The Waters Ranch in Utopia, Texas
is honored to be named a Ranching Heritage Breeder
by the American Quarter Horse Association,
making all of our foals eligible to compete
in lucrative Ranching Heritage Challenge events
sponsored by the AQHA across the nation.
Waters will nominate all foals,
for competition in Ranching Heritage Challenges.
We were honored to receive the 50-year Breeders Award from the American Quarter Horse Association at the 2025 AQHA Convention.
We have raised over 1000 American Quarter Horses and have enjoyed every minute of the last 50 years.
Many thanks to all of our buyers who have supported our program and the Colonel Freckles bloodlines.
Wanda’s acceptance speech for 50-Year Breeders Award
at the 2025 AQHA Convention
Exciting 2025 foals!
Lots of color!
Congratulations to Connor Atkinson and Aspen Miller who both are having great PRCA success
riding sons of Wild Card Dun It
Connor Atkinson, left photo, on Eight Ball Wild Card in Tie Down
won over $20,000 at 2024 Cowboy Christmas Aspen Miller, right photo, on Jigsaw Wild Card in Breakaway
won the Breakaway ($22,584) at the 2025 San Antonio Rodeo
and also won first in Breakaway ($5,900) at St. Paul.
Amy Ohrt, 2024 Women's Rodeo World Champion in Breakaway Roping
Congratulations to 18-yr-old Amy Orht who won $60,000 and the 2024 Women’s Rodeo World Championship
in Breakaway at ATT Stadium on Frothy Wild Card, son of Wild Card Dun It, with a time of 1.76 seconds!!
Amy and Frothy also won first in the Southland Incentive Breakaway at the 2025 San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show.
Amy and her family came to L A Waters Quarter Horses in 2014 and purchased Frothy Wild Card
when he was a yearling and Amy’s dad did all of the training on Frothy who has Colonel Freckles
on the top and bottom of his pedigree. Amy and Frothy grew up competing in youth rodeo and had many wins there,
but her biggest win came May, 2024 in ATT Stadium when she was named Women’s Rodeo World Champion in Breakaway.
Cheers to Amy and her family!!!
If you are looking for a well-bred young horse that has been started under saddle and has great potential in roping, ranch horse versatility,
and reined cowhorse, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you look at the 2024 Performance Horse Sale at Cal Poly University
which will include eight 2 and 3-yr-olds bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses. The horses have been handled daily and ridden by selected,
qualified students under the expert supervision of instructor Lou Moore-Jacobsen in the Cal Poly Quarter Horse Enterprise Project.
The following eight horses bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses will be in the June 1 sale:
Polo Dun It, Santo W Spirit, Savannah Wild Card,
Savvy W Spirit,
Sayonara Big Sky, Silverado Wild Card, Sunbeam Wild Card, and Starbuck Wild Card.
Search online for the 2024 Cal Poly Horse Sale and you will find a complete beautiful catalog with photos, videos, and complete descriptions
of each horse plus instructions on how to bid online at the auction (videos are in the Auction Link).
There are some really nice horses here!!
Here are three examples of our two-year-olds in the sale:
Starbuck Wild Card
By Wild Card Dun It
Out of Colonel C Kristy
Trained by Lauren Cione
Silverado Wild Card
By Wild Card Dun It
Out of Colonel C Kristy
Trained by Maura Darby
Sunbeam Wild Card
By Wild Card Dun It
Out of Colonel C Mommy
Trained by Claire Saydah
Remember that offspring of Wild Card Dun It are eligible for Gold Buckle Futurities, The Southland Incentive at the San Antonio Rodeo,
and the TQHA Roping Division incentives.
We are proud to offer Pistol Wild Card, athletic and smart 3-yr-old gelding, in the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Invitational Horse Sale
Freeman Coliseum, February 17, at 3:00 p.m.
Demonstrations of sale horses at 10:00 a.m.
Update: Pistol Wild Card sold for $30,000, second highest horse in the sale.
