PENCIL MEETS PRAIRIE
Western Artist Karmel Timmons creates lifelike portraits of the horses and wildlife on Wyoming’s prairies
In a family full of talented artists, it seemed inevitable renowned Western Artist Karmel Timmons would follow suit.
“I kind of just grew up around art,” Karmel states. “In my house, my mother would always have pencils, paints and sketchpads lying around, and both my brother and I eventually became professional artists.”
It was in high school when Karmel realized she really had a knack for the craft and started to become more serious about it.
“I don’t believe I ever took a science class, but I sure took a lot of art classes,” she laughs.
However, after graduation, life changed course and creating art was no longer one of Karmel’s priorities. Then, in 2000, after settling in rural Colorado, Karmel started to draw again, finding inspiration in the mountain and prairie landscapes and the animals that called it home.
After 30 years in Colorado, Karmel sought another change in scenery and found herself in Sheridan among the quiet, rolling foothills of the Big Horn Mountains, where she still resides to this day.
And, after picking up the pencil again 25 years ago, Karmel has never put it back down.
Artistic process
Today, Karmel is a full-time acclaimed professional artist known for her moody, ultra-realistic portraits of horses and wildlife.
She notes pencil is easily her medium of choice, and horses have always been her favorite subject matter.
“I really like anything I draw. My favorite will probably always be horses and cows, but horses are my thing,” she says. “They’re also probably the hardest thing to draw, but I just think they are such beautiful animals and there is something so special about them.”
With this said, Karmel points out she doesn’t have any horses of her own. Instead, she works from reference photos she takes herself to create all of her original pieces.
“Early in my career, I used other people’s photos for reference, but after a while, I decided it was something I needed to do myself because I wanted it to be my art,” she shares. “It had to be my photo and my
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Western influence – Western Artist Karmel Timmons, known for her ultrarealistic portraits of horses, draws inspiration from the cowboy lifestyle of the northern plains of Wyoming. This piece is titled “Cowhorse.” Courtesy photo. Cover art titled “Moving Forward” by Karmel Timmons.
interpretation of my own photo. Then, the end result was the drawing I produced.”
However, she says, “I am not a great photographer, and I don’t have time to learn how to use a camera so I just put it on auto and shoot a million photos.”
In one outing, Karmel admits she may take nearly 2,000 to 4,000 photos, 99 percent of which likely don’t turn out.
“I will find about one percent that works for me, and oftentimes, I don’t just use one photo,” she says. “I use several photos to get the composition I like.”
Karmel says she often gravitates toward certain horses because they make good models.
“There may be a horse that is really beautiful in person, but it doesn’t come through the camera,” she says. “And sometimes, I end up drawing the same horses over and over again because it is a good model. I tend to gravitate towards certain horses because they are pretty, but I can find inspiration from anywhere.”
In fact, upon moving to Wyoming, Karmel notes she also found inspiration from the area’s wildlife, and she often makes the trip to Yellowstone National Park to photograph her next wildlife subjects.
Original art
After finding a subject, shooting photos of it and settling on a shot – or multiple – that she likes, Karmel may spend anywhere from one day to a few weeks – depending on size and complexity – creating one of her original masterpieces.
In addition, the Wyoming artist does all of her own printing, framing, shipping, social media, web updates and graphic design.
“My printer in Denver went out of business shortly after COVID19, so when I moved to Wyoming, I bought a big, fancy printer and had to learn how to use it,” she says.
She shares a typical day in the life starts with a slow morning drinking coffee, surfing the web and taking care of housekeeping matters before getting to work in her studio for the rest of the day.
“Most people don’t realize my medium is very slow,” she admits. “I might only get 20 drawings done in a year.”
Additionally, Karmel notes the majority of her work includes noncommissioned, original pieces.
“I very rarely do commission work. It takes about twice as long as
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Playing with color – Although Western Artist Karmel Timmons is known for her ultra-realistic pencil drawings, she has recently taken on the challenge of playing with different mediums and focusing on color. This piece is titled “Ready to Ride.” Courtesy photo
doing something I decide to draw because there is a whole approval process,” she states. “And, I am usually going to sweat over a commission far more than an original drawing because commission work includes trying to make someone else happy.”
Current work
“Throughout my whole career, up until I moved to Sheridan in 2017, I really just worked with pencil,” Karmel says. “Now, I have a lovely studio over our garage so I have a lot more space, and I decided now is the time to try to mix it up a little bit.”
Since drawing with pencil has become second nature, Karmel took on the challenge of playing with different kinds of mediums in recent years, including pastel, watercolor and oil.
She proudly relays she recently finished her very first oil painting.
“I have been painting a lot, but I’ve never actually finished one so it was kind of a big deal,” she states.
“Now, I am really focusing more on color, and I am having way too much fun with it,” she adds. “I am always going to do pencil because it’s what I’m known for, but I am really enjoying learning these different mediums and techniques.”
Currently, Karmel is working on meeting the deadline for the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale (BBAS), held in Cody each September.
“I have a big piece that will go up for live auction during a very fancy dinner under the big tent,” she says. “So, I have a piece I am working on that they need to have in a couple of days.”
Accolades
Today, Karmel’s popular graphite portraits can be found in her three galleries – one in Cody; one in Whitefish, Mont. and another going up in Steamboat Springs, Colo. – as well as some of the most prestigious museums and art shows across the West.
Over the course of her professional career, she has exhibited work at the Coors Western Art Show in Denver; BBAS in Cody; the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show in Cheyenne; the Brinton Museum in Big Horn; the Cow Girl Up Show in Wickenburg, Ariz.; the Mountain Oyster Club Art Show in Tucson, Ariz. and the American Academy of Equine Art in Lexington, Ky.
Her work has also been published in Cowboys and Indians, The Cottage Journal, Southwest Art, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, Western Horseman, Eclectic Horseman and Horses in Art.
Among this long list of accolades, Karmel notes her favorite accomplishment came this January during the Coors Western Art Show.
“Me and a couple of other artists have been doing the show for over 20 years, which is kind of unheard of,” she shares. “They gave me an award called the Mary Belle Grant Award, which is named after one of the show’s founders who passed away.”
“They give the award every year to someone who has had an
impact on the show and its 30 years of existence, so it was fun and nice to be recognized for something I have been doing for so long,” she adds.
Additionally, Karmel received the popular vote for Western Horseman’s Best Artist of 2024.
“They nominate several artists and have all of these different categories relating to Western lifestyle,” she says. “I actually won it, which I was very pleased with because all of these people had to vote for me over the course of a month and a half.”
“When I got the e-mail I had won, I was very surprised and happy because it meant a lot of people know who I am and appreciate my artwork,” Karmel concludes.
For more information on Karmel Timmons and her artwork, visit karmeltimmons.com
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Favorite subject matter – Western Artist Karmel Timmons of Sheridan notes her favorite subjects to draw are horses and cattle, working exclusively from reference photos she takes herself. This piece is titled “The Line Up.” Courtesy photo
DISCIPLINE, DEDICATION, DRESSAGE
Heart Mountain Dressage Club shares passion for equitation and horsemanship
As its name implies, the Cowboy State is home to equestrians of all kinds.
One may find cattlemen on gritty versatile ranch horses trailing pairs to summer range; rodeo cowboys on quick-footed athletes competing in the roping arena; a sturdy and reliable pack string hauling wild game out of the backcountry; a well-groomed and patient-minded halter champion receiving another show ribbon and well-bred thoroughbreds racing around a dusty track, among others.
