Since 1884, the Allen family has been deeply rooted in Texas ranching for six generations. Operating in several Texas counties with the headquarters in Coleman, Texas, the Lazy Eight is primarily a stocker/yearling operation, running 4000-5000 head of cattle annually. The ranches vary from large native grass pastures along the Colorado River and the Jim Ned Creek valley to irrigated and dry land wheat ground. Good cow horses are essential to the Lazy Eight Ranches operation. In 1990, the Allen brothers,Lembo and Zac, revived the horse breeding program on the ranch. As an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, the ranch maintains a band of top quality cow horse mares that produce the ranch horses they use daily.
The Lazy Eight Ranches’ stallion, Sun O Tenino (Matlock), has won several Top Ranch Horse awards. He sires well-boned, good-looking versatile horses with great dispositions and lots of “cow”. In addition to being solid ranch mounts, Lazy Eight horses excel in the arena competing in the RHAA, NCHA, AQHA cow horse classes, Ranch Horse Versatility classes, and ranch rodeos.
The Allen family is committed to preserving its ranching heritage and to leaving the land better than they found it through proper management of its resources. Ranching is not only a business, it is a way of life.