V ) ( ONTANA HORSES All Horses. All Montana. | December 2020 | Volume 1 | Issue 2
magazine
Ty & Cierra Erickson
The Horses That Made Champions
DISTRIBUTED FREE OR SUBSCRIBE AT
MontanaHorses.com
STORIES
>>> DEPARTMENTS
14
MSU FARRIER SCHOOL
6 breed >>> marchadors
18
A PICTURE’S WORTH A
10 discipline >>> barrel racing, lindsay kruse 17 youth >>> dane hoover, hoover halters
THOUSAND WORDS How to photograph horses...the right way.
22
31 health >>> winter care
TY AND CIERRA ERICKSON
34 column >>> the profitable horseman
Meet them, and the horses who made them.
42
38 nutrition >>> feeding horses in winter
SPECIAL Holiday Gift Ideas
46 profile >>> jack dawson Cover Artist | MARK LAROWE Based in Helena, photo artist Mark LaRowe travels around Montana capturing its scenic beauty, people, and the Montana way of life on ranches, at rodeos and a myriad other equine-based events. Mark also manages the Spirit of The Big Sky Gallery which features 100% of his own work. When not creating photographic artwork, Mark enjoys the outdoors, cooking, fine whiskey, relaxing at his quiet log cabin and riding his chestnut mare, Chessie.
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2020
THANKFULLY, CHRISTMAS HAS NOT BEEN CANCELLED. We want to thank you for allowing us into your life and for sharing your stories with us. We are grateful to be a part of such an incredible community. Have a blessed Christmas. We wish you and yours a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Much love, from all of us at Montana Horses
V ) ( ONTANA HORSES magazine
All Horses. All Montana.
EDITOR Renee Daniels-Mantle | renee@montanahorses.com ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION Mark LaRowe | mark@marklarowephotography.com CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Renee Daniels-Mantle, Mark LaRowe, Doug Emerson, Dr. Nerida Richards, Dr. Stacie Boswell, Bonnie Cazier Photography: Mark LaRowe, Stephanie Westover, Bonnie Cazier
PUBLISHER Montana Horses, Inc. PO Box 405 Manhattan, MT 59741 Montana Horses is published monthly and available free at locations throughout Montana. Please let us know if you’d like to have it in your place of business. Subscriptions are also available. We welcome story, photography and event submissions. For advertising information, see www.montanahorses.com/advertising or contact us. (406) 579-4060 | info@montanahorses.com | www.MontanaHorses.com No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission. Copyright © 2020 Montana Horses, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA
FIND THE MAGAZINE AT ALL THE PLACES HORSE PEOPLE HANG OUT -5-
Marchadors of Montana Story and Photography by Mark LaRowe
Nestled serenely in the narrow Trout Creek valley, Vista da Serra Ranch is surrounded by the steep, rocky slopes of Montana’s Big Belt Mountains. Mature golden willows line the creek bottom while lush grasses and shrubs thrive in the cool, shaded microclimate. Horses graze lazily in the meadows, and peacefulness pervades in the tight valley. While only 26 miles from Montana’s busy capital city of Helena, this place has a remote, “stepback-in-time” feel to it. It’s a thin slice of mountain paradise fully encompassed by federally managed public lands and protected by a conservation easement. The last tract of privately-owned property on the wash-boarded, dead-end gravel road, Vista da Serra Ranch is home to a large herd of the gaited Brazilian Mangalarga Marchadors. Founded in 2016 by DVM Tia Nelson and P.E. Derek Brown, the Vista da Serra Ranch has grown from a single animal to 35 Marchadors, with new additions every year via the ranch’s carefully managed breeding program. The ranch itself dates to the early 1900’s and evidence of its early operation is still in existence. As we cont. pg. 8
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breed >>> marchadors
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tour the property and are introduced to each horse, Tia provides the full name, describes the features, and recites the breeding of each, much like a proud mother would do for each of her children. As we continue to amble and talk, the love and admiration she has for each animal, and the breed itself, is obvious and real. Smack in the middle of a ranch culture dominated by the American Quarter Horse, the Mangalarga Marchadors are a bit of an oddity. The first thing you notice about these horses is their refined, sleek features, the tapestry of colorations, their graceful movements and enormous, mesmerizing, expressive eyes. I was immediately taken by their beauty and demeanor. A breed of Iberian descent, the Marchadors originated from the crossing of Lusitano stallions and Barb mares in Brazil during its colonization by the Portuguese. The National Horse of Brazil, the Marchadors are widely revered for their beauty, intelligence, calm disposition, silky smooth gaits, endurance, and versatility. The MMHAA (Mangalarga Marchador Horse Association of America) was the first and original USA breed registry. Founded in 2000, it began importing foundation Mangalarga Marchadors between 2001-2004. The US Mangalarga Marchador Association (USMMA), created in 2005, is now the official registry of Marchador horses foaled in North America, with about 300 Mangalarga Marchadors registered. Some of these have dual registration with the Brazilian ABCCMM (Associacao Brasileira dos Criadores do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador) which was founded in 1948 to preserve, regulate and register the unique bloodlines of the Marchador breed. The rigorous inspection and registration process consists of over 50 measurements and includes a ride by the inspector during which the gait characteristics are evaluated.
