Ronald S. Mason's Cross J Ranch Oklahoma Star & Beggar Boy Rodeo Greats

Book Synopsis: Will Rogers said, "You can't beat something with nothing." My father, Ronald S. Mason believed this to be true in all things, especially horses, without the blood-line of a great horse; your horse would be a run of the mill variety. There was never a man that loved horses more or had a keener eye for good horse flesh than Ronald S. Mason. One can look over the history of horses he bought for sires and the horses that were foaled on the Cross J Ranch and see the results of his foresight. In his era, his horses' bloodlines could be found from coast to coast, during this time in history his horses created a legacy of his dream being realized. Considering the large number of cowboys that became ProRodeo Hall of Famers riding his horses, only proves Ronald had a keen eye for the exceptional horse; whether buying horses or picking sires for his band of brood mares, he wanted a horse that could perform and was easy to handle. As you will see in the following pages - he more than exceeded in his dream - from roping horses, cutting horses, jumping horses, barrel horses, polo horse, using horses, race horses as well as show horses - his horses did well in all events, from coast to coast, as well as Mexico and Canada. The pages that follow are but a small part of his legacy. Good breeding always shows. The caliber of a sire's 'get' can be told over a period of time, by the caliber of men riding them. Since I can remember as a small youngster, my father studied the bloodlines of horses and could recite bloodlines, whether quarter or thoroughbred, until he was up in his nineties. As a young man, I sometimes thought he must have the blood of a great horse running in his veins, so great was his admiration for these animals. He bought his first horse in 1907 and his love of horses remained with him until the day he died. Oklahoma Star registered number was P-6 and Beggar Boy, a thoroughbred, who was a full brother to Black Gold, a Kentucky Derby winner bloodlines created more champion rope horses during their time - it got where if a roper wasn't riding an Oklahoma Star horse he was consider as being afoot. This book is about Ronald Mason's horses and the champions that rode them.