Creek Plantation, Martin, South Carolina, will receive the Best Remuda Award from the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
It recognizes Creek Plantation’s dedication to producing outstanding working ranch horses, said Karl Stressman, AQHA president.
William S. Morris III began Creek Plantation in 1968. Today, the operation produces working American Quarter Horses for use in its 2,000-head commercial cattle operation.
The family run Creek Plantation has bred more than 1,750 American Quarter Horses. They have earned more than $3.2 million in competition across various disciplines, including 81 AQHA Registers of Merit.
Creek Plantation features a commercial horse, cattle, and timber operation combining Morris’ passion for land and resource stewardship. It is southeast of Augusta, Georgia, on the Savannah River where rolling upland hills give way to the flood plains.
The horse program began in earnest with the purchase of the stallion King Of Clubs and five mares in 1970. Through the years, the program grew slowly, with emphasis on performance, disposition, and conformation in foundation bloodlines.
During the middle ’70s, a large-scale breeding program was developed with a definite focus on the production of cutting horses. The basic plan was to assemble outstanding mares from the three foundation families of King, Old Sorrel, and Leo.
These mares were then outcrossed on the Doc Bar bloodline. It was determined that stallions from each family would allow production of the line-bred foundation breeding stock within each family.
In 1984, Creek Plantation became a shareholder in Smart Little Lena. After a brief lease, Morris purchased Tanquery Gin, from B. F. Phillips, AQHA Hall of Fame inductee.
“The Best Remuda Award recognizes dedication to raising conformationally correct, good-minded working ranch horses,” said Karen McCuistion, AQHA programs director.
“For more than 50 years, Creek Plantation has done just that. We are honored to recognize their efforts in raising high-quality, using American Quarter Horses.”
In addition to the agribusiness operation, Morris is chairman of Morris Communications LLC. The corporation produces the Road to the Horse colt-starting event and owns the National Barrel Horse Association. Morris contributes to disciplines across the board to support his fellow horsemen.
Creek Plantation will receive a specially designed award during the AQHA Breeder Banquet at the AQHA Convention in Las Vegas.