West Ridge Ranch

One of the trickiest parts of navigating the horse world as an adult amateur is learning how to hold onto the joy of it all.

It's easy to get caught up in goals, training plans, show results, social media comparisons, and the endless pursuit of becoming a better horseperson. There will always be someone riding better, winning more, or achieving things you haven't yet. A nicer horse, a nicer trailer, and nicer tack.. If we're not careful, horses can start to feel more like a measuring stick than a passion.

Lately, I've found myself seeing the horse world through a different lens as I watch my daughter discover it, while I reignite my own passion for it simultaneously.

She doesn't care about ribbons, training philosophies, or whether a horse is worth six figures or six dollars. She sees adventure... She sees friendship... She sees the excitement of catching horses in the pasture, the pride of helping with chores, and the magic of simply being around them... And honestly, that's a perspective worth paying attention to.

As adults, we often spend so much time trying to become better horse people that we forget why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Most of us started because it was fun... Because horses made us feel capable, challenged us, humbled us, and gave us stories we'll tell for the rest of our lives.

My hope for my daughter is that she gets to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible. Not because she won't work hard or pursue goals someday, but because there's something special about loving horses simply for what they are.

If she learns anything from growing up around horses, I hope it's that success isn't always measured by results. Sometimes it's measured by muddy boots, a horse that nickers when it sees you, a good ride with friends, or a sunset spent in the pasture.

The horse world will eventually teach her about competition, achievement, and responsibility.... For now, I'm happy to let it teach her about wonder, curiosity and pure enjoyment.

One of the most important tools in our grazing management toolbox is pasture rotation, especially for those of us managing smaller acres.

Rotational grazing allows livestock to graze a pasture for a limited time before being moved to a new area, giving plants the opportunity to recover and regrow. Adequate rest periods are essential - not only for maintaining healthy forage stands, but also for supporting deeper root systems, improving drought resilience, and building long-term soil health.

When grass is grazed too frequently or too short, plants are forced to use valuable root reserves to recover and can no longer photosynthesize adequately. Over time, this can weaken pastures, reduce productivity, and leave soil vulnerable to erosion and compaction. By allowing pastures the time they need to recover, we encourage stronger forage growth and healthier ecosystems.

A few simple management practices can help protect your pastures:

✔️ Avoid grazing plants too short - leave enough leaf area for continued photosynthesis.
✔️ Incorporate hay feeding when forage availability is limited to reduce grazing pressure.
✔️ Adjust stocking rates according to pasture conditions and seasonal growth.
✔️ Monitor recovery periods and be flexible as weather and growing conditions change.
✔️ Hand graze or utilize portable fencing to make use of underutilized areas and allow rest in your main pastures.

Finally, forage should always be the foundation of a grazing animal's diet. Healthy, diverse pastures are what livestock were designed to utilize first, with supplemental feeds serving as a tool when forage alone cannot meet nutritional requirements.

Thoughtful grazing management does more than feed livestock - it improves water infiltration, increases organic matter which, in turn, sequesters more carbon and captures more water, supports beneficial soil biology, and helps create resilient agricultural systems for future generations.

Healthy soil. Healthy forage. Healthy livestock - it all starts with employing management practices on your land. 🌾🐴

At the ranch there’s plenty happening behind the scenes, and some of it may or may not be considered a little sketchy...

Currently, we're repurposing a pretty special shed into what can only be described as the future Taj Mahal of chicken coops. This shed has history - previously used as a whelping house for dogs, it was then later converted into a garden and storage shed. The bones are solid, the layout is practical, and it turns out it’s basically perfect for a glow-up into poultry paradise.

I’ve been a self-proclaimed chicken mama for about 10 years now, and at one point even bred some select breeds... When I lived in town for the past two years, I even managed to keep layers and broilers going in my backyard... let’s just say zoning rules were more of a “suggestion” as far as I was concerned, and we even processed the broilers publicly in the alley (sorry neighbors), lol.

Now with a fresh batch of young birds arriving this week, prep is in full swing.

We’re a little light on medium-to-large equipment out here on the farm, but that’s never really stopped anything from getting done. When there's a will, there's a way! The shed was located behind the house in an area we hope to turn into a firepit/entertaining/outdoor cooking area, so it made sense to move it to a more practical area that allows easier access during winter months, and so on.

No sheds/grass/vehicles/fence posts/dogs or people were injured in this adventure.

🌱 Healthy Horses Start with Healthy Pastures 🌱

When it comes to horse pastures in the Peace Region, many producers rely on proven perennial forage species such as alfalfa, timothy, and brome. These are excellent options, but they aren't the only ones!

