Page 53 - 2020 Remuda Catalog

Tongue

River

Ranch

Established 1898

In 1898, Eric and Albin Swenson purchased the 79,000 acre
Scab 8 Ranch. The ranch was nestled in the communal corners
of four Texas counties: King, Cottle, Motley and Dickens. The
brothers renamed it Tongue River Ranch because of its location
on the Tongue (South Pease) River. The unusual name of the river
was said to bear reference to the black tongue, a nineteenth cen-
tury disease which wiped out many buffalo in the region. Folk-
lore also states that due to the melting pot of inhabitants as well
as the myriad of languages representative of the Indian tribes and
traders that traveled in this region, the river had been christened
“The River of Many Tongues” and was later shortened to Tongue
River. Either way, in 1898 Tongue River Ranch as it is known to-
day was born.
Present day owner, Millard Morris purchased the picturesque
Tongue River at its current size of 89,000 rolling acres in 1997,
and added the 30,000 acre Big Baldy New Mexico Division in
2007.
Paramount to the Tongue River Ranch operation is their out-
standing horse program. The Tongue River Ranch has concen-
trated on raising horses that are not only well-built animals but
are, above all, highly intelligent and incredible athletes. Honored
to be the 2011 AQHA Best of Remuda Award winner the ranch’s
horse program has continued to advance, which is seen across
the country as Tongue River Ranch Quarter Horses have quali-
fied to 11 WRCA finals, two of which included Top Horse Titles.
They have also received Champion and Reserve Champion Titles
at the RHAA finals held in Abilene Texas and have had multi-

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