Mike Outhier, who started this colt and has trained him for a year, is really excited about his athleticism and intelligence.
In fact, Mike says he loves this horse! Pistol carries a double-dose of genes from NCHA Futurity Champion Colonel Freckles
along with those of reining Hall of Famer Hollywood Dun It and NCHA Futurity Champion Doc O’Lena.
His sire Wild Card Dun It was the 2006 AQHA High Point All-Around Jr. Horse, with AQHA Superior Awards in Heading and Heeling
and won both the heading and heeling in the finals of the 2006 National Rope Horse Futurity.
His dam Colonel C Laurie is a full sister to a 3-time AQHA World Champion in Heading.
If you are looking for an outstanding prospect to take forward to a successful roping career, this is your horse!
For sale information call the San Antonio Rodeo & Stock Show, 210-225-1309, or email horse@sarodeo.com.
Congratulations to Tanya and Mike Hitchcock of Sun River, Montana, on their purchase of Sagrado Milagro,
a gorgeous 2022 palomino stallion by Colonel C Milagro out of Uneeka by Colonel C Hermosa,
to use as a junior sire in their American Quarter Horse breeding program.
Their current breeding stallion is Colonel C Header that has sired some mighty fine horses in Montana!!
Spring is our favorite time of year!!
Exciting new foals in the pastures!!
We have 15 on the ground and are expecting at least a dozen more!
God is good!!
Congratulations to Shay and Amie Good for winning the prestigious Roping Futurities of America Breakaway Futurity with their
4-yr-old Nacho Man Wild Card sired by our stallion Wild Card Dun It. Nacho was ridden by Cheyanne Guillory
in the Futurity and also placed 5th in the average in the RFA Breakaway Slot Futurity ridden by Bradi Good. Way to go!!
We love watching the next generation of horsemen enjoying horses we have bred.
Left: Six-year-old Guy Pollock of Hydro, OK, with his third place ribbon from showing Colonel C Pixie Dust in a local horse show.
Center: Nine-year-old Mayli Pollock of Hydro, OK, winning a Pee Wee Barrel Race on Gig Em Wild Card.
Right: Seventeen-yr-old Ashley Wortham of Wimberley, Texas, winning the Three-Year-Old Futurity at the
Texas 4H State Championship Horse Show on National M Treasure.
Congratulations to Rylie Smith on her two fabulous mares-- Hail Mary Wild Card and Halleluiah Wild Card—
on her many wins in women’s professional team roping. In the photo above, Rylie is heading on Hail Mary
and Hope Thompson is heeling on Halleluiah in the 2022 Women’s Rodeo World Championship.
Rylie finished as World Champion Challenger Header, Reserve Champion All Around Cowgirl, and 4th Place Pro Heeler;
Hope was All-Around Cowgirl. Both of Rylie’s mares are by our great stallion Wild Card Dun It.
Nifty Wild Card, a cute little 3-yr-old colt by Wild Card Dun It, won $25,000 for the fastest time in the second round of the
Roping Futurities of America Breakaway Slot Race in Abilene on Feb 1, 2022. Started by Amy Leonard, trained by Mike Outhier,
shown by Madison Outhier—good genes from sire Wild Card Dun It and dam Colonel C Boonie.
We are happy to see many good results from buyers showing horses they purchased from us as young horses.
Youth competitor Amy Ohrt breakaway roping on Frothy Wild Card,
2013 black gelding by Wild Card Dun It out of Law Mans Blithe;
trained by Tommy Ohrt.
Amy Leonard on Hondo Wild Card, 2015 sorrel gelding by Wild Card Dun it
out of Colonel C Boonie, winning the Open and Amateur Barrels at the AQHA
Ranching Heritage Challenge at the Lazy E; trained by Amy Leonard
We are pleased to announce results of the 2021 Cal Poly Performance Horse Auction Sale: twelve young horses bred by
L. A. Waters Quarter Horses sold for a total of $218,000, with an average of $18,167. Seven of the top eight horses in the sale
were from L. A. Waters, including the top seller Mollie Big Sky (Big Sky Dun It x Colonel C Sundance) selling for $39,000.
