Rafter H Ranche - Guy Heintz Cutting Horses

11/01/2024

Kittens, 💜 just in time for christmas. We have 7 adorable kittens ready for their forever homes November 23.

Inbox if you are interested.

10/15/2024

Mel Hyland, affectionately known as "Big Bull", was one of Canada's best known bronc riders, a distinction he well deserves. Rodeo was always apart of the Hyland family, so it was natural that Mel would be involved.

In 1958 at age ten, he competed at his first rodeo, the Calgary Stampede, in the boys steer riding .His main event eventually became the Saddle Bronc riding but he also competed in the Ba****ck riding as well as Calf Roping

His outstanding achievements include winning the Novice Saddle Bronc championship in 1966, the Canadian saddle bronc championship in 1967, 1972, 1979 and 1982 and he was the Canadian ba****ck champion in 1975. In 1972, Mel was the world champion saddle bronc rider and split the title again in 1976 with Monty Henson.

Mel qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo nine times, from 1974 to 1982 and the National Finals Rodeo eleven times, 1967 to 1977.

In 1981 Mel was chosen as the recipient of the prestigious C.N. Woodward “Cowboy of the Year” award.

Mel lost the 1981 Canadian Saddle Bronc championship at the CFR in a ride-off between himself and Clayton Hines. Both had 115 points at the end of six complete go-rounds. Mel only managed a mark of 78, Clayton marked an 82, and won the championship.

He is an accomplished horse trainer, and still pursues his interest in singing and playing the guitar.

CANADIAN PRO RODEO HALL OF FAME

09/24/2024

Congratulations Vicki on winning the Roping and placing 3rd overall. So happy for you, you were a Rock Star!!
Thank you Steele DePaoli for having us come out to have some fun and help Vicki with a few roping tips!

09/14/2024

💕 Wow, when you have people in your life that are just wonderful! Celia, you’re amazing! It’s so thoughtful of you to think of Dad and organize this. You’re a great SisterCousinFriend (just a little inside joke)! Your intentions are always pure, and we feel so lucky to have you as family. Thank you so much, it means the world to me, mom and of course dad 🥰 Love you, Maria 😘

Below from Celia Brasso-Wakefield
BACK IN THE SADDLE - Cowboy GoFundMe

Cowboys don’t like needing help, and they darn sure won’t ever ask for it. That’s why sometimes it’s up to the people who love, respect and appreciate them to offer not a handout, but a hand UP, so they can get back in the saddle again.

This June brought an unforeseen challenge for Guy Heintz, who had just returned home from a horse show and was getting equipment ready for the haying season when he suddenly found himself in the hospital needing triple bypass surgery. Just a year after his hip replacement, Guy is navigating another major health hurdle and once again being sidelined from his typically active life.

We all know the time, commitment, heart and soul that go into running a ranch and a horse training operation and the costs that go with it. Rafter H Ranche is a family business; Guy, Moneca and Maria do it all out of love for each other, their customers and their animals. Unfortunately, horse trainers do not have unemployment benefits or a cowboy benevolent fund. When the breadwinner goes down, the income stops….. but the expenses don’t.

My Dad saw the potential in a very young Guy decades ago. He never stopped watching and delighting in Guy’s success, and quietly helped wherever he could as Guy, Moneca and Maria built a successful horse training business and Guy became a renowned Hall of Fame cutting horse trainer.

Hardly a day went by that Guy and Einar didn’t chat; no Flames game passed without a running phone colour commentary between the two of them.

Since Maria called with the news of Guy’s triple bypass surgery (an ordeal that Guy helped Einar get through 16 years ago), I’ve heard Dad whispering in my ear: “do something, Kid. Worst he can do is cuss you. And he’s actually a big softie so he won’t really mean it anyway.”

So knowing that Guy would be the first person to jump over the fence to help a friend or neighbor, I’m steeling myself for any “gentle admonishments” from Guy and starting this fund in hopes that we can all jump over the Rafter H fence and offer some help to Guy and his beautiful girls.

Our support can help ease their financial strain and reduce some of the stress of running a farm during Guy's recovery. The family is preparing to put some livestock and vehicles up for sale, so hopefully we can allow them to focus on keeping what truly matters without feeling rushed to sell anything.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated, and can be made through Go Fund Me (https://gofund.me/1ffa365e), or if you prefer, you can send an eTransfer directly to the Heintz family at [email protected]

If online isn’t your thing, please send a cheque payable to Guy Heintz c/o Celia Brasso-Wakefield, Box 30 Site 15 RR2, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 1A2

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of the Heintz Family at this stressful time.

Hang in there Moneca and Maria, any of us who have helped a loved one through heart surgery know what you’re going through. And Guy, we all know how fit, tough and determined you are, and are wishing you a very speedy rehab so you can get back to business.
Celia

GoFundMe Link - https://gofund.me/1ffa365e
E-Transfers - [email protected]

09/09/2024

We are selling a few items here at Rafter H, and would love for you to share this post.
You can inbox here for details
Thank you so much!