Among the mix is a close-knit and dedicated group of equestrians working hard to share their passion for the art and discipline of dressage and the benefits it has in developing horses and riders of all ages.
Heart Mountain Dressage Club
In 1989, the Heart Mountain Dressage Club was started as a group member organization of the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) and an official nonprofit through the state of Wyoming.
According to Heart Mountain Dressage Club President Austen Samet-Brown, original membership was small and consisted of a mix of individuals who had moved into the Big Horn Basin from the East Coast and others who grew up on ranches in the area.
“It was a small group of riders with a passion for dressage, the way it develops young horses, the horsemanship it teaches and how it can be applied to basically all forms of riding, especially regarding what many were doing on their farms or ranches and in everyday life,” Austen says. “Heart Mountain Dressage Club was established to bring the classical art of English riding to the Big Horn Basin.”
Today, Heart Mountain Dressage Club is made up of about 35
All-inclusive club – Heart Mountain Dressage Club encourages all riders and horses to attend their clinics and shows, which are also open to the public. Courtesy photo
long-time members, with about five or six new members joining each year.
“Sometimes members will join for a year, then take a couple of years off. But anyone who has ever joined our club stays on our list, Continued on next page
so we can send them the monthly newsletters and information for all of our upcoming shows and clinics. This way they can stay up-to-date on what’s happening,” she shares. “We also utilize Facebook and our website to share the news of upcoming events and to post entry forms so riders can sign up to ride in our shows and clinics.”
Austen also notes the club hosts three organized schooling shows each year – one in the spring, one in the summer and one in the fall. The shows are affordable, low pressure and open to all riders.
“Western tack, English tack, proper dressage show attire or your best set of riding chinks – anything goes,” Austen says. “We do require the use of helmets and proper riding boots, but other than that these are just nice local schooling shows to get horses and riders out to practice dressage.”
Austen notes the shows are still held to high standards in an effort to make it worthwhile for riders who travel across the state and surrounding area to get practice and helpful feedback from certified instructors.
“We offer the official tests provided to us by the USDF, the Western Dressage Association of America, the U.S. Eventing Federation and the USA Working Equitation, as well as some jumping dressage tests specially designed for us by one of our long-time members and certified instructors,” she adds.
Heart Mountain Dressage Club also hosts clinics once a month on everything from desensitization, horsemanship and working equitation, to learning how to ride Classical English dressage and/or Western dressage and everything in between.
“We strive to offer a little bit of everything and to let people know anyone can ride dressage,” she continues. “Dressage can benefit all riders and horses at varying levels – all the way from colts to more experienced competitive horses and walk trot riders to professional equestrians.”
Upcoming events
Schooling shows
– Each
With April in the rearview, Heart Mountain Dressage Club is gearing up for its 2025 show season, which will kick off with a Ride-a-Test Clinic May 24-25.
Austen explains the concept of the clinic is to allow riders to pick a test they intend to show over the summer, ride the test for the clinician who will judge it as if it were a real show and then score the rider and horse and give them feedback on how to improve.
“The Ride-a-Test Clinic is a really cool way to jump into the show season so riders can get a baseline of where they are and what they need to improve on,” Austen states. “The clinic is also the perfect time for anyone who wants to come out and learn how to ride dressage. It is a great way for someone who knows nothing about dressage to get a big crash course in how to ride a dressage test.”
After the clinic, the club will host its first show June 7 with a clinic to follow on June 8 in Lovell; a second show and clinic will be held on
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NOLAND FEED
year, Heart Mountain Dressage Club hosts three schooling shows for riders from all walks of life.
Courtesy photo
Aug. 2-3 in Powell and a third show and clinic on Oct. 11-12 in Lovell.
Austen notes ribbons through sixth place are given to winners in each class, as well as division high-point winners and overall highpoint winners at the end of each show. A yearly division high point award is given at the conclusion of the three-show series.
“Even though every show is a competition, it is also a really great learning experience,” she says. “Riders get written feedback from all of the judges regarding what they can improve and what they did well.”
Open arms
Overall, Austen notes the goal of Heart Mountain Dressage Club is to share members’ passion for and bring awareness to the sport of dressage and the art of riding harmoniously with one’s horse.
Currently, the group has been partnering with local 4-H groups to introduce dressage to the younger generation. The club also recently offered two youth scholarships to allow students to attend clinics and lessons in the area and to participate in shows for free.
“Those are a few of the big things we have been pushing. We are just trying to get some younger riders interested and show them what else is out there for horseback riding,” Austen states. “We’re trying to
let younger riders know trail riding or loping barrels aren’t the only things they can do with a horse. Dressage is just a different style of riding, and it is so much more than just going around in circles in an arena. It is a good way for horses and riders to work on building a solid connection and lasting partnership.”
Austen reiterates the Heart Mountain Dressage Club’s arms are open to riders and horse enthusiasts from all walks of life.
“We love to see new people and all the different kinds of horses,” she says. “We invite everyone to come join us – anyone interested in dressage, English riding and, of course, all Western riders are welcome. We want to show them dressage can benefit any rider and any horse. It’s pretty much all-inclusive, and we offer something for every rider.”
All Heart Mountain Dressage Club events, shows and clinics are open to the public and free for spectators and information regarding events can be found online and on Facebook.
“We just want to encourage as many people as we can to come out, check out what we do and ride with us,” Austen concludes.
For more information on the Heart Mountain Dressage Club, visit heartmountaindressageclub.com
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
UTILIZING REAL HORSEPOWER
The Lupher Ranch, perched high up in the Uinta Mountains, continues to operate generations later.
With much of the land homesteaded by Wes Lupher’s family, he and his wife Becky, along with their four children –Stormy, Logan, Madison and Hannah – now keep the family ranch alive.
“The ranch has been operating since the 1870s,” Wes says. “My dad James ‘Jim’ Lupher’s granddad established the homestead in the 1870s.”
“After I got out of school, I went to the U.S. Navy, and after six years I came home and went back to work on the ranch with my dad, where I’ve stayed,” Wes continues.
The Lupher Ranch is unique in that they still utilize traditional horsepower to manage their cattle and put up hay.
Many livestock producers in Wyoming used to feed their cattle in the winter with a team of horses, but the Luphers still do.
“My dad always worked horses, and I grew up driving a team to feed cows,” Wes says.
Not only do they feed their cattle with a team, they complete day-to-day operations and most of their haying with a team of American Brabants.
American Brabants
The Lupher family has utilized teams of horses to move material, plow and disk their hayfields and pull smaller wagons
for special jobs around the ranch.
“Our teams work year-round,” Wes shares. “They have
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Vince Donley
Rooted in tradition – With the help of sturdy and sound-minded teams of horses, the Lupher family has been ranching in Uinta County for five generations. Courtesy photo
some kind of job in every season.”
“Ranchers can use horses for just about anything,” he adds. “There are a few ranchers around me who feed with teams of horses, but not very many anymore.”
The Lupher family used Shire draft horses in the beginning but switched to American Brabants a few years back.
Shire stallions, native to England, average slightly more than 17 hands in height and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, whereas American Brabants are smaller working draft horses from European Belgian bloodlines.
“The biggest thing about Brabant horses is their durability,” Wes explains. “They hold their flesh easier and are more efficient. They are power in a small package.”
“Our horses average 15 to 16 hands tall and weigh in around 1,600 pounds,” he mentions. “With their body shape, these horses are easier to harness as they are short but stout and move with vigor when put to work.”
