In 1987, Jon Gilbert purchased 10 acres in Dewey, Arizona and the building of HorseBreakers Unlimited began. He was joined by Marywade Warner in September, 1988.  Today, HorseBreakers Unlimited is a premier horse facility which consists of 45 acres, 60 stalls, roping arena, covered arena, round pens, paddocks, wash racks, breeding area, breeding Lab and numerous outbuildings. Jon & Marywade met in 1988 on a trail ride in Payson, Az.  Marywade was a guest and Jon was the wrangler for Don Donnelly Stables, which supplied the horses for the ride.   In the beginning there was nothing. Jon slept next to his horse trailer with his dog Boone. Original drive way into the ranch. First, build a round pen. Next, drill a well.

New wood barn.
Tack room, round pen, wood barn.
	1988 New trees
Tack room and first half of house.	Pouring slab for second half of house
Hay barn, feed shed, wood barn.	House complete
Tack room finished	Looking south
Overlooking the ranch including the outhouse!	Boone

In late 1989 we purchased another 10 acres.

Our friends moved a blue mobile onto the property and helped us with  construction on the ranch. Looking north.	More new trees

1990

Pouring slab for new boarders tack room

New paddocks

Ranch overview looking south east

July 1990 Yes, it rains in Arizona and yes, our wash does run!

~Devon Horse Show~1990~
Winners of the Family Class
Warner~Serio Family
Mary Warner Brown~Chrissy Serio~Louise Serio~Marywade Warner~TR Serio

1991

 We bought a 12 stall barn, took it down, moved it and put it back up. Moved it in January and it was completed in March of 1991

We purchased another 25 acres, built another hay barn, put up more paddocks and drilled another well.

1992

And that's a whole nother story!




Jon~Marywade Gilbert TR Serio at Cowpunchers Reunion

1993
We were fortunate to be able to purchase Scottish Bart! 

 
and he has been the cornerstone of our breeding program since then.
For more information on breeding and photos of our mares and foals please see the Foals page.

We also got our freeze brand made

G for Gilbert, J for Jon and M on the bottom for Marywade

At this time on the ranch, rock waters, rock feeders and rock retaining walls were starting to be built.

Marywade's mother, Mary Brown purchased the blue mobile.
More new trees	Looking north

1994
New rock entry way.

                      

New 10 stall shed row

Original wood barn	Wood round pen

1995

Was a wonderful year. We started The Buckskin Extravaganza and Production sale, which quickly became the most elite and successful sale in the United States for buckskin and dun quarter horses. The Buckskin Extravaganza and Production sale continued until 2006.

There were 1200 people in attendance and the  high selling horse sold for $6700.

We also built an 18 stall mare motel, breeding area and a Lab.

1996
Buckskin Extravaganza's High Selling horse was a buckskin gelding, Kiowa Boon. Sold for $18,500.

 

1997
The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Tardy Talley, a 1993 dun gelding. He sold for  $9400.

MJG Cut To A Tee & Scottish Bart



In November of 1997 we purchased 102 head of horses from a breeder in Tennessee. They included daughters of Dry Doc, Peppy San Badger & Mr San Peppy. King Ranch bred and branded. 40 Broodmares, all in foal, 30 yearlings, 30 two year olds, a paint stallion and a mini. Certainly gave a new meaning to feeding time.  We sold all of the horses except the daughters of Dry Doc and these mares became our first mares to cross on Hollywood Dun It for our reining breeding program. 

1998
We bought three buildings in Phoenix, took them down and rebuilt them at the ranch. This is the future hay barn.


The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Dry Badger Girl, a 1988 Buckskin daughter of Dry Doc. She sold for $40,000.00

1999
We started The Color Consignment Sales. Our first ranch horse competition and sale was held at Desert Hills Equestrian Center.
We continue to host the Colors Consignment sales to this day.

Summer
New drive way fence

Entry completed

1999
Fall
We had to replace the original wood round pen
It was finished in the spring of 2000

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Hollywood Hunk, a 1993 buckskin gelding sired by Hollywood Dun It. He sold for $25,000.00

2000
Was a very busy year

The blue mobile home got a new coat of paint

We built a covered arena

The arena was finished just in time for the 6th annual Buckskin Extravaganza where 2000 people from 18 different states attended.

