Relander Quarter Horses: Making Their Mark on the Industry

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278 – March/April, 2023

By Susan Winslow

Steve and Tanya Relander, owners of Relander Quarter Horses, have made an indelible mark on the Quarter Horse industry for over thirty years. This couple has been raising, training, and showing their favorite breed with consistent success at the highest levels of competition in our sport. Each of them brings a unique perspective to their business, and together they have developed a proven formula for spotting young stock with innate talent at sales and shows. Developing that talent for success in the show pen and breeding barn is their forté.

Their success at the big shows spans decades, with their first big win at the Congress coming in 1998, followed by similar success in 1999. Relander Quarter Horses has won Congress Championships, NSBA Championships, AQHA World Championships, Futurity titles and over 25 Superiors over the years.

Tanya describes their approach with their horses since the beginning: “We started them, showed them, then sold them.We truly enjoy the success our horses have with their new owners. For example, in 2000, we had five of them place at the Quarter Horse Congress.” That year, Pure Persuasion, Magnetic Potential, Treasured Investment, Zippin Real Good, Artful Investment and Up Town Asset took top honors at the Congress. The Relanders have continued the winning tradition ever since.

Some of Relander Quarter Horses’ notable champions include Congress Champion Investment Venture, Congress Champion and AQHA World Show stallion 3rd place Absolute Option, AQHA World Champion So Good To B Me, and Congress Reserve Champion Uptown Asset.

More recently, at the 2022 AQHA World Show, their exceptionally talented Western Pleasure horse Extremely Lazy, a 2016 mare by Extremely Hot Chips out of Ima Fancy Affair, earned Top Ten honors with Tanya as well as Ashley Lakins in the saddle in each of the three classes they entered. Success at this level of the game doesn’t come without a combination of hard work, commitment, and an innate eye for a good horse.

Click here to read the complete article
278 – March/April, 2023