blog.montanahorses.com

Thanks for your letters to the Montana Department of Livestock on our behalf.

Montana Horses — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:50:57 GMT

Thank you all for the overwhelming response to our earlier plea for help
concerning the loss of our brand. We are off to the Board of Livestock
meeting in Helena on March 12 & 13 to plead our case. We hope you can
attend in person and/or send letters of support so that we can present them
to the Board during our appeal. When we find out the exact time we are to
appear, we'll let you know.

The letters should include some or all of the following and explain:

1. You know Montana Horses and/or the Mantles, personally or by
reputation,

2. We have many horses and actually use our brand as a major part of
our daily horse business,

3. ALL of our many horses have the brand and ALL have lifetime brand
inspections issued by the MT DOL,

4. We are responsible and respectable people and have a legitimate and
large scale horse business with name recognition around the world,

5. You know us to respect the laws and that we would not knowingly
place ourselves in such a position to compromise our livelihood,

6. That the circumstances that caused us to record our brand late were
extenuating and caused by a death in the immediate family at Christmas,

7. Since honest mistakes happen and sometimes there are legitimate
extenuating circumstances that cause oversights, DOL policy should include a
"grace period"; that those brand holders about to lose their brands should
be notified prior to the loss; and that late filings should be subject to
normal and reasonable penalty instead of immediate revocation with no means
of appeal. Though the Mantles situation is in your immediate influence and
attention, you understand this might apply to others in a similarly
unfortunate predicament and you believe it is in the best interest of the
livestock industry to re-visit the policy.

8. Brands have value, are often considered property, some have been
known to sell for thousands of dollars, and the )V( is particularly
attractive and easy to read and is assumed to have great value.

9. Describe how you are familiar with our operation, how you know us,
and how you view our presence in the livestock and horse world. You might
be able to speak to the size of our ranch, our good reputation as
responsible horse owners, and how far our sphere of influence extends
throughout the US and other countries.

10. Explain that you have seen us utilize the brand, seen the brand on ALL
of our horses, that you have seen and understand our horses travel
frequently and are pastured on ranges away from our home, that the brand is
highly recognizable and recognized as ours, and you consider the brand not
only part of our horse's identity, but also a major part of our ranch's
identity.

11. Our contribution to the Department of Livestock, through brand
inspections and per capita livestock taxes alone, is substantial and
documented and should be taken into consideration.

12. The )V( is still recorded to the Mantles in Wyoming in the same
location on horses, is in good standing and has been for many years. The
Mantles still maintain a family ranch in Wyoming. (Wouldn't it be an
unnecessary hassle and cost to have to brand our horses in WY and ship them
into Montana, only to re-inspect them in Montana with a Wyoming brand that
USED to be a Montana brand?)

CONTACT: Please address your letters to: (http://liv.mt.gov)

Montana Department of Livestock

Executive Officer Christian Mackay

Board of Livestock

301 N. Roberts, #3

Helena MT 59620

And please send a copy of your letters to us:

Montana Horses, Inc.

Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle

9700 Clarkston Road

Three Forks, MT 59752

(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax

info@montanahorses.com

BRAND RE-RECORD FACTS AND POLICY: Every 10 years, the DOL requires existing
brand owners to re-record their brands and pay $100. ALL registered brands
will be re-recorded into your name if you apply for your re-record by
December 31st. A letter is sent to your last known address explaining this.
You are NOT notified if you missed the rerecord deadline. If you missed the
rerecord deadline, you have until March 31, 2012, to reapply for your brand.
Your application will, however, be processed as a new brand application and
there is no guarantee your brand will be reissued. During a re-record year,
The DOL reserves your previously recorded brand exclusively in your name
until March 31st (a 90 day period), after which it is released to anyone who
wishes to purchase it for $100. You may make a new application for a brand
anytime. However; regardless of prior ownership, it will be considered a
NEW application and is required to adhere to other stipulations. Currently
in Montana, there are certain brands that are no longer allowed (for
instance, single iron brands, ) brands, or others that might be easy to
alter or are in a certain location on the animal). If you apply for a newly
disallowed brand REGARDLESS OF PRIOR OWNERSHIP, you will be denied if you do
not do so prior to the December 31st deadline in a re-record year. There is
NO GRACE PERIOD for late re-records of brands no longer allowed under new
application. There is NO NOTIFICATION to those about to lose their brands.
There is NO FORMAL REGULATION OR POLICY explaining the process that led to
or the standards applied to new brand applications.

OUR INFRACTION: We sent in our paperwork to re-record our brand 2 weeks
after the December 31st deadline and our )V( horse brand is no longer a
brand they will issue under a new application. We have been told there are
many other livestock/brand owners in the same situation.

OUR EXTENUATION CIRCUMSTANCES: We did not receive the letter informing us of
the upcoming deadline. (Many producers have explained they did not either.
It is conceivable that many addresses change over ten years and forwards
expire.) We did not become aware of the re-record until late November after
an unrelated call to the DOL. Immediately after, Renee (I am solely
responsible for this paperwork) was called away from the ranch and ranch
business to deal with the illness, hospitalization, and death of an
immediate family member. I lived with my Dad until early January. Sherrie
Daniels died December 23rd. Upon my return, I began catching up with the
paperwork and was notified by a friend who happened to be perusing potential
brands to purchase and noticed ours had not been renewed. (FYI - ours would
not be purchasable by another party either.)

OUR RECOURSE: The Department of Livestock has not sent our official
rejection, but we have been informed they will. With the exception of the
public information officer, the Department of Livestock, in particular
Christian Mackay and John Grainger, have been very helpful in explaining
this situation and how we must proceed. We can appeal the decision to deny
our brand to the Board of Livestock (http://liv.mt.gov/public/board ). We
have asked to be put on the agenda for the next BOL meeting. We have been
notified that we will be on the agenda, but not yet sure which day. If we
fail at that level, we will be forced to resort to the courts, where we feel
(and have been told by legislators and attorneys) we will prevail.

Again, we cannot thank you enough for your help on this. Though it is
unfortunate we have put ourselves in this position, we sincerely believe the
Department of Livestock will be convinced to reissue our brand to us and
change policy to allow such ill-fated situations from causing destruction to
the very industry it represents.

Most gratefully,

Renee

Montana Horses, Inc.

Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle

9700 Clarkston Road

Three Forks, MT 59752

(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax

info@montanahorses.com

www.montanahorses.com

A Plea for Your Help from Renee at Montana Horses

Montana Horses — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:52:18 GMT

I have lost a family legacy. I am in need of help from the people of
Montana, our friends, clients, and the livestock world to convey to the
government of Montana the tragedy in this mistake on my part and
misapplication of policy and regulation on theirs. For this purpose, I ask
you to weigh in, on my behalf to plead my case. I hope that with this
process we can also see that laws are made for reasons, the enforcement of
which must speak to the reason for the law, not to the process. I think in
Montana we can still hope this is the case. If not, more is lost than I
feared.

