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The Natural Horseman – “A Magical Weekend”

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I was blessed to be invited to be a speaker at a women’s retreat in Hallettsville, Texas, a couple of weeks ago.

Not even three weeks after having had a hysterectomy, I was excited to take a little trip for a special weekend.

The second day I was there, I shared my story and had the opportunity to demonstrate some horsemanship exercises with a few of the women.

When Steve and I teach horsemanship, it’s more than just “learning how to ride.”

We believe that the horse is a true gift from God who can teach us so much about ourselves and show us ways how we can become better people. Horses heal.

Yes, learning how to ride a horse is fun, but that’s the easy part. The harder part (and even more rewarding part) is getting to a place of absolute truth so that you are able to fully connect with the horse.

That is when the magic happens.

The night before I spoke at the retreat, a woman had told me she had been afraid of horses her whole life. The next day for one of the exercises, I asked her to join me in front of everyone. I had a horse with me and was holding onto the lead rope.

I told the woman that I would be right by her side…she hesitated for a moment, and then she walked towards me.

I guided her to stand right next to the horse and I gave her the lead rope.

As I had hoped, she took ahold of the rope. Right then, the horse laid his head onto her chest.

The woman started crying, overwhelmed with emotion. The tears started to flow for many of us as we watched.

What had happened was that she was allowing herself to be vulnerable, she was facing a fear, but most importantly, she was present in the moment. The horse felt comfortable with her and wanted to connect with her.

I knew the second she took the lead rope out of my hand that it was going to be a powerful experience for her. She wasn’t tense; her hand was relaxed. She trusted me, opened herself up to trust the horse and she “let go.”

What the horse did was amazing, but just as amazing was what the woman did. If she had been holding any tension in her body at all (or in her mind) the horse wouldn’t have done what he did. Not only that, he would have moved his head away from her, possibly even stepping away from her.

The woman thanked me and spent several minutes standing there in stillness with the sweet gelding. She didn’t want to let go of him.

The woman thanked me again that evening. And then, the next morning, she told me with a smile, “I am still holding onto the peace the horse gave me.” I could see the peace, and it was beautiful.

Horses inspire us every day and humans inspire us every day. Steve and I feel humbled to be able to witness the beauty and awe-inspiring healing power of the horse on a daily basis.

I had never met that woman before that weekend, and I had never met that horse before.

But both of them left an impression on me that will last forever. Harmony, Truth, Peace.

From our family to yours, we wish you all a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Lots of Love,

Amanda, Steve, Ryder and Violet

The Stevens family. From left to right, Steve, Violet, Amanda and Ryder. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Stevens)

The Stevens family. From left to right, Steve, Violet, Amanda and Ryder. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Stevens)

 

The Stevens horse, Snowflake posing perfectly with a fall backdrop. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Stevens)

The Stevens horse, Snowflake posing perfectly with a fall backdrop. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Stevens)

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Farm and Ranch Injuries

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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.

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Jesses Jewelz

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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 

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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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