Arthur Cowan “A.P.” as well as being an avid horse and cattlemen, was one of the
founders of the South Dakota Rodeo Association in 1955. Todd’s father, the late Pat
Cowan, made an early mark in the South Dakota Rodeo Association during the 1950s
winning SDRA All-
1959 Champions and Reserve Champions: Front row: Pat Cowan, Max Cornish, Buzz Bectold, Tex Fulton. Back row: Dick Wolf, Bud Day, Phylis Schlemme, Wayne Cornish and Willie Cowan
It would not be fair to talk about Cowan horses without first and foremost mentioning Stanley Johnson. Stanley and his family came into the area from Nebraska in 1945. He was an expert judge of both good cattle and horses, and had the distinct ability to incorporate the two.
Docs Jack Frost
In 1968 Doc’s Jack Frost was born, an own son of Doc Bar and line bred to Three Bars. Doc’s Jack Frost became the sire to Sun Frost as well as an accredit to the Cowan broodmare program. Stanley is also raised Orphan Drift and Sak Em San.
In the 1960s Pat diversified into the horse racing industry. Together with brother-
Tex Fulton and Pat Cowan with
Laughing Boy AA-
In 1968 Frenchman’s Fox became the first AAA Two Year old filly in South Dakota. Frenchman’s Fox was a Laughing Boy daughter by the mare Casey’s Lady Love. Casey’s Lade Love would go on to become the cornerstone of the Loiseau program.
Frenchman's Fox-
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In the 1970s the boys were entering rodeos. Pat purchased full brothers – Runnin Gun and Quickdraw Cline, both by Docs Jack Frost x Prissy Cline. In 1979 he bought a baby colt that was a full brother to the two rodeo horses, Sun Frost.
By the 1980s, the Cowan program was firmly established with Sun Frost, Boon Dox John, Tuff Time Peppy, and Docs Oak Sugar in 1987. Speed and cow sense were firmly incorporated to raise horses that were used both on the ranch as well as in the arena. Meanwhile Todd along with brothers Tigh, Treg, and Tork were tough competitors in the South Dakota ranks.
Todd-
and Tigh-
The first horse sale was held in 1984 at the Highmore Livestock Exchange.
Offered were colts by Sun Frost, Tuff Time Peppy, and Orphan Drift.
In 1994 Todd and Beth turned their attention towards their own operation and raising their immediate family. Today they operate under Cowan Ranch. Central South Dakota is prone to the hardships of weather, so in 2002 an indoor stall and arena facility was put up. Clay attended college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK and is back home. Travis just starting his first year in Alva. Drew is a sophomore in high school in Highrmore.
Todd’s brothers-