About BR

History of SDP Buffalo Ranch

A History to be proud of and a Future worth striving for

Horses and the horse business has been the sole focus of the Plummer Family for nearly four decades. With the most modest of beginnings S. David & Debby Plummer set out in 1973 full time in the horse business.

David & Debby Plummer 1970

David had just completed a Masters Thesis on the Equine Industry and the pair thought they could make a go in the horse business.

David and Debby with daughter Jennifer at David's Graduation 1973

Neither of them had ever been around horses growing up. David was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii in a Military family.

David with Father Nathan and twin siblings Nick and Doreen Hawaii 1958

He would on occasion visit his grandparents in Idaho and that is where his love for horses began.

David visiting Blackfoot, Idaho 1962

Debby was very much a city girl and knew nothing of horses. But the couple had an adventures spirit and faith in each other. They did their research and decided to go with Racing Quarter Horses.

They purchased their first Stallion and stood him themselves. Not having a clue of what to do, they went to the local public library to learn about equine reproduction. The stallion they bought was a 19-year-old proven sire. David had read in one of the equine management books he checked out at the local library that it is smart to put mortality insurance on your horse incase of death or injury. He called a local insurance company about insuring his horse and was shocked to find out that they would not cover such an old horse. He said, “What do you mean he’s too old? I’m 23, are you saying I’m too old to breed?!” Needless to say he learned a lot rather quickly.

Their first year in business was a success and that allowed them to buy more horses and some land. The business was very small but they were making things work. Their first Ranch was in West Bountiful, Utah. A few years later they relocated to a much bigger facility with more land in Bern, Idaho. It only took about 2 months for reality to sink in that there is only 2 seasons in Bern, Idaho – Winter and July!

Bern, Idaho in its two seasons - Winter and July!

David's maternal Grandfather Antone Verstien Hansen visiting the Ranch in Bern, Idaho

But the pair along with David’s brother Nick, whom had joined the team made it work and they stood many Champions and produced many Champions.

Nick Plummer joined David and Debby in 1978

Early Stallions owned and stood by the Plummer's while in Bern, Idaho

They got their first real big break in the Horse business in 1981 when David had struck a deal with his late good friend Ivan Ashment which allowed them to purchase Ivan’s Ranch and Horses in Apple Valley, California. They moved to California in 1982. From that point on things really started to blossom for their Racing Quarter Horse business which was then called Viking Ranch.

David with Champion Sire Go Man Go

They did many things that at that time were revolutionary. They started the first commercial embryo transfer business in history, which at that time was not accepted well. David has said that was an expensive lesson to learn. He has always said, “you can tell who the pioneers are because they are the ones with arrows in their back”. They also made history by having their then prized mare Finely Tuned win a Grade I race and on the same day have a foal born that was carried by a recipient mare. Things that are common place today where quite revolutionary then!

18 time Graded Stakes Winner Finely Tuned

Their Racing Quarter Horse business was hitting on all strides and they lead the Nation in winners from 1988-1992, something that they have taken great pride in. But a changing economic climate and escalating operational costs in California forced them to relocate their business. They decided to go back to their roots and they relocated to Kaysville, Utah in 1989. They bred and raced Racing Quarter Horses for a number of years after that, but they made a decision to sell their Racing Quarter horses and transition into the Thoroughbred Racing Market. They soon liquidated all of their Quarter Horses and took the funds and purchased two champion TB mares.

Pictured with legends Mr. Prospector and Settle Slew

Again they started slowly and built up an impressive broodmare band and stallion roster. The highlight of their stallion roster was Real Quiet who was winner of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and lost the Belmont Stakes by a hair. David later had sold their Thoroughbred Business and relocated to Kentucky to work for the buyer of his company.

The drive and motivation to own his own horses quickly took root again and in a chance encounter, David rode a Cutting Horse. Well things changed very quickly indeed for the Plummer’s. From 2002 through 2006 David quickly established Buffalo Ranch as a leader in the Performance Horse Industry. With his years of experience in the horse business, he collected the right bloodlines and the right individuals to start his breeding program. That breeding program has taken root in today’s Industry and with the very first crop bred by the Plummer’s featured 5 NCHA Futurity Finalists and have won well over $600,000 in that crop’s first 8 months.

As time has gone on David and Debby have been richly rewarded by the horse business and the friends they have made along the way. They have raised all 5 of their children in the business and at one time or another all 5 have worked for them.

David and Debby with their 5 children Jennifer, Stephanie, Spencer, Scott, and Shane 1982

But they had made the decision to retire and enjoy their grandchildren (17 at time of writing this history, and growing by the minute…) and pursuing their other passion, which is traveling the world.

Plummer family and grandchildren 2009

Nathan & June Plummer's Family (David & Nick's Parents) 2009

They sold their business once again, but this time to someone that can continue the rich family tradition.

Shane D. Plummer and his wife Jane have purchased the business and have one simple mandate in mind – to run it in a fashion which was learned by Shane from his parents and to be able to pass it along to the next generation hopefully better than when they started. They might have a large mountain to climb but it is a future worth striving for!

Shane and Jane Plummer with their 4 children Molly, Sam, Gretchen and Maggie in April 2010