San Juan Ranch wrapped up the 2025 Gold Buckle Futurities season as Breeder of the Year, presented by Valley Equine, finishing on top with $148,102 in total earnings.
Those earnings came the hard way. Every dollar was accumulated through the full Gold Buckle payout structure, from both halves of the breeder and stallion payouts to round money, and averages, and it took contributions from eight different San Juan Ranch bred horses to get there. It was not a season defined by one breakout performance, but by a program that produces consistent and productive mounts.
After the spring event, San Juan Ranch sat third in the standings, very much in the hunt but with work still to do. The World Finals is where the separation happened. By the time the numbers were finalized, San Juan Ranch had moved to the top of the leaderboard, finishing ahead of Flag Ranch at $118,706 in second and Center Ranch at $108,906 in third, to secure the title.
“The ropers have really grabbed onto CD Diamond and SJR Diamond Mist more than we ever could have hoped and we could not be more excited about it. All of the trainers were so excited about these horses when we first came into this industry, and we have loved being a part of it ever since,” said Megan Lundquist in an interview with Katy Lucas after the award presentation at the 2025 World Finals.
SJR Mists Apache was the leading earner for the program, finishing the season with $45,210 in Futurity Heeling earnings with Hunter Koch of X Performance Horses. The Spring Showdown produced $18,235, including a third place Average, a third place Stallion Incentive finish, and a Breeders Incentive win worth $8,000. At the World Finals, the same consistency showed up again, with $26,975 earned through a second place Average, second in the Stallion Incentive, and second in the Breeders Incentive. Across both events, the results added up steadily rather than all at once, which is often what decides a title like this.
The fall Futurity Breakaway added another significant push. SJR Diamonds To Go earned $28,328 with Loni Yates, stacking checks from every direction: third in the Average for $4,928, third in the Stallion Incentive for $8,050, third in the Intermediate division for $2,900, first in the Breeders Incentive for $7,500, and third in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $4,950.
Queen Of Sparkles followed with $26,291 in earnings across multiple classes. At the World Finals Maturity Breakaway with Marissa Boisjoli, the run produced $21,863, including second in the Intermediate for $4,488, second in the Breeders Incentive for $5,000, and a win in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive worth $12,375. Additional earnings came in the Limited Breakaway with Blakely Boardman for $1,250, along with a 13 & Under sidepot win adding another $1,250.
That same consistency carried through the rest of the San Juan Ranch lineup, where several performances quietly turned into difference makers.
SJR Diamond Billy delivered one of the most complete performances of the fall in limited heading with Fermin Gilbert, sweeping the entire class and walking away with $22,600 after only roping 5 head on the horse the day before and putting in a late entry. The run started with a win in the Average for $9,500, carried through the Non Pro for another $3,900, and finished with a Stallion Incentive win worth $9,200. In a race that came down to margins, that kind of clean sweep moved the needle.
SJR Diamond Chanel continued to build momentum across both events in the Maturity Heading with Dakota Kirchenschlager, finishing the season with $9,085. The Spring Showdown produced $1,075 from a seventh place Intermediate finish, while the fall showing added $8,010, highlighted by a third place Intermediate run paying $3,110 and a third place Intermediate Stallion Incentive worth $4,900.
SJR Stylish Believer added $8,902 in the fall Maturity Heeling with Justin Johnson, earning $2,227 for a fourth place finish in the Intermediate and backing it up with a runner up finish in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive.
Codi’s contribution came during the spring Maturity Heeling with Dakota Kirchenschlager, where $5,186 was earned through a twelfth place Average finish worth $1,436 and a second place Breeders Incentive payout of $3,750.
SJR Diamond Ombre rounded out the eight horse effort with $2,500 in the spring maturity heeling with Rhen Richard, finishing third in the Breeders Incentive and closing the book on a season that was built check by check.
From the Gold Buckle Futurities side, San Juan Ranch’s season reflects exactly what the program is built to reward. Cole Davison, one of the owners of Gold Buckle Futurities, has seen San Juan Ranch horses show up prepared across events and believes the consistency of the breeding program is what continues to set them apart.
This award is a real testament to what they’re doing. We need speed, size, and agility, and they have it. I’ve seen it myself, I couldn’t tell you how many good San Juan horses I’ve had since my first one, Apollo Oak,” says Cole Davison on his relationship with San Juan Ranch. “They’re strong, they’re big enough, and they have the cow and the sense to get the job done.”
When the season closed, the outcome felt earned. San Juan Ranch did not rely on one standout run or one standout horse. They stayed in contention from start to finish, and when it was over, the numbers backed it up. According to Lundquist, the next set is already lined out, and we’re certain that San Juan Ranch is not done winning in the rope horse world.