A Montanan by birth, Tia has been a full-time professional farrier since 1980. In 1995 she made the decision to enhance her love of, and service to, animals by entering veterinary school. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1999 with her degree at 38 years of age and proceeded to open a practice in 2003. The business thrived and soon outgrew its efficient facility. In 2011 she purchased Valley Veterinary Hospital in Helena, MT. Recently, she sold the practice to spend more time with her beloved Marchadors and focus on the breeding program. Tia’s love affair with the magnificent Mangalarga Marchadors began in 2001 when she accompanied her friend Tresa Smith, PhD on a trip to Brazil during which Tresa was intending to import three bred Marchador mares to Montana. During that trip, Tia rode over 150 horses and was completely hooked on the breed. -8-
Tia’s first Marchador was Chico, who she acquired from Tresa Smith. Chico, now 14, sired Bethany Vista da Serra (now 12) who is the herd matriarch. Today, there are 35 Marchadors on the ranch, including four new arrivals this spring. Of those, 22 of them are dually, and definitively registered with the ABCCMM and the USMMA, resulting in the largest number of such registrations by a single owner in North America. Jean Allred, a close friend of the ranch, owns 11 of the animals. The younger stock are “provisionally� registered with the ABCCMM and seven of those will be offered for definitive registration next August. There are 10 foals expected for 2021 from four of the Marchador stallions that stood this year. Tia hopes to bring a heightened level of awareness in the U.S. and the rest of North America to the Marchador breed. Because of their calm demeanor and intelligence, Marchadors are well- suited for cattle and ranch work, and offer a smooth, comfortable ride. They also make excellent trail horses and are a perfect fit for endurance activities. Eventually, the ranch will be outfitted to provide overnight accommodations and a full-immersion Marchador experience including educational opportunities and recreational trail rides. For more information, contact Tia Nelson, DVM at Marchadors of Montana, 406-475-3770
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Story and photo by Mark LaRowe
barrel race /berəl rās/ noun 1.
a rodeo event, usually for women, in which a horse and rider make a series of sharp turns around three barrels in a cloverleaf patten, competing for the fastest time.
barrel racer /berəl rāsər/ noun
1. Lindsay Kruse
T
wisting around the cloverleaf pattern at breakneck speeds astride a 1200-pound animal since she was 11 years old, Lindsay Kruse has long been a formidable contestant in the world of barrel racing. She began her racing career in the Junior Division of the Northern Rodeo Association (NRA) and nurtured that competitive spirit in subsequent years. Lindsay was raised in Winston, where she was homeschooled and learned to ride. She now calls Fromberg her hometown where she raises her own growing family along with husband, Jesse. A twelve-time PRCA Montana Circuit Finals qualifier, she and her horse Covergirl are the current leaders heading into this season’s finals. No stranger to the podium, Lindsay and her mounts have previously collected five Year-End Championships in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit and two additional NRA titles in 2012 and 2020. As any rodeo competitor will tell you, not all is glitz and glamour. Endless hours of travel, grueling training and many tough days are the norm in this sport. Disappointment and heartbreak is inevitable. But it is how you deal with the rough patches and move past them that forges true champions, in life and in the arena. cont. page 12
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discipline >>> barrel racing
Lindsay Kruse, Big Timber NRA Rodeo - 11 -
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In 2016, Lindsay and her horse Harley were leading the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit heading into the Finals. One week before, tragedy struck. Harley passed, suddenly and unexpectedly. Forced into riding her young horse JJ, the pair did just enough on their penultimate run of the Finals to take home the Year-End Championship. Lindsay says, “I had to put on my game face. When we earned the title with JJ, I knew that Harley deserved every bit of the credit. That will always be one of my toughest, yet fondest, memories.” At 13 years of age, Lindsay began a long relationship with the horse that she says “made her.” Hesa Rare Runner (Hess) was a project horse that famed Montana barrel racer and trainer Janet Erickson recommended to her. Lindsay recalls, “I was looking for a ladder horse and Janet knew that he'd be a lot of horse for me at the time. But, through her training with the two of us we kept improving. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears. We had to arrive at each rodeo 10 hours before the performance started so that we could work together in the arena in order to get him seasoned. All the hard work and effort paid off in the long run. Hess and I went on to win several junior titles and a few women's titles in the NRA and NWRA.”
After five years with Hess, Lindsay turned 18 and bought her PRCA permit. She then hit the rodeo road with Hess in California in order to fill the permit. It turned out to be a short mission as the team filled it in their first attempt. Lindsay and Hess went on to win rounds at San Antonio and Houston, among others that year, and subsequently won multiple Montana circuit titles. Lindsay states, “He was the horse who made me.” She currently rides Crown N Fame (Covergirl), a nine-yearold bay mare with Dash Ta Fame breeding. Lindsay says, “Covergirl fires very well at rodeos. She really loves to hear the crowd and just feeds off of them. She has more of a “ratey” style but likes to stretch out and run home!” Living the rodeo lifestyle is hectic, fast-paced, and exhausting. Balancing rodeo with family-life is a chore. But, Lindsay explains, “For now we make it work. It is definitely a challenge with three kids on the road with both Jesse and I competing. But, at the end of the season it is always worth it. They are my cheerleaders!” If you are at a barrel racing event or rodeo, pay close attention and keep your eyes peeled for Lindsay. She doesn’t stick around very long.
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MONTANA HORSES 2020 PHOTO CONTEST ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.MONTANAHORSES.COM
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DEADLINE DECEMBER 31ST
Need Buyer. Advertise your horse for sale in Montana Horses. All print ads come with web banners. Business card sizes to full page ads available. “The Secret Place”
See www.MontanaHorses.com/advertise
by Brian Plonka
or call Mark at (406) 577-6122
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY FARRIER SCHOOL CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION | FEBRUARY 2021
Diego Almeida Farrier School Director “We’re all in this industry for the horse.”
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For some, finding a farrier is a little like dating. First you notice the guy (or girl), find out if he’s available, and determine if he’s your type. Then, you call him. Usually he doesn’t answer. So, you call him again. Eventually, becoming mildly obsessed, you call over and over, leave messages, texts, and Facebook stalk him. Often to no avail. This prompts the anger phase. Through this, you still hope to make a date, hope he’ll like you and maybe agree to another. Of course, the actuality of that happening depends in great part on how desperate you sounded on the answering machine. If you’re lucky enough to actually get a date, you invite him to your home and pray your loved ones don’t ruin it by acting ridiculous and embarrassing you. You risk an immediate brush-off if he can’t tolerate them, or worse, isn’t sure who should throw the first punch. You’re really just looking for “The One,” someone you can build a long-term relationship with, someone you can trust, depend on, who has your best interests at heart, who actually cares for your family. So what if you have to be the one to pay every time? It’s worth it.
