Graycheck Performance Horses

01/25/2025

During this cold weather we took a morning run up to our favorite tack/clothing store in Ocala, Chi Rho Ranch - World Equestrian Center to pick up some new show and work pads for the 2025 season. What can you find there that you can’t hardly find anywhere else in Florida?

- Saguaro Show Pads
- Tom Balding Bits & Spurs
- Bob's Custom Saddles
- 5 Star Pads
- custom rawhide romals

Swing by and grab some quality gear while they have it in stock!

01/23/2025

We just got in the most adorable palomino mare ever! FOR SALE
Flashy, ranchy and been there done that.
Priced in the low-mid 5figures 🤩

01/22/2025

Incorporating early training strategies for two-year-olds can have transformative benefits in the Western performance horse world, fostering sounder prospects with increased career longevity. While these benefits are well-documented in racing disciplines, they directly apply to the physical demands of Western performance events, such as reining, cutting, and cow horse competitions.

Early Training in Western Performance Horses

1. Stronger Skeletal Development: Western performance horses require significant joint stability and bone density to handle the quick stops, spins, and turns that are staples of disciplines like reining. Early, controlled training stimulates bone remodeling, creating denser, more robust skeletal structures. This reduces the risk of stress fractures and soft-tissue injuries later in life

2. Enhanced Longevity: Horses started at two years old often experience longer careers due to their bodies’ adaptability to stress. In the Western performance world, longevity is crucial, as these horses often compete for many years. Early training ensures their musculoskeletal systems are prepared for repeated high-impact movements

3. Injury Prevention: Starting with training at two years old can help prevent overuse injuries commonly seen in horses introduced to intense work later. By gradually exposing them to the physical demands of performance, young horses develop resilience, reducing the risk of injuries like suspensory strains and joint degradation.

4. Behavioral and Mental Development: Early training doesn’t just build physical strength—it also fosters mental maturity. Horses exposed to structured work early tend to be more confident and focused under saddle, key traits for success in Western disciplines.

Reflecting These Benefits in the Industry

Western performance horses often undergo rigorous schedules, including futurities that begin at three years old. Preparing a two-year-old with appropriate training & riding ensures that by the time they enter the competitive arena, they are physically and mentally ready. This preparation contributes to a longer competitive life, allowing these horses to perform at peak levels beyond their futurity years.

Best Practices for Starting Two-Year-Olds

• Controlled Exercise: Begin with low-impact activities, such as groundwork, longeing, and light riding, to gradually build strength and coordination.

• Professional Oversight: Work closely with veterinarians and trainers to monitor growth and development, avoiding overloading young horses.

• Customized Nutrition: Provide a diet tailored to support bone and joint health, such as supplements rich in calcium, phosphorus, and omega-3 fatty acids.

By applying evidence-based practices to Western performance horse training, the industry can produce sounder, more competitive athletes capable of thriving in demanding events for years to come. Early training is not about rushing development but preparing young horses to meet the challenges of their future careers with resilience and strength.

For a more in-depth understanding, you can explore sources such as:

[Paulick Report] https://bit.ly/4iVCrVP

[Texas A&M] https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/00966654-27f2-44ea-ba3d-f3ba60c0b62b/content

[Pub Med] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2100207/

[Mississippi State] http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/breaking-horses-not-bones-properly-raising-young-horses-avoid-costly-injuries

From the www.WZEQUINE.com blog!

01/22/2025

It’s been too long since Cliff Schadt Jr. and I’ve put a first ride on a c**t together. I’m grateful and proud that we were able to sharpen our irons and get together after the work-day finished up on this frigid 36 degree night with our newest personal horse “Mining Whiza Gun.”

It was a hell of a feeling when I realized that after going years without starting one together, Cliff and I fell right into our old routine, and it all flowed into a first ride I couldn’t have asked any better for. Cliff knew his job, and I knew mine. And because of that, this c**t had a great first experience packing me around. Thank you again Aimee Nicole for the opportunity to own Miner, and for raising him to be such a gentleman. He has been a blast so far, he gave us a textbook first ride tonight, and I can’t wait to see how he comes along.

01/16/2025

01/12/2025

Stephen’s Sunday Pro Tip:

Want to have a good relationship with your trainer? Be the owner who calls or texts before you head to the barn, not the creepy one who just shows up. ESPECIALLY during non-business hours.

You will be looked at in a less than positive light after you cross that first boundary by doing this. Especially from those of us who say from the beginning that we have an open-door policy, but just let us know beforehand.

Horse trainers will categorize and prioritize you depending on your actions while your horse is in their barn. Are you easy and enjoyable to work with? Do you pay your bills on time? Do you LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY? It’s just the way the human mind works. And when it’s time to go down on our numbers or cull a few to bring new horses in, guess who’s going first!

A lot of these actions are noticed, but we will never bring it up. I’m sorry your parents didn’t raise you rigjt, but it’s not my job to tell another adult how to treat me. If you don’t know how to give others respect and a simple courtesy call, you could be out and not even know it yet.

You might say you have every right to come see your horse, and I can’t argue with that point, but what I could say is I also have a right to know who is coming onto the property me and my family work and live on.

