Chris
Brown
Ranch
Founder & Owner
Chris
has been training and showing cutting horses and training Non Pro riders for
over 30 years. During this time, Chris has contributed to the success of the
Sonoma County horse industry by focusing his efforts on local riders, their
horses, and cutting associations. He was one of the original founders, past
President, and is a life time member of the Vintage Cutting Horse Association.
Chris has trained many local champion horses and riders. He has been an
approved NCHA AAA rated judge and has judged many cuttings. Chis is a recipient
of the 2012 Sonoma County Horse Council Annual Equus Award for is many years of
contribution to the horse industry.
Chris is originally from Australia where he spent eight years
as a jackaroo (an agricultural intern) in the Outback learning ranch
operations. In 1972, he came to the United States to expand his knowledge of
the training and breeding of American Quarter Horses. During his travels in the
U.S., he was bit by the "cutting bug" when he accepted employment and learned
the cutting trade from Leon Harrel - one of the cutting industry's top trainers
and showmen - a two time National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Champion.
After a few years,
Chris opened his own cutting horse training facility on a 16 acre ranch in
Santa Rosa where he overseas ranch operations including training. Chris has won
many championships and trained many champion riders and horses.
 |
Cecily
Broughton
Assistant Ranch Manager and Horse Trainer
Not only is Cecily in
charge of the daily operations of the ranch, she also gives lessons to novice,
as well as experienced, riders. Cecily is currently taking outside horses for
training and is skilled at working with young/green
horses as well as older, finished cutting horses. If you or your horse need a
"tune-up" before a show, give her a call. She'd be
glad to help you get ready for the big event.
Cecily has a B.A. from
Sonoma State University and is working towards becoming a professional horse
trainer. Her interests in horses began at nine years old in Half Moon Bay when
she started riding Western and “chasing cows around." During high school,
she helped people learn to ride and conditioned horses after school and on week
ends. Cecily moved to Sonoma County in 2007 to attend Sonoma State University
where she majored in Liberal Arts and minored in Business. She enrolled in a
college student program loping for a reining trainer and then went to work for
Chris Brown as a loper and soon started learning how to ride and compete on
cutting horses. 2011 was Cecily’s second year riding cutting horses and
first year showing. In her first year showing, she won the $10,000 Novice Horse
Championship at Gold Country and tied for the $10,000 Novice Horse Championship
at the VCHA.
 |
Sam
Brown
Cattle
Management and Horse Trainer
In addition to his cattle management and training duties at the
ranch, Sam works as a "cowboy for hire" in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Contra
Costa and Solano counties. Sam provides assistance at brandings, round-ups, and
shipping livestock, as well as constructing and repairing corrals, fencing,
holding pens, and cattle chutes. He uses his cattle handling expertise when
helping clubs with cattle feeding and management.
When training horses, Sam
utilizes his access to "wide open spaces" to put lots of time and an excellent
"handle" on the colts he starts. He trains all types of horses from ranch stock
to finely bred colts. When giving lessons, Sam teaches his students how to
handle cattle while on horseback as well as how to ride and show cutting
horses.
Sam was raised on the ranch watching his dad, Chris, training
cutting horses and riders. He was a star rugby and football player at
Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa. After high school, he transferred his
athletic abilities to training colts and riders. In the last few years, Sam has
expanded his skills to include cattle and ranch management while working for
Five Dot Land and Cattle Company. Sam also shows cutting horses and is an
accomplished leather and metal artist, specializing in western leather stamping
and western jewelry. |
