The ranch received its name from the many colors that grace its confines. As I was strolling through one of the long fields, strewn with wildflowers and Meadowlarks singing, I looked up at the cliff face that forms the Eastern border. This rock outcropping has many colors of white, red and yellow rock; contrasted by the golden prairie and dark green pine sentinels that guard the hilltops, and puffy white clouds that bask in summer sun. And I thought to myself, my God this land is truly painted! Then as one glimpses the herd of multi-hued equines thundering down one of the many draws, the concept of all life here being inspired from Monet's palette of textured paints is conceived. The final part came when one of my ranching neighbors was out looking for a couple of lost cattle up on the ridge above the property, and came face to face with a mountain lion. Thus Painted Cougar Ranch was born!

In August 2000, the ranch was burned in a forest fire. Although all of the horses were fine, it has affected a great many things relating to the care of the horse program. In March 2001, the horses were moved to a new home just East of Salem, OR, and this is where they can be viewed.