The 144-acre Diamond B Ranch in Alvin, Texas, has been a boarding facility for horses since 1978 when it was purchased from a dairy farmer. Over several years, the five original milking open barns were converted to enclosed horse stalls, and three additional barns. The ranch has developed into one of the largest horse boarding and riding facilities around Houston, Texas. Today the Ranch has one hu
ndred (100) horse stalls in eight barns. A few smaller stalls are appropriate for ponies, and four large foaling stalls are available. The ranch provides unlimited wood-chip bedding for the stalls. Each barn is equipped with a working fly spray system that mists natural pyrethrum into each stall in order to minimize flies and mosquitoes. Heated water wash-racks and lighted tack-rooms are also accessible to boarders. We have three open round pens, and two additional open outdoor arenas, one 100 feet x 180 feet and the other 125 feet x 150 feet, and a 100-acre pasture for trail riding and cross-country exercise. Thirty-eight ½-acre to 2-acre pastures provide turnouts for stabled horses. Two to four horses are assigned to each pasture depending on temperaments, pasture size and grass density. The Ranch also has six smaller pipe-enclosed turnouts that are appropriate for studs and horses recovering from lameness or surgery. All of our turnouts have water and most have some shade. Our turnouts drain fairly well and within a few days of a major rain they are very usable. The roads to the turnout paddocks are surfaced with rock and crushed concrete and can be accessed on foot or by car rain or shine. The owners, the family of W. O. “Butch” Bloodworth, Jr. live on the premises year round. The grounds, fence lines, barns and stalls, and hay and feed supplies are maintained continually. In the event of utility failure the water pump has a generator backup to maintain water supply. In sum, amenities at the Diamond B Ranch include: 144 acres, 100-stalls, three large riding enclosures (one covered), three round pens, 8 turnouts, 6 stud pens, 4 foaling stalls, bedding and fly spray in each stall, and constant attention from the proprietors.
