Ranch Interview - by Julie Frank

Rancho Oso Rio - Pat Warren & Dell Hendricks

(Left): Pat Warren, Rancho Oso Rio owner, riding Del Pepolena Twist at 2000 Sun Country photo by T. Hendricks

(Right): Dell Hendricks & the late Hangten Peppy at 2000 Nations Cup photo by K Bar M

Well into their second year at Rancho Oso Rio's "new" location on Rio Verde Drive, Pat Warren and Dell Hendricks reflect on the changes that have come with the move from their previous location on Dynamite near Pima.

· How are you enjoying the new location?

· Pat: We love the setting. The ranch is much larger, 30 acres rather than 10, and at least for now, there's more open space surrounding us. Several professional horsemen and women have made or are making the move out in this direction. We had simply outgrown the space at the ranch on Dynamite.

Our breeding program required more room for outside mares being sent for breeding, in addition to maintaining our own mares, weanlings, yearlings and two-year-olds.

· Obviously you're beginning to experience national success as breeders. I understand you bred the 1999 NRHA Futurity winner, Hollywood Vintage. What lines do you feel will be most competitive in the years ahead?

· Pat: We bred my mare, Taris Little Vintage, back to Hollywood Dun It in 2000 and will breed her back to him in 2001. That cross worked the first time. We also have several nice foals, yearlings and two-year-olds by Mr Boomerjac. Mr Boomerjac has been a consistent winner in the show pen, with earnings in excess of $105,000 to date. We like what we see in his babies.

They have his agreeable disposition and they're pretty movers with nice flat necks. There are several fine prospects by Hangten Peppy as well. They all have his attractive conformation and a few of the three-year-olds are just starting to be shown. Sadly, Dell and co-owner Belle Carpenter recently made the difficult decision to euthanize Hangten Peppy, following complications arising from a severe hind limb dislocation.

· Dell, we're all sorry to hear about the loss of Hangten. You had the wonderful opportunity to ride him in last year's Nations Cup as participants of Team USA which won the class. I won't ask you what your plans are at this point, but I understand you have some talented Hangten offspring at the ranch.

· Dell: I do miss Hangten. It's hard to let go of a horse that helped me achieve so many goals. It was as though we could read each other's mind whenever we were in the show pen. We really were a team. The challenge will be finding another Hangten. I loved his grit, his courage. On a lighter note, we do have several Hangten weanlings through three-year-olds at the ranch. I get kidded a lot about being superstitious. One of the things I don't like to do is talk about any horse I have coming along before it establishes itself in the show pen. All I can tell you is there are some great-looking three-year-olds by Hangten in the barn and each one has his easy athleticism.

· We've also seen you become more active in working with non pro riders. How are you enjoying this use of your time?

· Dell: I've always been interested in working with non pros. It's just that I wanted to establish myself as a winning professional, help Pat achieve her goals as a rider and help define and develop Rancho Oso Rio's breeding program. There wasn't a lot of time left to bring along other non pros.

Each objective is underway, freeing up time to spend training a few outside non pros. Certainly, it helps to have experienced people on the ranch. Matt Mills is the assistant trainer and he spends time working with the non pros as well. Monte Montgomery is the ranch's breeding manager and he takes care of everything related to the breeding program, which has allowed me to focus on training and riding. And, of course, my wife Terri. She keeps me well organized. She runs the office, manages my schedule and organizes every last detail related to the horse shows.

Back to working with non pros. I have to admit, I'm partial to non pros who have a burning desire to win. That's something I understand. It's also important the riders know how to enjoy themselves, whether practicing at home or competing in the show pen. I like to see the non pros get along well with each other because that sense of camaraderie makes for more of a team effort. For example, three of the non pros in our barn Pat, Linda Hamilton and Gretchen Clark often compete in the same classes. It's hard to tell if any one of the three is happier if she wins the class or one of the other two wins the class. Although they're serious about riding, they know how to have fun at the shows.

· Pat and Dell, how can people contact you to get more information regarding breeding, training, sale prospects, etc.?

· Dell: I really appreciate the person who calls and schedules an appointment to come out to the ranch if they're interested in one of the stallions, looking at sale horses or considering our facility to place a horse in training. It's tough to give someone who "drops in" my undivided attention when I'm in the middle of training a horse or working with another rider. The ranch phone is 480-471-7603 and our email is reining@ranchoosorio.com. Your readers may also find out more about us by going to our web site at www.ranchoosorio.com.

I'd like to mention I'll be participating in a clinic with my fellow Nations Cup gold medal team members Bill Horn, Craig Johnson and Scott McCutcheon. It's called the Original Gold Competitive Reining Clinic and will be held May 23-26, following the NRHA Derby, at C Quarter Circle Ranch in Gainesville, Texas. There are accommodations for both horse and rider at the ranch. Spectators can make reservations to observe the clinic. The number to call for more information is 940-668-2855. Riders will be divided into groups, based on experience level, so non-pros as well as trainers will find their sessions have been tailored to address the demands each level faces.

Thanks for inviting Pat and me to visit with you and your readers.