Congratulations to everyone associated with the Cal Poly Quarter Horse Enterprise Program for this highly successful sale.
If you are looking for a well-started young horse with Colonel Freckles bloodlines bred for versatility and ranching events,
we highly recommend the Cal Poly Performance Horse Auction Sale, Saturday, June 19, 2021, 2:30 p.m. PST (online bidding available).
This auction will include twelve young horses (2, 3, & 4 yrs old) purchased as weanlings from L. A. Waters Quarter Horses by Cal Poly
and started by students in the Quarter Horse Enterprise program under the expert instruction and guidance of Lou Moore-Jacobsen.
These students handle the horses every day in the course and get excellent results. We are proud for our horses to be a part of this Cal Poly program.
Congratulations to Madison Outhier for winning the 2020 WCRA World Championship in Women’s Breakaway Roping
at the ATT Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, November 15,
the same day she won the Texas Open Women’s Polo Championship in Houston, Texas.
Madison’s winning run of 2.05 seconds in the WCRA
World Championship Final Round. She was mounted on
Allo Gallo Colonel bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses
and trained by Mike Outhier .
Madison being presented the WCRA World Championship
Buckle for Breakaway Roping and a check for $60,000
by Bobby Mote, president of the WCRA.
Congratulations to Iconica, winning team in the 2020 Texas Open Women’s Polo Championship Tournament
at the Houston Polo Club on Sunday, November 15.
Coaches Kristy Outhier and Julio Arellano flank team members
Kylie Sheehan, Madison Outhier, Maureen Brennan, and Hope Arrellano.
Madison Outhier in the Texas Open Women’s Championship Finals
riding Law Mans Dancer, named Best Playing Pony
Played by an Amateur and also Best Playing American Quarter Horse
in the tournament. Dancer was bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses
and trained by Kristy Outhier.
Madison Outhier taking an offensive shot in one of the
Texas Open Women’s Polo Championship tournament
games against a tough BTA team.
Thank you to Amy and Allora Leonard for buying
Nifty Wild Card out of Colonel C Boonie.
The Leonards now own four full siblings
from this cross and have already made
Champions of the first three.
And congratulations to Allora on her new album
“Old Soul Girl”!
Congratulations to Rachel Wynans
of Brenham, Texas, on being selected
by the AQHA to receive
Whitey Wild Card, a foal from
L. A. Waters Quarter Horses,
for the Young Horse Development
Program, and good luck to Rachel
in raising and training this filly.
Many thanks to Patti Colbert and her granddaughter
Mason Elliott for buying four horses from us
this year and good luck as they train them
and have lots of fun competing on them.
Patti is shown picking up two of our 2020 foals
with her friend Spanky Stephens.
Thank you to Cal Poly University for continuing to invest
in young horses from L. A. Waters Quarter Horses to be used
in their student course in breaking and starting two-year-olds.
And thank you very much to Peter Oppenheimer for coming
from California and picking up the six horses Cal Poly
purchased this year and driving them to their new home
in San Luis Obispo.
Thank you to Mike Skinner, wife Kelsi, daughter Ryann, and son Jayden
for buying three more Quarter Horses from L. A. Waters to use
on their cattle ranch in Jordan Valley, Oregon, and good luck
to Jayden who paid for his own horse and plans to break and train it
himself. And thanks to the Skinners for also picking up a horse
for their neighbor, rancher John Joyce. Hello to other
ranchers in this area of Oregon who buy our horses and use them
on their ranches—the Lequericas, the Eigurens, the Warns,
and Teo Maestrejuan.
We thank very talented photographer Emily McCartney who was sent to our ranch in Utopia by the Quarter Horse Journal to take photos
for a story on our horse program in their June/July 2020 edition. The following ten photos are among the ones taken by Emily,
and we would like to share them with you. Thank you very much to the Quarter Horse Journal for spotlighting our program and family,
particularly Madison Outhier, our talented granddaughter who in 2019 won the first Breakaway Roping
at The American when she was sixteen years old.