So, here's the story, uncomfortable as it is to tell:

Our horse brand is a )V( on the right hip of our horses.
The brand was given to Kail when he was a boy in Wyoming. When we got our
start in Montana we brought his horses up here to start our business. We
registered the brand here so we didn't have to re-brand our horses and so we
could be a legitimate Montana operation. The family ranch and brand still
exist in Wyoming. It is synonymous with our herd of horses and the Mantle
name. It is sort of a badge in the West, a source of pride. It brands the
owner, too. It has become part of our ranch and family identity.

We've branded hundreds of horses with this brand, as we grew our initial
herd of just a few to several hundred here. It is a safe assumption that
right now there are more horses with the )V( brand in Montana than any other
brand. Our horses are freeze branded, so they show up really well and it is
a nicer process for the horse. We have had the Department of Livestock
write hundreds of lifetime brand inspections with this brand, costing
thousands of dollars. Thousands of people know the )V( brand is ours, as we
trail hundreds of horse through town every year in the Horse Drive and send
hundreds of horses across the country every year to work. It is recognized
across the West. Most brand inspectors know this is our brand, since our
horses travel for a living and it is their travel license. We are compliant
with all brand laws. We do it right, we pay the fees, we obey the laws.
This also costs thousands of dollars, but we genuinely respect the
institution. This is our livelihood.

Every ten years it is necessary to re-record your brands. Everyone in the
livestock world and in their right mind makes sure their brand is
re-recorded on time. It is extremely important. This re-record was due
December 31st, 2011. It is an easy procedure, costs about $100 a brand, and
is accessible now online. I am told the Department of Livestock issues
reminders in the mail and announces this process in newspapers and radio,
maybe even local TV. (The next brand re-record deadline will be December
31st, 2021, FYI.)

I, however, did not re-record our brand on time. So I have lost it.forever,
I am told.

Why? Here's the uncomfortable part and where I ask you and the State of
Montana to be human: I just found out in late November from the Department
of Livestock that the re-record was happening. I did not receive a notice
in the mail (they still might have our old address from the last decade), I
do not listen to the radio or get local TV or newspapers where I live. I
called the Department of Livestock about a lien filing in late November, or
I would never have known it was due. So, I put that info in the "get to that
sometime before the end of the year" category in my mind. Shortly
thereafter I was called by my father to come live with him while we cared
for his wife of 34 years in her last few weeks of life. I lived in the
hospital, away from my ranch and business, caring for my family until just a
few days ago. Sherrie died on December 23rd from bone cancer. Her obituary
was in the paper at Christmas, I know this because I wrote it. That was
about the only business-like deadline I handled. I missed the deadline for
the brand re-record, among many other things. (I was late with the
thousands of dollars of Department of Livestock taxes I was to pay on
November 30th for those same horses, but they just charged interest on that
- they didn't take our horses away.)

When I returned to the ranch, I filed for the brand two weeks late. I am
told that it will not be re-issued. PERIOD. It is now considered a new
application, not a re-record. There is no grace period, despite the fact
that they hold all unrecorded brands until March 31st before they release
them. The )V( today will not be issued because its location and content
might conflict with another brand (a legitimate concern). However; had I
filed in time it would have been re-recorded to us with no problem. These,
apparently, are unbending rules that date back hundreds of years. Three
weeks ago we had our brand. Today we do not.

Kail's legacy (now ours) is gone. The )V( in Montana is no more.because of
a technicality. I am told there is no way around this.

If we do not get the brand back in the State of Montana we have few options.
Here they are, as I understand them: 1) Re-brand hundreds of horses. 2)
Spend thousands of dollars and countless hours for new lifetime brand
inspections. 3) Lose forever priceless years of marketing and identification
(it is honestly like having to change your name) OR - Move to Wyoming. The
latter is honestly the more enticing option. In Wyoming (which might have
more livestock than Montana) our brand is safe and secure and the DOL does
not have a public relations officer or an unbending set of concrete rules
which somehow along the way lost their original intent - to protect and
serve the livestock industry and community in the state.

Please understand, this is not an issue of the brand - it was ours 3 weeks
ago. It is an issue of a deadline. If we thought for a moment that
re-issuing this brand to us would be harmful to horses, people, or the
industry, you know we would not request it.

The intent of the law, the very Department, is lost.

In March, I will appear in front of the Board of Livestock to plead my case.
The Board of Livestock are just people, like us, who are livestock producers
in the State and who represent us. In as dignified a manner as I can
muster, I will ask them to re-issue our brand to us, hopefully without
crying. I will explain the legitimate extenuating circumstances that caused
my tardiness. I will verify the size and scope of our operation and provide
detailed accounts of the number of horses and their travels. I will provide
evidence of the familiarity most brand inspectors have with the brand. I
will show records and details about our compliance with the laws and
financial investment in the brand and the enforcing agency. I will exhibit
the material damage losing the brand will cause. I will reiterate our
presence and influence in the industry. I will beg for understanding.

And I will bring reinforcement. That's where you come in.

Please help us, if you can, by providing letters (or personal testimony if
you want to travel to Helena) that might help me with the above. Help me
explain to the Board of Livestock the importance of our brand to us and to
our business, your familiarity with it, your experience with our legitimate
use of the brand, your witness to our compliance with brand laws and
deference to the enforcing agency, your understanding of the size of our
operation and the number of horses who have this brand, your experience with
our horses, your respect for the way we conduct business, your feelings
about the brand, and especially your hope that a government agency might
still have rationale rooted in the people it serves.

The question I will ask the Department of Livestock, The
Board, and you is this, "Are we a nation of laws for law's sake? Or are we
a nation of people who create and fund the enforcement of laws to protect
and serve ourselves, the people? Why does the Department of Livestock, a
government agency funded by livestock producers exist if not to serve and
protect the very livestock producers who created and fund it? And are we
not livestock producers? If the harm in re-recording our brand did not
exist on December 31st, but did on January 1st because of an arbitrary
deadline, then is there real harm in re-recording a legitimate brand to a
legitimate livestock producer, the allowance of which will not serve or
protect other livestock producers?

If a motion is necessary to legitimize it, then I will
suggest this and hope you will too, "I move to allow a grace period
following a ten year re-record, to take into account human error." I
suggest March 31st, the same as all other brand holds. I will suggest a
delinquency letter of warning be issued to those about to lose their brand
and even suggest a hefty monetary penalty to discourage late filings and
cover department costs. I believe this is in the best interest of the
livestock producers of Montana.

Direct your letters to the Montana Board of Livestock or send them to me, be
sure to identify yourself and I'll take them along in March.

We are deeply indebted to you for this.

Many, many thanks,

Renee

Montana Horses, Inc.
Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle
9700 Clarkston Road
Three Forks, MT 59752
(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax
info@montanahorses.com
www.montanahorses.com

Grasshopper Glacier

Montana Horses — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:42:32 GMT

When a million prehistoric grasshoppers of a now-extinct species got caught
in a storm and died of the cold, they landed on a glacier where they are now
embedded in ice in the Grasshopper Glacier in the Beartooth Mountains, in
Montana, at 11,000 feet.

The Beartooths are our absolute favorite summer pack trip destination.

Let us help you plan your backcountry trip into the mountains this summer.
We have great horses, trailhead advice, and itinerary planning services.