Old-fashioned horsepower – While many modern-day ranchers have turned to using equipment to put up their hay, the Lupher family of Uinta County still use “old fashioned” horsepower. Courtesy photo
Wes adds, “These working horses are known for their calm, willing disposition, which allows them to be adaptive to all types of work including haying, logging and pulling wagons for feeding livestock and hauling other heavy equipment.”
“ The biggest thing about Brabant horses is their durability.” Wes Lupher
Back in 2022, the Luphers hosted the American Brabant Association Fall Rendezvous, allowing producers to see other breeders’ operations while showcasing the American Brabant breed.
War wagon
Wes notes he needs the ability to move round bales to different locations depending on the weather and the terrain the cattle are in, and with his cattle scattered across the ranch, he needed a new way to feed, which required some ingenuity.
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According to Wes, when feeding round bales further from the stackyard, they need to be pulled out of the stack and onto the wagon or sleigh which works well for second tier bales but not for bales on the bottom of the stack.
So, Wes and a good friend created the “war wagon” in hopes of making loading and delivery of a bottom round bale easier.
“We made a useful bale unroller for my horses, with a hydraulic squeeze and all,” he says. “It was a success, and I’ve fed thousands of bales with it now.”
Cattle business
“In the early years, my dad raised Herefords, but today we run Simmental and SimAngus cattle,” Wes shares. “In 1990, we put together a great artificial insemination program and have been focusing on raising good bulls and heifers.”
Wes and his family run cattle and put up their own hay each year on the ranch.
Haying with horse-drawn teams helps keep costs down when feeding large herds of cattle, plus it is a great way to break in a team, Wes says.
The Lupher family cuts around 300 to 400 acres of hay with their teams each year. This includes cutting with sickle bar mowers, racking hay with dump racks and stacking loose hay and bales.
Although the family does do some of the haying with a swather and baler, 80 percent of all haying each year is done completely by their teams of horses.
For more information on Lupher Ranch, visit @LupherRanch on Facebook.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Winter work – The Lupher family has fed thousands of bales using teams of horses throughout the brutal winters in Southwest Wyoming.
Courtesy photo
LANGUAGE OF THE HORSE
Bill Oliver teaches natural horsemanship techniques for effective equine communication
Wyoming has been Bill Oliver’s home since he was 18 years old, but he grew up in northeastern California, riding in the rugged Cascade Mountains.
“This was what I’d call bridle horse country, which includes southeastern Oregon and the edge of the Great Basin. As a young man, I was exposed to some fine bridle horses and trainers,” Bill shares.
Bill then moved to Wyoming and began guiding, packing mules and training horses for hunting outfitters, where he was taken aback by the heavy influence of outfitting and rodeo on the way horses in the area were broke and trained.
“These horses were not fine-tuned bridle horses,” he notes. “With rodeo, you get into tie-downs and arena performance, which is a lot different from what I grew up with, and many of the horses and mules we worked with as outfitters in the 1980s were purchased out of the kill pens in Billings, Mont. They went right to the trailheads, so they had to be broke quickly, and we got the job done. There were no round pens on the mountainsides, and our task was to make them useful as pack animals or safe to ride.”
“We basically wadded them up, rolled them over and threw them on the ground,” he adds. “It was rough and very old-school.”
Gaining experience
In 1991, Bill had an opportunity to work for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) running a pack string to take supplies and equip-
ment into the backcountry, often to work on fires.
“We had a big string of mules and packed all through USFS Rocky Mountain Region Two,” he says. “We also did some educational outreach about leave-no-trace camping and gave packing demonstrations.”
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Working in the first and oldest U.S. national forest, Bill was on the tail end of a legendary generation – rangers, wildland firefighters, outfitters and ranchers who relied solely on livestock, primitive tools and grit to get the job done.
These men and women cleared trails with crosscut saws, packed dynamite on mules and navigated the wilderness without GPS, cellphones or modern conveniences – just skill, instinct and a deep connection to the land.
Bill was the person who got called in to do difficult packing jobs – wrecked airplanes, lookout towers, etc. in rugged country –mainly in wilderness areas of Wyoming and Colorado.
“I had this job for about three years. I worked nearly every day packing mules in wilderness settings. Then I had a chance to come back to Cody and manage a wilderness and trails program on more than one million acres of wilderness and 1,000 miles of backcountry trails,” he says.
“I had 46 outfitter and guide permits to administer, overseeing a stock program with about 65 horses and mules, which was quite a turnaround after starting wages with an outfitter for $10 a day and room and board,” he adds.
While Bill served as a forest ranger for 22 years, he also started colts and worked with remedial horses.
“I literally made a living horseback, and most of the time it was in remote wilderness settings,” he says. “I had the opportunity to study many great horse handlers, some of which became household names. It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and the concept of natural horsemanship – a different approach than the forced horse training I was doing before.”
This kicked off 20-some years of discarding the old-school, production-oriented methods and learning from many mentors.
Natural horsemanship
In 2017, Bill’s wife and friends finally convinced him to begin sharing his equine knowledge with the world.
Today, Bill does a lot of in-person clinics, as well as online courses explaining his philosophy and methods. He works with all stages of horsemen, from beginners to advanced trainers and from colt starting to the finished bridle horse.
His definition of “natural horsemanship” is to adapt the way horses interact with each other in a herd.
As prey animals dependent on herd dynamics for survival, horses have a strong flight instinct and communicate to each other
through the slightest movements and body language. In a wild herd, one will readily see pressure and release within the “pecking order,” and there is always a matriarch mare who is the dominant leader.
This mare represents safety, discipline and leadership.
The language of movement, energy and feel is universal to all horses, and this mostly nonverbal language is what Bill has honed in on and leveraged for horse training. This is the guiding principle behind all he does.
Bill uses this strategy horseback and in the round pen, taking on the role of the matriarch mare to communicate with the other horse at liberty. Like the matriarch mare in a herd of horses, Bill handles and drives the young horse while he is horseback. This readily breaks down any psychological barriers and establishes dominance and leadership.
It’s a natural way to instill submission in young horses.
By driving one horse with another, he can also get a physical read of the horse. Within a few minutes, he can evaluate the horse and see if it is aggressive, lazy, high-strung, resistant or submissive, which is much more effective than doing the initial work on foot
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Natural horsemanship – Bill Oliver uses the concept of “natural horsemanship” to break and train colts, relying on the science of herd dynamics and a “matriarch mare” mentality to naturally instill submission in young horses. Courtesy photo
or trying to get on the young horse.
“There’s nothing natural about a predator climbing on a horse’s back. Natural horsemanship, to me, is how one horse communicates with another horse,” he says.
The matriarch mare doesn’t have to get physical very often. She merely has to gesture, and with body language as the psychological upper hand, the subordinate horse moves out of her way.
“She just drops her head and pins her ears back,” Bill notes. “She has established leadership and dominance. In 40-some years of working through all of this in my colt-starting clinics, the main thing that sets me apart in my methods is I do most of my work on horseback and drive colts in the first initial face-up the same way an old matriarch mare would do.”
“A lot of trainers put horses on lunge lines or chase them with flags, running them around, round-penning etc.,” he continues. “But my approach is different. When I start a four-day colt starting clinic, the first thing I do is work all of those colts horseback. I drive them and work on the initial face-up and forward motion. How they drive is typically how they’ll ride. For example, if you are dealing with a big draft cross and he’s lacking in forward motion, I can pretty much bet this is also how he will ride.”
“ There’s nothing natural about a predator climbing on a horse’s back. Natural horsemanship, to me, is how one horse communicates with another horse.”
Bill Oliver
Sharing knowledge
Forward motion is something Bill focuses on when teaching other riders through his educational clinics.