Good Montana farriers are in extremely high demand. Luckily, more are being made every day.
In February, the Montana State University’s (MSU) Farrier School will once again open its doors to students. MSU is honored to announce that Diego Almeida, from the University of Illinois, has accepted the role of Farrier School Director. The position has been vacant for a year and a half. Mr. Almeida comes with an impressive resume and a long list of awards, certifications, and endorsements, including being the only American Farrier’s Association (AFA) Certified Journeyman Farrier to have earned all three (education, forging, and therapeutic) endorsements.
Since August, Mr. Almeida and the University have been hard at work reviving Montana’s horseshoeing school, one of very few in the nation. He’s worked to update the curriculum, fine tune the program, and create liaisons with other departments and professionals. It is his intention to “turn it back into what it used to be,” producing outstanding farriers and becoming a central hub where people can go to find farriers, have their horses shod, attend clinics, and learn about horseshoeing and horseshoers. The program is intense, a two year apprenticeship condensed into a 12 week program. The goal is to teach the students the basics, give them a solid foundation, build their ability to shoe a sound horse and keep it sound, and to prepare students to become certified through the AFA, should they choose. According to Almeida, AFA certifications are not required of farriers, but they show commitment and professionalism. In winter, advanced classes are also offered. The Farrier School is part of MSU’s Department of Animal and Range Sciences. Each session is 12 weeks long and class size is limited to 6 students. Already the February 2021 session is full, but they are accepting applications for the Summer and Fall sessions. If you have a sound horse who is good to shoe and are interested in having students do the work for a nominal fee, you are encouraged to bring your horse to the school for shoeing or trimming. For more information about the program or how you can have your horse shod there, call the school at (406) 994-3722 or see www.montana.edu/msufarrierschool.
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Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Bryce Kawasaki, who passed away unexpectedly on November 1st, 2020 in Fargo, ND. He was the Montana State University Farrier School Director 2012-2019. He was a teacher and a mentor to many students passing along not only shoeing knowledge but life lessons to his students, as well. Bryce was a kind man with a big heart who didn’t know a stranger. He will be missed. - 15 -
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youth >>> dane hoover
DANE HOOVER Hand Made Horse Halters
PO Box 532
Dane Hoover was 13 years old when he started Hoover Halters because, “I wanted to create a job for myself.” He’s now a sophomore at Whitehall High School with a growing business that sells halters in western stores in Missouri and Montana, and he still has time to be active in cross-country and wrestling.
Whitehall, MT 59759
Now, take a moment to let that sink in. At a time when older folks are worried the current generation will be the ruination of the world as we know it— here is Dane.
(406) 565-1473
Dane learned from his father, an outfitter, that backcountry riding requires good stock and quality gear. So, two years ago this resourceful young entrepreneur decided to learn how to tie halters, from a YouTube video. He spent many hours practicing his trade and mastered the Fiador knot, one of the more difficult knots to tie.
www.facebook.com/ dane.hoover.39
He then started to market, the old-fashioned way: word of mouth. Friends and family rallied to support him. Eventually, he added a Facebook page and now has requests from around the country for his handmade horse halters. Maybe it is because he is a 5th generation Montanan; maybe because he spent his whole life around horses, hunting, backcounty riding, cattle work, starting colts, and riding with his obviously incredible family; and maybe because he naturally enjoys working with his hands, for whatever reason, Dane Hoover is a pretty remarkable young man. He embodies all of the things that are good and encouraging about the youth of today and the principles of our country.
Dane makes something people need and sells it. What could be more heartening than that? To purchase a Hoover Halter, find Dane on Facebook or send him a note. The future of our country depends on it.
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A PICTURE’S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS How photography will make or break your equine marketing. Story and photos by Bonnie Cazier
This is an example of the perfect head shot, taken during the right time of day, from a good distance, lit properly, at the correct angle, and with ears forward, looking alert but not spooked.
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how to >>> photograph a horse
E In addition to the head, traditional marketing shots are the threequarter front, side (usually the brand side if the horse is branded), and three-quarter hind shots. Sale horses often also have straight front and straight hind shots, as well.
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ver wonder why some horse photos grab your attention, while you just scroll by others? Why horses represented by quality photography are often priced much higher? What do you feel about a horse represented by professional marketing versus backyard snapshots?
If you’re a serious horse person, at some point you’ve needed a good photograph of your horse. A stellar photo will spotlight its best traits. A poor photo can cost you thousands of dollars in lost stud fees, equine sales and wasted advertising dollars. In today’s fast-paced digital age, you have a split second to make an impression. Making it a good one is much harder than it looks, but it’s worth the extra time and effort. As a partner at Montana Equine Brokers, I professionally photograph, video, handle, and market horses for sale. We set the standard in good equine photography and I’d like to take you backstage to share some insider tips that can make your photos shine. Modern cell phones have amazing cameras and have become the “go to” choice for many horse owners. They are portable, easy to use and always available. But, you still have to do the thinking for them. The biggest mistake I see is the classic cell phone horse pic where an otherwise attractive horse ends up looking like a swamp donkey. This is a result of a lot of things that can usually be avoided. The same can be said for a decent digital camera. You can achieve outstanding photos by both ,with a few suggestions. First, choose the right time of day. Aim for early morning or late afternoon on a sunny day. To sidestep harsh shadows, I try not to shoot between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. For full body and profile shots, situate the horse so the sun is shining directly on him, preferably angled a little towards the rear to highlight the hip. Prevent shadows cast by the horse’s thigh or deltoid muscles. Use a flash if available, to help soften shadows if you have to shoot midday. Second, avoid distortion. This is the biggest mistake I see and the easiest to remedy. This can be achieved by moving at least 50 feet from the horse and zooming in as much as possible. The camera should be at the same level as the bottom line of the horse’s belly. Placing the horse on a slight hill is helpful if available, otherwise your thighs will get a good workout. Squats anyone?
