Memory Ranches: Pearce family raises practical, functional Quarter Horses in the mountains of Nevada

The Pearce family of Memory Ranches believes form follows function when it comes to producing exceptional horses.

Monty and Merry Pearce have been developing their Quarter Horse program alongside their Red and Black Angus cattle operation for generations.

With the help of three adult children – Merrily, Luke and Clancy – and their respective families, the Pearces produce ranch-raised, quality-tested Quarter Horses renowned for their trainability and hardiness.

Developed in the East Humboldt Mountains just outside of Wells, Nev., Memory Ranches horses are bred tough to hold up in all kinds of conditions and have proven themselves on the ranch and in the arena.

Balanced bloodlines

A desire to raise and ride hardy, versatile horses was behind the Pearces’ decision to first venture into the world of horse production just over two decades ago. 

Seeking trainable horses with strong physical traits which would hold up on the ranch, Monty began making investments in genetics which today include bloodlines of Driftwood, Joe Reed, Oklahoma Fuel, Dash Ta Fame, Goodbye Sam, Otoe and Colonel Freckles.

The Pearces have prioritized practical breeding with a focus on trainability and performance since the start, putting hundreds of hours and thousands of miles into developing the broodmares and bloodlines which make up the Memory Ranches horse herd today.

For the Pearces, performance matters more than pedigrees. Even if a horse’s bloodlines look exceptional on paper, the way the animal performs in the real world is the ultimate deciding factor in whether they make the cut. 

Rather than chasing pedigrees in hopes of achieving a “one-in-a-million” outcome, Luke says consistency and functionality is core to the Memory Ranches breeding philosophy. 

“The problem with breeding horses solely focused on producing a world champion is consistency goes way down,” Luke explains. “To some degree, you can end up with horses that aren’t good for anything.”

“Instead, our philosophy is to produce horses in a way where all of the colts turn out,” he adds. “We don’t want just 10 of them to be good – we want all of them to be good.”

The true test comes in the round pen. If a stud or mare consistently produces untrainable offspring, they are sold despite what their papers may say. 

“If you want consistency, you have to eliminate the genes that produce those bad attitudes,” Monty says.

Legendary lineage

Several Memory Ranches horses are descendants of the legendary stallion Driftwood, an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) hall of famer known for his easy-going disposition, balanced athleticism and exceptional all-around performance traits. 

Horses with Driftwood genetics are renowned for their trainability and willingness to work in all types of conditions, making them choice mounts for meeting the demands of ranch work and the pressures of competitive performance alike.

From the branding pen to the rodeo arena, Driftwood descendants are “do-it-all” types with excellent cow sense, agility and sturdiness.

“These Driftwood horses are just a little tougher than the rest,” says Monty. “We were looking for a horse tough enough to do it all, and we’ve found that in the Driftwoods.”

“These bloodlines are as good as they come in this industry,” he adds. “All of our horses are competitive, and we always try to improve and get better.”

Quality tested

The Pearces raise between 80 and 100 foals on their ranch every year, overseeing operations from first halter to sale day.

From 2009-23, horses sold as three- to five-year-olds – all of which had been ridden by a member of the Pearce family before being offered for sale. 

“We’ve ridden and used these horses for generations,” Monty says. “For 20 years, we rode every single horse colt that came off of this ranch.”

In 2023, the Pearces switched to selling colts as weanlings to ease the workload, but they continue to handle young horses extensively before sale day to get a feel for their disposition and performance potential.

Today, Luke primarily takes the reins on developing the horses, and both Monty and Luke emphasize getting a hands-on feel for foals each year helps enhance the program and better serve customers.

Luke says a high percentage of Memory Ranches clientele is repeat customers consisting of several types of horse owners, from full-time ranchers and team ropers to trail riders and everyone in between. 

Mountain raised

Memory Ranches horses are raised in the East Humboldt Mountains, running in conditions ranging anywhere from 6,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation.

The rugged terrain helps develop horses physically and mentally. Hearts, lungs, feet and sinew are strengthened by the atmosphere and elevation as colts learn to handle their feet in steep, rocky country.

The Pearces run their purebred cow herd like commercial cattle in the same rugged conditions, resulting in a hearty calf crop, along with sturdy foals each year. 

Artificial insemination is used in the cow herd, a technique Monty says the family has used for the past 52 years. 

The Pearces also raise and sell purebred Red and Black Angus bulls known for longevity, and they use pulmonary arterial pressure testing to ensure performance in high-elevation country.

“The bulls we sell have not been pampered,” Luke says. “They go on to demonstrate incredible longevity on the ranches they work for.”

Horses are pasture bred and most sell as weanlings in August, with a handful of geldings available for private treaty sale each year. 

Spring and summer are devoted to calving and foaling, while autumn brings sale season. Calving winds down right as foaling heats up, ensuring the Pearce family stays busy all year long. 

Family first 

Horses and cattle are central to the Pearce’s lives and heritage – something the family hopes to remain true for generations to come. 

Memory Ranches is a family-oriented operation to its core. Monty and Merry have been married for 54 years, running the ranch throughout the years with the help of seven children, seven in-laws and 27 grandchildren and counting. 

In many ways, the Pearces’ client base resembles a family as well, as many buyers are repeat customers who have continued business throughout decades and the ranch’s relocation from Idaho to Nevada in 2018.

This year, the Memory Ranches annual foal sale is slated for Aug. 22 and the bull sale is scheduled for Nov. 5. 

For more information on Memory Ranches, visit memoryranches.com or follow @MemoryRanches on Facebook.

Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.