Montana Horses September 2020

V ) ( ONTANA HORSES magazine

INAUGURAL EDITION | September 2020

Volume 1 | Issue 1

All Horses. All Montana..

MONTANA TAKES THE GAUCHO DERBY WHERE ARE ALL THE REAL COWBOYS? FOXHUNTING MONTANA-STYLE

DISTRIBUTED FREE OR SUBSCRIBE AT

MontanaHorses.com

Cover Artist | VAL WESTOVER An award-winning artist, international best-selling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and portrait photographer, Val travels throughout the world. But, his favorite place to be is in Montana capturing the essence of horses and the Montana lifestyle. His Capturing True Emotions Montana photo expeditions have produced breathtaking Montana horse imagery and he’s proud to share them with you in this issue.

See more about Val at www.ValWestoverPhotography.com

FEATURES

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>>> DEPARTMENTS

THE GAUCHO DERBY

Two Montana women race in the greatest test of horsemanship and survival skills on earth.

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events >>> focus on rodeo

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discipline >>> working equitation montana

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WHERE ARE ALL THE REAL

COWBOYS? Rural ranchers find a community of Amish to help with the tough stuff.

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FOXHUNTING MONTANA-STYLE -3-

health >>> potomac horse fever

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nutrition >>> feeding before exercise

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column >>> the profitable horseman

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profile >>> Jann Parker

2008 AQHA Palomino Mare Granddaughter of Frenchmen’s Guy Well broke, gentle, capable and has been used on the trails, in mountains, roping (some in the box and with dummies), foxhunting.

Moves beautifully. Suitable for capable rider of any age. Stunning copper palomino color. $10,000

2009 Buckskin Gelding Well broke, gentle, has been used on the trail, in the feedlot, and foxhunting.

Gorgeous buttermilk color and super cute. Very sweet and willing. Grade. $8500

2008 AQHA Dun Gelding Well broke, ropes, was hauled some 3 years ago, since a trail horse. Gentle and suitable for capable rider of any age. $10,000

Serious inquiries only, please: Call (406) 496-0875 or (406) 579-4060 All prices firm.

I’m sure I’m not the only one, lying in the middle of the road with a stupid look on my face thinking, Wow, I did not see that coming. I’m referring to 2020, of course. If you had told me even a year ago, when Montana Horses as a magazine began to break out of its shell and start to show its cute little pin feathers, it would be kicked out of its nest into this kind of weird, I would have called you mad.

That’s now a diagnosis for the world. But through this, possibly the worst time in time for a start-up, it’s just the medicine I need. I’m hoping it’s just what the Montana horse community needs, too.

Years ago, we had several equine publications in the state. Then Facebook came along. Instantly, most of us were able to get what we needed, advertise what we had, connect, communicate, and come together online. Free. It was the death of print. The rest of us had to go to the coffee shop for news. Now social media and the internet are so big, we’re lost again - drowning in an undefined sea of likenesses. No single place to go to find our people and hoping we put our messages out to all of the places that Montana horse people frequent, it’s hit and miss. Thus, the birth (though still a bit gawky and learning to stretch our wings) of Montana Horses.

It’s our hope to be the place you go for all things Montana horses. Tell us your stories, show us your horses, let’s get the word out about the events, people, places, activities, and things that you think are important. Let’s do it together and let’s do it all...All Horses.

All Montana. I invite you to be a part of building something that will be as amazing as the Montana horse.

Montanans haven’t changed. We’re weathering the storm. If you doubt it, check out the stories in this issue about events that happened and continue to happen in Montana even as the world swirls around us like a hurricane. We’re in the eye and I bet we stay there.

Thanks to all of you who have shown your encouragement, support and faith in this. We’ve arrived and we’re taking flight.

We hope you’ll join us.

Kick on, Renee Daniels-Mantle

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A note about the brand: There are thousands of Montana horses carrying our brand, quarter circle V quarter circle. Over the years, many asked if it symbolized an M for our last name.

(I thought, Did it blotch? Because I don’t see it.) So, when the magazine came into being, I decided to use the brand )V( as the M in Montana. The first call I got asked, “Is it Montana or Vontana?” Damn. It’s Montana.

I’m proud of my brand and all the horses who carry it. And Montana should be proud of the brand we carry—a world-class reputation of the finest horses and horse people on Earth. That’s our brand.

V ) ( ONTANA HORSES magazine

All Horses. All Montana.

EDITOR Renee Daniels-Mantle | CREATIVE DIRECTOR Val Westover CIRCULATION Jon Stone Goff | ADVERTISING SALES Gretchen Pelham CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Renee Daniels-Mantle, Tim Fitzgerald, Doug Emerson, Dr. Nerida Richards, Montana Equine Photography: Val Westover, Mark LaRowe, Gretchen Pelham, Nancy Brown, Wendy Fordyce, Richard Dunwoody

PUBLISHER Montana Horses, Inc. PO Box 405 Manhattan, MT 59741 Montana Horses is published monthly and available 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-

Rodeo September 5 | Brash Rodeo Summer Series | Columbia Falls, MT September 4 & 5 | Sanders County Fair & PRCA Rodeo | Plains, MT Tickets: (406) 826-3202 | sanderscountyfair.com September 5 & 6 | Dillon Jaycee PRCA Rodeo “Montana’s Biggest Weekend” | Dillon, MT Tickets: (406) 683-5771 | dillonjaycees.com September 6 & 7 | White Sulphur Springs Labor Day PRCA Rodeo | White Sulphur Springs, MT Tickets: (406) 547-2192 September 6 & 7 | Helmville Labor Day Rodeo | Helmville, MT