He says, “Some people wonder why it’s so important to work on forward motion, but just like the old matriarch mare, I am pressuring the horse on the shoulder, behind the eye, as I drive and handle it horseback. Throughout the course of the four days, I handle colts so much by horseback that by the time he is ridden, he will respond the same way.”
Bill notes many of those who partake in his clinics are riding their colts by the end of the first day with this method.
Bill handles the first ride from his own horse for the person on the colt.
“I’ve got the colt to where I can move him out with forward motion and rate him, then take him from a walk to a trot and a trot to a lope and rate him back down,” he explains. “I can whistle and move my horse to the inside, using body language just like one horse would do with another, then bring the colt right to the inside, face him up and stop him.”
He notes this is helpful for the first couple rides, as the rider can simply focus on gentling and desensitizing the colt, which creates a very easy transition.
“I am still pretty much handling the colt from horseback and can put him wherever I need to to keep the rider safe,” he continues. “If things start to happen too quickly, I can use body language with my horse, bring the colt to the inside and shut him down.”
Colt-starting clinics – Equine Expert Bill Oliver shares his vast knowledge and experience through in-person and online clinics, which are available on his website. Courtesy photo
“If this doesn’t work, the other option is to drive the colt on his shoulder, push him into the outside of the round pen, which rounds his body and makes it difficult for him to get stiff and straight and try to buck,” he adds.
Bill explains this is the reason for a round pen – to round out a horse so he can only crow hop.
“Unless the horse can come through the middle of the pen and get stiff and straight, it’s very difficult to buck hard,” Bill says.
On the second day of the clinic, Bill will add a snaffle bit into the equation.
“We progressively continue, then by noon on the fourth day, I usually have everybody riding outside – either in a big arena or in the sagebrush around our arena and barn,” he shares. “By this point, the colt is relaxed, and the rider can shut him down on one rein. This usually concludes our four-day colt starting clinic.”
Bill has also created a video series on colt starting which will be released on May 11 at the Mother’s Day Spring TuneUp Clinic.
He has a couple of other videos already out – one on driving and driving in a round pen, which addresses the matriarch mare idea.
“We have another video on groundwork,” he says. “Both of those are available via our website.”
For more information on Bill Oliver Horsemanship, visit billoliverhorsemanship.com.
Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
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THE ART OF RAWHIDE
Acclaimed Braider and Western Artist Vince Donley boasts years of rawhide braiding experience
At just 12 years old, Vince Donley starting teaching himself how to braid rawhide with the help of a book by Author and Braider Bruce Grant, who wrote several books on leather and rawhide braiding including “Leather Braiding” and “Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding,” which include detailed illustrations and step-bystep instructions.
“I struggled a bit with it, and it wasn’t until I was in my 20s when I finally figured out the right moisture content in order to braid,” Vince shares. “At the time, I was interested in learning, but I didn’t have any mentors. Nearly everything I tried came out of my Bruce Grant book.”
“Then, in the 1980s, I ran into more guys who were doing some braiding, and they were all trying to figure it out too. Before then, there wasn’t a lot of sharing of information between artists,” he admits.
Vince notes he originally thought braiding would be a simple hobby. However, nearly 50 years later, the talented artist is still making and selling his impressive rawhide work.
The journey
“I have been braiding for more than 50 years, and in the 1980s I sold my first pieces,” Vince shares. “I hung my work in John and Kitty Butler’s saddle shop, Custom Cowboy Gear, in Sheridan, and they sold it for me on commission. Even after I retired from braiding for various saddle shops, I still had them. I never needed a big customer base.”
Vince notes in the beginning there were only a few rawhide braiders, and most of the braid work found in Wyoming was made by Jack
Shepard, who passed in 2007.
“I had him to look up to when I was getting started,” Vince says. “Many of the little shops around the area would get some of his work to sell, and I was amazed at how consistent it was.”
After Jack semi-retired, there was a gap left in the market that needed to be filled, so Vince began selling more work to several
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Reins and romels – Sheridan Artist Vince Donley notes the popularity of braided reins and romels has seen a fairly recent resurgence. Courtesy photo
different saddle shops across the state. He did this until he was about 65 years old. Then, seven years ago, he and his wife decided to travel and sell some of his braid work themselves.
“I didn’t get to slow down. I didn’t really retire,” he laughs. “My wife and I spent about 45 years in the Sheridan area, then moved to Sundance a couple of years ago. We are presently trying to build our retirement home.”
Creating the art
Although Vince has created all different types of horse tack, he has seen the most demand for his bosals.
“It’s my favorite thing to make,” he shares. “But we also do a lot of braided reins and romels now. In the last 20 to 30 years, there has been quite an upsurge in the vaquero tradition of horsemanship. This started when Ray Hunt was going around doing clinics, and it’s been furthered by some of his students, especially Buck Brannaman.”
Vince became acquainted with Buck while living in Sheridan, and he attributes a lot of his growth as a braider to Buck and his wife Mary.
Vince admits times have certainly changed since he started and information is more readily available on the internet now. However, when it comes to experience, he has now been perfecting the craft far longer than most.
“I got started when the resurgence of the old, traditional ways was barely getting started,” he says. “After World War II, a lot of leather craft almost died out, then in the 1970s, some of the traditional art began a resurgence.”
Vince attributes this to the work of Kurt Markus and other famous photographers who published books depicting the rugged and romantic spirt of the cowboy and the American West, which begin stirring up interest.
“ Making your own is just another means of quality control. And preparing the rawhide properly is an art in itself. ”
Vince Donley
Now, some braid work is considered art instead of tack, and people would rather hang it on their wall than use it for everyday riding.
“There used to be quite a bit an art focus, but it has somewhat died out because there just aren’t as many collectors today,” Vince admits.
He notes the art focus of braid work was big in the 1990s when there were a lot of leather shows and competitions for gear makers, which changed the dynamic from functionality to craft and required braiders to think outside of the box and try different things.
“There are so many little things I learned throughout the years. Some of the younger guys have also come up with tricks that I’ve picked up on,” Vince shares. “I’ve found a person needs to keep trying different things, otherwise they get stagnated and set in their ways. Trying new things keeps me sharp.”
Today, Vince says he usually buys cowhides from local butchers and packing plants to make all of his own rawhide.
“Making your own is just another means of quality control,” he states. “And preparing the rawhide properly is an art in itself.”
While there are numerous different ways to do it, Vince says he likes to use a hot water slip, and for many years, he used wringer
Acclaimed artist – Vince Donley of Sundance is a well-renowned rawhide braider and Western artist. Courtesy photo
washers to do this, but they are now becoming hard to find.
“I think I’ve worn out two Maytag washers, and I have an old Zenith that doesn’t seem to want to quit,” he says. “Then I bought a cement mixer to use for some of this. I would usually have two or three washing machines going when I was doing hides. I found this makes it a much shorter process to slip the hair with water than any other way. I could get a hide and have it slipped and cleaned within a couple of hours.”
Vince also uses dye on some of the hides he works with.
“When I started out, nobody wanted Black Angus hides because they wanted everything to look like Luis Ortega’s work, which was kind of white and yellow. There was nothing wrong with black hides, except a lot of them turn gray, green or mottled, which wasn’t accepted until years ago,” Vince explains. “So, I started dyeing some rawhide because there were so many black hides coming through.”
on. Several people tell me this seems to work pretty well, but I just use Rit dye you can buy at the grocery store.”
“It takes a bit of trial and error to get a program going that works, to be able to dye the hide and have it be consistent,” he continues. “There are some colors that just don’t work out, so I tend to stay with earth-type tones.”
