Horse power drives family ranches

No gate could keep him in if he wanted to explore. I swear he could communicate whatever was on his mind.

He was an “instructor” for our patrol horse training program, showing other horses how to behave in stressful situations, but subbed also as the one any amateur rider would be mounted on when they came for a visit.

Not a pleasant task, but one every rancher faces from time to time with livestock.

Today, we welcomed a new six-year-old addition to the family. Handsome, kind of eye, well built, with an excellent resume for ranch work.

laid his head on her shoulder and just stood there, quietly breathing while leaning close to her.

He had never done anything like that before. I think he knew at that moment she needed a friend.

If you have a working cattle operation, you likely have owned a few horses over the years.

A good ranch horse is invaluable. Part hired hand, part business partner, part companion.

And if you have ever been blessed with a special one, well you will remember him or her for the rest of your life.

Horses have been a part of our family for over 100 years.

Every generation can relate a story about the good ones, and the not-so-good ones.

There was “Spook”, a registered American Quarter Horse gelding, with an intelligence and courage that I’m sure exceeded most humans.

Quietly, I referred to him as the “girlfriend” horse! He died suddenly from cancer; taken just before turning 20. Too young.

Then came Jake, a tall grade, ugly as sin, but with a heart as big as the midwest. No bull scared him.

One cold, but sunny, winter day, as I watched the horses playing in the pasture by the house, I saw him take a kick in the head, collapsing to the ground.

His skull was fractured, and I had to immediately put him down.

I had the pleasure of meeting his great-grandfather at the King Ranch in Texas, who is retired to a life of luxury in a quiet shaded pasture after achieving several world championships.

The same bloodline was present in Spook, so there is something to hope for in the new guy.

Earlier this summer I was doing a land valuation for an estate and met with the widow to view the improvements on the home quarter.

She and her husband were well-known for their horsemanship skills.

Shortly after his passing, she was attending to her personal horse, when he quietly