Cover Story H & P Ranch
H & P Ranch – Dr. Mariann Harrington & Joe Prause
Dr. Mariann Harrington and Joe Prause are the owners of H & P Ranch located 20 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas in the town of Cabot. This equine paradise sits on 90 acres that were purchased in 2000. This outstanding facility did not just develop overnight. There was timber to clear, a 10 acre lake to build, as well as an 11,000 square foot main barn that includes an office, apartment and 20 stalls. Not to be left out are the large indoor and outdoor riding arenas. In 2010, a 4,000 square foot mare and breeding barn was built to accommodate breeding, lab facilities and 10 foaling stalls.
The H & P Ranch horse operation was launched in 2005 with the purchase of a couple of mares. After hiring a young trainer to work at the ranch, Joe & Mariann began showing at regional AQHA shows.
The hiring of Darren Putnam marked a new phase at H & P. Darren relocated to the ranch with his wife, Jan, their son, Cody, the dogs, and horses. It was then and there that H & P became a horse ranch. Darren’s help and guidance provided Joe and Mariann with the stock and talent to become very successful at the National level. Major futurity wins came their way and they are now raising and training some of the nicest Western Pleasure horses in the country.
2013 saw 18 new foals born at the ranch. The new foal crop features some of the most elite Western Pleasure lines in the country from stallions such as Lazy Loper, Certain Potential, Huntin For Chocolate and RL Best of Sudden to name just a few. Visitors will also find world-class yearlings, 2-year-olds started in training, and 3-year-olds finishing their training. Johanna Grabner from Austria has purchased and imported two 2-year-olds to Europe over the last couple of years and has shown them as 3-year-olds. She won the 3-year-old European Nationals in Western Pleasure on these horses the last two years in a row. Both of these outstanding individuals were bred, raised and trained at H & P Ranch by Darren Putnam.
H & P Ranch horses have won:
• ABRA World Championship in Halter
• IBHA World Championship in Halter
• AQHA Select Reserve World Championship –
Performance Geldings
• AQHA Select World Championship –
8 times in the Top 10 & 4 times in the Top 15
• Two Reserve Congress Championships in Halter
• Southern Belle $200,000 Breeders 3 Year-Old
Novice Co-Champion
• Multiple Superiors in Halter and Western Pleasure
• Multiple Reserve Championships
at the Dixie Nationals
H & P Ranch brings a formidable string to this year’s Adequan Select World Show with Mariann aboard HP Only The Best in Western Pleasure. Lizzie is a 5-year-old bay mare out of RL Best Of Sudden and Only Ms Ashwood (a very successful show mare ridden by Mariann). She was foaled, raised, and trained by Darren at H & P Ranch.
Joe will be showing PF Securely Styled aka ‘Arnold’, a 6-year-old triple-registered buckskin gelding by Kids Classic Style and out of Ms Sassy Securitee, as well as MLS Some Like It Cool aka ‘Lexie’, a sorrel yearling mare by Very Cool and out of JMK Born Blond at the Adequan Select World this August.
Jerry Wright handles the halter side of H & P’s string and he will be showing Arnold & Lexie at the AQHA World Show. Joe & Mariann look for big things after their third place finish at the Select World last year in Intermediate and fifth place in Aged Geldings. “Lexie” will be making her first appearance at a championship show.
Joe & Mariann wish everyone the best of luck at this fall’s championship shows.
