Dale Cox and Haidas Southern Bell

“Finding the Right Fit”

Dale had stopped starting young horses and riding problem horses for the public, due to unforeseen injuries. Even with the experience and background we have in the horse business, we were looking for the right fit for a place to go and learn the fundamentals of a new discipline, with the hopes of being able to show and compete.  We have a passion for performance horses, both reiners and cutters, and still own a few reiners.  Dale had been riding and training our own reiners.  Even with the passion for reining, the work and help of others, and a lot of outside encouragement, Dale just could not find a comfort zone with the reining discipline to show and compete, so we decided to switch to cutting.   Despite the experience and background we have in the horse business, we were looking for the right fit for a place to go and learn the fundamentals of a new discipline, with the hopes of being able to show and compete.  With also having a 4 year old mare that had been started in reining training, we were looking for a place for our mare to be re-trained.  We wanted to learn the fundamentals of cutting and also find someone we could be comfortable with while engaged in the process of taking on this new challenge.

Area 18 of the NCHA has been and is a great place for us, and we feel very welcome by everyone.  All of the cutters in Area 18 have been wonderful and supportive to us, and we had many opportunities for learning a new discipline.

We met Billy Pinion, his wonderful wife Julie, and their incredible children at an Area 18 weekend show in Pelzer SC in April 2008, and decided to visit 4RK Ranch. Billy and his family were immediately gracious, and we felt very comfortable with him and his family from the beginning.  We were impressed with Billy’s integrity, his ability to teach the cutting fundamentals to both horses and riders, the atmosphere at his barn, and the genuineness of him and his entire family.  Based on what we discovered after our visit,

we decided that 4RK Ranch was the perfect fit.  Immediately after our visit, we sent our mare, and she has been at 4RK for four months.  We are very pleased with Billy’s accomplishments with her.  We have also purchased another mare from 4RK that we are very happy with, and there are other quality horses at 4RK Ranch that we are also interested in.

Dale travels to 4RK most weeks, and rides to learn and hone his cutting skills with Billy.  It is also a pleasure to ride with his daughters and be around all of the children.  We cannot say enough good things about the Pinion’s hospitality and the way they run their business.  This is a family run business with a family atmosphere where we and our horses learn and feel very comfortable and cared for.   One thing that we admire and feel is good for us and our horses is the exposure with the laid back atmosphere around the barn.  You might find anything from the kids shooting basketball, riding skateboards, etc., in the midst of serious work and getting the chores done.  So in short, we are blessed to be friends and clients of Billy Pinion at 4RK Ranch.  We thank you and your entire family!!  May God Bless You All.

Dale Cox & Gwen

Diamond C Bar Performance Horses

Billy Pinion and Lil Rea of Pepto

We at 4RK would like to congratulate Dale and Gwen on their recent purchase of

"Haidas Southern Bell" (aka "Bell") !

Bell was one of the horses the girls learned to cut on when they were starting out.

We believe she will work out just as well for Dale!

Dale also has another horse in training with Billy at 4RK:

"Lil Rea of Pepto".

We look forward to seeing Billy & "Rea" and Dale & "Bell" in the cutting pen soon!

Thanks Dale and Gwen!