Big Sky Shires & Equine Services and 7 Mile Hampshires

Big Sky Shires & Equine Services  and 7 Mile Hampshires Welcome to Big Sky Shires. We are a family owned business located in the Big Sky Country of Montana. The Foundation Starts Here!

We pride ourselves on quality Shire Horses, Equine Services and Australian Shepherd Dogs. Full Service Equine facility specializing in producing Shire horses, Clinics, Lessons, and Hampshire Sheep. Overnight boarding, obstacle course and more.

03/25/2025
Here’s a quick summary and education on f***l changes in kids and lambs.
03/23/2025

Here’s a quick summary and education on f***l changes in kids and lambs.

F***s in Newborn Lambs and Kids: Developmental Stages

The development of f***s in lambs and kids progresses through several distinct stages from the moment of birth. Monitoring these stages provides important insights into the health and digestive development of the young animals.

1. Meconium (First 24–48 Hours Post-Birth):
Immediately after birth, newborns pass a dark, sticky, tar-like substance known as meconium. This material is made up of ingested amniotic fluid, intestinal secretions, and other substances accumulated during fetal development. Passing the meconium is a sign that the digestive tract is functioning properly.

2. Transitional F***s (Day 2–3):
As the kid or lamb begins to nurse and consume colostrum, the f***s transition from meconium to a softer, brownish or yellowish paste. This phase reflects the colonization of the gut with beneficial bacteria and the digestion of early milk.

3. Milk F***s (First Few Weeks):
While the animal is on a milk-only diet, the f***s are typically soft, yellow to light brown, and have a pasty or custard-like consistency. They are usually not foul-smelling and indicate a healthy, milk-fed digestive process.

4. Weaning Transition (Around 4–8 Weeks):
As solid feed is gradually introduced, the consistency and color of the f***s begin to change. F***s may become firmer, darker, and more formed, sometimes with visible plant material, depending on the intake and digestion of solids.

5. Post-Weaning F***s:
After weaning, the f***s resemble those of adult goats or sheep: pellet-like, firm, and dark brown. This indicates a fully functioning rumen and adaptation to a forage-based or mixed diet.

××××Keep in mind: color and texture also depend on other factors, so differences between animals and farms are possible.

Well mom won the battle.  Meet 7 Mile 25008. She’s a Cookie 🍪 Monster daughter and she will be available to bid on in th...
03/21/2025

Well mom won the battle. Meet 7 Mile 25008. She’s a Cookie 🍪 Monster daughter and she will be available to bid on in the Treasure State Gems sale April 11th. Here’s your chance to get a part of the 7 Mile Piebald goodness. Feel free to contact us with questions. We will be posting updates on sale lambs throughout the next few weeks.

It’s spring.  That means piles and piles of hair.  Lacie found Brett with the curry comb last night.  She enjoyed the br...
03/20/2025

It’s spring. That means piles and piles of hair. Lacie found Brett with the curry comb last night. She enjoyed the brushing and is missing a bit of her winter hair.

We are so proud of this Big Sky bred gelding.  He’s going places.  Draco is learning the ropes of trick riding.
03/20/2025

We are so proud of this Big Sky bred gelding. He’s going places. Draco is learning the ropes of trick riding.

Go to the original post and vote for Flynn in the Kentucky Horse Park Horse Madness contest.
03/20/2025

Go to the original post and vote for Flynn in the Kentucky Horse Park Horse Madness contest.

✨WINNER: WESTERN DREAMER✨

KHP Horse Madness: Round 1!
🐴 Flynn vs Western Dreamer 🐴
🏆 Comment your winner on THIS POST.
⏰ Matchup ends in 24 hrs!

All the replacement ewes and fall lambing ewes are naked. A nice spa day.  Thankful for Shamus and Alison for coming out...
03/19/2025

All the replacement ewes and fall lambing ewes are naked. A nice spa day. Thankful for Shamus and Alison for coming out and knocking the wool off the girls. Always good to see our sheep friends.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from our barn to yours.  May your pastures be green and plentiful.
03/17/2025

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from our barn to yours. May your pastures be green and plentiful.

April’s filly Melody.  🎵 She is by Starcastle Navigator.   She’s gonna be a fun one to watch grow.
03/17/2025

April’s filly Melody. 🎵 She is by Starcastle Navigator. She’s gonna be a fun one to watch grow.

Big Sky Master’s Judge.  He’s looking for a new home.  The last c**t sired by Illusion Farms Rustic Master.  He will be ...
03/16/2025

Big Sky Master’s Judge. He’s looking for a new home. The last c**t sired by Illusion Farms Rustic Master. He will be gelded in May. His spring ground work has started. Contact us for details.

