The Jack Tone Ranch was established in 1849 by John H. (Jack) Tone. He came west with the Audobon Party in search of gold, but made his fortune farming and delivering supplies to the miners. The Tone Family has been here ever since. We celebrated our 150th anniversary the first Sunday of June 1999 for the "Happiest Horse Day" ever!

Jack Tone Ranch is a member of the California State 100 Year Club and is the oldest family-owned & operated Horse ranch in the state. Several Tone family members continue to be very actively involved in the Jack Tone Ranch horse operation, some with the farming, others help from the sidelines, and the rest have their own separate ranches, businesses and careers. We're all Tones (4th through 7th generation) and the Jack Tone Ranch lives strongly in our hearts . . .

Here's a brief biographical sketch of the Tone Family members focused upon preserving "The Fadjur Look" for the future with the Jack Tone Ranch Arabian horse operation:

Marge Tone is the eldest daughter in a family of 14. She grew up Jack (Bud) Tone is the third generation of the Tone family in California. Bud supplies hay for Marge's horses as one of his farming ventures, and he is a Director for the Stockton-East Water District. Bud hosts his national hand-ball tournament every year in October. Although he has been retired for many years, Bud remains actively involved in the farming operations and daily "fertilizes the fields with his shadow."

Gerard (Jerry) Hammer came west from Philadelphia with the Army in 1958. Jerry loved to ice skate during his time off and met Tissie & Susie Tone at the ice rink in Stockton. Kathleen & Jerry fell in love and were married in April 29, 1962. They raised four kids: Marjory Francis (Margie), Kathleen Margaret (Peggy), Robert John & Gerard Tone and have 5 grandkids (so far): Grace & Patricia (Margie & Bill), Alex, Sean & Sydney (Peggy & Steve)

Jerry learned to ride from Kathleen, but became a horseman independently. Jerry was a ‘pioneer’ in Arabian horses for getting endurance riding (50 & 100 mile rides) popularized as well as racing Arabians. Kathleen & Jerry started and operated the Blue Mountain ride for many years, one of the first 50 milers, in California’s Mother Lode near the Tone mining claim. Bint Sa-Fad (Sa-Fad x Judhi) was Jerry’s personal favorite and excelled at both endurance & racing. She was U.S. National Top 10 endurance and many times top 10 and best condition. Endurance riding was an important Hammer family endeavor; something the whole family did together, enjoying camping trips, great horses & many good times.

From her times at age 6 with Sky Rocket and throughout her life, Kathleen has ‘lived and breathed’ horses. Kathleen started and trained most of the Jack Tone Ranch horses, taught all the kids about horsemanship and how to ride, and continues to carry out Marge’s dreams in her Arabian horse breeding program at Jack Tone Ranch. Kathleen & Jerry’s kids carry on the Jack Tone Ranch’s Equine tradition 100%.

Margie discovered dressage at age 13 and with Kathleen’s teaching and support, trained Jerry’s Anglo-Arabian, Go Dan Go (by Fad-Dani) to U.S. National Champion Dressage Level I and Top 10 Level II in 1983. Although educated as an electronics engineer & working full-time, Margie’s heart & soul remain with Jack Tone Ranch; the Fadjur horses and the family. Margie continues to be integrally involved with daily operations and decision-making at Jack Tone Ranch. She still loves dressage and continues working to improve her riding/training skills; and especially loves being involved with the breeding decisions and showing-off of Fadjur’s descendants at Jack Tone Ranch.

Peggy is the most elegant rider in the vast Tone family, and made her greatest contributions with the horses through her work with Sa-Fadjur+/. Peggy & Sa-Fadjur+/ made an unbeatable pair in English Pleasure, Western Pleasure and especially english Ladies Sidesaddle. Many times champions and Regional winners. Peggy continues to be integrally involved with daily operations and decision-making at Jack Tone Ranch. The Morrissey family now lives in the Tone family home on Jack Tone Ranch, across the Calaveras River from the horse ranch.

Margie & Peggy’s children are growing up at Jack Tone Ranch as well, under Marge & Kathleen’s supervision.

Robert & Gerard became interested in Rodeo as teenagers, and got the whole Hammer family involved with roping, riding steers & bulls, and enjoying the traditions of a western lifestyle.

Robert & Gerard continue to lend a helping hand whenever needed and help with all the important decision-making around Jack Tone Ranch.

Gerard is very admired for his great work at PG&E as a lineman. He has received numerous citations and awards for his work – including his bravery & reliability during storms & emergencies working on the high voltage lines.