Montana Horses, Inc.

Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle

9700 Clarkston Road

Three Forks, MT 59752

(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax

info@montanahorses.com

www.montanahorses.com

A recent honest question about horse precessing from a non-horseperson and answer.

Montana Horses — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:37:53 GMT

Why is it a good idea to slaughter horses? A lot of folks are having a knee
jerk reaction--like Black Beauty is going to end up in a Big Mac. You posted
something a while back bringing up issues I think people don't realize. Care
to reiterate for your old pal?

Thanks for asking, pal.

We don't actually slaughter horses, but support the continuance of legally
processing horse meat governed in the US.

Horses are considered livestock (governed by the same laws/transportation
rules/FDA/USDA/etc) and taxed as livestock. Because there is still a real
market for horse meat, and because they are private property, there must be
a utility value for the commodity. Granted, the US widely regards them as
pets and the country rarely eats horse meat, but there is still a base level
of utility entrenched in the agricultural world and highly
regulated/taxed/governed by animal agriculture institutions.

When you jerk the utility value out of the market, you instantly turn
hundreds of thousands of horses into this ambiguous classification, and
drastically reduce the value of the property. It's literally a "taking".

In real world speak, here's the nitty gritty:

When a horse is "unwanted" (or crippled, dangerous, sick, old, unrideable)
or has no other higher or better use or isn't someone's pet, he can be sent
to a processing facility and some value in meat can be retained. He has
monetary value, though at the lowest level. He feeds the masses. I've eaten
it, in Switzerland, weird, but not bad - won't probably do it again. Horses
die, just like humans, but their natural end is to slowly starve to death
because they can't process feed after a certain age. Humans almost always
interrupt the starvation, by putting them down. Most responsible owners do
it humanely - some use a vet, some use a gun, some send them to a processing
facility for meat, and some horses die horrible neglected lives from shitty
owners who don't feed them or put them down humanely.

Until 2007, there were US regulated meat processing facilities in the
States. The well intentioned (but completely out of touch) animal activists
could not get a bill passed in Congress to outlaw horse processing after
many years of attempts, so they outlawed it through the backdoor - they
unfunded the federal meat processing inspectors, who were mandatory in the
US to process meat for human consumption. In one stroke, they put four US
facilities out of business. There are still facilities in Canada and in
Mexico processing horse meat. They are still processing as many horses as
before, except now the horses travel ungodly hours to facilities in Canada
and outright macabre unregulated facilities in Mexico. It is truly inhumane.

The utility value of the horse dropped to ZERO. So, those owners who might
need to put down their horse now do not have humane processing as an
alternative (where they would in years past have even seen a value for the
meat in the amount of about $300 per horse - for reference, ours cost an
average of $2400 to purchase and cost $700 a year to feed, so you can see
this isn't much, but at least something). Most can't afford to feed them,
let alone hire a vet to put them down, and most don't have the ability (or
balls) to do it themselves. US slaughter was a HUMANE alternative to
starvation and neglect. (More regulated than cattle, by far.)

Recently, after the GAO released an in-depth study about the unintended
consequences of the end of US slaughter facilities, Obama signed a bill to
re-fund the federal meat inspectors, which opens the door for construction
of US regulated and owned horse processing facilities. If in the US, we can
keep them humane and re-establish the value of the horse. (Even PETA praised
it, as well as the Vet Associations, not just the horse industry.) This is
why you are seeing a rush of end-of-the-world freak-outs.

Unfortunately, all the activists did was cause the SAME NUMBER of horses
slaughtered each year to endure trips to unsavory out of country facilities.
In addition, those who might have fallen on hard times and were no longer
able to care for their horses just turned them out to starve or fend for
themselves, because they knew if they went to the sale they would likely get
charged a disposal fee instead of being paid for the meat.

Like I said, we don't slaughter our horses, we put them down on the ranch
when their times comes and end their lives gracefully. The owners of Black
Beauty would not turn him into a Big Mack. But the reality is: Humane, US
regulated horse processing of unwanted horses does need to be available as a
choice.

No, I don't eat horse, but many people do. That's their choice. It would be
the same if some group (like the HSUS dinks) decided it was inhumane to eat
chicken, or beef, or fish - and went about stopping all beef processing. OR
better yet, if perhaps the anti-smoking crowd decided it was wrong to smoke
cigarettes, but knew an all-out ban was impossible, so passed a bill to
un-fund the licensing process.

Long enough explanation?!

Thanks for caring enough to ask -

R

Montana Horses, Inc.

Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle

9700 Clarkston Road

Three Forks, MT 59752

(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax

info@montanahorses.com

www.montanahorses.com

Is "I Hate Hunters" going too far?

Montana Horses — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:20:27 GMT

Thankfully, hunting season is drawing to a close. I have developed an
ardent distaste for most hunters. Though we have spent most of our lives
promoting and defending hunting, which was a source of business revenue and
a sport and family tradition in which we frequently participated - no more.
I am inflamed right now because there are two trespassing hunters shooting
their guns within a few hundred feet of my home.again. I just posted a "You
Are Trespassing" note (with phone number, I am not anonymous) on their black
Dodge Durango from Bozeman, but really wanted to paint it with orange spray
paint on the side of their vehicle. I didn't, because ultimately I would be
punished legally far worse than they. Last week, we chased forty head of
horses back into their pasture through the gate left open by trespassing
hunters. Last year, hunters in a river boat took six bucks off of the
neighbor's private hunting ranch. My father and I actually watched them
through binoculars as they wiggled the post that held the No Trespassing
sign from the ground.

Notice a higher percentage of irresponsible, illegal, resident hunters in
recent years? They drive up and down the roads in orange, glassing private
property for which they have no regard, trespassing, leaving gates open,
driving through private property and over public land, spotlighting,
injuring countless animals with no kill, shooting out signs, and
disregarding their surroundings. They use their 4-wheelers and pickup
trucks to drive to the game, shoot it out their doors, and then load it in
the back. This clearly isn't for meat, since they are all well employed,
judging the gear and vehicles they drive and the fact they come out in
droves on the weekend. Sportsmen! With the passage of I161, we have further
constricted the ability of licensed outfitters to escort hunters responsibly
into the backcountry, so the inept are pouring in there, too. A record 95%
incompetence was seen this year with men leasing our horses for self-guided
hunting trips. Their ignorance was surpassed only by their arrogance. No
more! I won't put my horses through it.

Here's my public statement: STAY OFF PRIVATE LAND. GO BUY YOUR OWN. I
HAVE AN ORANGE CAN OF SPRAY PAINT IN EVERY SADDLE BAG AND VEHICLE I OWN AND
AM ITCHING TO USE IT. At the very least, go use the public land for which
we ALL pay, just don't cross my property to do so. And don't whine when the
money from out-of-state hunters drops to a level that the public can no
longer afford access, or when the private land owners all lock you out, or
when the tags go up in price, or when the ticket writing regulators turn
their eyes to you for lost revenue. No doubt, regulation, tags, or
permission will not enter in to your decision to grab a six-pack and head on
down the road to your nearest railroad access. That's not the public,
right? That's just business.

