Prairie Diamond Horsemanship

10/30/2024

I’m dreaming of a white Hall-o-ween 🎶…

But really the Colorado mountains are fun and pretty and aesthetic until the wind is pelting your face with snow while you are trying to do chores, and then you almost get your truck stuck in the mud and barely avoid sliding into the fence.

#2024

10/24/2024

Mustang education event in Meeker, Colorado, discussing the Piceance-East Douglas HMA and their management. Big thanks to the local volunteer working group Piceance Mustangs for putting this together for the public, as well as all the amazing work they have done and are still currently doing to help both the rangeland and the horses here in North Western Colorado.

Fun Fact: Piceance is said “Pee-ahnce.” It’s a Ute or possibly Shoshone word meaning ‘Land of the Tall Grass’.

You can find out more about the Piceance Mustangs group, which strives for "the long-term maintenance of a viable, healthy, free-roaming horse herd on healthy rangelands,” at piceancemustangs.org or find them on Facebook and Instagram!

You can learn more about the HMA at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/herd-management-areas/colorado/piceance-east

10/22/2024

At the end of a rainbow there is indeed not a pot of gold, but a mustang named Zeus.

10/16/2024

Just got a real nice set of cowhorse prospects! Peppy San Badger is the sorrel gelding’s daddy-grandsire-great grampy-uncle-cousin-brother and also his mom and sister. That’s where he gets his purdy sorrel color. So excited to have a direct PSB great grandson-grandson-son and PSB full brother! We like our cowhorses long necked, short backed, and low to the ground. I was told to get a PPE which I caved and did, but the vet kept lying, saying that they were alpacas. I know what I got. I think he just wanted to turn around and buy them for himself because who could pass up such great colts with such rare and amazing papers!

10/13/2024

Always great to have happy horses and happy horse owners!

These 4 big mares (two of them pictured) are preparing for a move where it will be critical that all 4 can be loaded easily and quickly by a single person. Each horse presented a different challenge between their personalities, training levels, and sizes, but ultimately, each of these kind mares overcame and met the goals they needed to. Each horse also improved in other areas such as groundwork, self confidence, and being less herd bound besides just learning to load. I am very pleased with what they accomplished! Also, kudos to their owner who had laid a good foundation for each, giving me a base to build the task of loading on.

09/24/2024

“Plenty nights under pink skies you taught ‘em to enjoy” ~ Zach Bryan

09/13/2024

08/30/2024

https://app.aplos.com/aws/events/6th_annaul_barn_damce

08/23/2024

08/21/2024

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.”- John Ruskin

08/14/2024

Did you know that blue eyed horses (commonly known as glass eyed or moon eyed horses) aren't automatically predisposed to eye issues based on the color of their eye? 🐴🔵

Here's a little excerpt from an article from Kentucky Equine Research about blue eyed horses:

The Eyes Have It: Blue Eyes in Horses, May 9, 2012, By Kentucky Equine Research Staff -

"Blue eyes are no weaker, develop disease no more frequently, and are no more likely to stop functioning than brown eyes. Horses with two blue eyes, or one blue and one brown eye, are not at increased risk for any eye problems because of this color variation.

Eye problems are more common in some breeds of horses, though there is no relation to eye color. Some Appaloosas, Rocky Mountain horses, and Quarter horses (especially those with HERDA) have a proven link to various abnormalities in eye structure or function."

Link to article: https://ker.com/equinews/eyes-blue-
eyes-horses/

07/16/2024

Some of the wildlife here recently. There’s been others, such as elk and a wild ferret, I just don’t have pictures of them.

07/14/2024

Horses and sagebrush

07/13/2024

A couple Patriot pictures from today 🌻

He and I had a nice trail ride this evening, going over, around, and through brush, rocks, hills, etc. Jericho also hopped on for a minute at the end of our ride even though my saddle was a bit too small.

07/10/2024

Some of the wildflowers here recently 🌻

07/06/2024

“He’s an American Mustang, a hero of our nation.
Cause he’s a symbol of freedom and God’s great creation.
Since the fifteen hundreds he’s roamed this great land.
His home has been in the mountains, the valleys and the desert sand.
They run in bands looking out for each other & trouble they can smell.
He was born in the wild & taught to survive & be tough as hell.
The mustang is very loyal and has been man’s most beloved friend.
He’s taught us to be good horseman and have helped fight wars to the end.
The Indians hunted buffalo and rode these horses to survive.
The cowboys drove cattle and the settlers brought the west alive.
Without these horses - just what kind of country would this be?
Well, we wouldn’t have our western heritage and no cowboys you see.
Why the pony express delivered the U.S. mail on the back of this horse.
He pulled the doctors buggy and the rancher’s buckboard of course.
He dragged a lot of calves to the fire and chased down a lot of mavericks too.
That little horse is the reason cowboys love what they do.
And don’t think these American Mustangs are a thing of the past
They’re still roaming out in the west - making ol history last
So when I see our American Flag - I see Red, White & Blue.
But I also see an American Mustang and now I hope you do too!”

~ Mustang by Bobby Kerr

https://www.bobbykerr.net/poems-by-bobby.html

#1776 #2024

07/06/2024

07/02/2024

Some pictures from the past couple weeks :)

Halfway through this rollercoaster of a year, and God is still great and people are still crazy.
#2024

06/04/2024

Was hoping to be able to hold out on masks for another 2 weeks, but the biting gnats decided to make their move on my horses this week, so here’s the annual fly mask post :)

Fly mask FAQ:

Q: Why do the horses have blind folds on?
A: They are fly masks, the horses can see through them, but the bugs can’t get to their eyes (or ears on the masks that have ears)

Q: What are some reasons to put masks on horses?
A: Flies and other insects can irritate horses faces, especially their eyes. Irritated eyes can lead to blocked tear ducts which can be painful and potentially become infected. Horses that are heavily irritated by flies or insects may rub their faces on different things, sometimes rubbing their eyes aggressively, with can lead to corneal ulcers which are always a veterinary emergency. Flies can also carry diseases and parasites, so blocking those from the sensitive face area is a good thing as well.

Q: When should I think about putting a fly mask on my horse?
A: Personally, I put fly masks on when I notice insects starting to really irritate my horses. Some horses seem to be a favorite of insects, and some get irritated by them more easily, so it is a case by case basis. Your climate and insect type/population also play a roll in when you start masking horses for fly season. Go with your gut, and when in doubt, it’s completely fine to ring your vet or other local horse professionals to ask.

Q: What are the risks of leaving fly masks on horses?
A: Any time you put something unnatural on a horse, you risk them getting it stuck on something. However, most fly masks have elastic or Lycra, or have some other stretchy material which allows the masks to come off of horses who may find themselves in a stuck situation. Fly masks are also not meant to hold a horse like a halter, so if it doesn’t stretch enough, usually they just tear. While it is still a risk that horses with masks on may get stuck on stuff, it seems to overall be an uncommon occurrence for a horse to become injured due to catching a mask on something. A more common risk is rub marks, but this can be prevented with a properly fitting mask with fleece edges.

May the odds ever be in your favor!

05/18/2024

Some photos of Patriot and I from the other day. First ride in the arena happened this week and he was good and confident for it despite weather rolling in quickly.

05/13/2024

Koda and Hickory enjoying the mud this past weekend.

05/06/2024

The 3 boys yesterday