September 12 & 13 | World Team Roping Championship | Wibaux, MT September 12 & 13 | World Team Roping Championship | Whitehall, MT October 15 & 16 | 1st Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo of 2021 Rodeo Season | NILE PRCA Rodeo | Billings, MT Tickets: (406) 256-2495 or (800) 366-8538 | www.thenile.org October 22-24 | 2020 NRA Finals | Kalispell, MT IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE LISTED IN MONTANA HORSES, VISIT www.MontanaHorses.com/calendar-of-events TO SUBMIT IT FOR FREE

Meet Photographer Mark LaRowe. He’s a western

Montana-based photographer whose passion is western landscape and western lifestyle. Northern Rodeo Association’s official photographer, he also covers ranch life, rodeo, skijoring, team sorting, and other equine and western events. See more at www.MarkLaRowePhotography.com

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events >>> rodeo

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www.MarkLaRowePhotography.com

Clockwise from top left: barrel racing at Big Timber NRA Rodeo, tie down roping at Ennis NRA Rodeo, saddle bronc riding at Big Timber NRA Rodeo, steer wrestling at Big Timber High School Rodeo.

©Mark LaRowe Photography

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events >>> more events

August 28 - 29 –League of Legends Invitational Horse and Stock Dog Sale - Heart K Arena, Livingston, MT August 29 - 30 - Yellowstone Rendezvous Futurity & Derby - Cotton Wood Equestrian Center, Silesia, MT September 2 - BSC BARREL RACE Billings Saddle Club - Billings, September 2 - Big Timber Summer Series Rodeo - Big Timber Fairgrounds September 4 - PRQHBA TWO YEAR OLD FUTURITY - Broadus, MT September 5 - AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Show - Broadus, MT September 5 - 6 - Eastern Montana Appaloosa Horse Club – Bridger, MT September 5 - 7 - Touch of the Master's Hand Horsemanship Clinic - Ekalaka, MT September 6 - Derby on the Madison/Jumper Derby – Three Forks, MT September 6 - PRQHBA Open Performance Yearling Futurity & Youth Yearling Halter, Broadus, MT

September 6 - 7 - Bozeman Saddle-ites - White Sulphur Springs Rodeo and Parade September 9 - What About You? Helpers, Healers, and Horses - Kila, MT September 12 - Marsh Performance Horses 2020 Summer Barrel Racing Series - Missoula, MT September 12-13 - Working Equitation Horse Show at Big Sky Horse Park - Missoula, MT September 12 - 13 - Rebecca Farm Fall Show, Rebecca Farm, Kalispell September 19 - Bozeman Saddle-ites - Belgrade Fall Festival Parade September 19 - 20 - ETS Trail Challenge and Obstacle Course – Heron, MT September 24 - 27 - MONTANA REINED COW HORSE FUTURITY at Heart K Arena September 25 - 27 - Montana Barrel Horse Association - State Championships - ExpoPark, Great Falls, MT October 3 - One Day Horsemanship and Rider Clinics -Fortune Quarter Horse Ranch, Corvallis, Montana October 3 - Bozeman Saddle-ites - MSU Homecoming October 3 - Marsh Performance Horses 2020 Summer Barrel Racing Series - Missoula, MT October 3 - 4 - Horsemanship and Cow Level 2 Clinics - Holloways Pretty Good Horse Barn, Bozeman, MT

October 9 - 11 - Working Equestrian Clinic - Vaughn, MT October 1011 - Big Sky Classic Jump Into Fall, Heart-K Arena, Livingston October 12 - 14 - NILE MQHA VRH Show, Metra Park Arena, Billings October 15 - 17 - Nile PRCA Rodeo – Metro Park First Interstate Bank Arena, Billings, MT visit www.montanahorses.com/calendar-of-events for more event info or to list yours

discipline >>> working equitation

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FAR RIGHT Marlee Bigsby in Speed Phase

RIGHT Tara Kelly in Dressage Phase

BELOW Sara Shaffer in Ease of Handling Phase

WORKING EQUITATION

MONTANA “If you’re looking for something new, fun, challenging, but attainable – this is the sport for you.”

For years, Melissa competed in high adrenaline, extreme equine sports, like eventing and polocrosse. But lately, it’s all about working equitation for her. “It’s a way to develop a deeper partnership and connection with your horse – without dying,” she laughs. And it sounds like something Montana horsemen are embracing wholeheartedly.

Working equitation, or WE, originated to develop, showcase, and promote competition of equitation techniques used by riders of actual working horses on farms and ranches, and with livestock. It is enjoyed by riders of all disciplines, riding any breed of horse, using any type of gear, and from any background. “You don’t need a special horse or gear. You come from where you’re at and start improving, even if you already shine in another area. The training is not counter-productive to other training or sports, it only makes it better.”

Competition consists of four phases or trials and is held in an arena. In the first, Dressage, horse and rider demonstrate freestyle dressage maneuvers, geared toward the working horse. The second, Ease of Handling, judges the partnership of horse and rider while navigating obstacles that simulate challenges you find while working outside, such as gates and bridges. The third, Speed, has you overcome obstacles at speed. And the fourth, Cow, is a team competition in which cattle are sorted and cut in numerical order.

“I think the greatest thing about western equitation is it allows you to introduce your horse to new ideas and concepts, as well as using their bodies properly.”