Jerry is retired from the California Youth Authority and now co-manages Jack Tone Ranch with Kathleen. Luckily, Jerry-of-all-trades is good at anything he decides to do: mechanics, horsemanship (he was one of the early endurance riders to get the sport going in the 60's-70's), electrician, heavy equipment operator, phone man, long distance hauler, book-keeper, irrigator, blacksmith, computer operator . . . He is our rock! Kathleen is probably the most "horse-crazy" person in the family (and that's not an easy thing to be). In addition to her never-ending and always demanding duties managing the horse ranch, she recently re-started her lesson program. Kathleen loves to teach people about horsemanship, and how to handle horses with sensitivity and respect. She understands them so well, sometimes the rest of us think she's half horse! Kathleen is a "R" rated judge, and has judged all the U.S. as well as Regionals in Brazil & Nationals in Australia. Kathleen has trained and shown Fadjur horses (and some others) to everything from trick pony (age 7, she went around to the fairs on exhibition with V.F. Stull), to cutting, park horses, english, western, sidesaddle . . . endurance & flat racing, dressage . . . police-horse training -- you name the game, Kathleen has probably played it with an Arabian horse descending from Fadjur!

Jerry Hammer was the architect and engineer who laid out the replica of the California flag on the Barn roof in 1999 for the 150 year Anniversary Celebration of the Jack Tone Ranch. His sons Robert and Gerard, sons-in-law Steve Morrissey and Bill Pope, and a family friend Peter Moran all helped to make it happen. It was a wonderful success!!

Professionally, Margie & Bill are electronics engineers. They're the parents of two beautiful little horse-loving girls (6^th generation Californian Tones), Grace Kathleen & Patricia Francis. Margie is the official photographer for the Jack Tone Ranch and web-mistress for the "virtual Jack Tone Ranch" at http://www.Fadjur.com. "Come on, Fad-Red, let's go for a gallop through cyber-space!" Margie co-sponsors (with Kathleen) the Jack Tone Ranch's bi-monthly Ron McLoughlin Horse Handling Clinics and she is the Tone's resident dressage enthusiast. Margie trained/rode her Pa's Anglo-Arab Fadjur grandson, Go Dan Go (by Fad-Dani) to U.S. National Champion Dressage Level I & Top 10 Level II. Margie helps out as much as she can, and is totally involved with the Jack Tone Ranch's Fadjur descendants, breeding, marketing and business. Margie's photography has won many awards, and is featured now on a series of wonderful, high quality notecards: The Fabulous Fadjurs. Bill likes to stay in the background, but helps the Jack Tone Ranch by offering his good advice and tips for improving everything from the computer configuration and electrical problems to marketing and management practices. Grace & Tricia love horses too, and are having a great time learning to ride Happy (the Shetland) & Fadjurs Dancer (Fadjur x Fadjurs Glory); along with gymnastics & swimming lessons.

Peggy & Steve live in the 1873 Tone family home, built by John H. Tone (the first). It is part of the original Jack Tone Ranch and located just across the Calaveras River from the horses and bunkhouses developed by Marge & Bud. Alex (age 7), Sean (age 4) and Sydney are 6^th generation Californian Tone horse lovers. Peg & Steve both work for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) in technical positions (communications technician & planner). Peggy is one of those people who looks good on a horse, no matter what she's doing! All during Peggy's teenage years, she and Sa-Fadjur+/ (Fadjur x Saki) cleaned-up in the show ring in English Pleasure and Sidesaddle -- they were practically unbeatable, always in the top ribbons. What a striking, elegant pair they made. It's just as eye-pleasing now to watch Peggy and Fadjurs Dancer (Fadjur x Fadjurs Glory) or American Fad (Fadjur x La Fana) dancing gracefully through reining maneuvers like 360's and flying changes of lead. Peggy, Margie and Kathleen consult frequently and stay in touch with the daily ranch activities through the modern technology of e-mail. Steve makes many contributions to the Jack Tone Ranch by lending a hand whenever needed, fixing things, helping with projects and keeping the far-flung telephone, video & intercom operations in working order. Alex is so smart, he topped off the scoring for the GATE (gifted & talented education) program; he's also involved with Boy Scouts, riding, and soccer. Sean also plays soccer, and all three of the kids are little go-getters who enjoy any and all mental & physical challenges! The Morrissey & Pope children are all growing up together at Jack Tone Ranch under the watchful eyes of their grand-parents, great-grand-parents & our part-of-the-family babysitter Leticia while their parents work.