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cont. pg. 20
Most people stand too close to the horse with the camera at the same level or above the horse’s topline. This makes the legs appear smaller and out of proportion and you sacrifice showing the hip and shoulder to their advantage. If you’re standing towards the front of the horse you will get the classic “moose head,” which is never flattering. Position yourself parallel to the horse and slightly to the rear, especially for Quarter Horses and western breeds. If you’re trying to get a front or ¾ front shot, you will have to get even further away and zoom in even closer to avoid distortion. The closer you are standing to your subject, the more distortion you will get. Next, you will need someone to position the horse for you, preferably someone that has expertise with horses and is calm and patient. A third person can help get the ears forward and act as stylist for unruly forelocks and manes. It is crucial to correctly position the horse’s legs. The general rule for side shots is that the front leg closest to the camera should be the furthest in front and the hind leg closest to the camera will be the furthest back. The horse should be balanced with all legs underneath. There should be more separation between the hind legs than the front legs. The most common problem is the hind leg stretched out in back and the horse leaning forward. Positioning takes time. The horse can become confused and agitated, so take breaks. Walk the horse around and let him relax, then try again. Small, quiet movements often produce the best results, but sometimes you must compromise. That’s ok. I like to get the horse’s head turned slightly towards me, with the neck more up than straight out. Next, sometimes the hardest part, you need to get the ears forward. This is essential. I’ve often had to compromise the position of the head, neck and legs somewhat and take what I can get when the ears are forward. The common mistake when attempting to get a horse’s ears forward is doing too much. Big, fast movements, loud noises or too many people jumping up and down will usually cause the horse to throw its head in the air. Their ears will go back and they will move their feet. Instead, try leading another horse slowly to or away from them to get their attention. One of my favorite methods is downloading or recording a horse whinny onto my cell phone, then hitting play when the horse’s feet are in position (not before). I’ve also used a mirror held 8-12 feet from their head, in the direction I want them to look. The trick is to do as little as possible and no more. You want your horse curious and alert, not alarmed. The background should be uncluttered and contrast with the horse. If the horse is light colored, they stand out better against trees or a barn that is darker. Dark horses show better against lighter backgrounds. Try to put the background as far in the distance as possible so as not to distract. The horse should be clean and well groomed. When promoting a breeding stallion, or if you have several horses for sale, it pays to do be diligent or hire a professional. One more stud fee or 10% more money for the horse will more than pay for the expense. Plus, you’ll create a more professional brand and will have done right by your horse.
These examples show how incorrect lighting, shadows, angles, positioning, ears, background, and grooming can make an otherwise nice horse look unappealing.
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Author Bonnie Cazier has 35 years experience as a graphic designer and photographic art director and spends her spare time oil painting and riding horses. People often commission her to do paintings of their horses which require good, clear photos to work from. She taught herself to photograph horses by studying equine magazines to figure out correct positioning and angles. In 1999 she and her horses moved to The Bitterroot Valley from Utah with her band of horses that she breeds and trains. The internet was becoming a major platform to sell horses so she began photographing her stock and creating online photo ads on national platforms. Soon these horses were selling faster and for more money than she could get by selling locally. Other people began asking her to help market their horses and with the help of friend and fellow horsewoman, Deborah Hamilton Driggers, they launched one of the first licensed, bonded online equine marketing business, Bitterroot Equine Marketing Services that operated until 2007. Due to the current robust horse market Bonnie and Debbie recently created Montana Equine Brokers, a full service equine brokerage to help local equine professionals market horses using their combined talents of professional photography, cinematic videos, knowledgeable advertising and handling Debbie also assists Bonnie on equine photo shoots that include Copper Spring Ranch, Jill Lane Quarter Horses and Cross Country Ranch. www.MontanaEquineBrokers.com
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THE HORSES THAT MADE
"A great horse will change your life. The truly special ones define it." - Author Unknown
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CHAMPIONS STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY by Mark LaRowe
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It
has been said that in the horse world each rider is blessed with one special horse in a lifetime. A true partner and companion. A teacher that shapes us. A spiritual guide that causes us to look inward and encourages us to grow as a person and learn to be an equal being with the horse. For a select few, there is more than one horse that fit into this category.
Above, Cierra rides “Django” a horse sold at BLS and purchased in part by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a boy in Idaho whose wish was to have a buckskin.
Ty and Cierra Erickson of Helena are a pair of those fortunate few who’ve had two of these horses in their lives, to date. The resumes for each of these accomplished rodeo athletes are both extensive and impressive. A professional steer wrestler, Ty is a six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualifier and the 2019 PRCA/WNFR World Champion. An acclaimed horse trainer, Cierra has taken home two titles in the Women’s Northern Rodeo Association (NWRA), the first as a barrel racer in 2010, and more recently as the 2018 champion in the breakaway roping event. Cierra also serves as the vice president for the NWRA. Fully immersed in the horse world since young children, they speak from many years of experience. Trying to chase down the “always-on-the-go” couple was a bit of a challenge, but they were gracious enough to allow me to interview them recently. What follows is the story of two pair of horses that Ty and Cierra each point to as the ones that truly changed their lives.
“That horse made me.” - Cierra Kunesh Prior to Cierra being born, her father, Montana cowboy legend Bob Kunesh, purchased a big, gray four-year old that was retired from racing. Gay Baron (Dude) was a project horse with a tendency to buck. Bob eventually broke the animal and was able to give the gelding some jobs, including ranch work, roping, and gathering wild horses for the BLM. Bob then sold Dude to his niece Tara Clark (now Peterson) who rode him to the College National Finals Rodeo in the breakaway roping event. After college, Tara sold Dude to a family in Arizona. In 1994 the Kuneshs were living in Arizona when fate stepped in. Bob was shoeing some horses for a family and recognized one of the horses as Dude. He bought the horse for a young Cierra, and the horse’s destiny was fulfilled. Cierra recalls that she rode Dude in her first rodeo during a youth performance at the Tucson PRCA Rodeo. “Dude could do everything and that horse made me. He gave me the confidence I needed at that point in my life and taught me how to win,” she recalls. Cierra and Dude competed in barrel racing, breakaway roping, pole bending and team roping. The formidable team won multiple allaround titles for six years. Reflecting fondly on the memories, Cierra states, “He was the best thing I ever had.”