More lessons today for the youngsters.  Pulled DNA to finish registrations.  Connley cleaned some stalls and I did paper...
03/15/2025

More lessons today for the youngsters. Pulled DNA to finish registrations. Connley cleaned some stalls and I did paperwork for my addiction files. Folded some of the last of the lambing laundry. 🧺 cool day but only need sweatshirts.

The youngsters got a little schooling today.  They each got a good brushing and some time tied.
03/15/2025

The youngsters got a little schooling today. They each got a good brushing and some time tied.

It’s shedding season.  I came straight home from school to do some chores and then brush some horses.  It’s safe to say ...
03/14/2025

It’s shedding season. I came straight home from school to do some chores and then brush some horses. It’s safe to say it was a productive day and that a few horses are happy with the spa treatment. Now to slowly start going through manes and tails and trimming feet.

Fall Hampshire Ram lamb available for a new home.  He’s an IPA son.  His mother goes back to our CT and first slick Ram ...
03/13/2025

Fall Hampshire Ram lamb available for a new home. He’s an IPA son. His mother goes back to our CT and first slick Ram Zues.

Second Fall Dorset Ram lamb available for a new home. He’s a half sibling to the Spice ewe being shown by Kylie Davies i...
03/13/2025

Second Fall Dorset Ram lamb available for a new home. He’s a half sibling to the Spice ewe being shown by Kylie Davies in Wyoming. The ewe has had some impressive wins. Contact us for more details.

Connley is posting a few Fall rams to rehome.  This fall buck is by B***o out of a Crazy H ewe we called Fish.   He’s a ...
03/13/2025

Connley is posting a few Fall rams to rehome. This fall buck is by B***o out of a Crazy H ewe we called Fish. He’s a full sibling to the ram that’s been shown all last summer with several championships behind him. Contact us for more details.

For all our piebald fans out there I might have Connley talked into letting go of a piebald ewe lamb in the Treasure Sta...
03/12/2025

For all our piebald fans out there I might have Connley talked into letting go of a piebald ewe lamb in the Treasure State Gems Sale on April 11th. Keep an eye out as we picture the lambs. Mom might win this one.

This IPA son will be in the Treasure State Gems Sale on April 11th.  We will set up and picture lambs soon.  Until then ...
03/09/2025

This IPA son will be in the Treasure State Gems Sale on April 11th. We will set up and picture lambs soon. Until then we will keep posting a few teasers.

Address

285 Highway 200 S
Glendive, MT
59330

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Big Sky Shires & Equine Services 7 Mile Hampshires

Full Service Equine facility specializing in producing Shire horses, Clinics, Lessons, and Hampshire Sheep. Overnight boarding, obstacle course and more.

Being born and raised in Montana lead to a life of good horses, livestock and dogs. Our family’s first interest in horses was Quarter Horses. The family started raising them in the 70's and 80's until job moves made it hard to maintain a breeding program. From there the foal crop went to a foal a year. The focus of our Quarter Horse program was on a good all round using horse for work and play. Horses that went to the show ring and also had to do a good days work on the ranch. The goal of high quality horses for work or show still follows the Shire breeding program.

Leanne showed and judged horses as a youth and college student. She now peruses a small business in riding instruction, judging, wagon services and designing equine publications for print. She is certified with the American Riding Instructor's Association (ARIA) in Level II Western, Reining and Level I Hunt Seat, Driving. She is certified as Equine Specialist through EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association). Leanne also has attained her Equine Breeding certificate through Colorado State University. As an equine professional Leanne has continued to grow and maintain her knowledge and skills. She continues lessons and clinics in driving, reining, pleasure and English riding. Brett worked as a college student for an outfitter in Ennis Montana. He learned the value of strong, sound and healthy horses with good minds and a forgiving heart.

The family became interested in Shire Horses in 2000 with the purchase of Big Sky Kellie. They were looking for a driving horse to use for pleasure driving. They then found an add in the local classifieds-- went and looked at the mare and purchased her. A year latter she was used their wedding. Kellie is now retired to special functions only and the grandma mare for weaning. Shortly after the purchase of Kellie Brett and Leanne decided that they would like to pursue the draft horses (Shires) for a little more than pleasure and began a search for a stallion to breed to their mare. In the process they found their first herd sire, Shakespeare William. Soon after his induction into the family they purchased our first registered mare, Loves Big Sky Melody. The program has grown and improved with the addition of the new herd sire Illusion Farm's Tuff Hedeman. In 2009 they expanded and improved the brood mares to include some of the best genetics from Canada and across the US. Through our years of growth we have been able to put together one of the most diverse sets of Shire genetics in the mountain states region. Each of these mares were hand selected to produce some of the best horses in the business.