“Copperwood Ranch” was established with the aim of producing superior performance Quarter Horses.
“Champion.... the title bestowed
upon the best in competition.”
Copperwood Ranch..... By association means champion Quarter Horses, a fact borne out by the many notable wins the Stud’s horses have achieved over the years. However rather than rest on their laurels, the urge to produce the best is perhaps felt today even more than it was over four decades ago.
Copperwood Ranch was established by
Doug Kefford and his late father at Narre Warren in Victoria in 1968. Both were
impressed with the natural attributes of the Quarter Horse when they first
encountered it, and shortly after the decision to establish Copperwood Ranch was taken. In 1971 the
first stallion Amigo Lark arrived from the USA after a lengthy nine months
quarantine in England. The following year, Pacific Niner, Dickeys Taffeta,
Dickey Cindy, Dickey Sandy and Sage Skippy Le were also imported to form the
foundation to what has become an outstanding broodmare band today. During this
period Doug competed on a regular basis, particularly in Reined Cowhorse
classes and brought to the Ranch some of its earliest competition successes.
Over the years Copperwood Ranch bred
horses have gone on to record some outstanding achievements having won over
$1,000,000.00 alone in cutting competition, be it through own sons and
daughters or through maternal grand-dams.
It was also during this period that a young Craig Kefford
found that he had a liking for horses and competition and contested
successfully in youth classes. As the Ranch grew, so did the need for a larger
property, which necessitated the move to nearby Cranbourne in 1977. It was this
time that the Ranch employed its first trainer, Phil Webb. His expertise
together with the outstanding horses he had to work with brought Copperwood even more success and did
much to prove the horses they were breeding. When Phil Webb moved to the USA to
manage the newly established Copperwood
Ranches Inc., Graham Amos took over the training position. Following the move to Cranbourne the Stud began to increase its sire power with the purchase of Moonbi Cutting Futurity Champion, Poco Peppy Doc (by Doc O’Lena out of Salty Tulip, by Peppy San) and then the importation of 49’er Doc (by Mr. 49’er [Mr. Gunsmoke] out of Docs Skeena, by Doc Bar). The broodmare band already boasted own daughters of War Leo, Peppy San, Colonel Freckles, with King and Leo also contributing.
Early 1985 saw Graham return to his hometown of Dubbo and resume his own training operation, while Craig took over the complete training and management of the newly purchased ‘world class’ B. J. Lodge breeding facility at Goornong, near Bendigo in central Victoria. Craig, along with Graham the previous year, had enjoyed a very successful Cutting and Reined Cowhorse year, capturing the Reined Cowhorse Snaffle Bit Futurity (Graham on Peppys Rosette), Moonbi Cutting Futurity (Craig on Delta Distinction), Moonbi Cutting Futurity Reserve Champion and 4th also (Graham – Peppys Rosette & Poco Miss Pacific), and Supersires Cutting Futurity Reserve Champion (Craig & Delta Distinction).
In addition to producing fine horses and winning major events, Copperwood has played its part in the development and growth of Australia’s Quarter Horse and Western Performance/Cutting industry. Both Doug and Craig are past Directors of the Australian Quarter Horse Association. Craig is a past Director of the National Cutting Horse Association; Doug is a past president of the Australian Reined Cowhorse Association and still a Director of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. The Copperwood Incentive Program of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s set the cutting world on fire: cash and prizes were awarded to Owners, Breeders, Trainers and Non Professional riders in excess of $350,000 and undoubtedly was instrumental in the enormous growth of the Cutting Horse industry in Australia.
There is little doubt that the success of Copperwood bred horses particularly in Cutting Futurities, Derbies, Classic Challenges and other special events is due to an unswerving belief that only the best will do. An uncompromising breeding program that only allows for those horses and bloodlines that improve the product and an unshakeable confidence in what we are doing. Some may say that having won most of the titles and big events in this country there is really nothing left for Copperwood to do.
Surely the satisfaction that comes with success has been
achieved.........