However, if that’s the conversation you want to have when reading this then you’re missing the point entirely.

So again, just make the 5 second courtesy call before you show up and we can have a great time. Don’t be that guy.

Rant over.

01/09/2025

The Graycheck team brought home much more than the show horse flu 🤧 from the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit and Florida Gulf Coast Quarter Horse Circuit shows😎
Thank you to everyone who helped and supported us, we couldn’t have done it without you all. We are so proud of our horses and the dedication of our customers.

✨ WHIZELGUN ✨
Owned by Nicole Holms
Shown by Steve Graycheck
Gold Coast
🏆Reserve Circuit Champion VRH Ranch Reining
🏆 Circuit Champion VRH Ranch Trail
🏅Top 5 Sr Working Western Rail

Gulf Coast
🏆Reserve Circuit champion

🍬LIKESBOXOFCHOCOLATE🍬
Owned and shown by Gracellyn Allen

Gulf Coast
VRH Youth Grand Champion

🏆VRH Youth Trail Circuit Champion
🏆VRH Youth Ranch Riding Circuit Champion
🏆AQHA L1 Youth Ranch Riding Circuit Champion
🏆AQHA Youth Ranch Riding Reserve Champion
🏆VRH Youth Conformation Reserve Champion

Gold Coast on
💥 BOONTASTIC LITTLECAT💥
🏆VRH Youth Reining Circuit reserve Champion

🔸SNIPSTER 🔸
Owned and shown by Lauren Kinsey

Gold Coast
🏆Circuit Reserve Champion Amateur VRH Ranch Reining
🏅Multiple Top 5 and Top 10 finishes in
Amateur VRH Ranch Riding
Amateur VRH Ranch Trail
Open VRH Ranch Reining

Gulf Coast
🏅multiple Top 5 and Top 10 finishes in
Amateur VRH Ranch Reining
Amateur VRH Ranch Riding
Amateur VRH Ranch Trail
Open VRH Ranch Reining

You guys did amazing great job! Special thank you to Erica Candlish Allen for everything you do. From making sure we always have snacks, being everyone’s horse show mom to letting us have your kid to help anytime we need her. You are so appreciated by us all.
Also to Jessica LaHay-Welch, Johnny, Greg and Rani thank you for your help and support. It’s a pleasure having you on the team and we can’t wait for you guys to start showing as well!

Chi Rho Ranch
Chi Rho Ranch - World Equestrian Center
Kyle Tack
Ride Southerly
Shorty's Caboy Hattery
BEMER Horse-Set North America
Beyond the Track Apparel

01/09/2025

Happy New Year!

We are looking to add a team member to our show organization. This will be a paid position 💰

Job duties include:
- Schedule and oversee drags
- Keep information/ Draw board updated
- Check in on judges, scribe and announcer
- Manage stalls and shavings requests at shows
- Oversee set up on ranch riding and trail pattern
- Mediate any questions between exhibitors and show management
(Prefer someone familiar with show rules or willing to learn)

If interested please message us.

01/03/2025

If you’re here at the Florida Gulf Coast Quarter Horse Circuit at the World Equestrian Center - Ocala, make sure to stop by Chi Rho Ranch - World Equestrian Center to get anything Santa might have forgotten to get you for Christmas before heading home!

12/30/2024

WHIZELGUN has had an amazing showing so far, while competing against the best of the best at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit.

Thank you so much to his owner Nicole Holm for trusting us with your boy, we can’t wait to see you and him in the pen together in the near future!

VRH OPEN RANCH TRAIL:
- 🥈 with a huge 228!!!

VRH OPEN RANCH REINING:
- 🥈 with a 216.5!

Steve Graycheck and Waylon will be showing tomorrow in the Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, and Working Western Rail. Come by and see us at the World Equestrian Center - Ocala

Chi Rho Ranch
Chi Rho Ranch - World Equestrian Center
Basic Animal Health
Kyle Tack
Ride Southerly
Shorty's Caboy Hattery
Todd Bowman Custom Bits & Spurs

12/26/2024

All settled in at World Equestrian Center - Ocala for the Gold Coast/ Gulf Coast shows! Excited to finish out 2024 and bring in 2025 the best way we know how, showing with our favorite people!

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

12/23/2024

Just like always, we enjoyed ourselves to the fullest while in Okeechobee for the Cowtown Classic Versatility Ranch Horse Show. Gracelyn and her horse Boon probably had the best time of the whole crew! She ended up in the top 3 of each class, racked up some impressive scores, and by the end of it she won the Youth Limited High-Point award for the weekend!

We are extremely proud of the growth we’ve seen in the last few years since you’ve started riding with us, and we love having you on our team. There is no doubt that if this is the road you choose in life, you will find success. Way to go G and Boon!

Youth Limited Ranch Cow Work: 🥇
Youth Limited Ranch Reining: 🥇
Youth Limited Ranch Trail: 🥇
Youth Limited Ranch Cutting: 🥈
Youth Working Western Rail:🥈
Youth Limited Ranch Conformation: 🥈
Youth Limited Ranch Riding: 🥉