Unfortunately, those who need to read this won't. And some who do will use
it as fodder for a wacko ill-conceived gun-control or anti-cowboy or hunting
agenda. Well, so be it. I'm tired of defending the booger-eating-morons.

I say, CALL THEM OUT. I'm not content to watch the last of a very noble
tradition choked into extinction.
R

Last Call for Last Drive | Winter News

Montana Horses — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:16:43 GMT

Montana Horses, Inc.

FALL 2011 NEWS

Dear Friends,

As we head into the holiday season, please know we are thankful most for YOU - our dear friends, loyal clients, fearless riding partners, and collaborators in grand adventure.

We're wrapping up the last hunting season here at Montana Horses and sending horses off to winter vacation. Having just returned from our own vacation (we spent a couple of weeks traveling with Kail's dad, Lonnie Mantle, through his old Army stomping grounds in Germany and floating the Rhine River), we're putting nose to grindstone to stock up for winter and settle in for a bit.

There are a lot of changes happening here at the Mantle Ranch and in our lives. Check out some of the news in this letter. We look forward to visiting with you. So, pick up the phone, send off an email, let loose a carrier pigeon, and let's be in touch.

Our very best wishes to you and yours for a Happy Thanksgiving,
Kail & Renee
Montana Horses, Inc.

406 285-3541 | info@montanahorses.com

THE LAST HORSE DRIVE! May 3 - 7, 2012

We've scheduled the LAST Montana Horses Annual Spring Horse Roundup and Drive for May this coming year. It will be a grand time in the old town! Coming through on Derby Day and the Rodeo is in town, too! We're also hosting a reunion for those of you who wish to return and escort the herd through Three Forks in the wagon. Come see your old riding buddies for the last one. There are only a few riding spots left (we're taking 30 this year and there are less than 10 spaces left) and a couple photography expedition postions available, so if you have ever dreamed of crossing this off your bucket list...DO IT NOW! The world is not making any more real horse ranches or authentic horse drives, this is the end of an era. Don't miss your chance.

For more Drive info - click here.

To reserve your spot now - click here

Red Rock Hound Three Forks Hunt is April 27, 28, 29, 2012

Western Recreational Riding Lessons

Beginning and Novice Adults

Once a horse-crazy girl and now having a mid-life horse crisis? It is not too late to learn to ride, enjoy riding again, or to make your love for horses and your desire to enjoy Montana by horseback a reality. FINALLY - A riding lesson program and instructor specializing in the 4-Fs: Fat, Frightened, Female, or Forty? Become Fit, Fearless, Female, and Fabulous.

Sign up now for hourly lessons at the newly opened TWISTED SPUR ARENA with Renee Daniels-Mantle and you'll be enjoying horses, a fun local horse community and events, and riding in the beauty of Montana's mountain trails, ON YOUR OWN by spring. YOU CAN DO THIS!

PROVE GENTLE LESSON HORSES FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STRING OF LEASE HORSES
PRIVATE, PROGRESSIVE RIDING LESSONS DEVELOPED FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ABILITIES
BEAUTIFUL INDOOR HEATED ARENA AT TWISTED SPUR ARENA, CONVENIENTLY IN BELGRADE
HORSEBACK ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH "RED NECK TRAVELS" AND "THE WILDERNESS WENCH SOCIETY" AND SUMMER RIDING CLUB AND "THE ULTIMATE HORSE COURSE"
"RIDE YOUR ASS OFF" GROUP FITNESS RIDES
$85 Private Lessons, indoors at Twisted Spur | $70 Private Lessons, outside or at the Ranch | $50 Semi-Private Lessons | $35 Group Fitness Rides

Call to schedule now! 406 285-3541 or renee@montanahorses.com

In This Issue

Last Horse Drive

Riding Lessons

Horses for Lease in 2012

Christmas Gift Ideas

Mantle Ranch for Sale

Quick Links

Mantle Ranch for Sale

Montana Horses Website

RESERVE 2012 LEASE HORSES BY JANUARY 1st.

As we go into our last year of horse leasing, please let us know by the 1st of January if you plan to lease your summer horses again. We will be offering our horses for sale throughout the next couple of years, with first right to purchase going to existing lease clients in 2012. New rates and contracts are posted onlinehere.

Seasonal and Short Trip horses are available throughout the summer of 2012. No hunting horses or fall leases will be offered.

Great Christmas Gift Ideas!

"The Roundup" FIne Art 2012 Calendar - $39.95 atwww.shop.montanahorses.com

Hand-tied Cowboy Rope Halters - $32.50 at

www.shop.montanahorses.com

2011 Horse Drive Prints are available again atwww.collages.net (Use Event Name: Montana Horses Roundup 2011 and Password: 36906)

Buy the entire collection of photos from Val and Stephanie's 2011 Roundup Collection on CD. Low-res $119.00 (suitable for internet) or high-res $595 (suitable for high-quality printing).

www.Shop.MontanaHorses.com

Mantle Ranch for Sale

Montana Horses headquarters is for sale.

500 acre Montana horse ranch for sale near Bozeman, along the Missouri River.

9700 Clarkston Road Three Forks, MT 59752 406 285-3541 info@montanahorses.com

Sometimes Life Requires a Stirrup Cup

Montana Horses — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:29:40 GMT

Sometimes Life Requires a Stirrup Cup

There is a tradition in the foxhunting world of offering a stirrup cup those
about to ride out. It is a drink, usually port wine or sherry, offered to a
rider when her feet are in the stirrups and the hunt is about to leave. The
Scots call a stirrup cup Â"dochan doruisÂ", a farewell drink or drink of the
door and often offer it to guests when they are about to leave. The
English, shown through hundreds of years of literature, offered a stirrup
cup, or parting drink, to those about to set off on their travels.

As an occasional foxhunter and frequent rider, I can attest that the small
shot of alcohol takes enough of the edge off of nerves to forge forward with
what might be an intimidating or challenging ride. It dulls the very first
reactions to a daunting task, fear and anxiety. I personally am an advocate
of the stirrup cup. IÂ'm a much better rider when I drink.

I have just returned from travel and have now fully embraced the grand
tradition of the stirrup cup in all above context. This might initially
translate to Americans as having returned from Europe as an alcoholic.
Perhaps true, I hope to justify the problem or at the very least invite
others to appreciate a truly valuable custom.

Travel to foreign countries can be intimidating, especially with family,
which can be daunting and especially to Americans, who can beÂ…well,
American. Different languages, currency, customs, modes of transportation,
time changes, jetlag, and the ever-present fear of being recognized as a
tourist, can lead to crippling fear and anxiety. This, in turn can cause
one to completely miss the joy of travel and ruin a trip, or even a
marriage. Some cases can be severe and downright Continental, resulting in
phrases heard over the relaxed din of local chatter like, Â"How could you
forget the tickets, Margaret?Â" followed by, Â"I remembered your shaving cream
when I stayed up all night packing while you snored in the living room in
front of the TV, didnÂ't I George?Â" Â"ItÂ's not my faultÂ" Â"I said one bag per
person, not three, you figure out how to get to the next train in four
minutes,Â" and my personal favorite, Â"Holy crap, whatÂ's that in dollars!?Â"

Luckily, over thousands of years the Europeans have developed a very healthy
appreciation for alcohol and have incorporated it into their daily lives.
It is available, without judgment, at all hours of the day and from even the
most unlikely places. The Germans serve beer at breakfast. The French
serve Champagne and brandy in their coffee at all hours of the day. It is
major part of every communityÂ's agricultural production and the majority of
it is consumed locally. It is pervasive in all lands, permeating delicately
through all levels of a culture.

