SAVE THE DATE!
The 25th Annual Van Norman & Friends Production Sale
will take place at the Elko County Fairgrounds
September 17-18, 2021
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๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ
In todayโs world, a very precious few things are as relevantโmuch less as vitalโas they were a century ago. However, the horse, as an essential tool of the trade and working partner for ranchers, has rather uniquely stood the test of time.
On ranches across the country, the horse remains an invaluable, irreplaceable asset in the mission to feed America and the world. It is safe to say that very few people today realize that their daily lives are affected by something seemingly as anachronistic as a ranch horse. However, even people that donโt eat meat benefit directly from ranchingโand from cowboys and their trusted horses-- because of the myriad of byproducts of meat production that are found in hundreds of commonly used items.
๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป โ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ
Modern American beef production is one of the most naturally sustainable and streamlined sectors of agriculture. Cattle ranching is the first step in the process. Ranchers own cattle and raise calves to be sold into the beef market. Cattle, as well as sheep, can be raised in arid and rugged areas completely unsuitable for farming. They convert raw otherwise unusable forage into nutritious food and byproducts that humans can utilize. It is also very important to note that properly managed grazing works in harmony with the ecosystem, and can greatly benefit the environment in several ways, such as sequestering carbon and mitigating wildfire risk.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
For centuries, ranches have relied on horses to help move and manage livestock in mountainous, rough areas that are otherwise inaccessible, even by todayโs motorized vehicles. Riding horses allow ranchers to not only cover rocky or brushy country effectively and efficiently, but in the eventuality that a cow needs veterinary care, also to safely, humanely catch, restrain, and treat her, quite literally in the middle of nowhere, without the aid of corrals or chutes. This allows the rancher to treat the injured or sick cow as quickly as possible while minimizing the amount of stress she is under.
The value of quiet, efficient stockmanship cannot be overstated. A horse can move quietly through a herd without disturbing cattle as his rider examines the cows for any issues. A capable or โhandyโ rider mounted on a willing and well-trained horse can accomplish much in a short time, even a long way from any type of corral or livestock handling facility. In the photo above, the heifer (young cow) has been safely caught and restrained so the cowboy can administer the necessary medication. The horse knows to keep the rope taut and the heifer under control until the job is done.
The horse is far more than a vehicle, however. Cowboys rely on their horsesโ senses and instinct in numerous scenarios. Many ranch breeding programs across the country raise horses in the same terrain and conditions that they will work in later, making them keenly attuned to their environment and therefore incomparable working partners. A horse naturally senses danger much more quickly than a person does, whether it be treacherous ground or a nearby predator. His sharp senses serve in other ways as well; horses see, hear, and smell things long before humans can, whether itโs another rider approaching from miles away or a missing calf bedded down in the brush. A good cowboy knows to watch where his horse watches.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
The many and varied experiences had by young ranch horses work to develop the blend of prowess and level-headedness ranch horses are known for.
The traits of such seasoned horses are essential for the rancher and working cowboy. In addition, the horsesโ abilities are of substantial financial value in the worldwide horse market. The demand for true ranch horses is strong since they can easily transition to any number of purposes for both competitive and recreational riders. Thus, the raising, training, and selling of horses from a ranchโs breeding program is a great way for ranchers to diversify and improve their operationโs overall profitability.
Just as numerous ranches are multigenerational, a great many ranch horse breeding programs are too. There is immense value in this, not only for the ranchers but potential ranch horse buyers as well. Ranchers have a deep understanding of the horses they raise and their lineage. It inspires and merits great buyer confidence when a ranch horse breeder knows the traits, strengths, and weaknesses not only a horse itself but of its sire and dam (parents) and other ancestors. The value of this is evident in ranch horse sales across the country, where finished horses frequently command prices in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The horsemanship necessary to mold young horses into productive partners is an art in and of itself; rodeo and horse shows are a testament to that fact. The skills necessary in a ranch horse and the competitions based upon them comprise a massive sector of the horse industry. Passing the knowledge, training methods, and love for the equine down to future generations is an integral part of ranch horse breeding programs, and thus, the continued success of many multigenerational family ranches as young people follow in their parentsโ and grandparentsโ footsteps.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ/๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ-๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ
All of that said, it is important to understand that the human/ranch horse relationship is far from one-sided. A wise old cowboy once said: โA horse needs two thingsโsomething to eat and something to do.โ The truth of this can be seen on any number of ranches across the nation, where the hard-working, purpose-bred horses meet their riders at the gate, eager for human companionship and the dayโs work ahead.
๐๐
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐
The sad reality is that despite the age-old symbiotic relationship between humans and horses and the essential role it plays in our food production system today, animal extremist groups are actively campaigning to end any type of animal use.
Former Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) executive Wayne Pacelle infamously stated, โwe have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals.โ
Patrick Battuelo, the founder of the group Horseracing Wrongs, stated:
โ...Tracks will close/consolidate over time (like whatโs happening now); with that, businessmen being businessmen, less breeding. In other words, the racehorse population will gradually decrease according to time-tested economic principles. When the time arrives for the last track, or cluster of tracks, to close, there will be ample funds to โre-homeโ whatโs left. Then, sterilize to extinction โ a planet devoid of Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, and everything in between...โ
Even if a person has never seen a horse in person, has never had a pet of any kind, and even may choose not to eat meat, the broad attack on animal use and ownership affects them. It profoundly affects everyone. The ability for ranchers to saddle their horses and go to work out on the land, producing high-quality food and byproducts is not mere nostalgic Americanaโit is a very real, very necessary component in safely, sustainably, and affordably feeding a hungry nation and maintaining quality of life in the 21st century.
Several of our Western Justice staff members are multigenerational ranchers that breed, raise, and train our own ranch horses. We know firsthand how incredibly important and valuable they are to our livelihood. This is one of the many reasons we seek to represent the horse industry in legislative policy situations and educate the general public on horse-related topics.
Find this and all our articles on our website: www.westernjustice.info/the-chronicle See Less
Bill Kane- A Cowboyโs Cowboy
www.cowboyshowcase.com
Bill Kane- A Cowboyโs Cowboy - Long-time Spanish Ranch CowbossBuster Welch rode Peppy San Badger, Hall of Fame Class of 2008, to many wins throughout his career. Buster has been tied to many of the horses in the Peppy lineage and once said Mr San Peppy out sired himself with "Little Peppy."
Stephen J. โTioโ Kleberg, who was managing the King Ranch, brought Peppy San Badger back to the land of his ancestors to take over for his sire, Mr San Peppy.
In 19 seasons, Peppy San Badger sired 2,325 AQHA registered foals that have earned more than 7,200 points in all divisions, and won more than $25 million. The National Reined Cow Horse Association World Championship Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2001 illustrated just how prolific Peppy San Badgerโs offspring have become. At the Snaffle Bit Futurity, four of the top 10 open horses were by sons of Peppy San Badger. At the NCHA Futurity, four of the top 20 finalists in the open and non pro were by Little Peppy sons.
Learn more about Buster and Peppy San Badger online at aqha.com/halloffame.
Interested in supporting the Hall of Fame through a donation? Donate online today at aqha.com/donatetoday.
Sale results are posted on our website. Thank you to everyone who was part of making this the best sale yet!
www.vannormansale.com/2020-sale-results/