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The Natural Horseman – Staying the Course

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By Steve Stevens

I am sitting at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. It is 3:30 in the morning, and I am waiting for a 5:30 a.m. flight. I just came from competing in the Colt Starting Challenge USA competition in Doswell, Virginia, at the Virginia Horse Festival. I ended up finishing second place with a two and a half year old Warmblood named Quest. This was an interesting one for me because Quest was by far the most nervous horse I have had at any of the colt startings.

Steve and Quest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve and Quest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

When I got to work in the first round, it became evident that he wasn’t going to be easy. To start, I could hardly touch him and I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to get him saddled. But I just worked away with just rubbing and releasing and before long I got him saddled. He was real tight. I just kept reminding myself to be there for him and he started to free up. Every time I stepped up in the stirrup I could feel his body tense up. So I would step up and back down again. I kept doing this until I felt him take a breath. I went through that process for a while until it finally came time to take a deep seat and see how it turned out.

As long as I kept moving, rubbing him, rocking my hips back and forth, he seemed to be all right. He actually moved out pretty good. The time ended quickly for the day and I knew I didn’t get nearly enough accomplished for the competition. In the grand scheme of things he had made huge leaps and bounds. I needed to let it go and hope that he would continue growing tomorrow.

I got to check out Fredericksburg, Virginia, a little bit that evening. I feel it is always important to allow my horse journey to help me take advantage of exploring places I have not seen, especially historical and beautiful places to keep me grounded. The history there was amazing. To stand where our founding fathers stood and fought for our great country was pretty special.

The second day Quest came around quickly. I had to watch him, though. He needed a lot of leadership. Anytime I got distracted I could feel him distancing himself. I couldn’t have been prouder of him. It was less than three hours ago that he was scared to be touched. It is really incredible that horses can allow us to ride them. As I kept working away, I thought a lot about the horses that had carried soldiers through battles in the area. It should always be such an honor to ride a horse after what they have done for our country. I went into the final round in first place. Quest got a little herd bound to the other horses once he was in the arena by himself. He never concerned me, but he was hard to maneuver around the arena.

Steve aboard Quest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve aboard Quest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

We got through all the obstacles, dragging a log, throwing a rope, and other tasks. This little Warmblood tried his heart out for me. He had a big heart and I am glad that I was the first human on his back. I learn something every time I work a horse. Quest taught me the importance of staying the course and just working away. He made it through. It was an amazing weekend. It is time to catch my flight back to Texas. Have sweet dreams, my dear friend Quest.

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The Deadliest Prairie in Texas

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By Shannon Gillette

The Salt Creek Prairie with its rolling natural grasses and rampant wildflowers was a deceptive backdrop to the most dangerous prairie in Texas.  Located in the northern section of Young County, the prairie absorbed an abundant amount of blood, shed from the battles between the encroaching white man and the Indians desperately trying to hold on to their home lands.

The Salt Creek Prairie was the location of several encounters between the Kiowa, Comanche and the area ranchers.  The Indian Raid of Elm Creek on Oct. 13, 1867, resulted in the death of seven ranchers, five former Confederate Soldiers, the kidnapping of six women and children and the theft of 10,000 head of cattle.  On May 18, 1871, the prairie witnessed another massacre when the Warren Wagon Train was hit by Kiowa under the command of Satanta, Satank and Big Tree.  Seven members of the wagon train were murdered and forty-one mules stolen.  But perhaps one of the bloodiest encounters was the Salt Creek fight on May 16, 1869.

Eleven cowboys under the watchful eye of their foreman, Captain Ira Graves were in the process of rounding up about five hundred head of their cattle about five miles southeast of present day Olney, Texas.  The ranch hands were William Crow, John and George Lemley, C. L. Carter, Jason McClain, W. C. Kutch, J. W. Gray, Henry Harrison, Rube Secris, Joe Woody and a former slave known as Dick.   They had noticed signs of recent Indian activity and were vigilant as they gathered the herd together.  Each was armed with cap and ball six shooters.  They had pointed the cattle towards the ranch and had made about four miles headway when they noticed a few more head grazing in the distance.  Graves sent Carter and Kutch to gather them up.  They had advanced about two miles when they spotted a large band of Indians approaching fast.  Carter and Kutch could have taken cover in the sparse timber, but realized they would be leaving their companions in serious danger.  The two groups met in the middle and tried to take cover in a small ravine that drained into the Salt Creek.  The shallow-make shift fox hole offered very little protection.

The Indians attacked again and again.  Arrows rained down on the cowboys in a continuous stream of painful blows.  They attacked and retreated and attacked and retreated, but each time were met with volleys of gunfire from the small group of ranch hands. Each time the Indians retreated, they conferenced with their leader, who had stationed himself on a small hill away from the battle.  After six hours of the constant onslaught, Graves developed a plan.  When the Indians retreated, he ordered his men to stand and wave as wildly as they possibly could. The band of Indians, numbering over fifty strong, retreated for a final time, leaving the small band of cowboys alone.

As the dust settled the ranch hands evaluated their losses.  In Kutch’s personal account given several years later, he described the aftermath: “Wm. Crow had been dead for several hours, and C. L. Carter had a severe arrow wound in his body, and had been also painfully injured with a rifle ball.  John Lemley was mortally wounded in the abdomen with an arrow; J. W. Gray had been twice struck with rifle balls, once in the body and one in the leg; W. C. Kutch had two arrow heads in his knee and one in his shoulder; Jason McClain had been twice wounded with arrows; Rube Secris had his mouth badly torn, and his knee shattered; Geo Lemley had his face badly torn, and an arrow wound in his arm; and Ira Graves and Dick were also wounded.”  Harrison was sent to Harmison Ranch for help. 

The exhausted and wounded cowboys braved a very long and frightful night.  With great relief, the morning hours brought the welcome sight of an incoming wagon.  The rescuers patched the wounded as well as they could and sent word that doctors were needed desperately.  The doctors did not arrive until a full twenty-four hours later. Carter passed away the next day from the injuries received during the battle.  Two years later, McClain died while on another cattle drive.  The cause of his death was blamed on the substantial injuries incurred on that fateful day in 1869.

While today the prairie grasses still wave and the wildflowers bloom in gorgeous arrays of colors nestled between cactus and mesquite, the blood shed is a distant memory.  On crisp spring mornings it is easy to picture the deadly predicament that the cowboys faced. 

This article originally appeared in the January 2016 issue of NTFR.

 

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Preparing Spring Gardens

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By Hannah Claxton | Editor

The North Texas area is located within USDA Hardiness zones seven and eight. The zones are categorized by predicted low temperatures for winter and timing of the first and last frosts.

Zone seven usually has winter low temps between 0 and 10 degrees F with the average date of the first frost falling between Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 and the average date of the last frost falling between March 22 and April 3.

Overall, these two zones have similar climates and growing conditions, making the options for timing and variety within a garden very similar.

In these zones, cool-season crops should go in the ground in March, meaning that soil preparation should start now.

To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Equine Vaccinations

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By Heather Lloyd

Vaccinations are a critical component of maintaining the health and well-being of horses, especially in environments where they are exposed to other animals, such as in the sport, show and performance arenas. Horses, like all animals, are susceptible to various infectious diseases that can spread quickly and cause serious harm.

A routine vaccination schedule helps prevent the spread of these diseases by preparing the horse’s immune system.

To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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