Riding the A Standing X Brand
Stan and Nancy Weaver's equine program has been based on cow-bred Quarter Horses for over 130 years.
The Weaver family settled in Montana in 1887, and the brand—A Standing X—has been around longer than the state has been in the Union. The 15,000-acre ranch is nestled in Bear Paw Mountains. Today, the sixth generation of Weaver cowboys works their cattle on home-raised Quarter Horses.
With 100 head of broodmares and six stallions, Weaver horses are bred to have speed, good bone and conformation to work the rocky areas of the ranch. Three of their stallions are in the Riata Buckle program: Smart Topaz, Genuinely Busy, and Perkster.
Stan showed cow horses throughout the Northwest, and they've raised AQHA World Champions and rodeo horses with athleticism that professionals desire.
Stan has been very involved with the AQHA, and in 2019 served as the AQHA President. He also served on the executive committee and aided in the development of the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders program.
"Riata Buckle gives us a chance to promote horses and stallions," Stan said. "People in Montana are talking about the Riata Buckle and wanting to breed to stallions in the program. It will add value to the resale of horses. The stallions in the program have all kinds of bloodlines. Some are bred for straight speed. Some are straight cow-bred. It'll be interesting to see in five years if certain bloodlines rise to the top."
Weaver will host their 27th annual Quarter Horse Sale at the Montana Expo Park in Great Falls, Montana, September 17, 2022. The Weavers put pride and care into every broodmare to produce quality colts for the public to purchase. Weanlings are registered with AQHA and are halter broke. All Weaver-bred horses are eligible for the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge. In addition, Peptoes offspring are also eligible for the Riata Buckle Program. DV Auction will broadcast the sale virtually, and bidders must preregister at dvauction.com.
