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It’s all about the horse, of course
By Krista Goerte
Published October 27, 2009
BOGATA — First it was Thoroughbred racehorses, now it’s Quarter Horses and the cutting horse circuit.
Wendell Reeder has been around horses most of his life, and cutting horses are just the most recent step in a lifelong hobby and business.
A rancher in the Bogata/Clarksville area, Reeder has made the latest waves in the horse industry with his 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare, MH Split the Aces.
The mare recently took home a $68,000 check after winning the MillionHeir Classic Cutting Horse Championship in Las Vegas, Nev. Added to wins and placings at other major cutting events, MH Split the Aces has netted more than $195,000 in prize money for her owner.
“She’s really settled in nicely,” Reeder said.
The mare’s trainer, Lee Francois, rides the mare in open competition while Reeder competes on the mare in the non-pro division at National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) sanctioned events.
MH Split the Aces is not the first horse to have success for Reeder. Miss Smokin Garfield, another cutting mare owned by Reeder, netted her owner more than $220,000 in winnings in recent years. She is currently in foal, but will probably be back on the show circuit as well by next summer, Reeder said.
Reeder’s breeding and training operation at WAR Ranch, located between Bogata and Clarksville, is going strong with 17 horses. From raising colts, to breaking 2-year-olds, to starting horses toward the cutting ring, the ranch has horses in different stages of development and training. Reeder also has some cutting horses currently in competition at another facility south of Fort Worth.
His operation includes 2 and 3-year-old horses in training preparing for futurity (incentive-based) classes, while the older, more established horses are pushed toward the open events.
Reeder also stands his own cutting stallion at his ranch.
He grew up in west Texas on the family ranch, and said he used to break horses before they were sent for race training. He attended Texas Tech University before moving to Arizona where he got into the farming and ranching business in addition to owning his own business. He was made an offer too big to refuse on his business, and subsequently moved to Louisiana. In 1977, Reeder moved back to his home state and developed his ranch. He is also the owner of Clarksville Oil & Gas and owns convenience stores in the area.
In the Thoroughbred racing business for many years, Wendell became interested in cutting horses at the prompting of a friend about seven years ago. He has since dealt strictly with cutting horses and said he has no regrets about leaving the Thoroughbred industry behind.
“I like the competition, and I like to get involved personally,” he said. “It’s been good to keep me in shape.”
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