Nestled in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, Phipps Land and Livestock is known for raising top of the line horse flesh. Primarily a yearling and cow-calf outfit, the Phipps family is among the prestigious list of American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeders.
Perhaps even more impressive, they were named AQHA Legacy Breeders in 2011, and honor given to those who have raised registered quarter horses for fifty consecutive years. Today, the count is at 63 years.
At the helm of the operation is dynamic duo, Gary and Glenda Phipps. Together, they share an appreciation for high quality horses and good horsemanship. These days, they raise and breed horses while watching their grandchildren grow up on the ranch, and the horses, that they have tended for many years.
Ancestors of the family came to the area in 1886, and settled on Calf Creek in 1905. While their ancestral roots run deep, so do those of their mare herd. The mares on the ranch have all been raised there, and go back 5-6 generations.
With this strong legacy, Alex Parsaye, instructor of the Legends of Ranching Program, thought them to be a perfect partner for the program.
Since 2006, The Legends of Ranching Program has provided students at Colorado State University the opportunity to start, train, and show a horse while receiving guidance from CSU faculty and industry professionals. The program allows students to experience starting a horse for the first time, or to build on the tools already in their tool belt.
Students must complete a riding evaluation to be admitted into program, proving their horsemanship is at the necessary level to put the foundation on a young horse. Students are paired with a horse and given nine months to refine their skills and the skills of the horse they are given. Anywhere from 16-22 students participate in the program annually.
With safety at the forefront, Parsaye says the experience empowers students to take what they have learned beyond the program.
“I know that they are going to go out into the world and have these skills to keep themselves safe and keep other people safe through understanding horsemanship and equine behavior,” Parsaye said.
The experience is culminated with the Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale every spring. The sale is also a student effort, as students from an equine marketing class are in charge of the preparation, marketing, and execution of the sale.
Horses in the program are consigned by renowned ranches and breeders looking to both invest in future equine professionals, and get a good start put on their horses. Queue the Phipps Ranch.
This year, Gary and Glenda have provided two, two-year-old fillies and one two-year-old gelding to be trained by students in the program.
“All three of the horses have a bit of a different temperament,” said Gary. “They wanted different temperaments for different students.”
By consigning horses with the program, Gary and Glenda have expressed their support for the growth of the industry.
“This is an excellent program that we believe will help build the horse professionals of tomorrow. We are looking forward to what can be accomplished both by these young horses and the students who will be responsible for them,” said Glenda.
The three Phipps horses will be for sale at the Legends of Ranching Performance Horse sale in the spring of 2025. More information about the program can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/LegendsofRanching/
Learn more about Phipps Land and Livestock: https://www.phippsranch.com/
Listen to our interview with Gary Phipps here:
Listen to our interview with Legends of Ranching Alex Parsaye on the Breaking the Barrier podcast:
