Arabian Horses, Quarter Horses, Paint Horses and Stallions of YL Ranch

Ranch Information

YL Ranch is a large, attractive, and well designed stallion station and equine reproduction facility. We are dedicated to serving our clients who stand their stallions at stud here, bring mares to be bred by artificial insemination, contact us to ship cooled and/or frozen semen to them (we are USDA approved to export), request our embryo transfer services, and also bring us horses for boarding and training. We are also committed to offering some of the best working ranch and show horses for sale, including Quarter Horses, Purebred Arabian Horses, Half-Arabian Horses, Paint Horses, and Thoroughbred Race Horses. We are located just southeast of historic Albany, Texas on this 2,000 acre working cattle ranch we call home. YL Ranch is one of the “younger” ranches associated with the Matthews/Reynolds (“Interwoven”) family, having been established in 1929 with the construction of our Spanish style ranch home by John's parents, Joseph Beck Matthews and wife, Louise Webb Matthews.

The “YL” brand is an old family brand which has been in use since the 1870’s along with the Long X, Gourd, AV, Candy Cane, MO, Flying U, JOS, Diamond Tail, and JA, among others. John descends from one of the oldest ranching families in West Texas, and also owns and operates the 10,000 acre Tecumseh Ranch in Throckmorton County on the Clear Fork River. Tecumseh Ranch has a very rich history, and if you would like to read more about it, please click here.

I’m pleased that the young horses we breed and train at YL can be raised in pastures rather than pens, and that our smaller fenced paddocks are at least one to two acres in size with ample room to enjoy free exercise and grow up having fun with “pasture buddies.” When old enough to go under saddle, the horses we raise are ridden in the large ranch pastures as part of their additional training as well as for recreation and ranch work. They are not bred and raised to be “hot-house plants,” but rather to be good looking using horses that are bred for ranch work as well as to compete in various equine show ring disciplines, if we (or our clients who purchase them) wish to pursue a show career.

John enjoys raising Thoroughbred Horses for racing, and I particularly enjoy “Working Western” competition including Cutting (IACHA and NCHA), Reining, Working Cow, etc. I’ve specialized in athletes since I started breeding Arabian Horses in 1984, and never liked what I term as “weedy” Arabians, meaning any that don’t exhibit good bone, muscle and scale. 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, but my primary focus is to breed horses that can “do something”—not just decorate a pasture for visual enjoyment as “living art.”

My goal when I started breeding Arabians in 1984 was to see my horses compete in Halter (until they were old enough to wear a saddle) and Performance classes, and in doing so, hopefully achieve Regional Championships, Scottsdale Championships, and US National Championships. All three of these goals have been reached during my years of competition, and now I am thoroughly enjoying being primarily dedicated to YL’s success as a prominent Stallion Station offering a “full menu” of breeding services and standing a diversified group of breeding stallions—several of my own as well as “outside” (client) stallions.

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We at YL Ranch are especially excited over our new Exclusive permission to utilize the amazing new “UFT,” (Unique Freezing Technology) granted to our facility in November, 2003. UFT promises to completely revolutionize the current industry standard used in freezing equine semen! UFT is a University tested proven process, and YL Ranch is offering clients an introductory Test Freeze for their stallions during 2004 for only $250.00. Our Ranch Manager, Clay Dehn (AS, BS, MS) in association with Texas Tech University, will also be involved with and conducting new research in HYPP genetic issues which remain a huge concern to the American Quarter Horse Association. We hope to report some valid statistical data in the near future which will show great promise in reaching a solution to this very critical problem for owners of “Impressive” bred stallions.

You are always welcome at YL Ranch, whether your trip is only to our website or in person, and we hope you enjoy this online visit. We are proud of our heritage, local history, and professional expertise in providing our clients with state-of-the-art diversified breeding services. We and our Staff sincerely hope we may be of some future service to you and/or your horses!