It took me about four days to lose the ingrained inhibition and have a glass
of wine at lunch. After the perfect attitude adjustment (one glass, unless
in Italy), I was able to slip into that European plane that exists alongside
ours and enjoy the ride. My liquid courage gave me rosÃ© colored glasses.
My husband even started insisting I have a stirrup cup each day somewhere
around 11am. It was the key to unlocking sincere enjoyment of two weeks of
travel through six countries, translating five languages, utilizing four
modes of travel, with three family members.

This knowledge is my personal gift to all would-be frustrated American
travelers.

My toast and wish to you is, Â"May you lead a life that requires many stirrup
cups.Â"

PROST!

R

Pressure and Release - The Language of Horsemanship

Montana Horses — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:55:52 GMT

PRESSURE AND RELEASE - The Language of Horsemanship

Throughout the years, we've taken special note of the communication between
people and horses. Training a horse and successfully riding a horse
require good communication. When there is an issue or a problem between
horse and rider, it is almost always the result of miscommunication. Riders
are sometimes speaking a language their horse does not understand. In our
explanations or training, we are sometimes speaking a language that not
every rider understands. Ultimately, all involved must understand and speak
the same language.

Understanding the basic concept of pressure and release is the key to
communicating with your horse. It is the most fundamental concept in the
relationship between horse and human and can be applied not only to riding,
but to all horse handling from near or far. You are already using these
concepts every day with other people and all animals, but perhaps you haven't put
it into words. In order to communicate with a horse, train, or correct
misbehavior, the rider must fully understand the basic concept of pressure
and release.

All horses learn the same way, by responding to your application of pressure
and release. Repetition and reward. Apply pressure (request) until the
horse performs accordingly, then release immediately, which is the reward
for accurate behavior. Horses seek the release, it is how they learn. This
is used on something as simple as asking a horse to step over an inch and
off your toe, changing leads in an arena, and something as broad as
asking a herd of running horses to change direction from half a mile off.
All communication is based upon pressure and release.

With humans, imagine this scenario to understand the concept of pressure and
release: I walk up to you standing in the living room. I place my hand on
your shoulder, look you in the eye, and gently push you back, while asking
confidently and calmly, "Step back just a step, would you?" Depending upon
our relationship, you might first respond to my touch with a bit of
confusion, but as I ask verbally and simply, you move back a step. I say
"Thank you" and drop my hand from your shoulder. Humans communicate well
together. If you had been worried about what was behind you, you would have
hesitated or looked back before moving. If you did not trust me, you might
have resisted my pressure, even pushed back, or asked "why?" If you were a
child or didn't understand English, you would have relied more on my
physical direction for instruction and my general intention, reassuring eye
contact, or attitude for understanding. However; if in my mind, my
demeanor, and my actions, I clearly conveyed to you what I wanted, you would
have moved and we would have just learned the concept of pressure and
release together. The next time I placed my hand on your shoulder and
gently pushed, you would immediately take a step back. The next time, you
might even take a step back by just seeing my hand move toward your
shoulder, or one word "back".

The exact concept can be applied to horses. In fact, you can apply the
exact actions to get the same result. The truth is, you are already doing
this every time to touch, ride, or handle your horse. You halter the horse,
apply a bit of pressure on the lead rope asking him to follow, and you
release the moment he moves in the right direction. You don't drag him all
the way to the hitch rail, you ask him once and release the pressure when he
does the right thing - moves the right direction. While riding, you ask
your horse to stop by gently pulling on the reins, when he stops you release
the pressure by dropping your hands. You do not continue to pull on the
reins when the horse has stopped. You ask your horse to move to the right
by placing a bit of pressure on his side with your left leg. As soon as he
moves, you do not continue to push him into the rail or off the cliff.

Try this, either while standing next to your horse or even from above in the
saddle: Place your hand on your horse's head, between his ears at his poll
or from the saddle at the upper part of his neck. Gently place downward
pressure on his head until he drops his head even just a fraction of an
inch. (This could happen immediately, so be ready.) When he moves his head
even the slightest in response to your pressure, IMMEDIATELY release the
pressure. You can do this without moving your hand much at all, just a
little pressure downward and immediate release when he moves the correct
direction away from your hand's pressure. Your hand can remain in place,
but remove the pressure. Now repeat. Now repeat again. Soon, you will be
able to drop your horse's head all the way to the ground by simply placing a
bit of pressure on his neck or poll and releasing it when you get the
reaction you want. If you do not get the reaction, hold the pressure or
slightly increase the pressure until he finally moves, but release
IMMEDIATELY. The horse must feel the release to learn. If you are late, it
is very confusing. You must be clear and quick, or you will be telling him
to do something he already did! (Miscommunication = Misbehavior) If he
fights it, just continue to calmly hold the pressure and wait for the
CORRECT response. If he lifts his head, continue with pressure. Release
ONLY if he drops his head. He will seek the release - the reward. You will
have communicated with him. This is basic pressure and release.

Once you understand this very basic concept, you can apply it to all actions
you have with a horse. Verbally, physically, mentally, you exert varying
levels of pressure and release to do EVERYTHING.

It is just as easy to train a horse as it is to mis-train a horse. All good training or bad behavioral
issues come from the reinforcement of this basic concept. I apply heavy
pressure in the form of a well-placed spur and perhaps a spank in the rear
to a horse that has learned to be barn sour and immediately "die" (release
all pressure) when he heads out in the right direction. I apply light
pressure, shift in balance, or maybe just "mental" pressure (intention) to a
horse with whom I communicate well when I want him to change a lead or
direction, pass sideways to a gate, or cut livestock in an alley. Being in
the groove, communicating and understanding your horse is incredible!

This is a language you and your horse already know - you do not have to
teach it, you simply have to realize it. The goal is to understand the
concept, practice the concept, and end up communicating in the same
language. With that communication, all things are possible.

R

Big Announcement! Mantle Ranch for Sale and Montana Horses FAQs

Montana Horses — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:40:53 GMT

Announcing the biggest and best news of Kail Mantle's and Renee
Daniels-Mantle's mid-lives! We have finally and fully embraced all of the
cliches surrounding forty-something and are planning to sell the ranch and
sail around the world…literally, while we're still young enough to enjoy it,
each other, and before senility sets in – though some may think it already
has.

So, we are offering our gorgeous 500 acre ranch, which for many years has
served as our home and headquarters for Montana Horses, Inc. as well as a
great many rip-roaring good times, for sale at www.mantleranch.com. We'll
be making some BIG changes in the coming months. If you are still reading,
you are probably interested in those changes and how they might affect you,
or you are overcome with morbid curiosity. Either way, here are some
answers or a little more information.