Sharing the talent
Vince admits he expected things to start slowing down with the passage of time, but his work is still in high demand.
“I’ve been very fortunate. I have a lot of repeat customers who have been good to us,” he says.
For those interested in creating their own braid work, Vince mentions the importance of patience and resilience.
“It can be very frustrating starting out, but now there is so much to learn on the internet,” he says. “Some people just give up on rawhide, but they need to keep trying. It took me years to learn the proper moisture content to make it workable, but once you get a feel for it, it’s a lot easier.”
When Vince first started making rawhide, it wasn’t hard to get red hides, but today a person would probably get four black hides to one red one.
“Last year, I did about 15 hides and only had two red ones I could use for finished hides,” he says. “The rest of it I dyed.”
Vince adds, “A lot of people have their own program. Some use natural dyes. I recently watched a video of a guy who had a hide in the frame, letting it start to dry and he just took a sponge and some leather dye and wiped it
He continues, “Many people would rather braid leather because they can put it down and pick it up again later and nothing ever changes,
Crowd pleaser –Braider Vince Donley creates all kinds of Western tack, bosals seem to be in the highest demand from his loyal customer base. Courtesy photo
HISTORY OF WYOMING POLO
Wyoming remains a significant player in the world of polo
Polo has deep roots with an evolution shaped by different cultures into the ancient sport known today.
Polo was first introduced in the U.S. from England in 1876 then took root in Sheridan in 1893, where it continues to flourish today.
Every summer, some of the world’s greatest players gather in Wyoming to showcase their passion and skill on the field.
Wyoming is home to several prominent polo clubs, including the Flying H Polo Club and the Big Horn Polo Club of Sheridan, as well as another club located at the Melody Ranch in Teton Valley – the Jackson Hole Polo Club.
The sport of polo
According to the U.S. Polo Association, polo is a dynamic and thrilling team sport where players and their equine partners work together in perfect harmony.
It’s a game of strategy, skill and connection between teammates, horses and the ball, all unfolding at an exhilarating pace.
Polo is one of the oldest known team sports, and its origins date back over 2,000 years to Persia, where it was initially a training exercise for the cavalry.
These ancient matches were not just thrilling competitions, they were captivating events highlighting the immense status and power of the players, who often belonged to noble or warrior backgrounds.
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Popular sport – Polo was first introduced in the U.S. from England in 1876 before taking root in Sheridan in 1893, where it continues to flourish today.
Flying H Polo photo
The grandeur of these games truly brought to life the cultural significance of the time, making them a vital part of the community’s identity and pride.
The game spread across Asia and was adopted by various empires, notably the Mughals, who introduced it in India, where it was modernized before spreading to the West.
It was in India, in the 19th century, when polo was formalized with standardized rules and where the first polo clubs were founded.
Polo is commonly associated with horses today, but it has had various forms throughout history and across different cultures. For instance, during imperial China, polo was played on donkeys.
Today, polo has evolved into an international sport with established rules and tournaments which have helped standardize its practice worldwide.
Although it has a reputation as an elitist sport, polo has become more accessible and is now played in many countries with dedicated clubs and associations.
The history of polo in Wyoming
play polo in Big Horn.
“The Polo Ranch, which Oliver Wallop inherited from Moncreiffe and in turn handed down to Sen. Malcolm Wallop, was the center of polo in the Northern Rockies until the early 1980s when the ranch was sold,” states the Big Horn Polo Club website. “It had the distinction of being the oldest field in the U.S., on which polo had been played continuously.”
The Big Horn Polo Club expanded to be one of the three largest of over 200 in the U.S., and in 2005 the Flying H Polo Club became one of the three summer clubs in the U.S. to offer high-goal polo.
Wyoming polo horses
Polo’s origins date back over 2,000 years to Persia, where it was initially a training exercise for the cavalry.
According to the Flying H Polo website, on July 4, 1893 at the Sheridan Fairgrounds, two polo teams calling themselves Sheridan and Beckton squared off in what was described as a wild scramble with over 1,000 spectators witnessing the event.
It is reported, in 1898 Scotsman Malcolm Moncreiffe moved from Powder River to Big Horn and built a polo field and breeding operation where he exported Wyoming-bred thoroughbred polo horses and foxhunters to England and organized local horsemen to
By 1897 or perhaps earlier, horsemen in the United Kingdom and possibly continental Europe had discovered Wyoming horses exhibited exceptional strength, stamina and endurance, according to the Wyoming Historical Society website.
Historical records indicate in 1884, Oliver Henry Wallop, the eighth earl of Portsmouth from Devon, England, migrated to the U.S.
Wallop’s father gifted him two English-bred stallions, providing a solid foundation for his horse breeding endeavor, and in 1890 he took a significant step by purchasing a homestead near the Big Horns, where he focused on raising and training polo ponies.
Since then, C-Spear Ranch in Sheridan has been cultivating remarkable polo horses, including Jasmine, a striking gray polo pony, and her sister Julieta, which achieved the prestigious title of Best Playing Pony in 2018.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
AQHA LEGENDS
American Quarter Horse Association pays tribute to legendary AQHA horses
Since 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has brought together dedicated horsemen and horsewomen to preserve, celebrate and promote the American Quarter Horse breed, and throughout the years, legendary horses have been celebrated by the AQHA.
Offering remarkable bloodlines, these horses continue to inspire and shape the future of horse breeding programs, beginning with the legendary chestnut stallion Wimpy P-1, the first American Quarter Horse to be registered with AQHA in 1941 and inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1989, according to the AQHA website.
“Poco Bueno was one of the most influential sires of the 1940-60s, siring 405 registered foals. Of those, 36 were AQHA champions, and three are in the National Cutting Horse Association’s Hall of Fame, including the famous Poco Lena,” states the AQHA.
Both Quarter Horses were inducted into the hall of fame –Poco Bueno in 1990, and two years later, Poco Lena was inducted as the first mare.
Also inducted in 1992, another influential Quarter Horse, Joe Hancock, a 15.3-hands high, powerful stallion was another one of the AQHA’s founding sires.
According to AQHA, “Joe Hancock was one of the greatest quarter-mile horses of all time. His sire John Wilkens was a great quarter running horse, and his grandsire Peter McCue was the greatest dash horse of all time.”
Legendary bloodlines
Hall of fame inductee Colonel Freckles, a blazed-faced stallion born in 1973 in Midland, Texas, first gained recognition in 1976.
With numerous offspring competing in events organized by the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NCHA), his progeny continues to achieve success.
Legendary rodeo horse Driftwood, nicknamed “Speedy,” was known for his easy-going disposition and his abilities in the rodeo arena, earning him a spot among the hall of famers in 2006.
“Born near Silverton, Texas in 1932, this bay colt became a winner at match races, and at the age of nine, he was a bullet out of the box, earning paydays in events including tie-down roping, team tying, steer roping and steer wrestling,” states the AQHA website.
Peppy San Badger, a sorrel stallion, was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2008. This cutting legend sired 2,325 AQHA registered foals which earned more than 7,200 points in all divisions and won more than $25 million over 19 seasons.
Infamous Bar bloodline
A key figure in the development of the American Quarter Horse breed is the Three Bars bloodline.
Three Bars, a chestnut Thoroughbred that possessed not only speed but excellent conformation and disposition, stood 23
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seasons as stud.
In this time, he sired more than 500 registered foals, and his name has appeared on all leading sire and maternal grandsire listings covering everything from racing to arena performance.
