About Us Personally

Bret and Moninya were childhood friends. They even graduated from the same high school. They quickly married after a brief courtship (6 weeks) when Moninya returned from a year away at college in Colorado. After 30 years of marriage, it must have been the deep friendship which keeps them happy and in love today. 

Bret and Moninya have two grown sons, Lucas and Levi. Lucas is married to Lindsay and together have created four wonderful priceless grandchildren. 

Jordan, aka Dudelet, is his Mawmaw's boy, period. Jordan has been riding Bullet and is great at taking instruction. Mikayla, aka Toto, loves her Pawpaw and anything that has to do with large animals. Kylie, aka the Gummy bear, is smart and thoughtful, ever happy to go and see the world. She rules the family. The youngest is Ivy, pictures to come soon. 

Even though Bret retired from working large ranches, he is busier than ever. He's involved in a partnership with his father's operation as well as a full time horse trainer. The combined cow herd has grown to ranches in Asher and Nebo. We leased a barn in Sulphur to centralize the horse training. 

After 10 years, Moninya no longer works at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  It has been a drastic change. Her work with living history at the park will benefit the community. Moninya worked for the LIfestyle Center of America as evening supervisor and chef for a while.  It was wonderful! She has diabetes and a few health issues which are addressed by the lifestyle center's mission. It has proven to be a God sent blessing to her health, both mentally and physically! Bret eats well too now. It is a plant based diet but as Moninya likes to point out chocolate is plant based! For more information on diabetes and lifestyle changes through diet and exercise follow the link. 

One opportunity leads to another. After a very brief stint at Tractor Supply Moninya started a new position at Schmersal Ranch as office manager. She loves the people and is challenged daily with interesting tasks.

2006, Moninya accepted the 2007 OkFQHR newsletter editor position. Moninya also worked with the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge assisting the refuge manager with designing a Teacher's Handbook and an Educational Environmental Classroom. September 15 & 16, 2006, she was a judge of Wildlife Art at the annual Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge National Hunting and Fishing Day.

As a volunteer for the Blue Thumb Project she took the task of stream monitoring. She helped with two streams in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Due to complications, she felt forced to give up this extremely important conservation project that helps protect the water which is our most important resource. Visit the site and learn more about clean water and the Blue Thumb Volunteer Program.

With the hope of free time, she wants to restart her oil painting hobby. Painting nature is something she finds very relaxing and keeps her thinking like a biologist. Her ranch job is to love horses and grandkids. She also maintains the business electronic equipment and paperwork. Digital anything will make Bret swear at the Greek Gods. 

  Moninya (Ninya) Mulder 

 Sorrelie the Babysitter 

Sorrelie is a mustang rejected from the prison system's training program. Bret took him in trade for schooling two other mustangs. All have gone on to be solid working ranch horses. Sorrelie was an all round cow horse just not fancy. He is now fat and old with gray around the eyes. We have no idea how old. He earns his living now by teaching manners to the youngsters. He puts up with the teenagers and teaches them the pecking order. He is a great horse to be with the newly weaned foals. He has a calming affect. Not a very good picture of Sorrelie, he had a long beautiful tail until California, in grief, chewed it off the night Wishbone left  He took it all in stride. Sorrelie hates his picture taken and leaves if a camera is pointed at the him or any of the horses. He also heads for high ground if he thinks he has to "visit" with the grand kids. He is a kind old soul and will (if caught), let all kids waller him, pull and tug their way up on his back. He is a great babysitter.