Located in the Sandhills of Nebraska, the Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. has a rich and unique history.
It was founded in 1884 by 24-year-old Harry Haythornwaite, an immigrant from England who had spent the previous eight years as a cowhand making trail drives through Nebraska and Kansas from Galveston, Texas.
Haythornwaite was enamored by the vastness of the plains and decided to stay. He filed for a land grant in two counties and purchased 500 head of horses. He also shortened his name to Haythorn at that time.
In the 1940s, Harry’s son Walt purchased “Sport,” the first registered quarter horse in Nebraska. Walt Haythorn crossed the mares produced by Sport with the original “Eddie” and had great success. The ranch received the inaugural Best of the Remuda by AQHA in 1992.
The ranch is currently managed by fourth-generation Haythorn, Craig. He works with his wife Jody as well as fifth-generation sons Sage and Cord, as well as their wives Kelley and Katie.
On Christmas of 2015, a sixth generation, Steel Daniel Haythorn was born.