1. Why are we selling? (see above) We're ready! Over the last 20
years (yes, it's been that long) we have developed an incredible business,
an incredible ranch, a herd of the absolute best horses in the world, and a
life we love. Life's been very good to us, because we had a vision and the
ambition to achieve it. We were never afraid of chances or hard work. The
joy was in the journey and now we're ready for another. We can retire when
we're too old to move, when we are sitting in the manor with blended peas
dripping from our chins, or we can take advantage of the assets for which
we've sacrificed and go enjoy some of the weekends and holidays we've worked
through for the last two decades.
2. Where are we going? We have no idea! The world is our oyster. We
will always have an address in Montana near Bozeman, because it is our home.
We have a network of friends and family here, our pastures and horses are
here, and we love it here.
3. What are we going to do? We'll probably never be far from the horse
business. The sky's the limit and we have some ideas. Whatever we do,
we'll include Kail's new man-dog "Acey" and "Tyke" and involve The Other
Woman, wine, travel, sailing, warmth and writing in the winter – and Montana
and our horses in the summer and fall. What a life!
4. When are we going? ASAP, though we'll phase out over as long as it
takes to do it responsibly.
5. Will we sell Montana Horses, Inc. – the business? Probably not. We
have not come across a soul we would trust with our clients or our horses in
this business. We're selling the ranch - land and improvements. We'll
probably have a big garage sale, but the RFD goes with the place.
6. What about our lessees? We will take care of everyone to the very
best of our abilities, especially our commercial clients who rely upon us
for their livelihood. Following this Summer Season, we will begin to make
arrangements with our lessees individually, which might include the purchase
of their lease horses at a very competitive price and terms.
7. What about our horses? We are committed to finding good homes for
our horses. They are our family, our only kids. Most of our working horses
will be for sale when the time comes and as we determine they should be
available for sale. We will offer first rights of refusal to our lessees,
and then very carefully begin to sell our horses by private treaty. Our
horses are in high demand. We will NOT sell our working horses for bid or
at auction. Our solid stock will be priced firmly between $2500 - $7500 per
head, depending upon the horse and their age and abilities. Our well-bred
AQHA ranch line will be offered separately. As they become available, we
will catalog our horses online and sell them individually, according to our
usual practices. The Kid Horse Sale in October will be held as usual.
8. HORSE DRIVE? The 2012 Horse Drive (May 4-6) will be our last Horse
Drive. If you've ever dreamed of removing this from your bucket list, now
is the time! We do still have some spaces for riders and on the Photo
Expedition, so book now or forever regret it. We have decided to NEVER
utter with regret the words, "I wish I had…" You should, too. This will
be a monumental Drive, in Three Forks on Derby Day, and it is sure to be
memorable (and probably tearful – especially if you whack your nuts on the
saddle horn).
9. HORSES FOR LEASE? While they are still available. We're going to
take things as they come and if we are in a position to offer them in 2012,
we will make the call in January as usual, and honor all contracts to which
we commit.
10. HEROES AND HORSES? No change. This program is not location
specific and we are devoted to providing this opportunity for as long as it
is still of benefit.
11. PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS? The last scheduled Expedition is during
the Drive in May 2012. However; who knows what we'll dream up for later?
12. ULTIMATE HORSE COURSE? Closed. The new owners will determine its
future use as a private training ground or public offering.

We're happy to talk with you about our plans and dreams or answer any
questions you have. We're also grateful for any help you can give us as we
go about the next phase. We're selling this ourselves, with no brokers, so
we appreciate all you can do to get the word out. Stay tuned to our website
www.montanahorses.com and blog for details about the ranch and horses. And
later, check out our travels at www.rednecktravels.com.

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to all of you over the years for making Montana
Horses a success story and giving the Mantle Ranch in Three Forks a history
of which we can all be very proud.

Kail and Renee

kail@montanahorses.com
renee@montanahorses.com

Montana Horses, Inc.
Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle
9700 Clarkston Road
Three Forks, MT 59752
(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax
info@montanahorses.com
www.montanahorses.com

Equine Herpes Virus Quarantine Lifted on Gallatin County Horse

Montana Horses — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:28:37 GMT

Montana Department of Livestock

301 N. Roberts/PO Box 202001

Helena MT 59620-2001

On the web at http://liv.mt.gov

cid:image001.jpg@01CA06CF.EAF1EA00

Friday, June 24, 2011 / For Immediate Release

Contact: Dr. Tahnee Szymanski

Staff Veterinarian

Montana Department of Livestock

406/444-5214

Equine Herpes Virus Quarantine Lifted on Gallatin County Horse

The Montana Department of Livestock today released from quarantine a
15-year-old gelding in Gallatin County that tested positive for Equine
Herpes Virus (EHV-1) two weeks ago.

"We're pleased to report that the horse has been released from quarantine,
and that Montana should be in the clear in regard to equine herpes virus,"
said Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, MDOL staff veterinarian. "The premises that was
under quarantine is now no different than any other facility with regard to
risk."

MDOL on June 11 reported that a clinically healthy horse in Gallatin County
tested positive for EHV-1. The horse had attended the National Cutting Horse
Association Western National Championships in Ogden Utah, April 30-May 8,
where horses from around the western United States were exposed to the
disease. A total of 90 confirmed EHV-1 or EHM cases and 13 horse fatalities
were reported in 10 western states.

Szymanski commended owners of the Gallatin County horse and facility for
their proactive approach to handling the situation.

"The owners did everything right," she said. "They isolated the horse after
returning from the event in Ogden, and did everything they could do to
reduce the risk of transmission and exposure. They really went above and
beyond what they needed to do."

All travel restrictions on horses coming into the state have now been
dropped, Szymanski said. The state had been requiring a statement on CVI's
(certificate of veterinary inspection) to the effect that incoming horses
had not been exposed to any horses exposed to the disease.

"We're back to business as normal in regard to travel and events," she said.

###

June Events & Clinic at Montana Horses

Montana Horses — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:38:48 GMT

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Events and News

June 2011

Back at the Ranch

In this Issue

"Great Shot"

A Horse Course, of course.

Enter the Soldiers

Great Shots are Val and Steph's GREAT story

Joining Montana Horses for the third year, Val Westover and Stephanie Adriana once again captured the Annual Horse Drive like no others. Check out their pictures below in the "Roundup 2011" collection.

Since we last saw them, Val and Steph have taken their "Capturing True Emotion" workshop on the road and have appeared in front of over 35,000 photographers in cities all over the country and Canada. Congratulations Val & Steph!

The Mantle Ranch is proud to offer the "Capturing True Emotion" Three-Day Photo Expedition with Val Westover and Stephanie Adriana this June 10 - 12. Don't miss your chance to learn from these incredible photographers in their last scheduled Montana appearance this year. We'll re-create the Drive...just for you. SIGN UP NOW!