“A legendary sire of almost transcendental genetics, Three Bars sired champions in all facets of the American Quarter Horse breed, with four AQHA supreme champions, 29 AQHA champions, 14 racing champions and 64 racing stakes winners,” the AQHA states.
According to AQHA, at the time of Three Bar’s death, he was the all-time leading sire of racing Register of Merit qualifiers of AAA runners and money earners, earning $2,857,781. He was also inducted into the hall of fame in 1989.
Continuing the all-star bloodline, Lightning Bar a 15.2-hands sorrel stallion sired by Three Bars, achieved great success in a short time and took his place in the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2008.
After his racing career, he went on to become a show horse, then later a breeding stallion before he passed at the age of nine.
A name many won’t forget – Doc Bar, a chestnut stallion sired by Lightning Bar – was bred to run but changed the halter industry with his unique conformation, winning nine grand champion titles and one reserve champion title out of 15 shows.
Over the following years, Doc Bar sired many National Cutting Horse Association Futurity winners, world champions and top-10 horses.
Among his numerous successful progenies was a bay champion cutting horse, Doc O’Lena, foaled in 1967 out of the mare Poco Lena and one of only two horses in the AQHA Hall of Fame with both parents as inductees, notes the website.
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The next generation – This Shining Spark and Frenchmans Guy foal is set to impress in the arena. Courtesy photo
Doc Bar entered the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1993, and Doc O’Lena followed suit a few years later in 1997.
Continuing the bloodline
Tanquery Gin, a sorrel stallion born in 1975, was sired by Doc O’Lena and had a short show career hampered by injuries but displayed enough talent to attract mare owners.
The AQHA notes two foals from his first foal crop combined to win more than $450,000 in cutting competition and sired earners of more than $2.3 million, but may be better known as a great broodmare sire, producing 266 performers with earnings of more than $3 million.
Another stunning bloodline of note is Shining Spark, a stunning palomino that was a National Reining Horse Association Derby champion, an AQHA junior reining world champion, the sire of multiple world champions and working cow horse and roping legends and the son of AQHA hall of famer Superhorse Diamonds Sparkle.
The palomino stallion, foaled January 1989, was one of the crown jewels of AQHA Hall of Fame Horsewoman Carol Rose’s breeding program.
Continuing the Bar bloodline is High Brow Cat, the infamous chestnut cutting horse and AQHA all-time leading performance sire with offspring earning in excess of $95 million.
“High Brow Cat is an anomaly,” says AQHA Past President Frank Merrill. “He turned this industry on its ear. We have never had a sire that has dominated its discipline like High Brow Cat.”
The 1995 NCHA Futurity Open Champion Peptoboonsmal, a red roan stallion and a legendary offspring of Peppy San Badger, was one of the most influential cutting horse sires of all time, and his offspring have earned over $28 million in cutting and reined
cow horse events, according to the AQHA website.
Over the past three decades, there has been one constant among the fastest horses in rodeo, roping and show arenas –Frenchmans Guy.
Foaled in 1987, this palomino colt is traced top and bottom to hall of famer Lightning Bar and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2024.
Another outstanding stallion sired by the phenomenal leading sire Frenchmans Guy, stamped with his long, free, extended stride, speed, mind and phenomenal heart and try, is Frenchmans Easy Doc.
Frenchmans Guy progeny has proven to be among the elite competitors and best investments in the performance horse industry.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
LEMMON PERFORMANCE HORSES
Wild Horse & Burro Events
Wild Horse & Burro Events
Wyoming / Nebraska 2024
Wyoming / Nebraska 2025
Wind River Wild Horse Ranch Day & Adoptions, Lander, WY
Wheatland Off Range Corral, Wheatland WY
June 7 & Sept. 6
May 17
June 21 & July 19
Deerwood Open Ranch Days, Centennial, WY
August 16 & Sept 20
June 14 & Sept. 27
Oct 18
Wyoming Honor Farm Adoptions, Riverton WY
Fourth Annual Spring Mustang Rendezvous, Torrington, WY
June 7
May 17-18 & Sept 13-14
Wind River Wild Horse Ranch Day & Adoptions, Lander WY
Wheatland Off Range Corral, Wheatland, WY
June 1 & Sept 7
June 21 & Oct. 18
Deerwood Open Ranch Days, Centennial WY
June 8 & Sept 28
Cheyenne Frontier Days @ Lions Park, Cheyenne, WY July 22-July 26
3rd Annual Spring Mustang Rendezvous, Torrington WY
June 8
WY Wheatland WY
Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island, NE Aug. 22-23
Cheyenne Frontier Days @ Lions Park, Cheyenne WY
July 19-July 28
Mustang & Burro Days, Wheatland WY
Wyoming Honor Farm Adoptions, Riverton, WY Sept. 12-13
Aug 24-25
Mantle Ranch, Wheatland WY
Mantle Ranch, Wheatland WY
To make an adoption appointment, please call (815) 566-1233 or (307) 331-1311.
To make an adoption appointment, please call (815) 566-1233 or (307) 331-1311.
Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility, Rock Springs WY
Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility, Rock Springs, WY
To make an adoption appointment for Thursday or Friday. Please call (307) 352-0292.
To make an adoption appointment for Thursday or Friday after April 19, please call (307) 352-0292
Call (307)775-6162 for more information about these adoption events
Call (307) 775-6162 for more information about these events.
Applications approved on site!
Not able to attend this event? Find more events or adopt a wild horse or burro online! Visit BLM.gov/WHB for more information
Quarter Horse and All Breed classes including AQHA Walk Trot, Speed, Ranch Riding, Rail and Trail, Reining, All Around Performance classes, Halter and Showmanship, for Youth, Rookie, Novice, Amateur, Select and Open exhibitors
AQHA, WQHA
RMQHA, CONQHA Approved
Flat Fee of $500/6 judges
$300/3 judges Includes all AQHA divisions, 1 horse/multiple riders
Six Judges (get your qualifying points!)
July 9-11
Mike Carter, Chile McGauly, Kathy Anderson
PLUS come on Tuesday July 8th for Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail Clinics with AQHA judge and professional horseman Cyndi Robbins invites you to its
July 11-13
Leanne Williams, Robbin Jung, Mike Jung
4-Year-Old Redshirt Ranch Stakes! $1,000 Added Jackpot
M
LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES
Fox family offers unique horse-riding experiences in remote Wyoming and around the world
Mel Fox and her family own Bitterroot Ranch, a Wyomingbased dude ranch in Dubois famous for its equestrian programs, especially Arabian horse breeding and training.
Mel grew up with horses on a farm at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa, and recalls an old neighbor had a beautiful Arabian mare given by the local Arab tribesman as a wedding present for him and his wife.
“They shipped the mare to Mombasa, and then she walked all the way up to their farm in Tanzania,” Mel shares. “This was quite a romantic story to me as a child. My sister had a half-Arabian pony, and I always liked the breed.”
Later, Mel married Bayard Fox, who had purchased the Bitterroot Ranch in Wyoming in 1971.
Bayard’s dream was to live on a ranch in the Rocky Mountain West ever since 1943 when he made a four-day train journey from Philadelphia to Seattle and spent two weeks with his father on a pack trip around Yellowstone National Park.
After graduating from Yale, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked for 20 years – mainly overseas – before becoming a rancher.
Here, Bayard and Mel began raising cattle and horses and hosting guests.
In the early years on their Wyoming ranch, Bayard ran a hunting camp in the wilderness. This helped extend their outfitting season by guiding hunters.
After he turned 70, however, he decided raising cattle was
Checking cattle – Bitterroot Ranch offers visitors an authentic ranching experience with comfortable accommodations. In summer months, visitors can help ranch wranglers check cattle high up in the national forest. Courtesy photo
easier than packing elk out of the mountains.
