Ranch and Country Magazine - Fall2024 Quarterly

Herd Life

It’s Nature’s Way

riding, medical care, maintenance, and breeding and foaling. In the herd area the horses were free to roam and graze on the somewhat sparse forage, but feeding was done in large feeders situated in one part of the herd area. The location of the feeders became a gathering place at feeding time, an easy place for “horse check,” and to halter a horse for program activities or care. Horses are highly social beings, and they form strong bonds and ties. At the feeders, dominance, hierar- chies, and alliances became appar- ent. These were ever-changing as horses were continually moved in and out of the herd. The horses were pretty much left to their own devices to work these things out.

had previously paired her- self up with another chest- nut Arabian named Blue until Aziri won her heart and left Blue blue. But not for long - Blue found new romance with a pretty bay Quarter Horse. The stories went on and on, and somehow our human dramas seemed no more or no less significant. Perhaps the most touching story was the one about Charlie, a retired palomino Belgian draft horse who was the old-

herd life claim these activities can complement one another. They say saddle horses who get a certain amount of time with the herd are calmer and more balanced under saddle, and that learning how to get along with other horses gives the horse more self-confidence and makes the horse easier to train. Whatever the case may be, that rare opportunity to watch horses galloping free is extraordinary! It is at the very least a symbol, but per- haps more accurately, an embod- iment of a process whereby indi- viduals freely choose to participate in and align with a unifying action.

est member of the herd. Before he retired, he had pulled a trolley car for tourists in Solvang California.

I was told about Andy, an older black Quarter Horse gelding, and Kenora, a flouncy Clydesdale mare. Andy was normally a herd leader, but he would get quiet as a church mouse in the presence of his over- bearing girlfriend Kenora, making it quite clear who wore the pants in the family!

PHOTO BY DAVID KLINE

First the sound of thundering hooves. Then a cloud of dust rises over the hilltops like an ancient smoke signal to herald their coming. Their faces emerge, angled in a uniform direction, filled with intention and singular purpose. Manes fly, backlit in gold by the late afternoon sun. Legs stretch and curl, a delicate contrast to the massive bodies of rippling muscles. In a heartbeat they have passed. Dust clouds fold over them as they disappear, yet even the earth itself seems to lie panting in their wake. The opportunity to watch the fantastic spectacle of a herd of horses galloping free is not to be missed. A single horse in motion can be a magnificent image, but when horses move in a herd the impact is breathtaking. The galloping herd appears to have no individual leader. Instead the herd itself seems to have its own mind and a life and identity of its own. The herd moves in and of itself, aimed at clear and purposeful objectives, going toward an invisible destination with all the heart and fervor of the greatest athlete.

And there was the hot new rela- tionship between a young chestnut Arabian gelding named Aziri and a chestnut Arabian mare more than twice his age named Dawn. Dawn

One day Charlie fell. His hip was cracked and it became clear that he would not get up again. Before the vet put him down, the herd came over as a group and circled Charlie,

Barns, paddocks, and riding arenas were located on one end of the ranch. Stallions were housed in pastures near the barn, and each lived with a companion. The herd area of open space, along with riding trails was set up on another part of the ranch. The herd area held as many as 40 horses — mares, geldings, and yearlings. Horses were regularly moved in and out of the herd for various pur- poses which include training,

The text above was inspired by a ranch that once upon a time facilitated herd life for their horses. The hors- es involved have long since crossed the rainbow bridge. But those many years ago, I had the great privilege of witnessing the herd running free at full gallop. With only a little over 140 acres, the ranch was set up to foster both herd life and an extensive riding, train- ing, and breeding program.

as if gathering to say good- bye and to pay tribute to him. I could imagine the silent group approaching the spot where Charlie lay, standing for a brief moment, and then slowly and calmly departing, effortlessly allow- ing the course of life to take its turn. Many horse farm managers say riding and training pro- grams are incompatible with herd life. But advocates of

When horses run together across the land as a herd they express the del- icate interplay between individual freedom and the unity of spirit, and they bless the land just by being.

Linda Boston Franke, editor

PHOTO BY MARSHA KLINE

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