2011 HORSE DRIVE COLLECTION

by Val Westover

and Stephanie Adriana

HERE! (www.collages.net)

Event: Montana Horses Roundup 2011

Password: 36906

Quick Links

Horse Drive 2012 (May 4, 5, 6)

Photo Expeditions

The Ultimate Horse Course

Heroes and Horses

Horses for Sale

Out of the deep freeze and into the brink! Welcome to spring - Montana-style. We're happily keeping our heads above water after bringing the herd home safely during a FANTASTIC Horse Drive. Thanks to all of you who helped. For those who missed it, be sure to check out our escapades with "Randy the Randy Shetland", the "Puked on Pilot", and more great stories, blogs, and photos about the Drive from Kail and Crew (which should really be the name of his band or new line of hail-resistant casual camp gear). Never a dull moment here.

We've got some new and exciting things going on this month and we would like to share them with you. The Horse Course is open, Kail is conducting a UHC Clinic, Val and Steph are back for a Photo Expedition, and we're gearing up for our first Heroes and Horses Ranch and Pack Week. Plus, our stellar lineup of sale horses is in and ready to be viewed - sans mud...finally.

Come join us on our next adventure.

Kail & Renee

Montana Horses at the Mantle Ranch

CLINIC - The Ultimate Horse Course

Trail Challenge Clinic with Kail Mantle - June 18th

Open Regularly on Weekends Starting June 4th

Trail Challenge Competitions - July 16, August 20, September 10

"Having the chance to ride a course where you encounter almost every obstacle you would find on any ride is a great training experience for any horse and rider. I was able to test myself and also my horse. We both developed an increased level of confidence that will be a benefit for whatever type of riding we do." Doreen L., Ennis, MT

Join Kail Mantle on June 18th for a one-day Trail Challenge Clinic, during which he'll coach you and your horse through the UHC trail obstacles and provide you with an understanding of the horsemanship necessary to accomplish your riding goals and the ability to use these skills on the trail, in competition, and in every type of riding you do. You'll leave a better rider, with increased confidance and a better communication with your horse...and you'll have fun doing it!

Open June 4th for regular weekend use.

Equine Health Alert - EVH

Montana Horses — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:17:38 GMT

Montana Horses would like you all to be aware of the following equine health
related alert. At this time, we do not see the need to cancel any of our
events, as they are outside of the incubation period and Montana appears to
have escaped the infection. PLEASE read the symptoms listed.

IT IS UP TO EVERY HORSE OWNER TO BE RESPONSIBLE - DO NOT PLACE OTHER HORSES
IN JEOPARDY. IF YOUR HORSE EXHIBITS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, DO NOT TRAVEL.
For the rest of us, we all need to be aware that this and many other
illnesses are out there. You and your horse will be exposed to others when
you travel. You must weigh the risk before you willingly engage in any
activities that might place your horse at risk. It is not the
responsibility of the facility or event manager to mitigate these risks, it
is yours.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 / For Immediate Release

Contact: Steve Merritt

Public Information Officer

Montana Department of Livestock

406/444-9431

MDOL Monitoring Possible Exposures to Equine Herpes Virus

The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is monitoring an outbreak of
Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) that has led to the death of horses in several
states.

Some horses appear to have been exposed to the severe neurological form of
EHV-1 at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National
Championships in Ogden, Utah, held April 30-May 8, 2011. Confirmed and
suspected cases of the disease have been reported nationwide.

EHV-1 can cause a wide range of symptoms, from a complete lack of clinical
signs to fever, nasal discharge, incoordination, hind-end weakness,
lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. It also can cause acute
paralytic syndrome, which results in high mortality. The virus is easily
spread by airborne transmission, horse-to-horse contact and by contact with
nasal secretions on equipment, tack, feed and other surfaces. People can
spread the virus to horses by means of contaminated hands, clothing, shoes
and vehicles.

Currently there is no equine vaccine for protection against the neurological
strain of the virus, which poses no human health risk.

Montana horse owners who attended the event, or who have horses that share
facilities with horses that attended the event, should carefully monitor the
health of their horses for signs of the disease and/or any unusual behavior.
Horse owners who suspect a problem should immediately contact their local
veterinarian.

"We're hopeful that no Montana horses were infected," said state
veterinarian, Dr. Marty Zaluksi. "The incubation period is typically 2-14
days, so we may be in the clear."

Sixteen horse owners and 30-35 horses from Montana attended the event. No
cases of the disease have been reported within the state.

In an effort to be proactive and provide the maximum safety to horses across
the country, NCHA affiliate organizations and show producers in Montana,
Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Wyoming, New Mexico, Washington and
Nevada have cancelled previously scheduled shows for the weekend of May 20 -
22, 2011.

An NCHA/American Quarter Horse Association event scheduled for June 4-5 in
Dillon has also been cancelled; a decision about an event scheduled for July
will be made at a later date.

Response to Equine Advocates

Montana Horses — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:04:24 GMT

Dear Ms Wagner,
I received the Equine Advocates solicitation for donation with address labels and bookmarks today in my business mail here at Montana Horses, Inc. Thank you, it was a well presented and costly mailing.
We are in the horse business and utilize hundreds of horses on our ranch in our leasing business. Many of the horses we obtain were "unwanted" and many say we "rescued" them. We also believe they are "intelligent, beautiful, gentle creatures" and continue to operate our business with these incredible animals as our partners.
I believe we are of the same mind about our utilization of horses. We will continue to conduct our business, on its own merits, and will use our resources to do so. Though we will not be donating to Equine Advocates, we encourage you to approach us with any animals you might consider of use to us and we will give them a home where they can live their days as productive, well cared for assets to our operation.
I am writing specifically to call your attention to the stance you have taken in your letter, that will alienate your allies and could contribute to a greater rift in the horse community.
I caution you to discontinue condemning horse auctions. They are an avenue that allows us to find the highest and best use for horses, from which we have procured 90% of the horses on our ranch. Our horses ARE commodities. When you take the business elements out of this industry, you begin to jeopardize operations like ours by creating regulation and control that has nothing to do with the industry or business...it relies on sentiment.
We strongly support rescue and placement organizations. We understand that yours has taken an anti-slaughter stance. Though we do not slaughter our horses, we will vehemently protect the right of all property owners to control their own interests, regulate their own businesses, and maintain their industry.
I encourage you to "sing the praises" of the vibrant, responsible, and connected equine industry. We are here for our own purposes, which you will find are closely aligned with yours. Please do not create enemies by promoting this divisive mentality, which your supporters (non-horse people) will assume.
We do not wish to be forced to continue OUR good work, in SPITE of yours.
Sincerely,
Renee Daniels-Mantle
Montana Horses, Inc.
www.montanahorses.com

The Rush at Hand

Montana Horses — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:29:02 GMT

Adrenaline April is already here. Seems like it comes sooner every year, since it is still March. As soon as the frost goes out, we hit the ground running and forget to eat, shower, shave, or sleep until "Sometime After Horse Drive."
In the middle of my daily dose of mayhem, the fuzzy grey ranch cat "DeCon" slipped through the office door and landed in my lap. So did the realization that beginning in April, and lapsing through most of the year, I communicate in a daze of half attention. She sat in my lap, as I tried to type over her demanding paws, answer the telephone, and talk to someone standing in the door.doing four things half-assed, instead of granting my full attention to any one.