08/26/2024

Thank you we truly appreciate all the warm wishes you've sent for my dad; it means a lot to us. For everyone who has been asking, considering he has had open-heart surgery, Dad is doing well. It is a long road, but his determination is impressive, and he’s building his strength and endurance more each day.

I wanted to let you know that we’ve made the tough decision to sell some of our livestock, and we may include some machinery and vehicles. This choice hasn’t come easily, but horse trainers don’t have the same safety nets as other professions, like unemployment benefits during injury or health issues. Our love for our animals is immense, but right now, our family must come first, especially as my dad focuses on his recovery so he can return to doing what he loves.

We will share sale items in the next few days on our page. I would be grateful if you could help spread the word once it's posted, to reach as many people as we can.

Thank you, wishing you all a lovely day.
Maria

08/16/2024

This summer has certainly taken an unexpected turn. On July 6, my dad underwent Open Heart Surgery, a triple bypass surgery, which caught us all off guard. I wanted to provide a update for our friends, family, and followers who may not be aware of what happened. It was a shock to everyone since my dad has always been very healthy, and the doctors consistently praised his fitness level.

The issue began when he experienced some indigestion for a few days. After taking an antacid, he felt better but thought it wise to get it checked out. First trip to the ER, the doctor examined him, and all his blood tests came back normal (or in the Dr’s words, pristine), with blood pressure in a good range, he was sent home with a spray for possible angina.

The next day after watching the Stanley Cup Playoff, he felt the discomfort again, but this time it was more intense. He decided to seek a second opinion. That night, while his blood work remained the same, his blood pressure was slightly elevated but not in the OMG range, and one specific test indicated a potential issue with his arteries was high, but that level dropped within four hours. The doctor that evening referred him to Calgary for further evaluation.
In Calgary, he underwent tests, all of which indicated he was in excellent health. Yet, ten days later, still in the hospital, he finally had an angiogram that revealed a blockage, leading to surgery just two days after that.

This whole situation has been really scary and emotional for all of us, and we've definitely had our fair share of tears. Personally, I've had my moments of ugly crying; it's my dad we're talking about, and I can't remember ever feeling this scared before.

For someone who is always on the go and a very hard worker, the hardest part might be having to slow down and focus on recovery. Summer rolls around, and there is a ton of stuff on your to-do list, but you just can't do it—that's tough. Dad is not just a horse trainer; he wears many hats at Rafter H—he’s a farmer, rancher, c**t starter, farrier, mechanic, repairman, fencer, and the best dad and husband Mom and I could ever wish for.

True to his character, my dad is tackling this like a Champ! He’s a total rockstar, managing his recovery like a pro and taking the necessary steps to ensure he stays healthy and strong. I’m so grateful that he’s here with me and that he had the wisdom to listen to his instincts and seek a second opinion at the ER.

As our summer takes an unexpected turn, the man behind Rafter H Ranch is on the mend, and our summer plans will need to be adjusted. The cross-fencing we started will have to wait, the c**ts will be put on hold, and everything else will take a backseat for now. Priorities shift, and family comes first; I have no doubt my dad will come back stronger than ever.

07/17/2024

Jimmy Stewart (about Pie): “The horse was amazing. I rode him for 22 years. I never was able to buy him because he was owned by a little girl by the name of Stevie Myers, who is the daughter of an old wrangler who used to wrangle horses for Tom Mix and W.S. Hart. He retired and he gave this horse to her. He was a sort of a maverick. He hurt a couple of people. I saw him when I started making Westerns. Audie Murphy rode him a couple of times. He nearly killed Glen Ford, ran right into a tree… But I liked this darned little horse. He was a little bit small, a little quarter horse and Arabian. I got to know him like a friend. I actually believed that he understood about making pictures. I ran at a full gallop, straight towards the camera, pulled him up and then did a lot of dialogue and he stood absolutely still. He never moved. He knew when the camera would start rolling and when they did the slates. He knew that because his ears came up.”

07/06/2024

❤️❤️❤️
Flashback

07/02/2024

All we need is another 10 inches. 😃

06/24/2024

Naptime at the Rafter H Ranche.

06/20/2024

Saturday June 15 at 4:17pm.
What A Photo 😁
We were doing chores and
Thought the sky looked amazing, so snapped this picture over our barn and arena.
By 4:40 hail started and we ran into the barn. Did not even know that 2 miles south of us a possible tornado was touching down. 😳 you can see in this picture the start of it

Watch dash cam of a perso who drove passed our place shortly after our photo was taken. Crazy https://www.facebook.com/share/v/rM5qJhJ514vPG4Rk/?mibextid=oFDknk

06/18/2024

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. ☺️
God blessed me with the best 🥰
Love Maria ❤️

06/18/2024

06/16/2024

Happy Father's Day.
Dad out feeding his Crew 😁