White Horse Ranch - Transcript
[Narrator]
The dream was to create the ideal horse. And in 1917 that’s just what two visionaries set out to do in the heart of northern Nebraska, to create a breed like no other. Horses of pure white color with dark eyes.
For awhile the dream soared, drawing international attention. But then times turned tough and hope for the ideal horse almost faded away.
The dreamers were cattleman Cal Thompson and his wife Ruth.
[Carley Daugherty]
Cal Thompson was breeding Hereford cattle and he became quite well known in the industry. And his sideline was to try to develop White Horses.
[Narrator]
Cal thought they were the essence of purity. But white horses were extremely rare... a genetic color mutation prized by world leaders throughout history as a sign of royalty.
By creating an original breed of White Horses the Thompsons were triumphant. They named the new breed the American White Horse and they put Naper, Nebraska on the world map during the 1940s and ‘50s.
But today ranch manager Carley Daugherty is struggling to help the White Horse Ranch make ends meet. She has fond memories of its heyday when she first arrived in 1947.
[Carley Daugherty]
I was only six years old but I just thought they were gorgeous and I was so anxious to get my hands on ‘em.
People would come here to see that and also they came to see the big herd of White Horses. Biggest herd of White Horses in the world. By 1950 was... in the ‘50s was about 150 to 175 horses depending on the year.
[Narrator]
Crowds flocked to see what was billed as the most unique horse in the country. Even Hollywood came calling. Warner Brothers filmed this theatrical short in 1952.
[A hundred white horses make a beautiful sight as the round up begins. This is the Whitehorse Ranch, way out in Nebraska. This unusual ranch is the home of the famous American Albino. Largest herd of pure White Horses in this country. But the ranch is unique in other respects. Here all things white in the animal kingdom may find a home and a haven.]
[Narrator]
But the highlight of the Whitehorse Ranch was more than animals of a different color.
[... a truly amazing fete. Five horses approaching the barrier.]
[Carley Daugherty]
I think the audience enjoys always the things that look dangerous. I suppose that in our heyday two-thirds of the show was action.
[She’ll try again. A big cheer for this spectacular fete of courage and control.]
[Narrator]
The White Horse Troupe gained international fame as they toured extensively through America and Canada. Wherever they appeared, the horses were a hot ticket. More than ten thousand people packed this coliseum for the St. Louis Police Circus in 1952. And even back home in Naper, the troupe continued to draw large crowds. The future looked bright and the Thompson’s dream for the Whitehorse Ranch seemed secure.
But then the ranch faced an unexpected challenge.
[Carley Daugherty]
In 1963 Cal Thompson passed away. At that time they’d come up on some financial hard times. Ruth had some physical limitations, which made it impossible for her to continue because she couldn’t afford to hire enough help to run the establishment without her mate.
So they had an auction... a ranch auction. They sold off the equipment; they sold off most of the horses.
[Narrator]
Today, the ranch made famous by the White Horse is only a shadow of its glorious past. Gone are the crowds... and most of the horses.
Carley and her husband, Dean, had lived away from the ranch for decades when they received a call for help by the ailing Ruth Thompson.
[Carley Daugherty]
When I first walked in those gates, this place was so run down and so overgrown with trees, shrubs, bushes and vines that it broke my heart. I... I remembered the heyday of it you know. So it was... that part was... kinda hard.
[Narrator]
But Carley was motivated by deep convictions about this place.
[Carley Daugherty]
I came here because my mother met the Thompsons in a time of need in her life. She needed a job and they offered to let her be a summer camp cook out here at the ranch. So she and my brother and sister and I all came out here to live and that’s... that was the beginnings of my experiences with White Horses. I stayed connected with the Whitehorse Ranch for two reasons. The first reason because I love the Thompsons, who eventually did become my foster parents for several years. The second reason was because I love being with the horses. I guess there’s a third reason – I love this property, too. It’s my home.
[Narrator]
Carley and Dean know the ranch faces an uphill challenge. But looks can be deceiving.
[Carley Daugherty]
Well, I’m glad you folks could stop by today. You’re welcome to the White Horse Ranch. I’m Carley and we just want to make you welcome at the ranch.
[Narrator]
The Daugherty’s have reopened the ranch to the public between May and September. And slowly but surely people are rediscovering the lure of the White Horses.
[Carley Daugherty]
Dean and I first returned to the Whitehorse Ranch in 1989. Ruth only had one horse on the property of her bloodline. She did have breeders throughout the United States that had some of the horses and since she operated the registry for the breed, she knew where those horses were. So she found a couple of more mares and another stallion to bring in so that we would have the basis to continue breeding horses here on this property.
[Narrator]
During the past decade, Carley and Dean have been carefully restoring the herd. There are now twelve white horses at the ranch.
[Carley Daugherty]
This is our breeding stallion, Ricky, and he likes people.
[Narrator]
And just as carefully, they are nurturing a new generation of visitors who will continue to enjoy Carley’s dream for the future of the White Horse breed.
[Carley Daugherty]
What you’re going to see today is a little reenactment of what we used to do when we performed.
The hard part about working two together is getting them both synchronized in what they’re doing.
Kids are still kids, and they still enjoy things like this.
When I first started performing was the summer when I was six. How I didn’t know how to ride yet.
My thoughts for the future of it would be that children would always have a fun place to come that would be educational. And it would delight me if we had some way to actually have a summer camp for kids again. I know that my husband and I are too old to do that now. But maybe there’s somebody else that could take it over and do that.
It’s a good feeling to think that we have managed to go from a couple to twelve. It’s scary to think about what will happen next. We’re getting older and... who’s going to be there when we’re gone?
I like happy endings. And I’m hoping to see a happy ending to this, too.
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