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How Horses Help Us Become Better People – Part Four Doing the Right Thing
By Steve Stevens
In this four part series we have allowed horses to help us come from a place of truth, to take the time it takes and help us to work on patience, and for practicing better awareness. The fourth part of the series I want to talk about is how horses can teach us to always to do the right thing. It’s not the popular thing, the easiest thing or the peer pressured thing, but “The Right Thing.”
How many times are you in a super market at the end of a long day and there is only one cashier open, the line is long and they are moving at a snail’s pace? Have you ever noticed that someone behind you might be elderly or holding a baby or have some other need and they have a giant filled shopping cart?
How many times do you invite them to go first because you know it would be easier for you to wait than them? Have you ever bought something at a store and got home and realized there was an extra item in the bag, even something as little as a candy bar? Do you return it?
Do you never bend the rules while playing sports games or in relationships? I am not perfect at all these things, but I work on it every day because horses remind me of the person I want to be. That is the person that always does the right thing. See, when you practice working with horses and you build a relationship with them and at the same time have them respect you, you have to dig deep in every situation. If you want your horse to be well trained, you have to do the right thing. Your horse has been leading good and all of sudden decides to walk all over you. You have two choices. One way is to just kind of sneak by and put him away or you can work until he is respectful of your space.
Steve with the Stevens’ mustang, Mystic. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
The latter is the right thing to do no matter how hard you have worked all day and how bad you want to be done, because when a horse has an issue and you don’t help him work it out it will be worse the next time you deal with it. Most of the time, even with little horse experience, we know what is right for them and just have to have the courage to do it. Ignore the peer pressure of friends, and ignore the fact that you want to do something your horse isn’t ready for and just do the right thing.
Here is where the horse comes in handy with this and can teach us. Most of the time when we know something is right and we go against it, something negative happens. Usually a broken person or broken horse is involved in the equation. How may times when somebody gets into a wreck with a horse they say, “I don’t know what I was thinking, I knew better.” If we don’t get good at doing the right thing in the beginning, the horse will teach us with a harder lesson down the road. They will sooner or later know when you don’t warm them up enough, ask too much of them or allow them to be dominant towards you.
Doing the right thing can really become a practice. I would like you guys to work on simple things. Like always closing a gate even if you know you are going through it again very quickly. Take your horse’s halter off in a pen even if it will take a little longer to catch him. Practice how to mount from the ground in case you will ever need it. When you know your horse is getting spoiled from treats, take the time it takes to have him want to come to you without treats.
These are all little things we can play with. Learn how to tie correct knots. Untie your halter that is hanging from the fence and always be understanding of your horse when he is scared or frustrated. When you take advantage of each moment with your horse by doing the right thing, you will see how rewarding it is to not only practice it with your horse but with other humans.
*It is important for us to be reminded what a true gift the horse is and how blessed we are to experience them in our lives. Allow the horse to guide you through life helping you at every turn, challenging your personality, judgment and kindness. Allow the horse to take you on a journey helping you become the human we should always strive to be.*
Amanda horseback. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
In January, I attended the Oklahoma Veterinary Conference. While waiting for one of the sessions to start, a classmate of mine commented how many of the attendees walk with a limp, used a cane, and/or have damaged hands. We all agreed that working with animals is hard on the body. In general, anything associated with farming and ranching is dangerous.
Most farmers and ranchers know that agriculture is a dangerous occupation. According to United States Bureau of Statistics, workers involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest occupational fatality rate in 2022. The fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers for this group is much higher when compared to the overall occupation fatality rate of 3.7 per 100,000 FTE. Most of the agriculture-related fatalities are associated with transportation, such as tractor overturns, and vehicle crashes, but a fair number involve livestock.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Jesse Kader
Comfy and keep it western. That’s the name of the game this month. It’s hot and who wants clingy clothing? This jumpsuit is perfectly comfortable and relaxed without forfeiting the fashion. Dress it up or keep it casual. See this and more at www.jessesjewelz.com.
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Noble Research Institute Expands New Program Offering Farmers and Ranchers the Essentials of Regenerative Ranch Management
The educational program has been expanded to three new locations, empowering ranchers and farmers to monitor and improve the health of their land, livestock and livelihood through regenerative principles.
ARDMORE, OK–September 12, 2023 – Noble Research Institute announced the expansion of Essentials of Regenerative Ranching, a new educational program designed to help ranchers enhance and restore the land, making it more resilient and reaching livestock grazing goals through regenerative management. Essentials of Regenerative Ranching provides producers with practical tools, hands-on experience and guidance to make data-driven decisions to decrease costs and improve profit.
The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching course has been expanded to three new locations in Texas and Oklahoma. Registration is open now at www.noble.org/essentials. Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended.
Texas A&M
College Station, Texas
October 17 – 18
O.D. Butler, Jr. Animal Science Complex
Noble Research Institute
Ardmore, Oklahoma
October 31 – November 1
Pavilion Center
Texas A&M
Kingsville, Texas
November 7-8
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center
“Program participants gain working knowledge and experience of monitoring and improving the health of their soil, grazing livestock more strategically and making informed financial decisions,” said Hugh Aljoe, Noble Research Institute’s director of ranches, outreach and partnerships. “We use a mix of classroom and field work to send producers home with the tools they need to begin making changes on their ranch.”
Farmers and ranchers navigate uncertainty from weather, fluctuating market prices and escalating costs of inputs. Many producers are seeking new tools that offer greater control and reduce their operational uncertainty. Through this course, ranchers and farmers will calculate their financial situations, determine initial stocking rates, carrying capacity and grazing goals.
“The course is well-suited for ranchers of all experience levels and all types and sizes of operations,” Aljoe added. “No matter your situation, this program will transform the way you think about your ranch.”
The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching program allows producers to overcome obstacles, become more informed problem-solvers and increase the productivity of their grazing lands. By participating in this program, ranchers join a community of like-minded producers who are shaping the future of ranching and leaving a lasting impact on their land and families. “If I had known what I learned in this course when I started my regenerative journey, I could have avoided some key mistakes,” said Tana McCarter, a rancher, and Essentials attendee. “I left with the tools I needed to monitor my soil health and financial progress. I’ll now have the right data to make informed decisions on how to meet my regenerative goals.”
Noble Research Institute is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to guiding farmers and ranchers in applying regenerative principles that yield healthier soil, more productive grazing land, and business success.
At Noble, researchers, facilitators and ranch staff work together to share with farmers and ranchers the skills and tools to regenerate the land in a profitable manner. Noble is focused on the regenerative management of the nation’s grazing acres, which directly impacts pasture and range environments, wildlife, pecan production, and livestock production. Regenerative management recognizes that each decision made on the ranch impacts the interactions of the soil, plants, water, animals, economics and people. Noble’s 14,000 acres of working ranch lands provide a living laboratory on which to demonstrate and practice regenerative principles and ideas to deliver value to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.
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