DeBruce Ranch

" WE MAKE CHAMPIONS!"

Show Halter and Performance Miniatures

Theodore Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

DeBruce Ranch Miniatures

Danny, Jeanne & Robert Lee DeBruce 2003'

  We've always taken pride in our equines through the years.

 Miniature Horses have been a big part of our lives the last 20 years!

 We Purchased our first miniature as a ranch mascot back in 89'.

Alot has changed since then, we sold off all the race horses over the course of a few years and decided to invest in the miniature horse industry. Our goal today is quite simply to breed the best show miniatures we can to be competitive in todays show ring.  We're crossing Shetland/ Hackney breeding, bred down under 38"  with our Miniatures. Breeding and staying under 38" as well as breeding horses under 34" in the "A" division a separate division of the A.M.H.R. a goal were working toward.  We've purchased better stock through the years. Bred to better stallions and sold off to make room to improve what now is in 2010' our winningest stock ever. (see page #6) As always we're constantly striving to improve, to compete in the ever changing/ improving Miniature horse show world.

   We live and work here on our ranch located in the heart of Norco, "Horse Town U.S.A." in sunny Southern California. No sidewalks just horse paths to ride or buggy down. We're a small family ranch under 3 acres. (California ranches go by price per acre not number of acres. :-)

   After we purchased a miniature as a mascot for our Race Horse ranch in the mid 80's we quickly learned how  fun they were and the pleasure they brought us watching the foals play in pasture, giving em carrots, grooming and caring for them.

    Driving them in cart down a Norco horse path is more fun you can imagine. Being able to interact with these little horses and the kids enjoying and caring for them became a fun family pastime. 

 We quickly realized how much less of a tole these little guys had on our  "slightly" aging bodies, I know as a lover of equines i want to stay active in one way or another with horses as long as i'm able. Minis  add (mini) years

to that reality! :-)

  One of our very first foals won a Supreme Championship at the Pomona Fair, L.A., Pomona, California in the mid 80's. A  nice yearling, he was purchased just as soon as we made it known he was available...wow i couldn't believe it, a real profit! It didn't take long to learn how profitable miniatures could be, there was nothing miniature about that check!

 Of course gentlemen the problem then becomes convincing your spouse to part with that little bundle of joy she's bonded too, "HONEY WE AGREED.. WE CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL!...REMEMBER???"

* I read a survey some years ago that said the average miniature owner back then had 6 miniatures I wonder what that equates to today?

      After many years in the  business our ranch services today include: breeding, conditioning, training, swimming, showing, handling, foaling and selling ours as well as others livestock big and small. 

 We love sharing horse stories, many years of trial and error ... 30 years where'd the time go?)  also how we've adapted our big horse training tecniques to the miniatures over the years. (of course when i say, "we" about training.... I mean Jeanne!.. however I am the chief cook, bottle washer and ranch keeper upperer and occasional story teller, website builder, advertiser, selling agent etc., etc.!

(u get the picture)

   Jeanne professionally trains several diciplines: Halter, Showmanship, Liberty, Jumping, Hunter, Driving, etc. with miniatures as well as large horses including Drafts & Mules. 

For 15 years her speciality was working with problem race horses. Problems created mostly by other trainers or lack of training.

    Well thanks for stopping by our site, please browse, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about anything on our site please call us or email. Our numbers are at the top of the page or use the handy form at the bottom of the "Contact Us" page located on the tool bar above.  Also please except our invitation for a free training demonstration by Jeanne here at the ranch by appointment in the near future!

Happy Trails and God Bless You!

Danny & Jeanne DeBruce

John 3:16

 Pacific Coast Miniature Horse Club, 2011' year end awards and pot luck held at DeBruce Ranch. We had a great turnout and great family fun this beautiful fall day in Norco, California 10/9/11 

never know who's going to stop by DeBruce Ranch. Hello Ernie the camel thanks for stopping by. laurie marine couldn't believe how big Ernie was.

Let me look into our eyes...Ernie loved the little miniature horses. Here Erie's saying hi to a pretty brave little guy (a Taxi colt) held by Jeanne DeBruce 10/7/11

Prince owned by Lauren and Kathy Cummings thought Erine was pretty nice if he just wasn't sooo tall.

Ohh that's so much better Ernie please to meet you! Now we can see eye to eye. lol

October 9, 2010, Blast from the past!