~ Melissa K. Main

Though working equitation is new to the U.S. and Montana, there are already divisions in Missoula, Butte, Billings, Belgrade, and Three Forks and competitions and clinics throughout the year. It is very popular at Melissa’s Belgrade facility, where thirty to forty men, women, and children regularly participate. “It’s a super supportive group of people. And it’s fun.”

If you would like to try your hand at working equitation, or want more information, check out the Facebook page Working Equitation Montana Belgrade, give Melissa a call or email mkbigsby@mac.com.

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The Gaucho Derby TWO MONTANA WOMEN RACE AND WIN

THE GREATEST TEST OF HORSEMANSHIP AND SURVIVAL SKILLS ON EARTH Photography by Richard Dunwoody

I ABOVE: Montana’s Marie

Griffis of Manhattan and Corie Downey of Whitehall OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Marie Griffis over

the top first; the race is forgotten for a moment to enjoy the view; Warren Sutton navigating a treacherous river crossing PREVIOUS PAGE: Marie Griffis

leading the way during one of the faster stages

magine yourself thundering deep into the wilds of Patagonia on horseback. You’ve got your steed beneath you and a pack horse by your side. You’re navigating across some of the wildest terrain on Earth, attempting to win one of the toughest and most unusual equine challenges in history. This is the Gaucho Derby.

Two Montana women, Marie Griffis and Corie Downey, ride in and win what is called the greatest test of horsemanship and survival skills on the planet.

After running the Mongol Derby for a decade, renowned as the ‘world’s toughest horse race,’ The Adventurists Co. decided it was time to grow the sport of ultra-endurance horse racing and went in search of the next world- 13 -

beating adventure. They didn’t just replicate The Mongol Derby with new scenery, but designed a new race from the ground up, based on the landscape, culture, history and horses of Patagonia and the Gauchos. They created, what they believe, is the ‘greatest test of horsemanship and wilderness skills on Earth.’ And so, on the 5th of March, 24 riders from around the Globe lined up at the start of the Pioneer Edition of the Gaucho Derby and, over the next 10 days, the race certainly lived up to its billing.

The nine-stage race crossed 500km of Patagonian wilderness, including high mountains and pampas lowlands, making the event not just a test of riders’ skills on a horse, but pushing their navigation skills to the limit and testing their physical endurance and ability to handle the wilderness.

While the Gaucho Derby is a multi-horse race, it differs from the Mongol Derby. The race is broken down into 40km legs, but riders don’t change horses at every section (as they do in the Mongol Derby). The high mountains are a test of skill, not flat out speed, so the horses don’t run out of steam and can cover several legs at a time. On the flatter pampas sections however, where horses can eat up the miles quickly, riders swap to fresh horses regularly.

Riders also do large sections with pack horses, to carry extra kit into the mountains. As well as looking after and guiding a second animal, they have to switch mounts mid-leg to ensure the health of both animals by minimizing the work.

The Adventurists monitor the horses’ welfare at every stage, with vet checks every 40km as well as race marshals and emergency and roaming vets to ensure that no rider puts their own competitiveness before the welfare of the animals. “We would rather nobody wins than someone wins by pushing too hard. Riders seen making bad decisions, riding too fast across difficult terrain or not presenting horses in great condition will get penalties or be disqualified..”

The first Gaucho Derby began with a fast valley ride for some. Other riders took what they believed was a short cut through the mountains, only to have to turn back and lose any hopes of an early lead when they met unpassable terrain. Temperatures were hot, with riders wondering why they’d bothered packing so many cold weather clothes, luring many riders into a false sense of security as to what was to come.

Over the next few days, navigation remained a key part of the race. Riders traversed some breath taking, but ‘pretty gnarly’ countryside, with trails through passes, river valleys, dense forests, and bogs presenting challenges - all while individual riders tried to chivvy along a packhorse and keep their own horse on an - 14 -

even keel. Then came the storm.

Drama unveiled as the race headed through the mountains and a ferocious snowstorm swept in.

Local Gauchos helped guide riders to safe passage and an emergency shelter was created in a forest, with some riders (most to re-join the race later) air lifted out as a precaution.

With further bad weather forecast, the race was reset on day 6, with riders carrying forward their accumulated times from the previous stages, before the storm hit. Some faster riding, without pack horses, ensued and in the end, it was Marie Griffis (a 2016 Mongol Derby veteran who does an annual pack trip back home in

Montana) who crossed the line first, having ‘weathered the storm well’ and ridden confidently ever since…

“It was like a dream. As we crossed the river to the final vet check and finish line, all I could think of was

there’s no way I’m getting my feet wet again!”

Sharing her thoughts on the race, Marie commented…

“The Arabs were the best bit! They were such athletes, ripping through the countryside on them was thrilling. They were really well cared for and highly trained. Plus Andy and Luly, who own them, were the best! The cooks we had, I have great respect for them.”

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And it seemed, for her at least, the snowstorm wasn’t the hardest part of the race…

“The forest (was the toughest part), bashing through it as it was on an incline, bogs literally everywhere. I had a dead tree fall on me in route to (checkpoint) 3.”

If you believe you have what it takes to ride in next year’s Gaucho Derby, see www.theadventurists.com.

And check out our interview with C o r i e D o w n e y a t www.MontanaHorses.com

OPPOSITE: Dramatic landscapes

BELOW: Riders celebrating after a tough, but exhilarating, 10 days

ARE YOU OPEN? ADVERTISE IT HERE

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magazine

WHERE ARE ALL THE REAL COWBOYS?

