Copper Head-Ranch

23/01/2025

Our boys are loving the snow today ❄️

04/12/2024

Michigan friends with livestock- possible power outtages for Wednesday evening due to high winds.

Be prepared. Stay safe. ❄️🫶

Old man winter isn't just knocking, it sounds like he might just kick the door down! 💨

- Gusty winds Wednesday & Thursday -

Winds will pick up after 4:00am on Wednsday morning with SW winds sustained at 15-20mph, gusting to 30mph across the UP & and 40-45 mph across the lower peninsula.

Wednesday afternoon, winds will shift from SW to NW behind the cold front. The cold front will start to move into the UP around noon before moving across the state. NW winds sustained at 15-25mph gusting to 40 mph will be likely statewide Wednesday evening into Thursday. Wind gusts over 50mph are possible along and near shores of Lake Michigan and Superior.

The combination of strong winds and cold temperatures will make wind chills values as low as -10°F across the state.

In addition, we are expecting snow at this same time, so we do expected whiteout and perhaps near blizzard like conditions to develop in the heaviest snow showers.

Widespread power outages are not expected. However, scattered power outages are possible through Thursday.

30/11/2024

When temps drop, winds blow and snow starts coming down... colic is a fear of many horse owners.

Horses may make less trips to their water trough in poor weather conditions which in turn can lead to impaction colic.

To encourage drinking we do a few things:
1. Heat their water with an appropriate heater
2. Provide water in their shelter
3. Encourage turn out or hand walking- movement keeps the gut moving
4. Horses who are shivering, not moving around or seem uncomfortable may need a blanket or stall. We treat each horse on an individual basis.

Know your horses. Check them frequently. Keep appropriate medications on hand to help with colic provided by your vet.

Welcome Winter! ❄️ We are happy to see all the snow and wish everyone a safe start to the season.

07/11/2024

We recently had friends reach out asking what we use for thrush.

Artimud is our go to when it comes to keeping hooves healthy in all climates and footing.

If you haven't tried it, we highly recommend you give it a chance! A little bit goes a long ways and it stays in cracks and grooves for up to a week or more. Because of this, healing is long lasting and it saves you time from having to do daily applications.

*We do not carry this product* You can however find it online just about anywhere.

We hope sharing this helps someone out there and everyone can have a thrush free season!

17/10/2024

Cool weather and colic can go hand in hand. But why?

Many times it's because the horse isn't drinking enough.

Did you know that horses prefer their water 65* or even a bit higher?

Cold water may cause them to drink less which makes impaction a big worry.

Don't wait for your water trough to freeze to add those water heaters.

Today was 65* here in Michigan but tonight, it'll drop into the 30's. We already have our tanks heated well before winter hits. 🫶

Check out this article for more info: https://ker.com/equinews/answer/equine-nutritionist-qa-winter-water-for-horses/

📸 Of our Rocky Mountain Horses:
Iron's Sparrow
Tombstone
& Vegas

09/09/2024

02/09/2024

Spent the day with our boys 🫶

18/08/2024

😆✌️

24/07/2024

No, he's too young.
No, he's the wrong breed.
No, he's half blind.
No, he's too green.

I had so many reasons not to give this horse a chance.

4 months passed, and he was still on the market.

I had to know why... so we loaded up and went to meet him.

On our way, I told my daughter, "This is a half blind, 3yr old, thoroughbred who needs finishing. Don't get your hopes up."

We left after meeting him with our jaws dropped.

He was the quietest, most well-mannered, easy-going, willing youngster we'd ever met.

I asked my husband, "Do we do this?"

He responded plainly, "You two keep talking about how amazing he was. Go ahead!"

Cactus Jack (Jack) has been home for about 3 months. He has literally never taken a bad step. He is more woe than go. He is sweet and cute wrapped into this little polo pony body.

We can't thank Katie & Peter enough for allowing us the opportunity to finish him out & make him a part of our family. 💜

Moral of the story is:
Don't talk yourself out of seeing a horse just because "on paper", it doesn't meet your standards. Because in person, they may just be what you've been searching a long time for. 🫶

17/07/2024

Love these two 💜

09/07/2024

😆 adorable!!

03/07/2024

Livestock owners can count on certain shows put on by townships.

What they can not plan for are all the smaller, personal homeowner, shows.

Be kind. Tell your neighbor if you plan to set off UNPLANNED / UNPUBLICIZED fireworks. Doing this puts them back in control of their animals.

Unless you like hearing that your neighbors horses, cattle or sheep all got out because of your show and some animals or people were injured 💔 Be responsible. Let others plan ahead and avoid danger.

Be safe this holiday 🎆 🎇

21/06/2024

Fresh cool evening drinks 🫶

21/06/2024

If you have smaller grass pastures and hope to keep your horses grazing longer this season, this info might be for you!

Did you know that heat waves like the one we're having can make your grass STOP growing? Be sure you do your research!

Excessive heat (just like the cold) can cause grasses to go dormant.

If we allowed our horses out on our pastures during this time, they would likely eat it down to near nothing. Ending our grazing season sooner. AS WELL as damaging the pastures to the point where it may not make a good comeback before fall.

Not allowing the grass to grow back now, can cause a cycle of "poor pasture growth" even into next spring. You want your paddocks to be at their best before fall and winter hit.

To avoid this, our grass pastures have been closed the entire week and will remain closed until we see some kind of growth kick in.

Below you can see some of our boys in our dry lot. While they have free choice hay, they sure are craving that grass! But they will survive on hay for the next few weeks just fine.

So if you struggle with poor pasture and grass growth, be sure you consider some of these things before turn out. :)

Stay cool friends! It's been a heck of a week!

18/06/2024

I cleaned mine and my husband's saddles weeks ago.

And here they still sit. I don't feel bad about it.

I'm here to tell you parents and caregivers...that it's OK.

It's ok if you can't ride every day.
It's ok if you can't ride once a week.
It's ok if you spend more time caring for the animals than using them.

Because here's the thing, your kids need you too.

Your kids only get a few years to play sports.
To attend camps.
To go hiking with you.
To enjoy vacations and destinations.

Today, I got up and had to take my son to baseball camp. I then have minimal time to do laundry, dishes, clean the house, and take care of animals all before picking him back up. We then have appointments, and he has a baseball game this afternoon.

Next week my daughter has basketball camp. Who knows what else, I'm afraid to check the calendar. ;)

So my saddle will sit. And tomorrow it will sit again as I have to go into the office all day. And the next day, and the next.

We love our horses. But it's ok when life gets in the way of your ride time. Especially when it's for those you love getting to do those things they likely won't do once they're an adult.

Stop beating yourself up 💜

Your time to ride will come very soon.

17/06/2024

Beat the heat and flies with livestock fans!

We have a few throughout the barn and keep one available to move outside as needed.

This guy has been standing in front of his all day!