Nilson Farms

03/02/2025

Mother trucker it’s a beautiful sunny ☀️ day today, but -30 not including windchill is damn cold 🥶 in my books! I’m so very thankful for the auto waterers that run in all weather, that we have plenty of good quality feed, straw to get our animals off that hard frozen ground & plenty of shelter to make sure they’re as comfortable as they can be during these extreme temperatures ❄️ 🥶 💨 🐴 🐮 🦙 🫏

26/01/2025

06/01/2025

Brad Nilson

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄

21/12/2024

Happy Winter ❄️ Solstice Day, the days start getting longer tomorrow ☀️

10/12/2024

Just a trail rider. Just a trail horse.

Sure. Ok.

That trail horse that can collect, round and carry a rider without harming themselves. But not for one hour. And not in a controlled groomed arena. But for long periods of time, out in any conditions. Ok sure. Go ahead and think that trail horse is less-than.

The trail horse who can leave their comfort zone of home and herd. Alone with their rider, or in a group of known or unknown horses and not be thrown off balance. But sure- call that trail horse less than the micromanaged arena horse that needs specific conditions to perform.

You know, ONLY the trail horse that can come in from turn out, get tacked up, and be safe and excellent in their skills without any preparation. Sure. Tell me again that you just want to trail ride.

People get very seriously injured or k*ll*d when they take a lackadaisical stance on trail riding. Thinking it’s what riders who are “Not that serious” do. And the academic, competitive riders often look down their nose and sneer at the scruffy trail warriors.

Once had a client say to me “I was confused about you. You knew all this stuff, had all these skills, but chose to trail ride, not compete”.

I’ve never been interested in pageantry. And I believe a properly developed trail horse, with skill and finesse, to be the finest example of training at its penultimate potential. Especially if the horse loves that too. That’s a horsemanship home run.

Author Lockie Phillips

25/11/2024

“THE DREAM THAT MANY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND:
My horses are my personal dream.
One day when I am very old and when I can not walk anymore, it will be in my heart as a trophy of my memories.
I met people who taught me something and have the same spirit and I met others that I'm glad I forgot.
I got wet,
I felt cold,
And I felt warm;
I was afraid,
I fell,
And I stood up.
I even hurt myself, I have been broken,
But also, I laughed out loud inside.
I spoke a thousand times with myself.
I sang and shouted with joy like a madman,
And yes ... sometimes I cried.
I have seen wonderful places and lived unforgettable experiences.
I climbed on horses that made me feel brave and excited...and then there were ones that terrified me......
I stopped a thousand times to see a landscape.
I spoke with perfect strangers, and I forgot people I see every day.
I went out with my demons inside and returned home with a feeling of absolute peace in my heart.
I always thought how dangerous it is, knowing that the meaning of courage is to advance even feeling fear.
Every time I go out to my horses I think about how wonderful they are.
I stopped talking about it to those who do not understand, and I learned to communicate with other riders.
I have met some amazing people I now call friends because of my horses.
I spent money that I did not have, giving up many things, but all these things are not worth even one special moment with my horse.
They are not a means of transport or a piece of iron with wheels, they are the lost part of my soul and my spirit.
And when someone says to me: "You have to sell the horses and you have to be more sensible", ... I do not answer. I just swing my head and smile.
A horse..... only the person who loves them understands it.
May God bless my friends and all their horses...
And the adventure continues...”
Author unknown

📸Photo of me on Double Trouble Chic “Bella” in June 2024

20/11/2024

PSA…
Today we found 9 of our yearlings on the wrong side of the fence (broken post they all had to get over 4 wires 😳)Now…yearlings are azeholes 😂 but…this is always stressful to a breeder because you don’t know what you’re gonna find when you get them on the RIGHT side🫣 We were lucky this time and a miraculous event occurred and all are fine…buying a lottery ticket..of course 🤷‍♀️
💥NOW HERE’S THE PSA💥…most of our followers are horse people and know these things but to those of you that still think our prospect prices are too high(or any breeders prospect prices)…to get a foal from conception to a 2yr old with 90 days training that rides great and is UN-BLEMISHED is a truly miraculous feat! 😇 When doing this for a living and having SEVERAL of these unicorns to get to that stage, it’s even more of a miracle! ⚡️Especially when these unicorns are raised in a “let them be horses” environment. They will be “bubble” horses soon enough. We do our best…good fences, good and sufficient feed (hay 14.5cents, $95 AQHA, $300 to geld, $300 teeth) and water and nanny horses…but…yearlings are azeholes 🤪.
So the next time you look at a prospect for purchase that rides fantastic, has incentives AND it’s UN-BLEMISHED…and you’re not happy with the asking price…maybe keep this in mind…that breeder is selling a miracle unicorn that is likely worth the asking price🤔 Author Betts Quarter Horses

24/10/2024

Yep Brad Nilson

11/10/2024

Trusting your horse takes a lot of courage, but not as much courage as your horse trusting you

I say this all the time “Trust your horse”

But think about this…your horse is a flight animal by nature. They are not predatory. They are prey.
And people, are arguably the top predators in the entire world.
Every time we ask something of our horse, their response is either out of fear or out of trust.
And this is where your bond, your relationship, the countless hours spent at home on the ground and in the saddle, your daily interactions, those small considerations for their well-being, those pauses and quiet moments, prior to hitting the trail, are so important. They all add up! Once you’re in the backcountry you’re asking your horse to set aside his instincts, put away the flight response & trust your decision making ability.
So the next time you find yourself doubting your horse, think about how much trust he’s putting in you…

📸 Danelle Kilbourn