Below, she rides “Viper” a horse she is training to take to the “Art of the Cowgirl” to sell in January. Previous left, Cierra Erickson rides “Pasco” at the Helmville Rodeo and Ty Erickson is shown steer wrestling in Big Timber.
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“Truly a heaven sent horse”
Cierra was beginning to really fall for this horse, but Janet still owned him. That October, at a jackpot where Pasco took second place against some of the top horses in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, Cierra told Ty she wanted to purchase him. Clearly, this was a team with potential.
- Cierra Kunesh
The year 2019 was turning out to be one of those that Cierra might like to forget. Her father, Bob, was gravely ill and Cierra was spending a lot of time caring for him. Additionally, she was frustrated with the horses she had and felt they weren’t the quality of animals she was accustomed to owning and working with. She ended up selling the horses in an attempt to clean the slate and start anew. During that tumultuous time Cierra’s mother-in-law, Janet Erickson, had a gangly young horse with a previously broken hock that Janet had been training. The diagnosis at the time of the injury was not promising and the vet did not expect the animal to be sound enough to barrel race again. But, over time the horse progressed and appeared to be making a full recovery.
On October 20th, as an anniversary present, Ty presented Cierra with the papers for Pasco. “Just with the way 2019 was going, and the emotional and professional tumult that I was experiencing, getting that horse from Ty made my year. I feel like Pasco was truly a heaven sent horse,” Cierra expressed. She continues, “For him to come back from the injury he sustained says a lot about the character of this horse. In order to be a great team, it is just as much their will as it is yours.” The duo have been hard at it in 2020 with a busy summer travel schedule entering rodeos and jackpots from Arizona and Texas all the way back to Montana. They placed in five events in a mix of open jackpots and PRCA and NRA events. Cierra states that the fun part is that Janet is part of her journey with this horse. She was the previous owner and trainer and is her mother-in-law. “It really is a family affair,” Cierra concludes. cont. pg. 27
In August, Cierra began working with DTF Ta That, a 15.1 hand bay gelding whose sire is the legendary Dash Ta Fame. They entered some jackpots and then took him on the road. While in Pasco, WA Cierra had the gelding tied up to the trailer while she and Ty were competing. When they returned to the trailer an impatient horse had dug a substantial hole in the ground. DTF is now known as Pasco.
Below, Cierra Erickson (right) is shown with her mother, Ebbie Hansen
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“The best horse I ever rode’ - Ty Erickson Montana born Mary Kyler says she always liked fast horses. She liked to barrel race and rope while she was a member of the rodeo team at the University of Montana. That’s where she met her late husband, Ed. He was a bulldogger and liked fast horses, too. Especially Mary’s fast horses. “I’m pretty sure he married me for my horses,” quips Mary. They began breeding quarter horses together in 1970 and were then married in 1971. The foundation of their breeding program were a trio of mares whose sire was the famous Three Bars. In 2002, a special horse was born on the Kyler ranch, KR Montana Shake Em. It was only a matter of time before he made a big impact in the world of quarter horse racing. The big bay gelding won his first race in his first entry at the Missoula fairgrounds. There were no other horses like Shake Em crossing the line. But that’s not surprising. His official speed index was 105. Shake Em still holds the track record at the Calgary Stampede Park with a 12.22 in 2007. An unfortunate tangle with a barbed wire fence in 2008 caused Ed and Mary to retire Shake Em from racing. But, his story was not completely written yet. In 2010, the horse had fully recovered. Ed and Mary both felt Shake Em still had a lot left in him and they decided he needed a job. Ed’s background in steer wrestling led him to believe that Shake Em would make a great bulldogging horse. At the time, there was an up-and-coming bulldogger in Helena they had been watching grow up, as their farrier was his father. They decided to loan Shake Em to the young man as his steer wrestling horse. That young man was Ty Erickson. After a few years working with and seasoning Shake Em during Ty’s last two years of college at Montana State University, where he was on the rodeo team, the pair hit the road in 2015. What a year it was. Not only did Shake Em carry Ty back to the WNFR where they placed in seven rounds, they won Rodeo Salinas, the Redding Wrangler Champions Challenge, White Sulphur Springs, Helena’s Last Chance Stampede, and the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals. As if that isn’t impressive enough, Shake Em also earned the title of 2015 PRCA-AQHA Horse of The Year.
Above, Ty Erickson rides “Crush.” Below, Mary Kyler is shown with “Shake Em,” the 2015 PRCA-AQHA Horse of the Year.
Ty recalls, “What’s really amazing is that 2015 was really the first year that Shake Em was on the road. We hit the rodeo hard with him. And anyone could mount him. He was very focused and quiet in the box, which makes it easier on the rider to focus on the steer.” Ty explains that the Horse of The Year award was a huge surprise and a great honor for that horse. 2016 brought more success for the pair with a return trip to the WNFR, as well as the year end steer wrestling title in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit, and the finals average title.