Increasingly, producers are exploring diverse forage "cocktail mixes" that incorporate multiple grass, legume, and other forage species. When managed properly and with horse safety in mind, diverse pastures can offer benefits that extend far beyond forage production.

Why does diversity matter?

🌾 Different plants have different root structures, allowing them to access water and nutrients from various soil depths.

🌾 Different species utilize nutrients differently, reducing competition and improving overall efficiency.

🌾 Legumes can contribute nitrogen to the soil, helping support surrounding plants.

🌾 Diverse root systems help build soil structure, improve water infiltration, and increase resilience during periods of drought or excessive moisture.

🌾 More plant diversity below ground supports a more diverse soil biology, which is the foundation of long-term pasture productivity.

At the end of the day, we're not just growing grass - we're managing an ecosystem.

One of the simplest grazing principles to adopt is the "Take Half, Leave Half" approach. Rather than grazing plants to the ground, aim to remove approximately half of the available forage and leave the remainder behind. The remaining leaf area allows plants to continue photosynthesis, maintain healthy root systems, recover more quickly, and better compete with weeds.

If your pastures are looking tired, thin, or less productive than they once were, don't assume a complete renovation is your only option. There are many strategies that can help rejuvenate existing stands while keeping them in production, but successful improvements often start years before they're truly needed.

Pasture improvement isn't a one-time event. It's a long-term investment in soil health.

While my day job is in agricultural research and extension - with a particular passion for regenerative ag - many of the principles we discuss for livestock systems apply equally well to horse operations. The research conducted by the Peace Country Beef & Forage Association has generated valuable information on grazing management, soil health, forage diversity, and pasture productivity that can benefit horse and livestock owners alike.

Healthy soil grows healthy plants. Healthy plants support healthy animals. Everything starts from the ground up.

🌱 Seasonal Pasture Tip: Move Your Feeding Spots Around 🌱

If you hand-feed your livestock daily in a turnout or pasture setting spring through fall, especially during wet weather, consider rotating where you feed.

It may seem insignificant, but repeatedly feeding in the same location creates concentrated hoof traffic that puts tremendous stress on the soil and forage beneath your animals' feet. During the growing season, this can lead to soil compaction, reduced plant growth, bare patches, and eventually the loss of productive pasture stands in key areas.

The wetter the conditions, the faster this damage can occur.

A few simple changes can make a big difference:
✔️ Use feed pans and place in different areas of the pasture
✔️ Spread feeding locations across the field over time
✔️ Avoid creating permanent "high traffic" zones whenever possible

For example, if you normally feed grain beside the same fence post every day, try moving it to a different post, or consider utilizing a pan elsewhere in the pasture, rotating spots daily.

Good pasture management isn't just about what grows above the ground - it's also about protecting the soil underneath, where it all starts. Small management changes today can help maintain healthier, more productive pastures for years to come.

🌧️ Wet Weather Reminder: Don't Forget About Wind Protection 🌧️

With several days of rain and cooler temperatures in the forecast, now is a good time to evaluate the shelter available to your horses.

While rain often gets the blame, wind is frequently the bigger factor when it comes to cold stress. A wet coat combined with wind can dramatically increase heat loss, forcing horses to use more energy simply to stay warm.

This is especially important for:
🐴 Young foals who are still learning to regulate their body temperature
🐴 Senior or otherwise 'sensitive' horses
🐴 Thin horses or those in poor body condition
🐴 Horses experiencing significant weather-related stress

Providing access to adequate shelter from both wind and precipitation can make a tremendous difference. If shelter isn't available, appropriately blanketing vulnerable horses may be worth considering during prolonged periods of wet, windy weather.

Did you know? Research in beef cattle has shown that providing adequate windbreaks during winter can reduce body condition loss by as much as one inch of backfat. While horses and cattle have different nutritional and management requirements, the principle remains the same: protection from the elements helps animals conserve energy that would otherwise be spent staying warm.

As foaling season continues, take a few extra minutes to check shelters, monitor foals and vulnerable horses closely, and ensure your horses have are adequately prepared.

🌧️ Breeding Season Watch: Wet Weather Ahead 🌧️

With a significant amount of moisture forecasted across much of the region over the next 5–7 days, mare owners may notice some unusual reproductive activity.

Rapid weather changes and prolonged moisture can sometimes influence mares' cycling patterns, resulting in:
• Cycles that speed up or slow down unexpectedly
• Ovulation occurring on smaller-than-normal follicles
Or generally speaking.. just a weird n' wonky cycle.

If you're actively breeding this coming week, keep a close eye on your mares and stay in communication with your veterinarian or reproductive specialist. A mare that looked predictable a few days ago may have different plans during a major weather shift.

Stay vigilant, monitor closely, and don't be surprised if your mares decide to keep things interesting. 🐴