Photography by Wendy Fordyce

Story by Tim Fitzgerald

Sprague’s 2035 branding crew watches the works Roper eyes the calves at Coffee’s

H

ow does a rural rancher find the capable seasonal labor needed to continue a traditional operation? Or, put another way, if there are any more real cowboys, where can you find them?

The answer is that they might be right under your nose, hiding out as your neighbors.

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Karen Coffee watches Roger Sprague bring a calf to the fire - Photo by Bonnie Sprague

In southeastern Montana, Caren Coffee faced a pervasive problem—where could she find a crew to help gather and brand a couple thousand calves scattered across nearly 20 pastures separated by as much as 100 miles? Savvy help that is willing and available is always in short supply.

One possible solution was a small community of Amish who farm along the river above the Coffee Cattle Co. holdings. They certainly could help with the riding, had horses, and the wherewithal to do the work. But how could Coffee get an Amish crew to her far -flung pastures? She and her own employees were logging hundreds of miles a day to converge and work a pasture, then back to their line camps and

“

Levi Bontrager drags a calf to the fire

outposts each afternoon. The distances seemed too much to overcome. The solution to her problem was Roger Sprague.

Sprague ranches alongside Coffee, a few miles from the Amish settlement. Would he be willing to ramrod a day work crew, enduring weeks of 4 am wakeups, a thousand miles of washboard roads, and the vagaries of spring weather?

Sprague almost laughed at his good luck: have a chance to be horseback every day and share his love for proficient and traditional cattle work? Sure.

“There’s nothing better than working cattle, and working with a good crew. It’s where God intended me to be,” he says, going on to brag on how proficient the crew is, and how they have mastered the subtler arts of cowboying.

There’s nothing better than working cattle, and working with a good crew. It’s where God intended me to be.

”

Young Amish ropers at Sprague’s branding

The Amish were keen on the plan as well. Not only did they welcome the opportunity to work for day wages, it gave the life-long horsemen the chance to tune up their own horses for the annual sale and to put miles on outside horses. Plus, Sprague let them rope and ride their own horses, upgrading them from a wrestling team to a roundup crew. So in 2009, Sprague started hauling a crew of five or six Amishmen to Coffee brandings. It has proved to be a stroke of triple fortune for Coffee, Amish, and Sprague. cont. page 20-

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On a typical day in late May and early June, Roger will wake up at 4 a.m. and saddle his horse for the day. He drives the few miles to meet the Amish crew at Leroy Schwartz’s place at 5 a.m., then heads down the river to the pasture ordained for the day’s work, often meeting at the pasture gate by 6 a.m. The early start ensures that the day’s work can be done before the sun gets too hot or an afternoon shower delays branding.

The first order of business in each pasture is setting up portable panels to make a pen.

Then it’s time to gather, and the riders set out to the corners of the pasture, whether it’s one section or two or four. As they converge back to the pen, there is a chance to cut out dry cows, which usually must be trailed to an adjoining pasture.

The crew holds herd while the cut is made, in keeping with traditional stock handling

techniques in big, open country. The remaining cows and calves are penned, then the cows are spilled to leave the day’s calves in the pot. All of the cattle work is done horseback, giving each cowboy ample opportunity to fine-tune horses.

Two on the ground, waiting on irons.

Ropers in the branding pot at Coffee’s

With the gathering complete, the branding begins straightaway. The Amish take turns roping and flanking, while Sprague often cuts calves. Caren has enlisted the help of her nephew Colter and a group of his friends to bolster the crew, many of them fraternity brothers from Montana State University in Bozeman, and her niece Abby has also been an important part of the crew for the last few years. Alongside Caren’s regular employees, the ropers keep five or six pairs of flankers busy and can brand about 100 head in an hour.

Amish boys keep the calves coming at Sraue’s branding

“Being out horseback, that’s what I love to do.”

This pace is critical to success when bunches of two to four hundred head need to be branded day after day. The crew works straight through until the last calf is turned loose, the bawling dies down, and the roar of the stove fades. Then it is time for dinner, which Caren provides. Sprague reiterates the importance of good chuck to any cowboy crew: “Coffee’s have always fed good, and the crew appreciates the effort that they put into the food.”

After the midday meal, it’s time to collect the panels and load the horses, leaving only a few drag marks on the ground and the fresh brands as evidence of the day’s work. Without the horsepower and manpower that the Amish provide, this system would not be feasible.

Coffee is quick to credit the Amish and Sprague for the help they provide to her; working only with her employees they might still be branding in July, trying to wrestle 300 pound calves. The ability to find and use the crew has helped Coffee maintain and expand her traditional ranching operation.

Consolidating existing ranchlands into a single operation preserves the rural landscape and helps preserve the cowboying skills that it requires.

Sprague helps solve a logistical problem while providing patient

Five on the ground at Coffee’s

coaching on the right way handle cattle and do the work in a way that minimizes stress for both man and beast. Wrestling calves might be fine one day a year, but if you’re going to flip a couple hundred a day for three weeks, you want to use the best possible technique. And if you flip calves from the same program with the same partner every day, you can calibrate almost exactly how much energy is needed to complete the job.

The Amish crew has changed a little every year, but a core of Leroy Schwartz, John and Benny Miller, and Levi Borntrager has remained consistent. All of them have other jobs, and must make some sacrifices to ride with Sprague. “Being out horseback, that’s what I love to do,” explains Schwartz, who makes time to ride for Coffee despite a growing business building saddles. Others farm or train horses, but all are willing to drop other pursuits for a chance to cowboy.