With a thoughtful gaze, Ty states, “That was the best horse I ever rode. He was so fast, yet so quiet and focused. He made it easy to just focus on winning.”
cont. pg. 28
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“He was born to do this” - Ty Erickson Always on the lookout for good horse prospects, Cierra was casually scrolling through a horse group site on Facebook one afternoon in January of 2015. A good looking 15.2 hand bay caught her eye. The horse was reasonably priced, well built, well-papered, fast, and had won some money on the racetrack. After a quick trip to Idaho Falls for a vet check the deal was sealed and the trailer was one horse heavier headed back to Helena. Cierra purchased Finding Nemo (Crush) with the intent to work with him as a barrel racing prospect, with the fall back option of him being a bulldogging horse. For most of 2015 Crush was used as a ranch horse by Bob Kunesh, Cierra’s father. In 2016 Cierra took a job at the Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, WY as a coach on the women’s rodeo team and to teach a colt starting course. Instead of becoming a barrel horse, Crush was now relegated to ponying colts. “I really rode that horse a lot, and he was around young horses during class and then in the arena during rodeo practices. He was very quiet and was getting tons of experience doing new things. We also did a lot of dummy roping on him.” Cierra says. One weekend in Cheyenne during April of 2018 while Ty was visiting, somebody suggested they put Crush in the bulldogging box and see if the young college rodeo team members could jump steers on him. Remarkably, the riders were able to jump all three steers. Ty remembers, “He was never trained as a bulldogging horse. It was amazing. He already knew his job, like he was born to do this.” During the summer of 2018 Cierra kept riding Crush and hauled him to several rodeos in order to advance his seasoning. Then, in the fall of 2018 his first real bulldogging practice and training started, as well as being utilized on the ranch again.
Ty and Cierra Erickson with “Viper” and “Crush”
By the time February rolled around Ty felt good enough to enter him in some south Texas jackpots. Crush did not disappoint and won two out of his first four entries. Ty was now pretty seriously riding Crush and hauled him to several Canadian rodeos then to US-based rodeos in August and September. “At that point, I’d really only ridden him at 30-35 rodeos. I knew Crush had the potential. I knew I was going to make the Finals again, so I had a big decision to make. I wasn’t sure if he was ready for the atmosphere and pressure of the Finals.” Consulting with many of his close bulldogging buddies, Ty asked for their advice. The final decision to ride him turned out to be prescient as Crush carried Ty to his 2019 World Championship, as well as the year end title for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit and Finals Average Championship. After some consideration, Ty states, “Crush is the easiest horse I’ve ever trained. He reminds me a lot of Shake Em. I’m just too grateful and blessed to have trained and competed on these amazing animal athletes.”
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the winter horse -by Dr. Stacie Boswell -photo by Stephanie Westover
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ou’ve probably seen the internet meme, “Winter is here: prepare for the annual blanket debate!” For now, we won’t debate blankets. Instead here are a few ways that we know horses’ bodies prepare for winter. Our domestic horse species developed in Ice Age Iberia or central Asia, so horses have adapted through the millennia with specific physiologic changes allowing tolerance of cold.
WHEN IS A HORSE COLD? A thermoneutral zone is when an individual is comfortable standing in dry, still air with a natural coat. Humans’ thermoneutral zone is from about 75 to 85oF. Horses’ thermoneutral zone may dip as low as 5 to 10oF, which is influenced by age, fat layer, and hair coat. If the weather is wet or windy, the thermoneutral zone will shift to a higher temperature – it’s easier for them to be cold susceptible. Horses will be cold if the weather is wet or they do not have access to a wind break.
HAIR A horse’s coat will change seasonally. The body’s signal for growing additional hair is from the daylight hours. In autumn, as daylight wanes, horses begin to grow longer, thicker hair. How cold the weather is will influence how much hair grows. A horse’s hair coat insulates so well that you may see unmelted snow on his back or icicles on his whiskers.
If you have horses of different sizes, you may have noticed that smaller horses or ponies will grow a thicker coat than larger animals. A larger animal will have a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio, which results in less loss of heat. Smaller horses and ponies can lose more heat, and therefore need more hair.
The hair coat is water-resistant in its natural state. Natural oils and the direction of hair growth causes precipitation to roll off and not collect in the deeper layers of hair. Hair next to skin stays dry and warm. The run-off is especially obvious on the longer, guard hairs at the back of the fetlocks, and if it’s really cold, horses may get ice balls on the hair in this area. A horse’s hair coat should have piloerection (the ability of hairs to stick out – what people refer to as “goose bumps”). Piloerection adds a large volume of warm air trapped by the hair coat. That volume of air has an effect like thick down, and has excellent insulating quality. If a horse is blanketed, the hair coat may lose its fluffiness and be flattened, substantially decreasing its natural insulating ability. Horses will be cold if their hair coat is too thin, too short (clipped), wet, oils have been removed (e.g. by shampooing), or if the coat is flattened.
CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM Horses digest their hay in their cecum and large colon – the hindgut. Roughage is fermented by microbes, with heat as a byproduct. On a very cold night, a little extra forage will keep horses warm by activating this central heating system. Horses lowest in the social hierarchy may not have enough access to shared roughage (such as a round bale), and so their internal fermentation won’t be able to provide as much heat.
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cont. pg. 32
Hungry horses are cold horses. MUSCLE USE Increasing movement on a short-term basis will increase body temperature. Many people notice that their horses are frisky in the cold. You’ll see horses run, buck, and play. Blood flow increases to meet the oxygen and energy demands of the muscle, and the large muscle groups create heat as they contract. These same large muscle groups are involved with shivering, which is a specific adaptation of warm-blooded animals to maintain core body temperature. Muscle contractions and increased circulation helps keep the body temperature stable and warm.
Many factors alter the ability of an individual equine to manage in the cold. His hair coat, digestive system, and muscle use help him stay warm.
Dr. Stacie G. Boswell is a veterinarian board-certified in large animal surgery and has an interest in equine welfare. She practices in Belgrade, MT and is the author of The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need. More information and a longer version of this article can be found at www.stacieboswell.com.
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THE ONE THING NOBODY TELLS YOU You’re Going to Lose Money Some Days By Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman
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nyone who has started a business knows the excitement and satisfaction of being one’s own boss. No more orders to take from superiors, total control of how you spend your time and best of all, the freedom to keep all of the money your business earns by your hard work!