In a moment of weakness, I pushed the chair back from two computer screens and pet the cat, committing fully to the moment. I told her, "You are very lucky that I own you. You have an 'in' with the boss here and because you are family, I always have time for you." In my mind (because I am a hopeless film fanatic), I ran through various scenes of corporate high-rise office mucky-mucks taking time to hear about their little daughter's day at school while in the midst of multi-billion dollar deals. It felt really, really good.

Not that my life is anything like that. And yes, I realize the above admission labels me a certifiable nut job.

It occurred to me that I rarely grant the same level of attention, respect and caring to my guests, family, friends, and clients as I had just given the cat. I engage people and tasks in a preoccupied manner, even in the midst of the Horse Drive, because I am too busy thinking about planning and organizing the moment to actually live the moment.

2011 April Adrenaline? Bring it on. My cat just taught me how to handle it. I vow to commit fully to the moment, give it my full attention, and maybe for the first time ever, REVEL IN THE RUSH AT HAND.

Carpe diem, quad minimum credula postreo. (Seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future.) I think I'll name my next cat Horace.

Drive Time!

Montana Horses — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:51:37 GMT

To All 2011 Horse Drive Participants:

The time is really (almost) here for the Montana Horses Annual Horse Roundup & Drive! Are you ready? The horses definitely are, having been turned out to get fat and sassy, they're going to give us a run. We are really looking forward to seeing you here.

If you haven't already done so, please let us know your arrival and departure times so that we can arrange your shuttle to camp on Thursday, April 21st and to the airport Monday, April 25th.

Here is a link to the Itinerary and Packing List & Logistics

Things have changed a bit, so please look these over thoroughly. We're camping two nights at range, we won't be originating at the ranch or in town. This means that we need to shuttle everyone into camp and get all vehicles to the ranch prior to meeting on Thursday night. Check out the logistics and let us know if you have any questions (but please refrain from commenting on my spelling). Remember: the secret password is "warm sleeping bag"!

Attached you will find the release forms, legalese to peruse at your leisure. These are required by our state and insurance company and apparently designed to scare the heck out of you. There are a total of 2 attached files equaling 4 total pages and a million signatures. Read them ,fill them out, then return to us either prior to or upon your arrival. If you plan to ride with a helmet, remember that you need to bring your own. You will also be asked to sign a model release when you get here.

We do need very accurate information about everyone who will be involved in the Drive - vital statistics like food/beverage preferences, dates and times of arrival, contact info, blood type (just kidding), etc - so if you haven't already filled out a reservation form - you can find it here: Reservation This year will originate in camp (sans electricity and internet). If you have a balance due, please send it to us ahead of time by mail or authorized CC charge by phone or email.

We are fully booked and staffed with an incredible bunch this year. Thank you! We have no doubt that we'll bring home the herd safe and sound with this great group. Of course, it will be very hard to live with the returning 2010 riders who accomplished a PERFECT run with a very skeletal crew last year. A re-creation is expected.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or good jokes. (Kail's supply needs freshened.) Also, you can contact each other through our Facebook page - find the Horse Drive Event and there you can share stories, ask questions, see who is coming this year, etc.

We'll see you soon!

Many thanks -

Kail & Renee

PS - We are once again conducting the Horse Drive Photo Expedition with Val and Stephanie. This year we offering a chance to win a spot on this Photo Expedition by purchasing a $100 raffle ticket. This is a fundraising effort for the new Soldiers' Angels Heroes and Horses program, held here at the Mantle Ranch beginning this summer. If you know of anyone anxious to get on the Drive last minute, this is currently the only way to do it!

Montana Horses, Inc.

Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle

9700 Clarkston Road

Three Forks, MT 59752

(406) 285-3541 | (406) 285-0918 fax

info@montanahorses.com

www.montanahorses.com

Support Heroes and Horses

Montana Horses — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:17:00 GMT

Check out Heroes and Horses. Join us in supporting this Soldiers' Angels project!

Win a spot on the 2011 Montana Horses Annual Horse Roundup & Drive "Capturing True Emotion" Photography Expedition for $100! Support Heroes and Horses now!

Regarding Leachman

Montana Horses — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:51:00 GMT

It is hard to find a conversation about horses this month that doesn't gravitate to the Leachman disaster in Billings, Montana. If you didn't hear - Jim Leachman, who owns somewhere between 350 and 700 Hairpin Cavvy horses, has been accused of starving his horses. The long arm of public judgement, led by the media which has whipped the masses into misinformed hysteria, has extended into his herd far enough to take the issue to court.
Whether true or not, Leachman has been accused and convicted of animal cruelty (among other things) in the court of public opinion. Thousands of dollars, hay, equipment, resources, and taxpayer services have been donated to this newly created cause to save the herd, comprised of foals, pregnant mares, studs, geldings, old horses, registered and unregistered, and all in between.
The horses are and have been roaming on thousands of acres of grass, trespassing in many areas onto reservation lands and private ranches. Now, hundreds of thousands of tons of hay have also been shipped and in come cases dropped from helicopter to the horses and onto who-knows-who's property. The property owners (including the BIA) are calling for a gather and the feel-gooders are calling for a lynching.
  This is truly a disaster. It is a ridiculous show of irresponsible reporting, misguided sentiment, and hypocritical judgement coming from all sides.
In no way do we condone what Leachman has done and in no way are we rushing to his defense. He is not our favorite person, for many reasons.  We do not like him personally, his business practices, or his conduct.  We have long wished he would be put out of business, but never this way. This whole ordeal is absolutely more reprehensible than he ever was.
This is a private, civil matter that should have been handled that way. It sets a dangerous precedence of letting the media and the wackos lead the charge against private property rights and conduct. This is literally the stripping of rights and disregard for laws, in the name of public sentiment...and you could be next.
  First of all, are the horses really starving? Those who perpetuate those stories have blindly believed what the uneducated media have told them.  Horses are perfectly capable of surviving on range. In this case, because horses naturally seek feed and because these particular property owners are not obligated to feed them, the horses have taken it upon themselves to find enough.  Funny how nature takes over when man fails. The emergency hay drops and donations are absolutely a laughable grandstanding attempt that make the people feel a lot better than the horses ever will.
Secondly; do five injuries in a herd of 350 to 700 horses prove neglect? To blanket the entire herd with the "neglected" label is irresponsible and ought to inflame the ranching community. It is impossible to prevent all injuries, especially to livestock on range. A loss of 5 head in 350 - 700 is normal, and actually a better loss ratio than most livestock outfits claim.   Proper herd management would have addressed these injuries immediately, but it could not have prevented them.
Thirdly; whose horses are these? The horses are private property owned by Leachman (and his entity de'jour) . Period.

Shame on Leachman. His irresponsible business practices led to this disaster.
More importantly, shame on us.

  The best court to decide this case is bankruptcy court. Let Leachman's poor business practices put him out of business, not unfair and illegal confiscation of property led by uneducated people, sensationalist journalism, Napoleon-acting self-proclaimed experts, hypocritical peers, and overreaching governmental agencies.