There’s nothing fun about horse rescues. Even a veteran of the process such as Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch founder Kim Meeder, has never learned to enjoy the process. But in the dozen years she’s been rescuing horses from neglect and abuse, she’s learned to appreciate the silver lining that comes from such horrible conditions.
Early morning sunshine brought the cold Maggie Creek calving barn to life. The buckaroos started their busy day in the pen behind the barn, stumbling over half-frozen turds, playing that same ol’ game all ranch horses like to play when they see a cowboy show up with a halter in his hand. Snow, sprinkled across the surrounding hills like icing sugar, had no intention of leaving Nevada’s high desert just yet. The night shift man was heading for the warm comfort of his bedroll. His hourly inspections, although cold, dark and lonely, would yield some amazing opportunities to stargaze, especially on those clear nights with no moon.
Amid the tranquility of western Montana, the U.S. Forest Service’s Ninemile Ranger Station raises and trains horses and mules for use by ranger districts throughout the northern Rockies.
Arizona’s Empire Ranch boasts a rich history going back to the days of two daring speculators. The ranch’s future now depends on an enterprising family, a partnership with the government, and a renewed horse program.
In the annals of western history, there is perhaps an overfictionalization of the conflicts between sheep and cattle on western ranges. There were some range wars, but in reality, both sheep and cattle were often run on the same ranch, especially in the Great Basin.
In the rugged cattle country of West Texas, the R.A. Brown Ranch has nurtured a pioneering Quarter Horse program.
The Sronce family, profiled in this month’s print feature “Giving Their Best Shot,” train mounted-shooting horses on Barnhart Ranch in South Texas. This diverse outfit has locations in several counties and raises everything from horses and cattle to exotic, endangered species.
Want to know more about the 15 people chosen for Texas Ranch House, the Public Broadcasting Service’s reality program featured in this month’s “Living History?” Well, here’s your chance. Biographical information on each participant follows below. For more information on the series, scheduled to air May 1-4 on local PBS stations, visit www.pbs.org/ranchhouse.