Pryor Ranch Congratulates Doug and Jennifer Putnam on Purchasing and Standing A Deck Of Stars!

Judy Pryor of Pryor Ranch has a lot to celebrate in this new year! Today, she wants to congratulate and celebrate Doug and Jennifer Putnam of Hoyt, KS, who have recently purchased the AQHA stallion A Deck Of Stars.

“The Putnam family as been involved in the livestock industry since its migration from Pennsylvania to Admire, Kansas in 1857. Four generations have been involved since the inception of the American Quarter Horse Association,” Doug had shared with Judy.

Judy had asked the Putnams about their decision to purchase A Deck Of Stars, a gorgeous 1997 chestnut stallion by Pryor Ranch’s great Deck Of Stars (by Skippa Stars) and out of Supreme Jane. “Why A Deck Of Stars? Three reasons – beauty, brains, and breeding,” Doug elaborates. “When I saw a poor photograph of him, my heart skipped a beat. This horse had the beauty of horses I grew up with in the ’60’s. Horses that could show in conformation classes, rail classes, and rope and race at the end of a show. Horses that matured early, were useful to their owners, and frankly easy on the eye. I always admired great dispositions in horses. When you can lead this stallion in a barn by other stallions and he minds his business, that is the mark of a great disposition.”

“When you look at the breeding programs being offered to the public today, the genetic pool has been reduced to a level that almost represents a ponzi scheme,” Doug continues. “Even the breed magazines are questioning the sincerity of breeders and their involvement for raising a sound, useable horse for the 21st century. The breeding of A Deck Of Stars represents some of the greatest blood of the quarter horse families. Genetically he could be the answer to a lot of enthusiasts of the perfect out-cross for their mares. Frankly the bloodlines speak for themselves, but from a personal prospective, I am quite familiar with his extended pedigree having success with members of his ancestry.”

A Deck Of Stars has been producing athletic foals that are successfully showing in Barrel Racing, Jumping (4-5 feet), Calf Roping, Heading, Hunter Under Saddle and Polo.

“I believe with specialization of our industry, we have lost the basic premise of a horse that genetically was bred to be a multi-tasker: to be pretty, coordinated, fast, agile and trainable,” he elaborates. “I think maybe with the economic climate that has descended upon the entertainment industry (and yes this includes horses), we may be returning to this type of horse.”

“But with all that has been said, A Deck Of Stars was purchased because we wanted him. We are “in” the horse business not wanting to get in the horse business. We know he won’t last a long time, but hopefully long enough to get more quality breeding stock. We are performance breeders, but secretly we are closet halter horse enthusiasts. We truly try to show every one of our performance horses in halter classes. We still believe in the AQHA Champion. We have been fortunate to have made our own horses, or others have, AQHA Champions in Open, Amateur, and Youth classes.”

“Horses are a way of life here at the ranch. We are serious breeders. We have always stayed consistent with our beliefs. We are harder on our breeding program because we are always trying to improve. The horses raised here on the ranch have World Champion High Point titles, Congress titles, AQHA World Show titles, state High Point titles, etc. But what really counts is not what you have done in the past, but what you will do in present and the future that really counts. We have high expectations of A Deck Of Stars, but frankly I believe we actually drew an inside straight flush,” Doug finishes.

Thank you so much to Doug and Judy for sharing this exciting news with us! We can’t wait to see how the beautiful Deck Of Stars line continues with A Deck Of Stars and the Putnam breeding program.

Visit Putnam Quarter Horses’ website to contact them about this great stallion, and visit Pryor Ranch’s site for more information on this great bloodline.