The annual American Quarter Horse Association Best Remuda Award is presented in recognition of ranches that breed horses specifically for ranch work. Show and performance records are not a factor.

This year’s Best Remuda winner, the 227,000-acre S Ranch, headquartered in Billings, MT and owned and operated by John Scott Jr. and his family, has 58 mares, three stallions and a remuda of 78 geldings to handle their cattle operation.

While S branded horses are working class citizens, they have also proven to be stars in performance arenas. In August of 2000, John Scott held a Quarter Horse sale on the ranch in Billings and I photographed a group of five red roan daughters of Peptoboonsmal that were to be offered – four 2-year-olds and one 3-year-old. The mares went on to earn more than $618,673 in major cutting events. Pictured from left to right are: Meradas Boonsmal, $92,323; Boons Freckle Lena, $31,526; Freckles Lena Boon, $235,994; Boonsmal Olena, $47,823; and Boonsmal Doctress, $211,007.