He and Mel were able to make nearly the same amount of income from hosting guests in September to help gather cattle from their grazing permits in the mountains of the Shoshone National Forest behind their upper ranch.
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MULESHOE RANCH
Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming
4,304± total deeded acres includes 420± irrigated acres under 3 pivots. Nice ranch headquarters with new improvements.
$6,750,000
Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Michael McNamee at (307) 534-5156
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Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming
Complete equestrian facility with multiple revenue possibilities. Indoor arena, large stall barns, roping arena, 3BD/2BA home and MORE, located just off I-25
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Mark McNamee at (307) 760-9510
2960 LINGLE-VETERAN ROAD
Lingle, Goshen County, Wyoming
80± deeded acres with beautiful 3 bedroom home, 2,880 sq. ft heated shop. Views of the Platte River Valley
$1,210,000
Michael McNamee at (307) 534-5156
They also have an irrigated lower ranch where most of the horse herd winters.
Bayard passed away in September 2024, but his legacy lives on.
The family business now includes Mel and Bayard’s son Richard Fox, as well as his wife Hadley, another Yale graduate, whom Richard met while guiding a safari in Kenya.
Arabians
Mel notes when she first arrived on the ranch in Wyoming, there were several types of horses of poor quality, and the two thought they could improve the herd with Arabian genetics. Their first breeding stock was acquired from a Wyoming neighbor who also had a horse farm in Texas.
“Our neighbor acquired the racing sire Sambor, and he later sold us TC Mr. Lucky, a pure Polish Naborr son,” Mel says, noting one of her favorite riding horses for many years was an Abu Farwa grandson.
“This led us towards the Crabbet horses,” she continues. “The focus of our breeding program has always been to produce solid family horses with good minds. We purchased Indian Sundown, bred by the Duchess of Rutland and imported from the United Kingdom (UK) to cross on our mostly CMK mares. He was 15.2 hands high, and size was becoming important in enabling us to provide mounts for a wider range of guests.”
In 2003, Bayard and Mel visited a riding center in Spain and were taken to Diego Mendez’ La Aldara Stud by their hosts.
“We were very impressed with the Spanish Arabians. They were big, athletic and also had quiet temperaments,” Mel shares. “We purchased a few straight Spanish mares and acquired the Spanish stallion Granizo.”
“I’ve purchased stallions from the East Coast and from Can-
Bitterroot Ranch Arabians – Mel Fox, owner of Bitterroot Ranch in Dubois, has always had a soft spot for Arabian horses, raising CMK and Spanish lines for visitors to ride at the ranch. Courtesy photo
ada,” she adds. “The Arabians have been great for us. They last a long time and are good with cows, personable and very athletic.”
Today, Mel says the family’s Arabian mares are mostly CMK and straight Spanish, with an emphasis on good gait, kind temperament and a willingness to do what is asked of them. They can all be ridden when they aren’t being used as broodmares and they are used for all kinds of work on the ranch.
Their guest ranch is one of the rare places where visitors have the pleasure of riding well-trained and responsive Arabians in varied terrain.
“We’ve been breeding Arabs pretty much for our own use ever
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since 1983,” Mel says. “There isn’t much of a market for them here, as this is Quarter Horse country so I am not interested in raising Arabs to sell. At one point I thought any of them with potential as an endurance horse would sell, but I had a bad experience with the first one I sold. He ended up in a not-so-good home.”
Now, the ranch has about four to six foals a year to replace the older horses.
Ranch wranglers work with young horses and train them using the non-confrontational techniques of Linda TellingtonJones, who visited the ranch and hosted clinics there for nearly 20 years.
“The wranglers ride them for a couple years, and then we let guests ride them – initially the better riders,” Mel says. “Then, as the horses get older they can be ridden by nearly anyone. Not all of them work out well, but most of them do.”
Ranch work
Mel explains when visitors come to the ranch, they analyze their riding level and split them into groups based on ability.
“My son, daughter-in-law and I are all certified riding instructors, and the less experienced riders have the option of lessons with Hadley,” she notes.
“We do a lot of riding on our U.S. Forest Service permit and a lot of cow work. In July, August and September, the cattle are up on the forest, and we have to check on them and move them,” she says. “The permit encompasses 50,000 acres with three segments.”
Therefore, Bitterroot Ranch offers a weeklong range ride once a month to move cattle from one section of the forest to another. They also organize a team sorting event every week so guests can
International experiences – In addition to offering horseback riding in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming, the Fox family of Bitterroot Ranch also offers international riding experiences through their Equitours program. Courtesy photo
get an idea of what it’s like to work cattle.
“Because we have this vast area, we never quite know where we are going to be riding and moving cattle. We have a cowboy who lives in a cow camp up there during the summer, and guests can help him check on the cattle for a few days, as well as participate in the fall roundup,” she states.
“For this, we have a limit of 18 guests. We divide them into three groups of six, and off we go to bring in the cattle,” Mel adds. “It usually takes us a week. We are not just doing nose-to-tail trail rides. This gives guests a real job to do, and we have a lot of them who come back every year to help.”
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Equitours
Along the way, Mel and Bayard started their international riding experience, Equitours, as a way to diversify their income during Wyoming’s long winters.
Since Mel grew up on a farm near Mount Kilimanjaro and speaks fluent Swahili, Kenya’s Masai Mara was the first place they led an international riding tour.
Their language abilities – with Bayard also speaking French, Polish, German, Persian and some Spanish – helped them promote Equitours and maintain relationships with outfitters.
The venture also came about because of Mel’s connection with East Africa – her ex-brother-in-law was one of the first people doing horse safaris in Kenya.
“When I first came to Wyoming, I talked to our guests about riding in Kenya and showed them slides,” Mel says. “My parents still lived in Kenya, so we started going there every winter and leading two or three horse safaris. From there, we developed Equitours, a worldwide ride group. I am heading to Turkey in a few days for a ride. Last year, we went to India, and I eventually
hope to go to China. We ride all over the world.”
She notes the people who are attracted to international rides are the stronger riders, who often ride at the ranch before leaving overseas.
Equitours and Bitterroot Ranch clients are 75 percent repeat customers, mainly from the U.S, Canada, UK, France and Australia.
Mel and Bayard first sent their guests on rides organized by Silvia Frech, a Swiss lady who had a riding tour company selling trips in Morocco, France, Portugal, Ireland and Italy. Silvia suggested the Fox family send American customers on rides she organized, so this cooperation venture continued for several years until Silvia retired and the Foxes struck off on their own.
The Kenya safaris were becoming popular in the early 80s and so were other rides around the world. Mel and her family met and established lasting friendships with their Equitours outfitters around the world, and these relationships continue today.
For more information about Bitterroot Ranch, visit bitterrootranch.com
Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
EQUINE EDUCATION
Farrier science programs are gaining traction across the U.S.
According to the American Horse Council, the horse population in the U.S. is approximately 9.2 million, and the equine industry supports 1.4 million jobs, contributing to $39 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy with over 25,000 farriers working across the country.
In terms of employment, farriers make up 3.5 percent of the 700,000 people employed in the horse industry.
Due to this demand, farrier programs are becoming increasingly popular as more individuals pursue careers in the skilled trade, driven by a rise in horse ownership and recreational activities involving horses.
There are dozens of farrier schools throughout the U.S. Some are private institutions operated by an individual or team, while others are affiliated with colleges such as Sheridan College, part of the Northern Wyoming Community College District.