I felt those exciting feelings when I started working for myself and also enjoyed a feeling of self-confidence that things could only go right. After all, I was the boss now. Here is a short story about the one thing people don’t tell you when you start your business. My mentor, Mike, was an experienced business owner for over 40 years when I first met him. Born in Denmark, he immigrated to the United States with knowledge of the world and how it worked. He’d served in the North Atlantic during World War II as crew on a fast moving patrol torpedo (PT) boat. As a result, he was disciplined and had learned to control fear. Tough but fair is an accurate description of his demeanor. We were having a conversation one day about business when he said something that disturbed me. “Doug, someday, no matter how careful and diligent you are in your dealings, you’re going to lose money. You see, all business transactions involve an element of risk for you to earn money. And eventually, risk catches up to you and that means you’ll provide goods or services in good faith and not get paid. When, not if, it happens acknowledge the loss and keep moving forward.” Those two words, lose money, were chilling to hear. I chose to bury Mike’s gloomy message deep into my subconscious, convinced if I didn’t think about it, it would go away. Eventually as predicted, I lost money on a business deal. Mike’s wise words replayed in my head immediately. That “someday” had arrived and I sure didn’t like the feel of it. How could I’ve been so blind, so trusting and so stupid not to see it coming? If Mike had not told me earlier that losing money was part of playing the game of business, my agony would have endured much longer than it did. Heeding his advice, I acknowledged the loss, analyzed why it happened and then moved on. Since then, I’ve lost money from time to time in a variety of businesses including the horse business. Mike’s philosophy has helped greatly and I smile now as I vividly remember our candid conversation long ago. Since you are a business person operating as a professional horseman, you too will have or already have had customers who don’t pay you in your businesses of boarding, lessons, training and horse sales. You will lose money. You will buy horses for resale and not be able to recover the maintenance expense, training, time, and marketing effort you put into the project. You will lose money. You’ll also lose money when you buy equipment, vehicles, and saddles that don’t perform as you hoped. Additionally, you will lose when you hire people who turn out to be total duds as workers.
“Don’t wallow in self-pity due to your financial loss. Learn from the mistake and get out there and sell something - lessons, boarding, training or a horse.” - 34 -
cont. page - 37
column >>> the profitable horseman
cont. from page 34
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Here are ways to minimize your losses when they occur:
Boarders, just like apartment renters who get behind more than a month, usually will never get caught up and remain habitually delinquent. Give them legal notice that you are evicting them for non-payment. If necessary, settle for a lesser amount of the past due board in exchange for a cash payment and them moving their horse out immediately. It’s better to get some of the money and their horses out of your barn so you find a paying customer to replace the income. If you are “nice”, chances are excellent the boarder will soon be six months behind and you’ll have a lien on a boarded horse of low value which needs a farrier and veterinary care and will be difficult to sell within the requirements of state laws. Your boarders will respond to “tough but fair” policies much better than “nice and lenient.” Collect training fees in advance for customers you have no experience with. It’s a reasonable expectation. Collect lesson fees in advance with package lesson programs. Your income will be more predictable and your students won’t have to worry about paying every time they have a lesson. If a “pay as you go” lesson model is better for you, insist payment is due the day of the lesson, not next time. Next time may be never. Continuous accommodations for forgetful students who don’t show up or need to cancel or change lesson times frequently should be avoided. Remember as an instructor, all you have to sell is your time. A cancelled scheduled lesson or a no-show student robs you of non-recoverable income dedicated to that time slot. For purchases of equipment, vehicles and tack, a bargain price is never rationalization for accepting inferior quality. Experience shouts it’s better to pay a little more for quality than to pay twice for inferior products. You’ll know at the end of the first week on the job if your new employee is a keeper. All too often, employers think they can fix and train an unskilled employee. You can’t afford to find out. Let the employee go immediately to find more suitable work. You’ll be doing yourself and the employee a huge favor. Prolonging the inevitable dismissal results in a huge monetary loss in many ways.
To sum up: Accept the certain truth- you’re going to lose some money along the path of success. Cut your losses by resolving problems quickly. Procrastination never helps. Don’t wallow in self-pity due to your financial loss. Learn from the mistake and get out there and sell something - lessons, boarding, training or a horse. You can’t go back in time and you can’t go forward into the future. Your choice is simple. Do your best work today and your business will continue to improve.
About the author: Doug Emerson, the Profitable Horseman, consults, writes and speaks about the business half of the horse business. Visit www.ProfitableHorseman.com
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FEEDING HORSES IN WINTER FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS AND HORSE TYPES - by Dr Nerida Richards Winter can be a tricky time of year for feeding horses, especially if you have older horses or horses that lose weight easily. Feeding the right diet during winter will help keep your horses healthy and in good body condition. Here are some tips on how you can do it:
1. PREPARE FOR WINTER EARLY Use late summer and autumn while the temperatures are still comfortable and the pasture and hay quality still high to get your horse in good shape for winter. All horses during this period need to be fed a balanced diet to make sure they are generally healthy and their immune systems fully functional.
If your horse tends to lose weight over winter it can be fed a little more than normal during this time to get a bit of extra condition on them, so if they lose weight during winter they won’t end up being too skinny. You should also be looking to buy hay in summer as you will get a good quality product for less than you will pay in winter.
2. FEED PLENTY OF FORAGE Forage (hay, chaff and pasture) provides your horse with many of the calories they will need to maintain weight during winter. It will also keep your horse warm. During the digestion of forages in the horse’s gut, bacteria ferment the fibrous portions. One of the ‘by-products’ is heat that really helps a horse stay warm during winter. Because of the ‘warming’ properties of forage, your horse will benefit more from additional hay than extra grain, pellets or sweetfeed, especially in very wet, cold weather.