While the settlement does not use electric power, they do have a - 21 -

phone booth with an answering machine that allows Sprague a message to get word to the crew of plans for the coming week. And if there is a day when rain stops the works, Caren will call Roger by daylight to keep him from burning diesel and time, and the Amish know that if Roger doesn’t pull into the yard at Schwartz’s saddle shop by 6, the day’s works are off.

Sprague provides a subtle twist to the regular routine when it comes time for him to brand. He collects his crew like normal, except he also invites their sons to come and ride, too. Weather permitting, his wife Bonnie would shuttle a load of wives and others from the Amish settlement to come to watch the workings. They work a few small bunches of cattle for other neighbors and then do Roger’s herd—but with the twist that the younger Amish boys get a chance to rope. Sprague loves the opportunity to give the youngsters a chance to learn the finer points of cow work as their fathers wrestle and coach them as well: “Those cont. page 22 -

boys really look forward to roping, and spend a lot of time practicing before they come here.”

This is just good management practice by Sprague, of course, ensuring that he’ll always be able to recruit a crew of capable cowboys when he needs them, now or in the future. Sprague tells his crew, “I have to make sure those boys can rope so that when you guys get too old, I’ll always have a crew young enough to keep up with me.”

Over the years, some of the Amish have left the crew and even the community. The unique combination of Coffee and Sprague has made it hard to replicate the success of the crew in other communities. Even though Amish settlements in Wyoming and other parts of Montana are surrounded by ranches, Coffee’s commitment to landscape-scale, traditional ranching is unusual and creates the demand for a cowboy crew. The demand for a cowboy crew helps preserve the traditional cowboy methods that Sprague so enjoys practicing and teaching. The next generation of cowboys is eager to attend Sprague’s brandings, practicing all spring with their lariats and ponies for a chance to impress the jigger boss and graduate to the cowboy crew.

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Photo by Nancy Brown — the author hunting the Big Sky Hounds at the Western States Joint Meet last March

Mount Vernon? Yes. Montana Mountains? Not so much.

Story by Renee Daniels-Mantle

It is not something you expect to see in Montana. You’ll do a double take and rub your eyes the first time you round the bend in ranch country and catch a glimpse of a pack of foxhounds followed by a bunch of people horseback, some wearing scarlet coats and hunt caps, some Carharts and cowboy hats. You’ll want to stop and watch as some sail over a jump put across a barbed wire fence in the middle of a cow pasture. You will probably hear the huntsman’s horn and the hounds in full cry. And if you look way, way ahead, you might catch a glimpse of a very nonplussed coyote.

Not a fox.

This is fox hunting, Montana-style. Even though there usually isn’t a fox involved and it’s not really hunting, for those of us who ride to the Big Sky Hounds, it is a helluva lot of fun. cont. page 26 - 25 -

I first became blushingly enamored with the sport when it came to Montana twenty-two years ago.

Master and huntsman Lynn Lloyd brought her traditionally English Red Rock Hounds from Reno to hunt ranches surrounding Three Forks, where one of her members owned the Sacajawea Hotel (before its present day splendor, back when the toilets flushed hot water and the showers did not). Hundreds of people from all over the world flocked to the annual April three-day event in the middle of Cowboy Country, USA. We mounted those who did not bring their own on our breediest dude horses, pulling them off winter pasture a few weeks early. They were rough-haired and didn’t look at all like the “fancy horses,” with their evening clothes and slick, clipped hides. But, they knew the country, were fit from being out on range, and really didn’t care what kind of saddle we threw on them.

Like any loyal western rancher, I tried very hard to maintain a stoic suspicion of the tiny little saddles, ridiculous clothing, and excessively long-legged thoroughbreds with entirely too little hair. But, fast forward fourteen affairs with Red Rock and there I was sitting at the Sacajawea having dinner with Lynn and the rest of the intrepid gang, consuming my share of scotch and a bit more to make up for those who don’t like the stuff. She turned to me and said, “I think you need a couple hounds.” I, of course, responded, “That is a great idea.” The next morning, I woke up with a headache, two hounds, and the beginning of Montana’s only Masters of Foxhounds Assn. (MFHA) recognized foxhunt. And that’s a big deal if you’re a hunt. I was utterly powerless against it.

“ I tried very hard to maintain a stoic suspicion.

Eventually, the group endeared itself to the community. Ranches opened across Montana. Locals frequently join the hunt. If nothing else, foxhunters are the most accepting and accommodating people I have ever met. They are exceptional riders and diehard sportsmen. They ride hard. They are game. It didn’t take long for us, and all our ranching neighbors, to gain respect for this mostly female fearless group of crazy people, mounted on firebreathing Areions, hell-bent on covering country as fast as possible in pursuit of a pack of intensely proficient hounds.

But, building a foxhunt in Montana, under the tutelage of a 40-year veteran huntsman from Nevada and a 113-year-old association in Virginia was not without its difficulties. First, no one in Montana knows what foxhunting is and we’re all a little suspicious of outsiders. Try explaining it to the type of person here who could enjoy it. The concept of “just plain fun” isn’t in most Montana horsemen’s realm of understanding. They equate riding with a purpose, or at least an economical gain. That resolution isn’t readily available to most neophytes. It takes a while for some to loosen up to the idea of self-indulgence.

Plus, who pays to ride?

