History

In June of 1989, Jens L. List, Jr. purchased 153 acres that is now Double Bar S Ranch in Moreno Valley, California. Since the passing of Jens in November of 1996, his wife Sharon and daughters Rhonda and Dawn run Double Bar S Ranch. The Ranch is mainly utilized for racehorses, including breeding, training, and lay-ups. The 153 acres that makes up the total area of the ranch are divided into a 5/8 mile racetrack, 11 large pastures ranging from 15-25 acres, 34 large grass paddocks and over 100 smaller turnout pens. When filled to capacity the ranch can accommodate 750 animals but usually carries an average animal population of 350 horses. Approximately 150 mares, 100 yearlings and 100 to 125 racehorses in training can be found on the grounds the majority of the time. There are also five stallions owned by Double Bar S Ranch.

Back to Top

Breeding Program

The mares brought to Double Bar S Ranch for breeding purposes are kept together in groups according to how far along they are in their gestation periods. The majority of the mares are kept in the large pastures some distance from the barns; exceptions are mares that need special medical care or attention. As the mares progress through their gestation period, they are systematically moved into 48 small turnout pens near the mare barn. Within these small pens, the staff can easily confirm when mares need to be brought into the barn to prepare for foaling. The mare barn consists of 10 foaling stalls and is completely enclosed. Once the mares are moved into the foaling barn, they are watched by ranch staff 24 hours a day. Once the mares foal, the pairs are turned into one of 50 pens set aside specifically for mares and foals. When the foals are able and healthy, pairs will be turned back into the large pastures to graze.

For mares needing to be bred, the ranch utilizes 40 outdoor-lighted pens to bring them into season. This collection of smaller pens, along with 34 grass paddocks allows the ranch to keep animals or groups of animals well-separated and organized.

All of the stallions are kept in the stud barn and are each brought out once a day to either graze or swim. The studs are turned out in grass paddocks which are 150 ft. x 90 ft. to graze and exercise, or they swim approximately 10 laps in the pool.

Double Bar S Ranch is fully equipped with a lab for collection and evaluation of semen and to perform embryo transfers. During breeding season, the staff breeds up to 32 mares a day when necessary. All breeding and reproductive operations are overseen by veterinarian, Dr. John Etchart and ranch manager Jerry Young.
Back to Top

Barns

The barns on Double Bar S Ranch vary greatly in overall size but are identical in their structure. All of the barns are built on a cement platform, with stalls completely made of wood. The buildings all have open tile roofing. The ranch currently utilizes four barns, all of different sizes: The mare barn has 10 stalls, the training barn has 54 stalls, the stud barn has 10 stalls and the quarantine barn has 4 stalls. The List family is very pleased with the structure of their barns, commenting that they are very sturdy and efficient for training horses.
Back to Top

Feeding Program

The feed rations on Double Bar S Ranch vary for the mares and for the horses in training. The entire staff of Double Bar S Ranch has a role in overseeing that the feed rations are correct for all of the animals on the ranch. The men of the feed crew are fundamental in reporting any need for changes in the feed program for any particular horse. They also report the need to move any mare that is being dominated by other mares resulting in a possible situation where an individual animal would be deprived of daily rations.
Back to Top

Care,Training Methods and Facilities

One large asset that Double Bar S Ranch has to offer is its training pool. This pool is a one-of-a-kind and is a highly advanced tool for training and for rehabilitation. The distance around the outside of the pool is 232 ft. with a 55 ft. diameter. The pool is 11 ft. deep (at the deepest point) and holds 103,000 gallons of water. Due to the size of the pool, it is kept full at all times as opposed to many exercise tanks where the horse is led into an empty tank and the water fills in around them. The pool is maintained constantly with an automatic filtration system and is checked and cleaned manually three times a week.

The animals are led down a mat-covered ramp into the pool. As the horse descends into the water, the handler actually walks over the entryway on an electronic bridge. Once the horse is submerged deep enough that the animal is swimming, a groom will automatically raise the bridge and ramp making the pool a closed circle. The handler then walks on the outside of the pool with the horse for the duration of the training or exercise session. The pool is used for low impact work-outs. For most horses this is an effective training method as the horses will come to enjoy their time in the pool every day. The ranch staff makes a very strong point that no horse is ever forced into the pool. Some unwilling participants never do go for a swim and some go only after days of gentle coaxing, but the pool is overall an enjoyable experience for the horses once they become accustomed to swimming.

Double Bar S Ranch is also equipped with a 5/8 mile training track for its racing stock. Following the purchase of the ranch in 1989, one of the improvements made was increasing the distance of the straight-away on the track. Now at 400 yards, this stretch enables much more convenient and safe training for the Quarter Horses. The surface of the track is topsoil, sand and redwood bark, on a clay base with a six-inch cushion. Metal rails, designed to breakaway if hit by a horse, surround the track on the inside and outside. The vertical poles of the rail also serve as sprinklers for the irrigation system, making even watering of the track easier and eliminating the need for a water truck. The track is complete with a four-horse starting gate.

Double Bar S Ranch encourages use of their training facilities by allowing outside horses onto the ranch for a daily fee. These animals are all supervised by Double Bar S Ranch staff.
Back to Top

Staff

Double Bar S Ranch is still family-owned and operated and employs a core of approximately 25 people to keep things running smoothly. Included on the payroll at Double Bar S Ranch are three maintenance employees and two members of the feed crew. The racehorses are attended to by a full time trainer and 15 full-time grooms. The brood mares and stallions are attended to by one veterinarian and five-eight grooms. The entire ranch is overseen by Jerry Young, with 30 years of experience, his dedication is second to none. Although each member of Double Bar S Ranch staff has their own specific responsibilities, there is always a helping hand ready from other areas of the ranch when necessary, a quality that lends itself to assuring the ranch's success.