Our Story

Splitwater™ Ranch is a premier horse breeding and training facility founded in the heart of Colorado Rocky Mountains. Known for its beautiful big red barns and white fences, it's a feast for the eyes with the Eagle River running through the lush landscape and happy horses grazing in picturesque pastures. Those driving along I-70 or HWY 6 enjoy seeing our "slice of Heaven" happily nestled in the Vail Valley. Splitwater Ranch is primarily dedicated to breeding, raising, and developing high-caliber reining performance horses. With a team of experienced trainers and top-quality facilities, Splitwater is known for its exceptional horses and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of its operations.

Our Mission

At Splitwater Ranch, horse breeding is a major part of the business. The ranch carefully selects and breeds horses that are ideally suited for the demands of reining and ranch performance, with a focus on athleticism, conformation, intelligence, and trainability. We put a lot of effort and thought into each cross to produce stellar offspring. Values like hard work, dedication, and respect for the horses are held in high regard. Splitwater's team of experienced trainers and staff are passionate about the horses they work with and take pride in helping each animal reach its full potential.

What Sets Us Apart

At Splitwater™ Ranch, our horses thrive through open paddock living, resilience-building weather exposure, premium local nutrition, and high-altitude training—creating stronger, healthier, and better-performing athletes.

Large Open Paddocks

Open paddocks are essential for raising healthy, well-balanced horses. They promote natural movement, which supports joint health, digestion, and strong hooves. Fresh air and space reduce stress, improve respiratory health, and encourage social interaction. Regular turnout in open environments helps prevent behavioral issues and injuries. Overall, paddock access contributes to a horse’s long-term physical health, mental well-being, and performance.

Extreme Weather

Exposure to extreme weather fluctuations can help make horses stronger by building natural resilience and adaptability. As horses adjust to varying temperatures, wind, and precipitation, their immune systems become more robust, reducing illness over time. Exposure to environmental challenges conditions a horse’s body to cope better. This resilience leads to hardier, more durable horses in the long term—especially important for performance breeds.

Premium Local Hay / Alfalfa

Our grass and hay is considered excellent for horses due to high altitude, clean mountain air, mineral-rich soil, and ideal climate conditions. Elevations between 6,000-8,000 feet lead to slower plant growth, which increases nutrient density and natural sugar content – especially beneficial for performance horses. We feed our horses fresh, local hay and alfalfa from a young age which builds a strong nutritional foundation for lifelong health and performance. Consistent access to quality hay / alfalfa supports proper growth, strong bones, healthy digestion, and a balanced gut microbiome. Early exposure also helps develop good eating habits and prevents metabolic issues later in life.

High Altitude Horses

Splitwater Ranch is located in Gypsum, Colorado – along the western edge of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,401 feet. Training horses at higher altitude offers several benefits, particularly for performance horses. Similar to elite human athletes, training at high altitude before major competitions boosts their performance. Benefits of high-altitude training for horses include: increased red blood cell production, improved endurance and stamina, enhanced cardiovascular efficiency, and stronger mental and physical conditioning.