Building Elite Cutting Horses
Oxbow Ranch Horse Program - Weatherford, TX cutting horse breeding focused on mare lineage, daily care, and cow-ready foals.
Lindy Burch operates a mare-first broodmare program at Oxbow Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, built entirely on proven, home-raised lineage. Every foal at Oxbow traces directly to daughters, granddaughters, or great-granddaughters of mares Lindy personally trained, showed, developed, and retained. By starting each foal with an established Oxbow mare—one that has demonstrated cow sense, soundness, and the right temperament under saddle—Lindy ensures consistency, quality, and a recognizable brand across generations. The program remains intentionally small and elite, with aged-out show mares transitioning into broodmare roles and future producers earning their place through performance and conformation that meet the Oxbow standard.
“I’ve established the actual brand that have been already through… their daughters and granddaughters and great granddaughters… that the Oxbow has owned, trained, developed and shown and/or sold or then retained back for a brood mare.”
How Mare Genetics and Imprinting Outweigh Stallion Influence
Stallions breed hundreds of mares each year. Their impact spreads thin. A broodmare produces one or two foals. She controls genetics and the critical first six months.
“I really believe the mare has more to do with the progeny than the stallion… I start with a really good mare.”
Show records matter less than the look and the cow. Lindy tests prospects at two years old. If they read cattle naturally, they stay.
What Nutrition Every Oxbow Mare and Recipient Receives Daily
Owned mares and recipient mares follow the same protocol, no exceptions.
Recipient mares live in the barn before turnout. They learn to load, wash, and eat cookies from day one. Lindy feeds cookies daily to build trust. A fearful mare never raises an Oxbow foal.
During the last trimester, every mare receives Purina Growth, premium alfalfa, and supplements. Clean water stays constant. Weight and condition are monitored weekly.
“I’ve always used Purina products and really good alfalfa hay… Purina Growth and Development, Platinum CJ, Osteon for bone growth.”
How the First Six Months Shape a Trainable Cutting Horse
Foals nurse with their dams. That window builds manners and confidence.
“If it’s out of one of those great mares… and the mare is a great, sweet horse… that only adds to the potential of it being a great horse.”
A calm dam teaches her foal to accept humans. Nervous mares pass fear. Lindy rejects them outright.
Weanlings turn out with same-sex peers and remain halter-broke. They are handled often, vaccinated on schedule, dewormed routinely, and trimmed early.
By weaning, each foal loads, ties, and stands for the farrier. That foundation prevents resistance later in training.
When and How Oxbow Foals Meet Cattle for the First Time
Colts ship to trusted starters in February of their two-year-old year.
“Trusted starters include Clint Modistach, Davide Facincani, Cory Deel, Lindy Thorn.”
After about 90 days they return rideable. Lindy puts them on fresh cattle immediately, without flag work. She wants them to learn to read cows first before they work a flag.
This approach builds cow sense quickly. Horses learn to stop and turn because they want to, not because they must.
Next Steps: Stallion Pairings and Available Foals
Lindy matches mares to stallions by cross, not hype. She studies bottom-side pedigrees for temperament and cow.
See current breedings on the Reference Sires page.
Browse private treaty foals or broodmare prospects on the Online Sale page. Contact Lindy to discuss starting your own Weatherford, TX cutting horse program.
Quick Answers
- Which contributes more to a foal’s success, the mare or the stallion?
- The mare. She supplies genetics plus six months of daily imprinting.
- Do recipient mares receive the same feed and supplements?
- Yes. Purina Growth, alfalfa hay, Platinum CJ, and Osteon from conception through weaning.
- When do foals first see cattle?
- After about 90 days with a trusted starter, around May of their two-year-old year.
- How does Lindy choose a new broodmare?
- Conformation, temperament, and cow sense first. Show record optional.