Robert is the rodeo cowboy in the Tone family. He keeps the Jack Tone Ranch supplied with cattle; for the Fadjur descendants to play with and learn about working cattle and for his own roping clinics and personal enjoyment. Robert and Jerry built HammerTime Arena complete with pipe panels, roping chute & cattle quarters. Professionally, Robert is an up-and-comer among the management ranks of PG&E and for fun, he's a wine-maker and an entrepeneur. Robert and his brother Gerard own Brahma Productions (http://www.jps.net/brahma). They bring their bucking Brahma bull (stuffed & mounted) to rodeos and events along with their professional camera to capture peoples' rodeo bull-riding fantasies for posterity. Robert & Tasha also started a business in Tracy, "A Perfect Tan." A Perfect Tan is, of course, a tanning salon! Tasha is also a horse-lover, working hard to learn all she can about them. Tasha loves kids and will someday become a teacher -- she's busy with Hannah, the tanning salon, and baby#2 at the moment. Robert and Tasha were married in May 1999 in the lovely gardens and grounds of the Jack Tone Ranch. Baby Hannah is just as cute as she can be, and we're hoping she'll also grow up to be a horse-girl!

Gerard is a lineman for PG&E, continuing a new Hammer family tradition at the company. Gerard loves animals of all kinds, and gives a helping hand and encouragement whenever needed. Gerard is on the look-out for country property, preferably near the Jack Tone Ranch. Gerard epitomizes the pioneer spirit in the modern generation – the strong man with a heart of gold – who can accomplish any job or responsibility that comes his way, "If it needs doing, do it" kind of man. What you see is what you get with Gerard, the bashful smile, athletic build and quick wit.

Susan met Robert (Bob) McCreery through the horses, when Bob’s family decided to breed their mares to Fadjur. They fell in love and got married in 1968. Susie & Bob raised two children: Daniel & Joy and so far they have 3 little cowboy Grandkids, Shane, Chance & Justin.

From her childhood wild indian days riding ponies until she married Bob, Susie worked alongside Tissie & Tweetie doing all the training and daily handling of horses at Jack Tone Ranch. Susie’s best and favorite was Fad-Dani (Fadjur x Bar Sonia). Susie trained Fad-Dani to championships in practically every way an athletic & beautiful horse can compete. English pleasure, park horse, western pleasure, reining, working cow-horse, sidesaddle, endurance, trail, …. And whatever Susie & Fad-Dani didn’t manage to accomplish together, their ‘kids’ are doing now!

The McCreerys are extreme animal lovers too. Their menagerie includes horses of many breeds -- all of the Arabians & Arabian-crosses descend from Fad-Dani -- and they especially love the brightly marked Pintos and Paint horses. In addition to their many, many champion descendants of Fad-Dani, they raise racing Thorobreds, Paints and Quarter Horses. The McCreerys enjoy cross-breeding these special horses to create their own ideal blending of heart, intelligence, athletic ability, quality and COLOR!

Susie & Bob operate Royer Welding in Galt, CA for their living -- they make a great team, both in business and in life! Every year, they travel east to Idaho for a family hunting trip. They use their beautiful horses (always including Arabs & 1/2 Arabs, Fad-Dani's descendants) as pack-horses and trail horses in the mountains of Idaho, as they hunt elk, deer & sometimes even bear!

Susie is always there when we need her help, and gives 100% moral support to Kathleen & Marge as they carry on Marge's horse breeding program at Jack Tone Ranch. Some of our most fun times together are when Susie brings her beautiful Keekhi (Paint x Easter Myst by Fad-Dani) over to ride with us. Susie participates regularly in our horse handling clinics, and it's great fun to see Susie & Kathleen performing their "Shuffle off to Buffalo" dance at the clinic parties!

Dan, Mindy & the boys live on the original McCreery ranch and help out with the horses & caring for the ranch. Dan drives truck for a living, and Mindy is taking a break from teaching to raise those 3 wonderful boys. Mindy is also a horsewoman, from a long line of ranchers & rodeo'ers, but Mindy specializes in hunter-jumpers. Mindy & Dan met through sister Joy, who is best friends at Cal Poly with Mindy's sister.

Joy is everybody's favorite cousin & sister! She's our pride & joy with her independent thinking & great horsemanship. She bred & trained her own perfect Pinto, Easter Candi (Paint x Easter Myst by Fad-Dani) to many championships in halter, western, hunter & now her favorite, reining. Joy is studying hard at Cal Poly SLO in her last year of Agricultural Engineering, and leaning all she can about starting & training horses as well. Joy's specialty at Cal Poly is Irrigation Systems Design. She's working in Santa Rosa now, and hopes to (someday soon, we hope!) start her own irrigation systems business -- close to home.