Sheridan College offers a Farrier Science Certificate which can be taken in conjunction with an animal science degree.
Certification program
According to the college’s website, the program is geared toward students interested in hands-on work to help them learn how to identify common foot and shoeing problems.
“Sheridan College started its farrier program in 2012,” stated Sheridan College Faculty Member and Instructor Quint Gonzales. “A good friend of mine, Steve Stephenson, a farrier from Montana and excellent educator, started the program but later retired. This is when I took over the program.”
The farrier program originally began with eight students per term but has since expanded its capacity to 12 students in 2022.
Quint states, “Students start in January with five weeks of equine
anatomy, then its’s all hands-on learning from there until the program ends in May.”
The certification program consists of 18 credit hours and provides training in sound principles and applications of farrier science.
Students develop knowledge and skills in the current techniques required to maintain horse hoof and leg health. A fundamental understanding of horse anatomy and physiology will be applied throughout the program.
In addition, students are instructed on the importance of horse form, function and biomechanics starting at the hoof and working up through the whole body.
This knowledge is imperative when they are determining whether horses need corrective shoeing.
After students complete the four-month program, they are encouraged to complete the American Farrier Association’s Farrier Classification examination and to work under an experienced farrier to gain more experience.
“I encourage students to take the national exam. It’s a really great test, even if it’s not a requirement to be a farrier. It shows they care about their work,” Quint mentions. “The industry needs great farriers, and we see students from all over coming to take the course and then going back home and continuing to learn as they work as an apprentice.”
For more information about the Sheridan College farrier program, visit, sheridan.edu
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
TOUCHDOWN REBEL
MY SMART HOTTISH
www.ownwyoproperty.com
Pool table stays with the house. 4374 ROAD 74T, TORRINGTON, WY – $459,000
A PERFECT COUNTRY HOME on 6 fenced acres has room for your horses and is just minutes from Torrington. This home offers peace, charm, and a well-caredfor living space. A beautiful open floor plan has a 23’ X 49’ family room—plenty of room for large gatherings and a pool table for game night. Custom touches are found throughout the home with crown molding, tile, hardwood floors, and quartz kitchen countertops. Enjoy the views and sunshine all year from the enclosed sun porch. The lower level has a walkout basement that provides plenty of light for the family room and both bedrooms. A large patio off the main level offers additional outdoor space. Need room for a shop and vehicles? An insulated and wired Cleary building has a shop and 2 garage stalls. Another building adds 3 more garage stalls.
Recent Updates: New roof in October 2024, new front door, new sliding patio door, new dishwasher
46B TWO PIPE TRAIL, SUNDANCE CANYON RANCH – $579,000
EMBARK ON THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER of your life in a place that celebrates both peace and adventure on this 64.49 acre property at Sundance Canyon Ranch.
Find 46B Two Pipe Trail at the culmination of a well-maintained graveled ranch road, you’ll find this remote property, providing both excellent access and a sense of seclusion. The land offers a diverse mix of treed areas, open grassy meadows, rugged canyons and intriguing rock outcroppings. With numerous building sites available, you have the ability to design the perfect setting – be it a permanent residence, a simple summer home, a family retreat or an investment property. This land caters to diverse aspirations. Enjoy miles of scenic views and complete seclusion. With electricity conveniently available for hookup, this setting allows for a balance of nature’s beauty and modern convenience. Indulge in the tranquility of nature with endless opportunities for hiking, horseback riding or ATV adventures. The ranch is a haven for wildlife with elk, deer, antelope and wild turkeys in abundance. There is enough room for your horses too. This remarkable piece of land is more than a static investment; it’s a gateway to a lifestyle enriched by nature. Don’t miss the chance to explore this extraordinary property and imagine the possibilities. Call Russ at 307-532-1717 to look at 46B Two Pipe Trail at Sundance Canyon Ranch
HORSE EDITION ROCKY MOUNTAIN
307 Performance Horses Page 15
Agri-Best Feeds Page 36
Barnyards & Backyards Page 25
Blevins Manufacturing Company, Inc. Page 5
BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program Page 31
Clark & Associates Land Brokers Page 33
Colorado Horse Sale Page 10
Cooper, Paula Inside Front Cover
Country Land and Homes LLC Page 22
Covolo Auto-Farm Service Page 26
Custom Rawhide Braiding by Vince Donley Page 12
Diamond B Realty Page 39
Farm Credit Services of America Page 13
First Northern Bank Page 38
Grassel, Chopper Page 15
Hayburner Tack and Leather Page 30
Heartland Kubota LLC ............................................................. Page 24
Hells Canyon Mule Days ......................................................... Page 28
Hempward Farms .................................................................... Page 35
Hoof Cinch LLC ....................................................................... Page 18
Huskerland Horse Sale Extravaganza....................................... Page 9
Jordan Xtreme Bronc Match ...................................................... Page 6
Josh White Auctions, Inc. ........................................................ Page 42
KNZ Brand LLC ....................................................................... Page 37
KR Rauch Company ................................................................ Page 34
Laramie Jubilee Days .............................................................. Page 11
Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch .......................................................... Page 38
Lemmon Performance Horses................................................. Page 30
Memory Ranches .................................................... Inside Back Cover
Miles Community College ........................................................ Page 10
Montana Horse Progress Days ............................................... Page 17
Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack ................................................. Page 7
MountainWest Valuations ........................................................ Page 21
Noland Feed .............................................................................. Page 9
Open Box Rafter Ranch Quarter Horses ................................. Page 20
Rocking Horse Therapy Page 10
Rocky Mountain Equine Fitness & Rehabilitation Page 40
Rocky Mountain Horse Breeders Association Page 8
RodeoWest Page 16
Sheridan College Page 12
Shippen, Grant Page 14
Silver State International Rodeo Page 16
Specialty Tool & Attachment Page 23
Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo Page 27
Three Crown Petroleum Page 3
Three Crown Ranch Page 41
Van Norman and Friends Production Sale Page 22
VAP Construction Page 14
Vintage Oaks Page 37 Visit Cheyenne Page 29
Wheatland Country Store Page 13
Working Ranch Cowboys Association Page 4
Wyoming Mediation Page 24
Wyoming Quarter Horse Association Page 32
Wyoming Ranch Rodeo Page 42
YZ Quarter Horses Page 11
Pine Ridge Knife Company ..................................................... Page 40
Plain Jan’s ................................................................................. Page 7
Proffit Ranch Quarter Horses Back Cover
Red Bluff Buckles Page 19
Three Crown Ranch
Colorado Hunting
Private land elk, deer, bear, moose and mountain lion hunts
2,100 acres bordering BLM in the Piceance Basin – Area 22
600 acres bordering the Flat Top Wilderness – Area 24
2025 Rifle and Bow Available – Bull Tags Over the Counter Area 22 and Area 24, Meeker, Colorado
WyomingRANCH RODEO FINALS
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BRONC RIDING TRAILER LOADING WILD COW MILKING TEAM DOCTORING BRANDING BRONC RIDING
1st Buckles - donated by First Northern Bank
2nd Wool Saddle Blankets - Bomgaars
3rd Back Cinch Buckles - Bolln Minerals
Wyoming State Fairgrounds Douglas, Wyoming 6:30 PM CALCUTTA 7:00 PM RODEO ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025 AT 5:00 PM SEND ENTRIES TO
4th Mohair Cinches - Converse County Bank
Top Hand Buckle - Scott Ranches
Top Horse Spurs - Clark & Assoc.
Top Bronc Halter - Newman Realty
Hard Luck Knife - Webo Angus