Then, there’s the unusually harsh weather that most clubs do not deal with. We hunt from when the crops come out of the fields (September) to when the crops go back in the fields (April). Normally in Montana, we pull shoes, turn out, and go to the NFR or the Bahamas for a rest. Now, we put on sharp shoes and snow poppers, keep the horses close to home and in shape, and spend our free time and money in the elements grinning like idiots because it’s exhilarating. cont. page 28-

Lynn Lloyd looks out over home hunt country near Three Forks Photo by Gretchen Pelham

And then there’s the obvious - I had no idea how to hunt hounds, blow a horn, or be in a club, let alone build one.

Luckily, Lynn did. She was always at the other end of the phone to talk me off the ledge or impart some sage advice.

furry friends who speak the local language.

It is not hard to see why Montanans, fiercely individual and pragmatic, take to foxhunting so completely. It is inherently Western.

Pride.

Accomplishment.

Excitement. Camaraderie. Challenge. Purpose. Respect.

It’s about revering the beautiful country in which we live, our magnificent Western horses that are so perfectly suited for this, the other bold souls in our tribe, and pushing ourselves just a little further than we thought we could. Plus, we love telling Wild West tales. The jumps get higher, the temperature gets lower,

I learned quickly that a Western hunt is a whole lot different than most. We have enviable vast tracts of huntable land and a healthy respect and proprietary right to hunt it. Here, we decide we’re going to do something and we just do it. Elsewhere, the remnants of the caste system still cloud the minds of the bold.

Montana is of the American mind and, as is the case throughout foxhunting families worldwide, hunt savvy has been passed along over many generations. It’s a perfect fit for the people of the West.

So, we plowed forward. Not aware that we could possibly fail, we opened our first season with four hounds and 45 people following. We had cowboys, Indians, and Englishclad ladies (and all sorts in between) sipping from the same flasks at a check. We didn’t have one red coat.

Now, our pack is around 25 hounds (12 ½ couple). It’s distinctly suited for us, made up mostly of Walkers who scent well in our extreme conditions and have a personality we like. Many riders see the benefit of that English saddle, especially going over a jump and to stay out of our horse’s way when we’re trying to keep up with the hounds. Most embrace the practical parts of the tradition. Some are complete converts. The rest of us are a hybrid, practical if nothing else.

Photo by Val Westover

the distance covered gets longer with every recount of a meet. It is intoxicating.

Big Sky Hounds will begin its eighth season this fall.

This year, I’m proud to announce the venerable Lynn Lloyd joins me and MFH (Master of Foxhounds) Lori Dooley as the newest Master (which really just means “manager,” but sounds really cool). We’ve opened up some of the most arresting hunt country in the world, all over the state of Montana. Best of all, we’re eager for new converts. We invite you to join us at Big Sky Hounds.

Hunting hounds isn’t a whole lot different than moving pairs, just sometimes a little faster. Anyone that understands livestock can help with a hunt. It’s a poker ride on steroids where everyone discovers they were dealt a royal flush at the end of the trail. And it’s still all about the hunt. We’re looking for that Easter egg in a yard that goes to the horizon, with the help of some

Come Ride With Us!

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HERE’S HOW: 

Call Big Sky Hounds or see www.BigSkyHounds.com to find out when and where.

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Bring a solid well-behaved horse or lease one.



Find the Hon. Secretary to sign forms and pay fees.

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Masters will divide you into “fields.” First keeps up and takes jumps. Second goes slower and takes gates.

Hilltoppers walk or trot and view the hunt from up high.



The huntsman will call for the hounds. Listen for information. Most importantly; a) don’t pass your field master; b) never get between the huntsman and the hounds; c) always keep your horse’s head facing the hounds; d) be quiet; e) give the hounds the right of way; f) have fun; g) don’t fall off.

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Ride to where hounds are “cast.” The whippers-in will help the huntsman with the hounds.

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When they’re cast, it is anybody’s guess what will happen. Ideally, the hounds will smell the scent of a coyote and “open” (bay), then follow it.



Once the chase is on it moves very fast, covers all kinds of territory, and goes for miles. The field master’s job is to keep you safely as close to the action as possible.



Sometimes it takes several casts in multiple “coverts” to find. If an hour or two goes by with no action, we’ll take a break and a “puppy truck” will be called in with refreshments for hounds and riders.



Eventually, the hounds will either “bay up” or “den” the coyote or more often they’ll lose the scent or be stopped from going out of safe country. Either way, the huntsman will gather the hounds, praise them, and all will celebrate.

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When the hunting is finished we partake in a “hunt breakfast,” no matter what time it’s served.

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A typical meet lasts 3 to 5 hours, covering twelve to twenty miles. It all depends on Wiley.

www.BigSkyHounds.com - 29 -

POTOMAC HORSE FEVER

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oes your horse live near rivers, streams or other bodies of water? Do you live in or near Helena? Do you want to decrease your horses risk of Potomac Horse fever? Montana Equine recommends vaccinating horses in endemic areas in the early spring and again in the early fall before the risk of the disease is highest.

Potomac horse fever is a seasonal virus that can cause fever, colic, diarrhea, lethargy and in some cases severe laminitis or even death. ***Call your local veterinarian to discuss whether you may be in an endemic area and whether vaccination for PHF is indicated.*** The good news: Potomac Horse Fever is not spread from horse to horse, and only occurs with direct exposure to the insects that carry the disease.

This is much more likely to happen in certain endemic areas.

