Like many Western cattle ranches, horses have always been used for ranch work at the Lonetree Ranch outside of Sturgis, SD And, it’s no different on the ranch today.

“We’re not a motorcycle and four-wheeler outfit,” says Larry Reinhold, who operates the ranch with his wife Robin and his parents Vicky and Tige Reinhold. Larry and Robin’s three children Rachel, 8; Molly, 6; and Danny, 2; are home schooled and help out on the ranch as well.

But over the last twenty years, the family operation has shifted its focus from raising purebred Herefords to establishing a respected herd of Quarter Horses. Today, Lonetree Ranch includes 250 Hereford-based commercial cows and a string of 140 Quarter Horses on the 4,200 acre ranch that Larry’s grandfather homesteaded in the early 1900’s.

The ranch also has another focus - sharing their ranching lifestyle, horses and Christian faith with youth through Rainbow Bible Ranch, which the Reinhold family also operates. Larry’s sister Lana, her husband Chris Morris and their three children, Jason, Jana, and Joel, assist in many of the duties for the summer camp.

Of the unique combination of cows, horses and campers, Larry says, “It’s just always fit well into our ranching operation.”

He adds, “We’re in the people business. We want people to have an enjoyable experience on horseback.” He says that’s their goal whether it’s a camper riding a horse for the first time, or a customer who is an experienced rider.

The Reinholds attest that much of their success with the Quarter Horses they raise and sell stems from the experience the horses get on the ranch.

“We think it’s important to get a good foundation on the horses,” says Robin. She is the daughter of Jack and Ellen Paulton of Custer and grew up with horses and cattle as well. And she adds, “Our customers also appreciate that.”

Larry says, “Our horses have to be able to survive the range condition. We kick them out into the breaks in the winter, and they’ve got to survive and produce a colt in the spring.”

He adds, “We don’t feed that much in the winter to keep our expenses down. We probably treat them more like a commercial cowherd in that regard.”

But Larry says their customers are looking for that ranch raised environment. He relates, “One buyer bought two colts and left them here for several months because he wanted them raised on the South Dakota range.”

“This country is hard to beat for the quality of cattle and horses it turns out. I think that’s why Northern Plains horses are so popular,” Larry adds.

The Lonetree program includes pasture breeding all mares. Many of the current females in the herd are out of the stallion Rockets Red Poco, that was double bred Poco Bueno and Joe Hancock.

“We’ve found that those bloodlines carry a cowy-mind and good disposition,” Larry says.

Currently, daughters of Rockets Red Poco are being bred to Rainbow Sugar, a grandson of Sugar Bars. The Reinholds acquired Rainbow Sugar from Jim and Joni Hunt of Open Box Rafter.

Rather than holding an annual production sale, the Reinholds say they’ve elected to sell their horses private treaty because of the interaction it allows with people.

“Selling private treaty allows us the chance to meet people on a very individual basis,’ says Robin. “And, by getting to know them, we can find out what kind of horse they are looking for and match them up. It’s fun to make those matches and see them work out.” she adds.

She says another benefit of selling private treaty gives buyers a chance to see the colt’s mother and other offspring on the ranch.

This year in conjunction with their private treaty sales, the Reinholds plan to have a few show days, where the horses will perform and be available for buyers to evaluate.

Looking ahead, the Reinholds say they hope to continue offering ranch-raised horses. “We want to train horses that will withstand the activities of the ranch. If they’ll stand up here, I know they’ll go on and perform,” Larry says. “We strive to raise horses with good minds, good bone and eye appeal.”

Robin adds, “One thing we hear over and over is the bone that we have on the horses. I believe that’s something that’s been lost in horses. Most don’t have a solid foundation under them.”

“Also, their disposition is important. We need kind, personable horses that treat people right,” she says.

Both Larry and Robin agree one of their future goals is to show the capability of their ranch-raised horses in many capacities for a broad spectrum of people and their pursuit of horsemanship.

“We have a proven product that many people are pleased with as they are discovered around the country,” Larry says.

“We strive to raise horses that offer versatility,” Robin adds.

With their focus on faith and family, the Reinholds says that no matter what the path ahead may hold, they are appreciative of their ranching lifestyle and the opportunities they’ve had to share it with one another and people from around the world.

This summer, the Rainbow Bible Camp on the Lonetree Ranch, near Sturgis, South Dakota, celebrates its 23rd season. The youth camp hosts ten, week-long sessions from June through August and is devoted to sharing the Lord’s message in a ranch setting.

Rainbow Bible Camp was founded by the Reinhold family in 1979 as a tribute to brothers Lyle and Lee Reinhold and Wayne Brost who drowned on the ranch on May 28, 1979.

Larry says that his brother Lyle had always wanted to start a Christian youth camp. “So after this happened, we prayed about starting a camp and just dove in,” says Larry.

Today, Rainbow Bible Ranch runs as a separate entity from Lonetree Ranch, but the ranch is the setting for the youth camp. The Reinhold family and an additional 15 summer staff oversee camp activities, which include swimming, fishing, camping out on the river breaks, cooking over an open fire and, of course horseback riding.

There is also Bible study and quiet time every morning. Evenings include singing and talent competitions. Last year, nearly 400 kids, many of them return campers, from eighteen states attended the camp.

Of the camp, Larry says, “My family saw this as an opportunity to share our life on the ranch with kids and families. God has allowed us to be a tool. It’s a golden opportunity to show a working family ranch, especially today when so many people are removed form agriculture by more than a generation.”

“We’ve had the privilege of sharing our life, land, livestock and horses and use it to share Biblical messages,” he adds. “We use horses with the camp because we can teach so much about life, spiritual principles, and just challenge kids to new levels of confidence.”

On Fridays, the last day of the week-long camp, team penning and a ranch-style rodeo is held. “It’s a golden opportunity for parents to see how kids ride.”

But improved horsemanship skills aren’t the only change the Reinholds see in kids attending the camp. Robin says another reward is seeing how the Lord works in kid’s lives.

“The pressures on kids is incredible. Some of them come here heavy with burdens. It’s rewarding to see them give those burdens to the Lord,” she says.

For Larry another benefit is the focus on family. “It’s been a blessing working with my parents and having our kids grow up in the same house I grew up in. It’s also a blessing to be in partnership with my family. Hopefully, we can keep doing it, Lord willing, for the next generation.”