YL Ebonys Emage |
All that embodies Texas history and exemplifies
the era of the cowboy and the cattle drives is reflected in the
ambiance of this scenic ranch just southeast of historic Albany
in North West Texas. The "YL" Ranch steeped in Texas
history and the feel of the place conjures up scenes in my head
of the "old west" come to life. There is a relaxed
and stately feel to the place which has been in the Matthews
family the late 1920's. One of the "younger" ranches,
of a group owned by the Matthews/Reynolds family, it reflects
the Spanish style of construction for the main ranch house and
their "YL" brand still used today has been in the family
since the 1870's. Established by John Matthews' parents, Joseph
and Louise Matthews, John and Sharon call this two thousand acre
working cattle ranch their home.
Today there are still cattle and if you close your eyes as you
look out over the dusty west Texas land you can just imagine
the cowboys on horseback pushing the cattle down into the draws
as they head to the river for water. There may be an antique
feel to the ranch but most of the facilities have changed over
the years and are always being updated to accommodate the most
modern innovations in equine care and reproduction. Several years
ago Sharon decided to incorporate a Stallion Station and Equine
Reproduction facility into the ranch. With a loyal staff who
has served the ranch for many years, they all dedicated themselves
to their clients and their horses. Stallions are collected on
site and cooled and frozen semen is shipped across the US and
overseas, with their USDA approval to export. Mares are artificially
inseminated and foals are born and the cycle of life continues.
 The focus of the ranch now centers
around breeding season and as the busiest time of the year approaches,
everyone is swinging into high gear and stallions are arriving
daily to fulfill their duties taking care of their mares in waiting.
Although there is mostly client breeding being taken care of,
there are also a few horses being bred for the ranch itself.
Sharon stands two stallions of her own, YL Ebonys Emage, a true
blue black purebred Arabian and Pink Floyds Blues, a Cremello
Quarter Horse.
John has always enjoyed his Thoroughbred horses for racing and
Sharon took a different direction when she fell in love with
Arabians. She became involved with cutting and the working western
aspects of the breed when she began breeding in 1984. Always
liking a horse with substance, bone and good muscling, and having
a ranching influence it was natural that she would want to have
horses that could do "something".
"I've specialized in athletes since I started breeding Arabian
Horses," explains Sharon, "and never liked what I term
as "weedy" Arabians or horses that just decorate a
pasture for visual enjoyment as "living art". A good
equine athlete needs adequate muscling and bone to perform well,
regardless of the breed, and although some may not agree with
me, I think good legs and a powerful rear end with the brains
up front to keep it in gear are critical to a Champion. A pleasing
appearance is naturally always to be admired and I certainly
strive for that as a breeder."
 Breeding two stallions, of different
breeds and color, gives Sharon a diverse market to draw on. She
has her purebred black stallion YL Ebonys Emage, by the beautiful,
YL Ebony Bey, whom she exported to Uruguay where he is founding
a dynasty of Arabians for Haras Santa Barbara. He was named Uruguay's
Grand Champion Stallion and Best Arabian at the prestigious Expo
Prado National Show. His son Emage is equally handsome and a
champion in his own right and he is homozygous black as well
as SCID clear and boasts an equally superior pedigree for breeding.
Pink Floyds Blues is a beautiful Cremello Quarter Horse, who
was sired by a 16.1 hand stallion who has multiple halter and
performance World and Reserve World champions to his credit.
Bred to chestnuts and bays this handsome stallion with a quiet
disposition will produce palominos and buckskins, which are so
popular in the Half-Arabian market today. He is long necked and
extremely correct and is double registered with both the Quarter
Horse Association and the Paint Horse Association. Both stallions
are AHA Sweepstakes Nominated Sires and Floyd is also a AQHA
Incentive Fund sire.
S
ome of the horses Sharon has bred are now under saddle and ready
to begin a career of their own. The horses are ridden on the
ranch for recreation and ranch work as well as having arena work,
so they are equipped to handle many different situations when
they go on to pursue careers with their new owners.
For breeding information on Sharons stallions or information
regarding any of the stallions standing or services offered at
the YL Stallion Station contact Sharon Matthews at (325) 762-2833
or (325) 669-9229 (cell) or by email at ylsom@aol.com or visit
the website at www.ylranch.com for more information. |
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