Wanda and Lou Waters, who have bred and registered approximately 1,000 American Quarter Horses
over the past 48 years, standing in front of an oil painting of NCHA Futurity Champion and AQHA Hall of Fame Colonel Freckles,
the cornerstone stallion of their breeding program. (Painting by Patsi Wolfe.)
Mike and Kristy Outhier, mangers of L.A. Waters Quarter Horses, with son Ace and daughter Madison; Wanda and Lou Waters.
Mike is a retired PRCA saddle bronc rider, 4x NFR qualifier, and 2x Linderman Award winner.
Kristy was the highest ranked USPA woman professional polo player in the U.S. upon her retirement.
Madison is seated on Allo Gallo Colonel, winning mount of breakaway roping in the 2019 American, bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, CA, has a treasure chest of young horses purchased from L.A. Waters Quarter Horses to be used in
Lou Moore Jacobsen’s class for starting and training two-year-olds. The selected students were getting superb results
working with their assigned horses, and the culmination of the class was to be a public auction in May, 2020, to benefit the university’s equine program.
What a pity that this past spring’s class and auction had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus. But keep your eye on these two-year-olds,
whenever the university decides to sell them, because there will be some well-bred, well-trained, nice horses here!
(For information contact Lou Moore Jacobsen at hmooreja@calpoly.edu. Following are some examples of these Cal Poly students and horses:
Isabell Jellen
Latte Wild Card
Teresa Job
Mollie Big Sky
Melissa Paich
Mocha Wild Card
Melissa Paich
Mocha Wild Card
Nathanael Bourgault
Maple Sugar Wild Card
Kylie Calleton
Milk E Colonel
Thank you Mike Skinner, cattle rancher from Oregon, for purchasing
yearling
filly Neeka Colonel who arrived in Oregon last week.
Neeka was lovingly
welcomed by Mike’s daughter Ryann
(every horse deserves to be loved by a
young girl).
In the background is Mike’s son Jayden riding three-yr-old
Luke E Colonel bareback with a halter; the Skinners purchased
Luke E from us last year.
We send our best wishes to the Skinner family.
Thanks to Hudson Hermes for coming to our ranch to select a
yearling filly to
call his own. Hudson is an outstanding
eleven-year-old roper who already
competes in Vegas.
We wish him well with Nikki and can’t wait to see the
future developments here.
Happiness is a field of foals! Lots of color in 2020!
Congratulations to Madison Outhier 2019 The American Breakaway Champion winning $100,000
Madison Outhier riding Allo Gallo Colonel, aka Rooster, to win The American in Breakaway Roping with a 2.29 run.
Rooster’s dam, Colonel C Hermosa is also the dam of Wild Card Dun It.
Kudos to the Cal Poly Performance Horse Sale featuring two-year-olds trained entirely by selected Cal Poly students under the
supervision of equine instructor Lou Moore-Jacobsen with the goal of producing quiet, versatile horses suited for performance,
general riding, and ranch work. Included in the May 31, 2019 sale were four horses purchased by Cal Poly from L A Waters Quarter Horses
when they were yearlings, and the results these students got from our horses were extremely impressive! Look for five more L A Waters horses
in next year’s sale, as Cal Poly has already purchased more young horses for the well-qualified students to handle, break, and train as they
“learn by doing” in this Cal Pol Quarter Horse Enterprise Project.
Lantana Wild Card
Trained by Haley Teets
Lyle Wild Card
Trained by Tyree Cochrane
Law Man Colonel
Trained by Kristina Evanco
Julie Yuhas-Volk and Family
Happy Buyers of Lasso Wild Card
Trained by Isabel Jellen
The Oppenheimer Family Equine Center on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Jill McLain (right), her daughter Audrey (left), and daughter’s boyfriend Cole prepare to start the 2019 Houston Rodeo Parade
through downtown Houston on quarter horses purchased from L. A. Waters.
