Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamus Haws.
Hi Shamus, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The Running U brand itself has been in the family for more than 150 years. Shamus & Jolyn Haws, now ranch owner, have been running the day-to-day operations on the ranch for the past 30 years, as well as conducting both public and private Colt Starting, Horsemanship, and Cow Working clinics throughout the country.
Running U is constantly striving to produce top-bred Quarter Horses with outstanding conformation, disposition, and athletic ability to succeed as both ranch and performance horses in all aspects of the equine industry. Their horses are raised on 30,000+ acres on the Oquirrh Mountain range. Running U Livestock is one of the largest & most reputable Quarter Horse breeders in the western United States, as well as an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder. They have been featured in several nationally recognized publications because of the values and honesty they are known for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all! Ranching looks pretty good from the outside, but there is a whole lot of work that people don’t see. There are long days, early mornings, late nights, and usually something that needs fixing or taking care of. You can plan all you want, but the weather, livestock, equipment, and plenty of other things have a way of changing those plans.
The costs of everything are probably one of the biggest struggles. Feed, fuel, equipment, repairs—it all adds up. And when you’re raising animals, you don’t get to just take a day off because you’re tired or it’s a holiday. The animals still need you.
There have definitely been times when we’ve wondered, “What in the world are we doing?” But then you have one of those good days, a great horse, healthy livestock, a job well done, or just looking out across the ranch at the end of a long day and you remember exactly why you do it.
It’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t trade this life. There is something pretty special about working hard for something you believe in and building a life and family around the things you love.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Running U Quarter Horses?
Running U Quarter Horses is a family-run operation built around our love for good horses, good horsemanship, and the Western lifestyle. For us, it’s more than just a business—it’s something we’ve built our lives around.
We specialize in raising, developing, training, and selling quality Quarter Horses, with a strong focus on horses that are useful, willing, athletic, and enjoyable to own. We believe a good horse should have more than just a pedigree or a pretty look. They need a good mind, a good work ethic, and the ability to go out and do a job.
A big part of what sets us apart is the time and attention we put into our horses. We don’t believe in taking shortcuts. We want to develop horses correctly, give them a solid foundation, and produce horses that people can actually enjoy and use. Whether it’s a ranch horse, performance prospect, rope horse, or a horse someone simply wants to enjoy riding, we take pride in matching the right horse with the right person.
We’re also proud of the reputation we’ve built. Our name means something to us, and we want people to know that when they buy a horse from Running U, they’re not just buying a horse, they’re buying from people who genuinely care about the horse and where it ends up.
Probably what we’re most proud of brand-wise is that we’ve stayed true to who we are. We want to be known for producing good horses, standing behind what we do, treating people fairly, and doing business the right way. At the end of the day, our goal is pretty simple: raise good horses, create good experiences, and leave people glad they chose a Running U horse.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Probably that you can’t take shortcuts. whether it’s with horses, business, or life. Good things take time. A horse needs time to develop, a reputation takes years to build, and a successful business doesn’t happen overnight.
We’ve also learned that you have to stay true to who you are. There will always be people doing things differently or telling you how you should do it, but you have to know what you believe in and stick with it. For us, that means putting the horse first, working hard, treating people right, and standing behind what we do.
And maybe most importantly, we’ve learned to appreciate the journey. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have certainly been setbacks, but every challenge has taught us something. We’re still learning every day, and I think that’s one of the best parts of this life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.runninguquarterhorses.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RunningUQuarterHorses
