We would love to have you join the 3L family. When you come out to see us, you will first be greeted by Taylor. Don't worry, he only slobbers a little. Next, you will more than likely meet my lovely wife Michelle. She loves to give tours and will introduce you to the stars of 3L: horses. More than likely, there will be a lot going on at the ranch. If the weather permits, you will see lessons taking place in the outdoor arena. If weather does not cooperate, you will see lessons occuring in the indoor arena. You will find me wherever the action is located unless I am out riding the trails. See you at the ranch!
Links to the people who make it happen:
About me...
Birthday: June 8
Love of my life: Michelle (and horses of course)
Family: My Mom, known as "Mim", my Son, Rex & everyone at the Ranch
First horse: Picnic, a little Shetland Pony
Most memorable riding moment: I have so many, and everyday I have another
Favorite food: Meatloaf or Spaghetti
Favorite color: Blue I guess
Favorite horse breed: Can't pick one, I like'em all
Favorite item of tack: A good saddle or a McCate Rein and Lead
Most used Equine products: A well-stocked first aid kit is most important. Other than that, I always keep Banamine on hand.
My strengths: Patience and ability to communicate with the horse
Favorite saying: "The Magic of the Horse"
Horses have been the focus of my entire life. I don't remember the first time my Dad put me on the back of a horse, but I do know that I have been riding since I was a three-year-old and training horses since age 10. At 16, I started riding rough stock in rodeos and continued to do so for 20 years. The family was always involved with horses because Dad was a horse trainer and a very good one at that.
After my rodeo career, God led me to helping others. I wanted to work with people to not only help them improve their riding skills but also communicate and understand what the horse is thinking. Horses have taught me many lessons, and I want to pass these lessons on to you. My goal is to help you clearly understand the thoughts and actions of your horse.
I've ridden beside, studied with and practiced the techniques of many horse trainers such as Tom Dorrance, the late Ray Hunt, Craig Cameron and Dennis Reis. During this time, I have developed countless skills that will help you. The time I have spent is all for the betterment of the horse.
The mistake I see most people make is not allowing the horse to be a horse or asking him to do things in a language he doesn't understand. We must have patience and understanding of his natural instinct. We must also communicate effectively using the one language the horse will understand: body language. You can read and watch all the videos you want, but if you dont take time to understand the horses natural instinct and language, you will not only encounter but will also create behavior problems.
Take the time to learn how to become a good leader and your horse will do for you what you could have never imagined.
(in the words of Larry French)
If ever I met a "Horse Whisperer," it is definitely Michelle. She knows the heart and soul of every horse she meets. She must also be a "Larry Whisperer" because she also knows mine. I asked God to lead me, and he led me to Michelle. Since the moment we met, I have been truly happy. She is also an amazing leader. She cares about people and her compassion is genuine. She wants to be the best for horses and students; not to impress anyone.
Michelle has been riding a long time, but I think she always felt something was missing from her relationship with the horse. Once she and I developed our "no-touch, no-pressure" methods, her relationship became complete. She can communicate with the horses; it is almost as if she can read their mind. I love to listen to her explain the mind of the horse. You can see the love in her eyes and hear love when she speaks. For this, I am very proud of Michelle and enjoy working side-by-side with her everyday.
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/horse/as953w.htm
There are a variety of good quality mineral and vitamin supplements on the market. Horse owners may be tempted to fall into the `if some is good, more is better' trap. This is not the case with vitamin and mineral supplements. Excess levels of most vitamins and minerals can cause problems for horses. Using commercially prepared mineral and vitamin supplements at the recommended levels will take the guesswork out of proper mineral and vitamin supplementation. In many cases, commercially prepared concentrate supplements will provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals, so no additional supplementation is necessary except in special cases.
The basic feed requirements of the horse are relatively simple. As a general rule of thumb, a horse will typically consume 10 to12 gallons of water, greater than or equal to 1.0 percent of body weight in forage, and less than or equal to 1.0 percent of body weight in concentrated grain or hay per day. Horses should also be given free choice salt.
It is beneficial to know the actual weight of a horse when developing rations. This allows a more accurate estimate of the nutrient requirements and expected intake of the horse being fed.
It is generally best to feed the grain in two or more feedings per day to reduce the risk of digestive upset. These meals should be fed 10 to 14 hours apart. Feeding should occur during quiet times of the day so the horse will not be distracted and bolt (rapidly consume) its feed. A horse will learn to anticipate mealtime, so feeding at the same times each day is encouraged. Irregular feeding schedules can lead to feed bolting and digestive problems. It may also cause undue psychological stress.
Horses have a small stomach in terms of relative size compared to other classes of livestock. This makes the rate of passage of ingesta (feed) through the stomach relatively fast. Horses are physically unable to vomit or belch. Consequently, overfeeding and rapid rates of intake are a potential problem.
Meal size and physical form of the diet influence rate of passage of ingesta through the foregut. Larger meals pass more quickly than smaller meals since stomach emptying is controlled by meal volume. Smaller feed particles (finely ground or pelleted grains) and liquids pass rather quickly to the hindgut. Excessively fast rates of passage can reduce the extent of digestion in the foregut since the feed passes through too quickly for the digestive processes to occur.
One of the unique features of the horse digestive tract is the presence of a large microbial population in the cecum and colon. These microorganisms are responsible for extensive fermentation of residues remaining following digestion and absorption in the foregut. The microbes have the ability to utilize the cellulose present in forages. Consequently, even though horses are monogastrics, they do have the ability to utilize forages. The anatomy of the colon (several flexures or folds which turn back onto itself) greatly reduces the rate of ingesta passage. Although this is an advantage in utilizing roughages, it can predispose the horse to digestive upsets when nutrient flow is abnormal.
Anatomy of the horse digestive tract with relative sizes
The most important lessons learned are those regarding proper horse care. Horses are like children in many ways such as behavior and care required. We wouldn't ignore our child's need for attention or proper healthcare so we would not want to overlook these needs with our horses.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about your horse. I have also listed links to articles I feel are excellent references. See you at the ranch!
http://www.regardinghorses.com/2009/08/06/the-why-and-how-of-equine-dental-care/comment-page-1/
Many times a horse with sharp or jagged teeth is experiencing discomfort long before he shows any noticeable symptoms. Thats why its important to have him checked out regularly.
Sharp teeth cause several common problems you might notice with your horse. If he shows any of the following signs, teeth issues are one of the first things you want to either rule out or address.
* Hes losing weight. Smooth teeth aid in better chewing, which
aids in better digestion. Better digestion increases absorption of
nutrients and improves health.
* Hes not eating as much, or having trouble eating. If sharp edges
are bothering your horses cheeks and tongues, he may be
reluctant to eat, or you may notice difficult in eating such as
dropping grain.
* Hes irritable when you ride. Your bit puts more pressure on the
teeth and lungs aggravating him even more if hes sore
* Hes not responding as well to your rein aids. Same as above.
* He shows discomfort with the bit, such as opening his mouth or
moving his jaw side to side.
So, next time your vet is out be sure to have him take a look at your horses teeth if you havent already. Its very important for your horses health and comfort to keep his teeth in good condition.
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Whatever type of lessons you need, we have it!
Since you are seeking lessons, you already have the love and determination for an excellent learning experience. We offer lessons for all experience levels and all ages. Many fundamentals are covered such as safety, grooming, care, and ground work. Whether you just want an occasional trail ride or want to be a competitive barrel racer, you are in good hands. We also work with an excellent English Trainer.
