The Horse

[Haviris]

Right now our horses are being mostly pasture art, but when I was a kid I used them constantly to check fences and work the cows. They slowly got fazed out by Four Wheelers because my siblings were lazy. I'd still take the horse over the Four Wheeler anyday, I really don't have that much luck w/ them, and I can go alot more places on the horse. Right now we do most of it on foot.

I have a pair of mules I'm considering training as a driving team, and then let them help me w/ haying (tractor is always broke down).

I guess the horses job on the farm depends on the farm.

 

[Cara]

We can't do without horses here. So much of the ranch is too rocky, steep and brushy for 4-wheelers, and there aren't many roads. We use horses to gather horses and work cattle, often 6 days a week in the spring and fall. You can't rope wild cattle on a 4-wheeler

The only thing they're not used for anymore is feeding, but there used to be a team of mules to pull the wagons. Here are some pictures of the remuda:

My father in law catching horses:

Some of the remuda coming in:

A few of the mares:

The remuda waiting behind the ropes to be caught:

Taking a break after gathering before branding:

 

[patandchickens]

Watch a good cutting horse in action and it will be apparent that horses are not *just* beasts of burden

Pat

 

[luvanimals3]

Quote:
Beautiful horses!

 

[college town chick]

Horses have done, and still do, a lot of useful things -- and with the way the economy is going they may get even more useful (if they pass this carbon credit tax thing in Washington, gas and electric are going to go through the roof).

Even our military has started taking another look at the usefulness of horses and mules.

As an aside, the kids of South Texas going through the drive thru brought back memories for me (when I was a kid, my friends and I did the very same thing, and my kids in turn did as well -- the places we made our horses go...and the horses never seemed to mind all that badly).

A life without equines is a life not worth living!

 

[Jena]

Plus a horse can do so much more than any tractor or motorised vehicle.

plus in my opinion they are one of the most spiritual and sensitive of creatures. I grew up around horses, and believe me I would rather have a good steady horse that I know and trust with me on a wild and stormy night than any tractor.

Plus when you are small and dealing with large animals a horse give you the status you need....lol.

they are wonderful and should be appreciated because mankind could never have got where he is without them.

2 things every child should learn to do.... sail a small boat. teaches them to rely on themselves, and riding a horse teaches them how to relate to others and repect them.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Just yesterday my middle teens used Anna our pony to pull the chicken poop to the garden after cleaning out the coops so even with chickens they can be useful....I just don't have the pretty pictures that Cara posted

 

[()relics]

Our horses run when we ask, walk when they should, and come when they are called....and that is enough for me.