We have loved watching Jill Hendrickson McLain enjoy her three geldings in ranch riding, trail riding, Ranch Sorting competition,
the Ladies of Texas Traditions week-long trek, the Salt Grass Trail Ride, and the Rodeo Houston parade.
After purchasing the geldings from L. A. Waters Quarter Horses, Jill trained them herself and often shares them with family and friends.
Rest in Peace, President George H. W. Bush
On Thursday, December 6, 2018, Ricky Canton and his family stood on their property in Navasota, Texas, to pay their respects
as Locomotive 4141 passed by taking the casket of President George H. W. Bush to its final resting place
in College Station, Texas.
We are proud to say that Rick was mounted on his horse Royal Redeemer, bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
Rest in peace, President Bush! “Heaven just got a bit kinder!"
HIGH-SELLER IN THE 2018 AUSTIN COUNTY FAIR
Congratulations to Lily Lequerica of Sealy, Texas, for being a 4H Showmanship Champion with her yearling filly Lolli Big Sky.
Lollie was also the high-selling animal in the 2018 Austin County Fair, exhbited by Lily.
As a 4H project, Lily purchased Lolli as a weanling from L. A. Waters Quarter Horses and worked with the young filly for a year in halter breaking,
gentling, and saddle breaking. We are happy to see her hard work so generously rewarded.
Lolli Big Sky is a beautiful yearling bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses; the filly is sired by Big Sky Dun It out of Col C Free Spirit.
Congratulations to Madison Outhier for her breakaway Championships in 2017:
Roy Cooper Jr. NFR Shootout 14-U Breakaway; Cody Ohl 15-U World Champion;
Joe Beaver 15-U Breakaway World Champion; YRA 2017 Jr. Breakaway Finals Champion.
Madison ropes on Allo Gallo Colonel, bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses and trained by Mike and Madison Outhier.
Wild Card Dun It
We are proud to announce
that we will offer breedings to Wild Card Dun It and Colonel C Cowboy
to the public in 2020.
Shipped semen will be available through
Retama Equine Hospital in San Antonio, TX.
Click "Breeding Stallions" for more information.
Yearling fillies on the Waters Ranch - Photo by Dr. Eleanor Green
Congratulations to Gracie Jacobs on Wild Card Jackson, bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
2017 AQHYA World Champion in Ranch Riding (115 entries)
2017 High Point Ranching Heritage Bred Horse in AQHYA Ranch Riding
2016 AQHA Youth High Point in Versatility Ranch Horse
Yearling stud colts on Waters Ranch - Photo by Dr. Eleanor Green
Congratulations to Gracie Ayers for being selected by the AQHA to raise and train a young American Quarter Horse, Laramie Wild Card,
donated by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses for the Young Horse Development Program
Latigo Dun It, fondly called Hollywood, a 2002 palomino stallion bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses, is shown by his owner Tomas Garcilazo,
in charro trick-roping artistry on horseback in rodeos across the U.S. Often seen at the PRCA National Finals Rodeo,
Garcilazo has four times been named PRCA Specialty Act of the Year. L. A. Waters owns and breeds Hollywood’s full brother Big Sky Dun It,
and Madison Outhier is training Hollywood’s full sister Ruby C Dun It in barrels. Photo by Ross Hecox / Western Horseman
Congratulations to Souli Asa Shanklin family for purchasing the 2015 stallion Holy Dashin Cowboy,
and good luck to the family on using, showing, and breeding this young stallion.
Congratulations to Kristy Waters Outhier for being on the Championship team of the 2016 U. S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.
The Rockin P Lockton Team l-r: Courtney Price, Athena Malin, Kristy Outhier, Hazel Jackson, Sarah Wiseman, pictured with team coach Roberto Gonzales.
Kristy Waters Outhier on the the ball in the 2016 U S Open Women's
Polo Championship with an attempted hook by Sunny Hale.
