Welcome
About Aspen Creek Ranch
Aspen Creek Ranch (ACR) is a 300 acre working ranch in the Sapphire range outside of Missoula, Montana run by Emmaly and Sierra Ryan. The two sisters grew up on their family's cattle ranch but, while Emmaly kept riding ranch and western speed horses throughout her young adult life, Sierra Ryan turned to the sport horse disciplines. When they opened Aspen Creek Ranch it was with the plan that Emmaly would run the ranch operation and focus on breeding and training Stock Horses, Arabians\Half Arabians, Iberian horses, Spanish Mustangs, and Argentine Criollos for working western, western speed, and working equitation disciplines as well as running the small working draft program. That would leave Sierra to run the sporthorse program focusing on a variety of breeds with most being based on Thoroughbreds, Iberian horses, and\or Arabians. Our horses live outside all day in large pastures with at least one other horse and only come inside for training, show prep, vet\farrier work, feed, and medical layups. Our broodmares live out in 5 acre pastures 24/7, unless the weather is absolutely terrible, and only leave their herd to move to a one acre 'maternity pasture' for about two weeks.
Along with their well known breeds Aspen Creek is also home to a developing breed called the Cavalo Manchado (Portuguese for "spotted horse"). The Cavalo Manchado was developed by a man named Matthew Burke, a long time friend of the Ryan family, in 1982 with the goal of breeding pinto and appaloosa colored Iberian horses, like those seen in historical paintings and texts, that could also be successful ranch horses for his family on their Montana ranch. With his goal in mind Mr. Burke chose the Lusitano and the Spanish Mustang as the foundation of the Cavalo Manchado. When Aspen Creek was founded in 2015 Emmaly was given the opportunity to purchase some of the results of Mr. Burke's breeding program which included not only first generation Spanish Mustang x Lusitano crosses but also a few that he considered true Cavalo Manchados to help build the foundation of Aspen Creek's Cavalo Manchado program.
Emmaly also runs the ranch's canine operation with the help of kennel manager Cassidy Thorton. The program focuses on breeding and training Anatolian Shepherds, Border Collies, Karelian Bear Dogs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, English Cocker Spaniels, Standard Schnauzers, and Bloodhounds. We breed our dogs as working dogs first and show dogs second so our biggest priorities are personality, natural aptitude for their intended job, and good working conformation. The jobs we breed or dogs for are Livestock Guarding (Anatolians), Herding (Border Collies), and Hunting (Chessies, Bloodhounds, Springers, and Schnauzers). Our dogs do not live in a kennel and instead live in the house, in the barn, or in the livestock pens depending on their job and personality. They are raised working alongside the adults so they learn their jobs from day one and we can see if they have an aptitude for the job their bred for or if we need to find them a different job.
Along with the horses and dogs Aspen Creek is home to a flourishing livestock program focused on Belted Galloway cattle, Yaks, and Saanan goats. The program focuses on breeding and raising these animals for sale as well as our own personal use. We use the stock to work our horses and dogs as well as producing milk, meat, and other products. Our cattle and Yaks are raised outside on large pastures and only come up to the main area a few times a year for wellness checks, sales prep, shearing (Yaks), and butchering (cattle). Our goats are kept in large fields in the main area so that they can be milked regularly. We also house flocks of chickens and ducks to produce eggs so that Aspen Creek can be as close to self running as possible.