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Billie Joe Buckey a 1989 buckskin gelding. He sold for $43,000.00

 
2001

New patio on back of house

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Cruisin Not Snoozin, a 1996 Buckskin gelding. He sold for $17,200.00

We had our first litter of Baxter~Bailey corgi puppies.
Brittany, Brooke, Brie, Wrigley, Brandy, Bristol

2002

 Each year we tried to complete a different project. New fence, new trees, new landscaping, new wash racks, new roping arena, new something. All the while we were extremely busy selling horses and preparing for the next buckskin sale.




 The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was a 1998 Perlino Gelding, that sold for $17,500.

2003

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was CDG Poco Jet Of Honor, a 1997 dun gelding. He sold for $26,000.00

2004

Hot walker

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was Dancin Dunit, a 1997 buckskin gelding sired by Hollywood Dun It. He sold for $30,000.00

2005

The Buckskin Extravaganza's high selling horse was MJG Hollywood Bound a 2000 buckskin daughter of Hollywood Dun It. She sold for $53,000.00. No wonder we were smiling.


MJG Hollywood Bound
Sired by Hollywood Dun It and out of Dock And Dry, one of the original King Ranch mares we purchased in 1997

2006
The  tan mobile-office got a facelift

This was the last year we held the Buckskin Extravaganza sale, and the high seller was Mr Skip A Chex, a 2002 buckskin gelding.
He sold for $30,000.00


We were also featured in an article in Western Horseman Magazine!!


 

2007
Cesar Milan and the filming of "The Lone Wrangler" featuring Reggie the wild dog aired on National Geographic TV in October.
We had a great time with Cesar and he had a great time riding a reining horse and getting a new hat from Jon.

 Click here to read a short article from the local paper.
 

Cesar & Hollywood Dun Aces

Jon said,  "I have been in the horse business for 25 years and it took a free dog to make me famous."
Just too funny.

2008
New sun porch on house and a remodel on the inside.

2009
Jon started showing reiners and purchased Cielo San Lewis. He qualified for the NRHA Affiliate Finals in Oklahoma City,  for Rookie of the Year. He was 10th. He was also Reserve Champion in the Limited Non Pro.
He also won year end awards in the Arizona Reining Horse Assn.
1st Rookie Level 1
1st Rookie Level 2
1st Prime Time Rookie
1st Non Pro Champion
1st Limited Non Pro



Jon was also the Desert Reining Association year end winner of the Rookie Prime Time & the Rookie L1 Non Pro.
In his first year of showing he won a total of 3 saddles and 13 belt buckles on Cielo San Lewis.
What a fantastic first year of showing!!

2010

In his second year of showing Jon and Cielo San Lewis again qualified for the North American Affiliate Championships by winning all his Divisions at the Southwest Regional Championships.  For the second year in a row he was  reserve World Champions in the Limited Open Non Pro Division at the Affiliate Finals.

Needless to say with all the horse showing we did not have much time to build anything new on the ranch. Thank goodness.

2011
In his third year of showing, and second year,  Jon and Lewis were Champion in the Southwest Regional Affiliate Finals in all his  Non Pro divisions.

    






Qualifying him for the NRHA Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma City where he was Champion in the  Prime Time Non Pro Division. He was also 6th in the Non Pro and 5th in the Intermediate Non Pro.
Way to go Jon and Lewis.

Ranch sunset

2012

This year we will celebrate our 20th year wedding anniversary as well as the 25th anniversary of HorseBreakers
It's been a wonderful ride.
Thanks for taking a look.



Jon and Lewis overlooking the ranch.

Click Here to read February's Bridle & Bit..
"Horsebreakers Celebrates 25 Years!"

email us at: info@horsebreakers.com

or write:  Jon and Marywade Gilbert
P.O. Box 687, Dewey, AZ  86327
Phone: 928-632-5728 Fax: 928-632-5094