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nutrition >>> feeding horses in winter
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3. CONDITION SCORE YOUR HORSE REGULARLY If you blanket, don’t throw one on your horse and leave it on for weeks without taking it off to check your horse’s body condition. Look at the top of the neck, the wither, over the ribs and over the loin to assess the amount of body fat (which we call body condition) your horse is carrying. At the very least, take your horse’s blanket off every week so you can check to see if your horse is losing, maintaining or gaining weight.
4. ADJUST YOUR HORSE’S DIET TO CONTROL BODY WEIGHT Because you will be condition scoring your horse regularly you will know if your horse is maintaining, gaining or losing weight. Depending on what you want your horse to be doing, you may need to adjust the diet to keep your horse at the bodyweight and condition you want. If your horse is gaining unwanted weight, you will need to reduce or remove high energy feeds like grains, pellets, sweetfeeds or oils in the diet. If your horse is losing weight that you don’t want him to lose, you may need to feed more calories in the diet. You can do this by: Feeding more hay and if you’re not already doing so feeding some alfalfa/lucerne hay. Adding high energy feeds to the diet like pellets, sweetfeeds, oil or high energy fibres like soybean hulls, copra meal or sugarbeet pulp. Use the best quality feeds you can afford and if using a sweetfeed look for one that contains either extruded or micronised grains as these are more digestible for horses.
5. FEED A BALANCED DIET An unbalanced diet doesn’t meet your horse’s requirements for each of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals so your horse won’t be as healthy as he could or should be. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to weight loss, muscle wastage, increased - 39 -
cont. page - 41
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cont. from pg 39 susceptibility to diseases, dull, dry coat and skin, brittle and slow growing hooves, and suppressed immune systems.
The FeedXL Nutrition Software makes it very easy to see if what you are feeding is the right thing for your horse. FeedXL will also help you manage your horse’s bodyweight.
6. BEWARE OF LAMINITIS For horses susceptible to laminitis (including overweight horses, horses with Cushing’s Disease or those who have previously had laminitis) winter can be a danger period. If your horse is at risk you should:
Restrict your horse’s access to pasture to only the very early hours of the morning up until 11 am.
Feed low sugar hay and avoid hays made from ryegrass or cereals like oats or wheat.
Avoid all feeds with grain or grain by-products in them.
Beware: Most feeds that claim to be grain free are NOT. Read the label of all feeds carefully. If they contain anything like bran, pollard, millmix or millrun do not feed them to a horse prone to laminitis. By ticking the ‘Laminitis’ box on your horse’s details page in FeedXL, all of the unsuitable feeds that contain grains or grain by-products will be colored red and you will be warned not to use them.
7. ADD A LITTLE OIL TO THE DIET A horse’s coat can become dry and dull during winter. To help keep the coat and skin healthy, add 1/4 cup of oil to the diet.
AND FINALLY… Of course all the normal rules of good horse husbandry apply in winter. Feeding a well balanced diet in conjunction with good dental, hoof and veterinary care as well as a strict worming regime will help keep your horses in top shape over winter. Dr. Nerida Richards is FeedXL’s resident equine nutrition specialist. With a degree in Rural Science, a doctorate degree in equine nutrition and nearly 20 years of full time, on the ground experience in feeding all types of horses Nerida is able to help FeedXL members solve any problem they may come up against with feeding their horses. To learn more about Nerida and to ‘meet’ the rest of the FeedXL team, visit
www.FEEDXL.com
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DOUBLE DIAMOND HALTERS
Looking for that perfect gift idea for the horse-minded person in your life? Want it to be made in Montana?
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Handmade in Gallatin Gateway, MT and used by some of the best names in the horse business, like Buck Brannaman, Mike Beers, and Sharon Camarillo, Double Diamond Halters are sure to put a smile on whoever’s opening their present. If you’re looking for more than just halters, Rocky Mountain Supply carries a wide range of Double Diamond Halter Co. products. Stop in today and let one of our friendly staff help you pick out that perfect gift!
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KERRITS Fair Isle Fleece Tech Top - $69 KERRITS Tempest Insulated Parka - $219 waterproof and windproof “HORSES FIRST” - 42 -
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
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For more HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS, check out the BUSINESS DIRECTORY at www.MontanaHorses.com
Mark LaRowe 2021 Calendars “Enjoy a little piece of Montana every month.”
The 2021 Cowboys Of Western Montana calendars are here! And like the Scenic Montana calendars, they are 12”x18”, spiral bound at the top, and printed on a beautiful, thick, pearlescent paper, suitable for framing. Place pre-orders now! They make great Christmas gifts. $25, plus shipping. Free delivery in Helena Valley. Send a note via FB Messenger or email Mark@MarkLaRowePhotography.com
Brighten Your Home With the Fragrance of Montana Forest Nothing says, “Christmas is coming” quite like the fragrance of a freshly made Christmas wreath. When you choose a MONTANA WREATH for your holiday decoration, you’re adorning your home with the essence of a wild Montana forest.
www.MontanaWreaths.com
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profile >>> jack dawson
by Mark LaRowe
JACK DAWSON “It is not work if you love what you do.”
Meet Jack Dawson. The Boulder cowboy is still ranching on the same land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1885. With help from his daughter Trudy and son Matt, he still works the ranch on horseback at age 81, running 500 pairs. As any rancher knows, that is a lot of work. But Jack states, “It is not work if you love what you do.” Jack recalls that he started riding horses around age two and then began ranch work when he was eight. A graduate of Whitehall High School, Jack attended Montana State University for a year-and-a-half and then transferred to Cal Poly where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. He then returned to the ranch and has been there ever since. Jack’s favorite things about ranching are the independence and working outside. He also states, “The air is always fresh”.
In addition to ranching, Jack was an accomplished rodeo cowboy in the saddle bronc, bareback and steer wrestling events. He was a regular on the rodeo circuit in the northwest part of the country. When you are on the road between Cardwell and Boulder, give a little wave as you pass the Dawson Ranch. You might even see Jack on horseback keeping a vigilant eye on his cattle.
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