(hey at least we're still alive to receive the presentation! lol)

Congratulations! Burrcrest Rudolph Valentino (1988' A.D.M.S.World Champion Miniature Model Donkey)

Rudy and former owners Jeanne and Danny DeBruce will be honored with entry into The Norco Horse Town U.S.A. Hall of Fame 2010' this Saturday at 4 pm. Go to the hall of fame website if you would like to join us. Tickets are on sale now! Google Norco Hall of Fame..enjoy a nice dinner, horse demonstrations and the hall of fame presentations!

Danny and Jeanne (22 yrs ago) my how time flys!

Sept 24, 2010'

 We recently had an opportunity to show off our miniatures as part of Joe and Darians beautiful, San Juan Capistrano, Ca. wedding...more photos on page #18

(Darin's fantistic idea to have a living, interacting managable equine prop (if u will) for events such as her own wedding!!) 

Darian and Joe see Prince (mini) fully decked out for the first time, right after their ceremony....

note: click on darin and joe's .. above (on the page bar) for more beautiful photos!  

Wow what a great turnout...500 plus people in about 6 hours!!! Thanks everyone!

Friends of Norco Hills 2011' Ranch Tour!

(back by popular demand as the most visited ranch on the 2009' norco tour.)DeBruce Ranch Miniatures

*Friends of Norco Hills 2011' Tour of Norco Ranches!!!

Please stop in May 22, 2011' from 9am to 5pm and say Hi and stay awhile!! for a small one time $10.00 donation you get to visit 7 of Norco's nicest horse ranches!!

Here at: DeBruce Ranch you'll see....

1/ horse demonstrations

2/ mini cart rides for kids and adults

3/ see beautiful National Champ. bred minis

4/ see miniature foals

5/ have your childs photo taken with a miniature horse!

6/ 30 yr pro and Norco Horse Town U.S.A. Hall of Fame trainer Jeanne DeBruce will share her methods for training champion miniatures, ponies and large horses.

7/ We'd love to see you here!!! :-)

scroll down to see some photos of 2009' and 2010'

DeBruce Ranch tours.

Congratulations!!

 Jeanne DeBruce for being honored as a 2009' and 2010' member of the Norco Horse Town U.S.A. Hall of Fame.

The beautiful banquet and dinner made for a very special once in a life time special event!

Thank You to the City of Norco for recognizing Jeannes equine training ability and many Championships!

click on the norco horse town u.s.a.hall of fame page #16 (above) 

A Special Thanks to the wonderful people at the Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, California: inviting us to display our miniatures this year! Please come out and visit us in the equine section all this coming week of 7/20/2009 at the Orange County Fair grounds! 

Delightful Orange County family has fun visiting  DeBruce Ranch! 

5/30/2009 Friends of Norco Hills,

 Ranch Tour 2009'

DeBruce Ranch was honored to be chosen as one of 6 Norco ranches to be on their tour this year. An estimated 250 Adults plus kids came through the ranch in approx. 5 hours to view, pet, watch demos., carts rides and learned about our beautiful miniatures. Here's a few photos of the day.

many pitched in to help round up one of the foals that just didn't want to go back into her stall.

success back into her pen she goes!

everyone loves to touch the minis

jeanne giving demo on how to show in halter

A Special Thanks to: 

"Hobby Horse Clothing Co.!" 

 Julie Farmer, Norco, Ca. modeling a beautiful Hobby Horse outfit with her own Champion miniature horse. His stable name is "Luke",  "DeBruces Kolormekool", purchased from DeBruce Ranch. 

     Wearing this gorgeous jacket in the show ring may not get your horse a blue ribbon, but you'll certainly look like a winner. It's a perfect design for any of the miniature horse halter classes! Dress for Success in the Show Ring with Hobby Horse!

A big Thank You to Suzanne Drnec owner/ founder of Hobby Horse Clothing Co. Inc. the premier California clothing company for western show attire!(www.hobbyhorseinc.com)

 For using DeBruce Ranch Miniatures in their 08'/09' Catolog. Pictured here is Kristin Titoz another one of their beautiful top models with our colt named "Topper", reg. name, "DeBruces Top This Illusion" on her left and on the right is "Mikey", reg. name, "DeBruces Buck to A T".

both owned by: Wendy K. Anderson, Norco, Ca

Here's a great snapshot of "Kristin and Topper" ...is Kristin on her knees or is Topper on his tip toes??? :-)