"If you take a young horse and start it out right, with the right attitude, you’ll have a good horse the rest of your life,” explained Rita Schmidt of Shoal Creek Ranch in Mountain Home, Ark. “That’s what we do here with our horses,” she added.
Rita and her husband David moved to the ranch in Mountain Home in 1992. “We’re kind of retired,” David added. “I’m retired Navy and Rita sold her travel agency in town. Now we work on the farm with the horses and I work in construction too.”
Rita explained she grew up around horses. “Since I was about nine years old I’ve ridden and worked with horses. It wasn’t until I retired and had the opportunity to buy this farm that I decided to start breeding my own horses. A friend once told me to quit buying other people’s problems and that’s when I decided she was right, I should be raising my own animals.
“We raise American Saddlebred horses, which are the oldest registered breed of horses made in America,” she said. “They were crossed in colonial days to produce a big, strong, gentle, easy-riding horse. It’s said that Paul Revere rode a Saddlebred and they were used extensively during the Civil War.”
According to Rita they are known for their personality, strength, comfortable gait and sure-footedness. “They are used for many different purposes including shows, cattle work, trail rides and in the movies for trick horses. They were bred to cover ground fast and comfortably and quickly became a horse of choice in the early Americas.”
The Horse Ranch
“We are a small breeder operation with only four mares to breed and one stallion,” said Rita. “We do this because we love the animals and being in the outdoors with them,” she explained.
“We are perfectly content raising the small numbers we do now. Because then we know we can spend the time they need when they are young, to train them and produce a good horse,” she reasoned.
Rita and David currently have horses all over the United States. “When we started this in 1992, we had no idea how many people might be interested in our horses. Over time, we’ve sold horses to owners in Kansas City, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Arkansas and Massachusetts.
“I only sell one or two horses annually, but I work with them and am comfortable that they are the best horses I can produce,” she explained. “We use the Internet for our primary marketing tool. We have a website and post pictures. People generally call from horses they’ve seen advertised online. We also attend some shows and sales and make contacts their too, but the Internet has been my best tool.
“Three or four years ago one of our colts became the No. 12 futurity stallion in the breed,” she added proudly. “He was the youngest nominated to the breed futurity meaning that he had produced a large number of winning 'get.'"
The Inputs
Currently Rita and David work with horses on the farm daily. “My daughter, Samantha Morris, moved back to the area five years ago and she works training the young horses. (Also) we are the representative for Brenderup Horse Trailers in Arkansas. But basically we are the main operators of the ranch.
“We enjoy the country and the lifestyle,” she added. “We feed in the morning and evening and spend time with the animals throughout the day. I am usually around the horses enough I can tell from their behavior, if we are having any health problems or injuries.”
Rita explained she does most of the vet work herself. “I have a vet I call for advice or to verify what I think I’m seeing in my horses, but basically I doctor them myself, if needed. Of course, we have a vet who comes out in the spring to do the Coggins testing, but I give the rest of the shots and vaccinations myself.”
The Future
Rita explained she is planning to start boarding horses in the future. “I believe a healthy horse needs to be out. So we’re building paddocks with run-in sheds where the horses can be under roof if needed, but have the freedom to be outside and get some exercise too. It seems like I’m getting more and more calls about people moving into the area and needing somewhere to keep their horses. We are interested in both long and short term boarding.
“With the economy the way it is, I have to utilize all the resources I have and I know I could provide a good place for horses to stay,” she added.
Rita and David have a true love for the land and the animals. Rita concluded, “We do this because we love it. I grew up in this area and was so excited when we had the chance to buy this ranch. There were some basic buildings and fences here and we have been able to grow and improve from there. I don’t think I could be happier doing anything else.”
