Ward Ranch stallion, Just Plain Colonel, died from complications of colic on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at the age of 25.  The stallion was the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s (NRCHA) Number Six All-Time Leading Sire, and has appeared on reined cow horse, cutting and reining leading sire lists consecutively from 1995-2007.

“He was an important part of the Ward Ranch breeding program for over 20 years,” said Dar Hanson, Ward River Ranch Breeding Manager.  “He will be missed as a sire and as a friend.” 

Just Plain Colonel, born in 1983, was by Colonel Freckles and out of Grey Nelly.  During his own cutting career, the brown stallion was an Open Finalist in the Bonanza Cutting as a 4-year-old; a money-earner in the Open of the Tropicana Derby; Reno Celebrity Derby Open Top 10; placed fifth in the Open of Reno’s Western Classic; finished fourth in the Open of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association’s (PCCHA) Challenge; PCCHA Tournament of Champions 4/5/6-year-old Open Top 10; in addition to numerous other top competition placings.  His lifetime earnings (LTE) added up to $53,926. 

Through his breeding career, Just Plain Colonel was the sire of two NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Champions and two Open Reserve Champions, and a two-time World’s Greatest Horseman Competition Reserve Champion.

Justa Hot Chic, shown by Laurie Ward, was the 2002 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro World Champion.  Nicilena, shown by Joanne Carollo, was the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open World Champion, as well as the NRCHA River Front Farms Non-Pro Derby Champion.  Just Plain Pici and Plain Sugar Remedy were both NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open World Reserve Champions. 

In 2004 and 2005, Miss Plain Plain and Russell Dilday claimed the World’s Greatest Horseman Reserve Championship title.  Just Mister Dual (LTE of $144,199) was the PCCHA Cutting/Stakes Open Champion, and was a Top 10 finisher in the Open at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity.

Colonels First Pic is the top money-earner of Just Plain Colonel’s offspring, with LTE of $164,054.  Colonels First Pic finished in the Top 10 of the NCHA World Championship Cutting Non-Pro finals, as well as a finalist in the NCHA $10,000 Novice Non-Pro.

Other leading foals by Just Plain Colonel include:  Miss Plain Dual, Plain Spring Remedy, Colonel Taffy, Sweet Fillynic, Colonels Hot Chic, Colonel Tivio Barga, Plain Frosty Doc, Just Spring Remedy, Sugarnics Star, Just Plain Doin It, and Colonels Plain Pic. 

For more information on Just Plain Colonel and the Ward River Ranch, visit www.wardriverranch.com or call (559) 897-8616.