AQHA Best Performing Quarter Horse Law Mans Reata played and owned by Kristy Outhier, bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
Pictured with Wanda Waters and Lupe Hernandez.
Congratulations to Madison Outhier for winning the Reserve World Championship and High Point 13-U
at the 2016 AQHYA World Championship Show with her horse Heasaneasybug. Pictured l-r: grandparents Milburn & Deena Outhier and Wanda Waters,
brother Ace Outhier, parents Mike & Kristy Outhier, and aunt Amy Outhier Maynard. Also congratulations to Heasaneasybug for being named
2016 Texas Junior High Rodeo Association AQHA Horse of the Year.
Congratulations to Arielle Wortham of Wimberley, Texas, for being selected by the AQHA to receive 2016 filly Jiffy Wild Card,
donated by the Waters Ranch to the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders Young Horse Development Project.
Shown with Arielle are her parents Todd and Elizabeth Wortham and her sisters Ashley and Amber. FLASH — ARIELLE WON FIRST PLACE IN THE 2017 AQHA NATIONAL COMPETITION
FOR RAISING AND TRAINING A YOUNG QUARTER HORSE!!
Fillies on the Waters Ranch -
photo by Doug Prather
Yearlings colts on the Waters Ranch -
photo by Doug Prather
Congratulations to Vin Fisher Jr. for winning the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Championship on Cool Water Dun It (Two Spot)
bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses and trained by Mike Outhier.
Mike Outhier on Colonel C Super Sunday and Madison Outhier on Allo Gallo Colonel,
both horses bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses and trained by Mike Outhier.
Thank youCrystal Wetz ( left ) for buying yearling colt Hot Shot Wild Card and Delinda Whitaker ( right ) for buying yearling filly Hooray Wild Card for barrel prospects.
Tribute to a Good Man . . . .
..George Phillips, who passed away in January 2015, just two months before he was to be inducted as president of the American Quarter Horse Association.
In this 2013 photo, George and his wife Nicole are seen visiting Wild Card Dun It on the Waters Ranch in Utopia.
George served for four years on the Executive Committee of the AQHA. He was a well respected man, and strong leader, and a good friend.
Congratulations to Madison Outhier $10,000 Scholarship Winner in Pole Bending at the 2015 San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Kathy Thornton posting fastest time in the 2015 Texas Sr. Pro Finals
on Forgetmenot Cowboy, bred by L. A Waters Quarter Horses
Mike Outhier competing in the 2013 Timed Event
Championship on Wild Card Dun It.
They also competed in 2014
Madison Outhier competing in Goat Tying on
Col C Proud Eagle,
bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses
Colonel C Lovey
2011 & 2012 AAHQ Am. World Champion
shown by John East
bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses
Mike Outhier and Wild Card Dun It in the 2013 Timed Event Championship,
where they posted the fastest times in Tie Down in two go-rounds.
Madison Outhier won 4th in
Senior Pole Bending in the
2013 AQHA World Championship show.
Robert Duvall riding our breeding stallion Wild Card Dun It in the movie
"Seven Days in Utopia"
Mike and Kristy Outhier, Co-Owners and Managers
of L. A. Waters Quarter Horses Shown with their children Madison and Ace
Thank you to the Ohrt Family of Victoria, Texas,
for buying two young prospects for future youth rodeo horses.
Congratulations to ten-year-old Allora Leonard for winning the 1D Open
and 1D Youth at the Wrapn3 Barrel Race in Gonzales, Texas,
on her horse Mighty Wild Card bred by L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
Congratulation to Katie Whitaker showing Blast Off Wild Card, Grand
Champion Gelding, Uvalde Co 4H Stock Show.
Congratulations to Riley Smothers showing Addie Wild Card, Grand
Champion Mare, 2014 Uvalde County 4H Stock Show.
Good repeat customers Scott and Ashley Eichhorn of Helena, Montana with horses they have bought from L. A. Waters Quarter Horses.