The Vaccine: Vaccinating your horse against PHF is not 100% effective but it may decrease the risk of disease and/or the duration and severity. The efficacy of the vaccine peaks at 3-4 weeks post vaccination but could provide immunity for up to 3-4 months. PHF is of most concern when bugs and snails are active such as in the spring and fall; the goal is to vaccinate before these risk periods.

Never been vaccinated? Administer two doses with a 3 to 4-week interval between doses. Then yearly revaccinations.

Previously vaccinated? Yearly re-vaccination of two doses with a 3 to 4-month interval between doses. The first dose should be administered in the spring, prior to anticipated challenge.

The bad news: PHF infection can be acquired from hay grown in the endemic areas. Horses can develop life-threatening complications like laminitis, especially when not treated promptly.

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Brought to you by MONTANA EQUINE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CENTER in Three Forks, MT (406) 285-0123

FEEDING HORSES BEFORE EXERCISE - By Dr. Nerida Richards for FEEDXL The question of whether you should feed a horse before exercise is one that is commonly asked. Most of us were told over and over again by our parents not to swim for 30 minutes after eating or we would get a muscle cramp, so we generally tend to think that eating before exercise is not a wise thing to do. But is this the case for horses? The answer is yes and no‌ EMPTY STOMACH OR FULL STOMACH BEFORE EXERCISE? The horse is a monogastric and a continuous grazer, so logic says that a horse’s stomach should never be empty. Having a full stomach is important for the horse as it stops gastric acids from the lower part of the stomach splashing around and irritating the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract. This acid splash that occurs in horses exercised on an empty stomach is thought to contribute to the development of gastric ulcers.

Therefore, if a horse is stabled without constant access to forage, or if it has been more than 2 hours since the horse last grazed or fed, you should feed your horse before exercise. A small feed will protect a horse from gastric ulcers in 2 ways.

Chewing the feed will stimulate saliva production and saliva acts as a buffer in the stomach. And the feed will fill up the stomach and prevent gastric acids from splashing around .

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WHAT SHOULD YOU FEED BEFORE EXERCISE? What you feed before exercise is very important. You should only feed forage before exercising your horse and preferably long stem forage like hay. Hay requires a lot of chewing and will stimulate plenty of saliva production which provides good buffering protection for the stomach. While any forage that forms parts of your horse’s everyday diet is acceptable, if you are concerned about gastric ulcers in your horses, alfalfa has been shown to be helpful when it comes to preventing or resolving ulcers. So if alfalfa hay is available and is fed as part of your horse’s normal diet, this would make a good choice for a pre‐ride or exercise feed.

HOW MUCH HAY SHOULD BE FED? While you don’t want to give your horse a very large feed of hay before exercise you do need to feed enough to provide some fill in the stomach. Depending on when your horse was last fed, you should feed between 0.2 – 0.4 lb/100 lb of bodyweight, using the larger meal size if your horse hasn’t been fed for 2 or more hours.

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE FED BEFORE EXERCISE? Never feed grain within 4 to 5 hours of a ride or exercise, and that includes any feed that is high in starches or sugar. The starches and sugars in these feeds are absorbed from the small intestine largely as glucose, which triggers the release of insulin from the horse’s pancreas. Blood glucose and insulin levels following a grain feed generally peak at 2 to 3 hours following a meal and return to normal within 4 to 5 hours. Insulin is a hormone that instructs the horse’s muscles and organs to store away glucose. cont. page 34 -

So if there is insulin in a horse’s blood when exercise starts, the horse isn’t able to mobilize glucose stores to burn and fuel the muscles during work (because insulin is there telling the muscles to store all the glucose away). The horse’s ability to burn fat as an energy source is also reduced when insulin is present. The result of feeding a grain or high starch and sugar feed too close to when the horse is exercised is the horse that will run out of muscle energy supplies and fatigue quickly.

This concept is particularly important for high intensity exercise where a horse’s glucose supplies are burnt up very quickly. In endurance type activities, large grain meals should not be fed within 4 to 5 hours prior to the start of exercise, however smaller grain meals may be fed during exercise to top up muscle glycogen stores and prolong the time to fatigue.

IN SUMMARY Horses are constant feeders so they should, in theory, always have a full stomach. Feeding a small meal of hay just before exercise, particularly if it has been 2 or more hours since a horse’s last feed, will stimulate saliva production and provide fill in the stomach to protect the stomach from gastric ulcers. In contrast, grain or any feed high in starches or sugars should not be fed within 4 to 5 hours of exercise as these feeds trigger an insulin response which then stops a horse from mobilizing the muscle glycogen and fat stores it needs to fuel muscles during exercise. And this will result in your horse tiring quickly.

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 prob-

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lem they may come up against with feeding

their horses. To learn more about Nerida and to ‘meet’ the rest of the FeedXL team, check out the website: - 34 -

www.FeedXL.com

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We are a collaborated voice empowering the future of the western horse industry.

We are committed to upholding the rights and liberties of equine breeders, owners, trainers, and exhibitors while ensuring the welfare of livestock and our way of life.

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$TOP TALKING CO$T and $TART TALKING INVE$TMENT

By Doug Emerson

A

s we all work our way through the personal and business problems of Covid 19, it’s no secret business is not as usual. Business owners are constantly adapting to new governmental restrictions, customer fears and the financial pressure to earn more. Your pre Covid 19 model of business will be in need of continuous restructuring to accommodate the obstacles of government compliance, cancellations of traditional competition events and the reduction of income due to customer lay-offs and reluctance of customers to spend on training, riding lessons and horse purchases.

