Editor’s note: This is the first part of a four-part series on Shiner Ranch in Idaho’s Lemhi Valley. This installment focuses on the family’s history.

Editor’s note: This is the third part of a three-part series on a Wyoming rancher who still uses draft horses in his operation. This installment focuses on horse breeding.

Cattle health is influenced by many factors including nutrition, environment, stress, exposure to pathogens, etc. Going into winter, cattle should be in good body condition and have adequate forage.

Many horses get a vacation during winter, yet these months can be a fun time to ride, if you and your horse are prepared. Deep snow, slippery mud, ice or frozen ground can be treacherous. Bare feet have better traction than most shoes; the sharp edges of the bare foot can cut into the snow o…

Editor's note: This is the first part of a three-part series on a Wyoming rancher who still uses draft horses in his operation. This installment focuses on haying with horses and feeding with teams. Future installments will run Dec. 27 and Jan. 10. 

There are basically only two kinds of bits — the snaffle (with no shanks) and the curb (with shanks). Plus, there’s the Pelham, which combines a snaffle and curb, but there are hundreds of different variations on these two basic types. A so-called double bridle, used by some English riders, …

A few months ago, I saw a photo of an old barbed-wire fence with each wire held in place by duct tape. I’ve never resorted to duct tape, but I’ve used other unusual methods to patch a fence.

Iain Aitken is passionate about Luing (pronounced ‘Ling’) cattle and their traits that make cattle-raising easy. He and his wife Rowena have 200 head of this Scottish breed on their farm in Manitoba.

Fluid and electrolyte loss may lead to fatigue, muscle spasms and cramps, thumps (spasm of the diaphragm muscle, triggered by a decrease in calcium and potassium), dehydration, or heat stroke in horses that work hard in hot weather. Dehydration from sweating can interfere with the body’s abi…

High summer temperatures can present problems for working horses. Temperatures above 80 degrees increase the risk for heat stress or heat stroke if relative humidity gets above 50%, with no breeze. Under these conditions, a horse has difficulty cooling himself, since sweat does not evaporate…

There can be advantages to using several species (cattle, sheep, goats) to utilize certain pastures. In the past 30 years, there has been a lot of research on the use of sheep and goats to control noxious weeds and brush without chemicals. Bret Olson, department of range, Montana State Unive…

Horse blankets are most often used in winter, but sometimes lightweight “fly sheets” are used during the summer to protect horses from biting flies. Show horses are sometimes blanketed for turnout to keep them cleaner if their pen gets muddy. A sick horse may need to be blanketed during incl…

There are times you might need to haul a mare and foal, or multiple broodmares with foals.

“Lupine calves” are an example of what can happen when certain plant toxins are ingested by a pregnant cow during pregnancy.

A child’s first horse should be safe, trustworthy, patient and dependable.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two parts on rabies in horses and cattle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two parts on rabies in horses and cattle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two parts on stereotypies in cattle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two parts on stereotypies in cattle.

A crossbreeding experiment that became a “breed” is the bison-cattle composite called the Beefalo.

Innovative breeders in the western U.S. and Canada have been experimenting with bison-cattle crosses for a long time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two parts on frostbite in cattle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two parts on frostbite in cattle.

Gerald and Pat Vandervalk of Clareshom, Alberta, Canada, solved the challenges of winter water for their cattle by utilizing numerous springs on their ranch.

An “eye in the sky” can be a big help when you need to locate missing cattle or check fences or water sources in a pasture.

Ranch families have great faith — in God, and each other — and a great sense of responsibility to the animals they take care of.

There are many options today when selecting syringes for vaccinating or medicating livestock — many more than were available 50 years ago. The dose guns, disposable syringes and pistol-grip, multidose syringes are standard tools we take for granted, but they are relatively new inventions.

There are many options today when selecting syringes for vaccinating or medicating livestock — many more than were available 50 years ago. The dose guns, disposable syringes and pistol-grip, multidose syringes are standard tools we take for granted, but they are relatively new inventions.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last of three parts on the importance of windmills.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of three parts on the importance of windmills.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of three parts on the importance of windmills.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of three parts about a truly unique horse.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of three parts about a truly unique horse.

If livestock can be grazed on rangelands, wildfires are kept to a minimum and are not as devastating and don’t destroy as much habitat and soil life, according to Fred Provenza, professor emeritus at Utah State University.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two parts on biological control of noxious weeds.