuda Award, given by the AQHA and the National Cattleman's Beef Association to outstanding ranch remudas of registered Quarter Horses.

See the 7S 2002 Spring roundup Slide Show! Click here!