Tweetie was always a horse-lover too, rode every stick-horse & pony to be found. Then Ferneyna (Ferneyn x Fer-Natta), the first Arabian bred by Marge, was born on Tweetie’s birthday and Marge gave Tweetie her special horse. Tweetie bred Ferneyna to Fadjur to produce many champions, and sold Ferneyna’s foals around the world, where they’ve become influential. Ferneyna was a champion mare and U.S. National Top 10 winner; producer of champions; and Aristocrat of the Arabian breed. Tre-Jur, one of Ferneyna’s sons, was Canadians Breeder’s Champion. Fad-Tricia (Fadjur x Yenom Yarjur – by Nadjur) was another of Tweetie's favorites; and Fadri (Fad-Dani x Nadari) was her favorite cow-horse.

Patricia met Rick Behlen through the horses, when Rick’s family bred mares to Fadjur. Tweetie & Rick were married and raised two children: Bonnie & Patrick. Tweetie & Jerry were married in the early 80's, and act just like love-birds to this day! Together they're worked hard, and Tweetie has used the "breeder's eye" she inherited from Marge to become a very famous & influential breeder sof Shorthorn cattle. She has been Secretary of California Shorthorn Breeders Association 8-10 years and she is currently President of Lassie’s, the ladies auxiliary of the California Shorthorn Breeders Association.

Tweetie chose Exceptional as a herd sire for her Shorthorn breeding program – he became an All American & one of the best bulls of his time. Additionally, Tweetie’s breeding program produced: Champions in all of the western states OR, WA, NV, UT, MT, WY, ID, CA, CO, at all the major shows: California State Fair, Los Angeles County Fair, Cow Palace, Del Mar. Supreme champion at California State Fair, many All American Top 5’s (e.g., National champions – they only choose 5) & winners. Two of Tweetie’s cows were Pacer Dams – the highest award in Shorthorn cattle – 1 cow is still the points leader among Shorthorns.

Bonnie & Pat still have cattle, as well as Tweetie & Jerry; and last year, one of Tweetie’s cows won supreme champion over all breeds at the CA State Fair!

Jerry was President of the National organization, the American Shorthorn Association. As leaders, Tweetie & Jerry have participated in all of the most important Shorthorn competitions and activities in the world, including the World Shorthorn Congress – Australia & New Zealand – which includes all the english-speaking countries of the world!

Tweetie & Jerry took up the game of golf a few years ago, and now have a new hobby in which to excel: Tweetie is President of the Oakdale Ladies Golf Assoc. (OLGA) & Jerry is president of the board of Oakdale Country Club. Jerry loves public speaking, and is a very active participant in his local Toastmasters Club -- everyone loves his great smile, silly jokes, and amicable nature! In addition to his fun sense of humor, Jerry contributes to his community as well. Jerry wanted to commemorate an old friend, active in one of his community services clubs, and thought of creating a community park in his honor. Jerry's brainchild and hundreds of hours of donated time & organization are now coming to fruition in Oakdale with their own park & sports fields (soccer & baseball, other family-oriented activities). It really shows Jerry's dedication to his community, because Jerry & Tweet don't even have any grand-children to enjoy the fruits of their efforts!

Pat helps at ranch with EVERYTHING!! He loves to ride his special mare, Bint Frolik for fun, in his Mexican Charro outfit, and in our Ron McLoughlin riding clinics. Pat really enjoys Mexican music, dance and when we're real lucky, he'll sing us a Charro song in Spanish, while riding his beautiful Bint Frolik. Pat won gold medal in gymnastics (rings) at the Special Olympics, and even now enjoys going to all the Pope girls' gymnastics lessons! Pat works hard to help Kathleen & Jerry take care of things at the ranch, as well as helping Marge & Bud with all of their chores & needs.

Bonnie works as Sales Representative Manager for Harris Moran Seed Co. Bonnie shares the Cal Poly SLO alma mater with cousin Joy, as she graduated with her bachelor's of Animal Science & Agribusiness degees from Cal Poly SLO. Bonnie was a master cattle show-woman and continues her love of agriculture & agribusiness with her career & involvement with her parents' cattle. Bonnie also helps out at the Jack Tone Ranch at our annual clinics. Bonnie doesn't have enough room in her yard for cattle or horses, but she's an animal-lover extraordinaire … she shares her back yard with bunnies & a goat!