ABBA DOING HER RANCH WORK DUTIES IN THE FORESTRY.

Shoes

Miller does all his own farrier work. For skijoring, he shoes ABBA with St. Croix #1 plain shoes, with corks and poppers. The corks provide ABBA with the grip she needs to gallop down the snow, full-speed.

“The corks are basically the traction (like studding your tires) and I use the poppers for extra safety – plus it keeps her feet from balling up with snow,” Miller explains.

2014, Grade Gray Mare

The palomino gelding seen often on a skijor course and known as “Hank,” hails “…from a wild cowboy herd in Longview, AB,” chuckles Kirk “Gongshow” Prescott.

At the tender age of six, Hank already has many experiences under his cinch. Prescott uses him for back country exploration as a photographer’s mount and packhorse. Hank also participates heavily in ranch work and skijor events.

The gelding has various nicknames, “…depending on his attitude of the day!” Prescott laughs again. For the most part, Hank is a super laid back-type ranch

Hankhorse, who will do anything at a laid back pace – until you add snow, skiers and soundtracks… or drones. Hank isn’t a big fan of drones.

Shoes

Fully shod, corked and pads all around.

Jet is the quintessential ranch horse. Tyler originally gave him to his future wife, Rachel, as a “preengagement” birthday gift.

“He’s been part of our family since he was a weanling, he’s an important part of the team, and we use him for absolutely everything… Of course you have to marry a man who gives you the cutest baby horse in the world!” Rachel exclaims.

The Herberts use Jet for all aspects of ranch work – roping in the brand pen, moving cattle, checking fences, sorting, checking cows, packing mineral and anything else that needs to be done.

“He loves a good game, so he is up for anything and everything!

“He’ll chase a cow or a kid on a bike. He’s packed me around for lessons and ‘Ladies’ Nights’ (wine and barrel racing). In the last few years, our kids have even started hauling him to town for breakaway roping at Junior High School Rodeo and now, this week, he’s been a champ at both heading and heeling practice. He had no idea he would ever be a rodeo horse in his old age!” says Rachel.

Nothing phases Jet. Rachel says that his riders can crack a bull whip from the saddle, or literally fly a kite off of his back and he remains nonplussed.

“He’ll pull anything – water troughs, electric fence, the calf sled, and skiers. Once he pulled a giant water trough across a pasture while our pre-school age kids rode in it, dressed up in tiger costumes growling and laughing. He is also the horse the kids take to town to carry a flag in the Nanton parade,” she chuckles.

“He’s been pulling the kids in a toboggan since they were babies. Now, for the last few years we’ve built a skijoring track in our hayfield and he’ll gallop while they fly off the jumps on skis. Most memorable was our midnight skijoring under a full moon on New Year’s Eve during lockdown when we were celebrating with just our little family. He’s a part of all our best family memories.” WHR

RESTORED & RE-PURPOSED

By Jenn Webster