You’ve already made adjustments for your business, no doubt, but do you know the most important part of maintaining steady revenue in all situations? It’s salesmanship!

The greatest business truth ever told is “Nothing happens until something is sold.” And for riding lessons, training and boarding, it’s appropriate to extend that truth with the words, “…and sold again and again.”

You’ll have an easier time and better results selling horse training and riding lessons when you get your mindset focused on selling your services as an investment and not a cost for the customer. For example, fees paid for a riding lesson are not an expense like a cell phone bill, but rather they are an investment in the student’s ongoing enjoyment of riding with improved skills.

The same is true for horse training. A horse owner’s annual expense for maintaining a back yard horse is approximately $2400 per year and a boarded horse can cost $10,000 and more per year. An investment to develop a well-trained horse makes obvious sense when compared to spending thousands a year for maintaining a horse that won’t do what you want him to do.

As a professional horseman, it’s easy to assume everyone knows how skills are strengthened and improved by riding lessons and training on a frequent basis. When you stop and think about the value you provide for your students and training clients you may be surprised.

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column >>> the profitable horseman They benefit by: 

growth of their self confidence not only while riding, but also in challenging life situations

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faster decision making under pressure

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improved physical fitness and coordination

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positive feelings of self worth and accomplishment as personal milestones are reached in their riding careers

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better use of teamwork with others learned through a team relationship with a horse

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improved awareness of behavior patterns in humans as a result of studying equine behavior principles

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the opportunity to spend “me-time” away from the distractions of a busy life with horses doing what they love

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Hearing the phrase, “I can’t afford it” feels like a shod horse standing on your bare toes in flip-flops.

Your mind and body say move away from this situation quickly, just like a rookie salesperson does. But the professional doesn’t get rattled on the protest of affordability.

You’ll have to agree, there are far more benefits from a riding lesson than an opportunity to learn how to go, steer and stop and there is no greater pleasure than competing on a well-trained horse.

When a student protests with lack of affordability as a reason for cutting back on lessons or not wanting to take lessons more frequently, instructors accept the objection as final and insurmountable. Training clients offer the same excuses.

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Granted, some students can’t legitimately afford more lessons, but the majority with disposable income who object to spending more money may not be fully considering the benefits resulting from additional lessons and training.

About the author: Doug Emerson, the Profitable Horseman, consults, writes and speaks about the business half of the horse business. He publishes a free electronic newsletter about making money with horses.

Sales savvy professional horsemen and horsewomen ignore the objection of cost for just a moment and sell the value of the investment in lessons and training for the customer’s lifetime enjoyment of the sport. The sales pros mention the thousands of dollars already invested yearly in a passion for horses, the personal progress made and the benefits like the bullet points above.

Visit www.ProfitableHorseman.com to subscribe and find more articles like this one.

They remind the customer what you learn in riding lessons can’t be unlearned. They remind the customer she probably can’t train a horse to do something by trial and error. They remind the customer when the rider lacks confidence on what to do, it’s a guarantee the untrained horse will lack confidence also.

As support of this, professional horsemen who are masters at selling, remind students that learning how to ride a bike develops muscle memory which is never forgotten. And they willingly concede a student’s fitness and form can slip from time to time, but are quick to point out students never forget what they’ve learned through their investment in riding lessons. Accomplished salespeople also know riding lessons are a valuable investment in any child’s development into an adult, and express that clearly to caring parents.

How do you get better at selling your lessons and horse training as investments?

Do what the pros do.

They take classes, read books and attend seminars given by salesmanship instructors who assure them the class tuition or book price or seminar fee is an investment with a lifetime of great benefits. Getting better at selling riding lessons and horse training is just a matter of investing your time, energy and money, no different than what you want your customers to do. Lead by example and invest in your future by mastering the science and art of selling. You’ll find new confidence in closing sales when you always know what to do or say next.

MONTANA HORSES 2020 PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY Kayo Fraser

ENTER ONLINE www.MontanaHorses.com - 39 -

profile >>> jann parker

JANN PARKER She. Likes. Horses.

BLS—The Biggest and the Best

Meet Jann Parker, the horse sale manager at the Billings Livestock Horse Sale. Considered the biggest and the best horse sale in the country, its success is a result of Jann’s passion and a commitment to make the horse industry better. For everyone.

“It’s magic,” she says. “People take pride in this.”

When Jann and Bill Parker took over management of the BLS monthly horse sale in 1998, attending an auction was largely a risk for both buyers and sellers. No one really knew what horses would be for sale, or how much they’d bring. But, the Parkers knew the key to success.

“You’ve got to advertise,” Jann maintains adamantly.

Thus, the birth of the catalog sale. Fast forward twenty-two years and now it’s a showcase for thousands of quality horses bringing higher prices than ever, reflecting their value. The transition has finally been made to a catalog-only sale, no open consignments, no guessing what will be there. Jann’s vow to “always be fair, no matter what, to everyone” has proven that “good horses DO come from a horse sale.”

And BLS is the place to go for them.

“Billings Livestock, both the cattle and the horse side, understands that as industry leaders, we have a responsibility to do a good job and look for the next opportunity to be better,” Jann explains.

The result is a legacy of which Montana, and Jann Parker, can be very proud.

Visit Jann the fourth weekend of every month at the Billings Livestock Horse Sale, give her a call, or see www.BillingsLivestock.com.

She’s “always happy to help.”

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