Concho Hills Guest Ranch

11/25/2024

Oh Give me a home...where the deer and the antelope play...

Hunting season is winding down. Somehow the game seem to know it. There were very large herds on the plains today. Marilyn got this picture by the time she stopped, got the camera out, etc.

11/22/2024

For cattle or horses many of the techniques are the same. "As light as possible, as firm as necessary." These are not "new techniques." Read the older books, such as The Modern Art of Taming Wild Horses, by J. S. Rarey (1858) or Tachyhippodamia the New Secret of Taming Horses by Willis J. Powell (1872). Or one can really go back in time to the Renaissance to find more techniques. People like Mr. Murray, understand.

11/11/2024

We had a lot of fun making a few Bright Betty oil lamps for when the electricity fails. It may be a good project for our guests when the weather is too inclement to ride.

Meanwhile, it is time to enjoy a good book.

11/11/2024

Doc Holiday:

It has been too long since Doc has been under saddle. See...Doc has a very light and sensitive mouth. If one rides with tight reins or pulls to hard, then he tosses his head. That frightens beginner riders (whom often have noisy hands). Therefore he did not get ridden very often. Well, with Dahteste gone, I think he will become my primary ride. But let's first see how he does after months of not being ridden.

11/10/2024

Moo-tural existence.

A lot of our guests have mentioned their surprise at how concerned rancher's are about their land. Without good grass, there is no cattle or game.

One of our favorite "earth people" is a gentleman named Dan Dagget. He wrote this article for RANGE magazine, which won the magazine a second place award by the Nevada Press Association (NPA) this year. We hope you enjoy it.

https://www.rangemagazine.com/features/winter-23-24/range-wi24-moo-tualism.pdf

11/10/2024

Once one learns they must be the leader in the horse/rider relationship, one needs to learn how to be that leader. You can learn that at Concho Hills.

11/03/2024

Yes, there are some responsibilities associated with riding horses. Cowboy up, and take them on. The accomplishment feels good.

11/02/2024

Sorting and Weighing:

We were invited by our neighbors to lend a hand sorting and weighing some of their cattle. Travis has set his corrals up so nicely that the operation went very fast and smooth. These are some of the tasks one doesn't think about when thinking of ranching. But it's how the cattle gets to market. Come along, eat some dust, and see how it's done at this setup.

10/26/2024

There is a lot more to horsemanship than just having a trained horse.

10/25/2024

Can Horses Talk?

Of course they can't, but Marilyn thought she head Clara say that her view would be a lot better from her stall if it was not framed by all those weeds. Who knows...maybe she did say that!

10/21/2024

What a view!

It was too windy to ride today, but not too windy for a good hike and to enjoy the view.

10/20/2024

Spare time?

Well, this is a lesson in procrastination. It started with a couple of woodpecker holes and some carpenter bees. Add a little moisture and vola...Wood rot! The wood had rotted under the paint so it didn't look too bad until we examined it closely.

These lintels are 14 inches thick so although the rot was deep it was still repairable.

The moral of the story is the longer one waits, the worst things can get. But all is now well...except for the woodpecker.

10/18/2024

Sunset Time:

Our guests from the Netherlands, Wendy and Michel, just enjoying the sunset.

10/07/2024

On October 4th, 2019 a great cowboy crossed the river Jordan. I and my wife owe so much to Ed Krauss. He taught me so much about horses, riding western, and cowboying that I will be forever grateful. His dry sense of humor was entertaining as well as his stories. If you want to read about a great guy, you can read my tribute to him here. I will hear "get your leg off that horse" until the day I join him.

A tribute to a real cowboy, horse trainer, riding instructor, and mentor. Ed taught more than horsemanship, the taught the cowboy way. We will miss him.

10/06/2024

I remember the first time I entered the gear shed (tack room) of my riding instructor, cutting horse trainer, and later good friend and horsemanship mentor.

My first impression was of at least 50 horse bits on the wall, many custom made. I remember his response well. Fix a problem...then back to basics. The basic goal is always "as light as possible...as firm as necessary."

10/05/2024

I can't believe it is the 5th of October and the roses are still blooming.

10/05/2024

I sometimes believe I can hear the road runner think:
"Will the cat think it's funny?"
"I think it will be funny!"
"Will the cat think it's funny?"
We have our own living cartoon show.

10/05/2024

COME ON IN!

To the land of beautiful sunsets.