Ranch Horse Management

Management and use of horses in cow-calf, stocker and feedlot operations.

Prerequisites

Students must have a demonstrated career interest in the cattle industry. Students must also be able to display adequate horse riding skills.

Course Objectives

• This course is designed to give beef/equine oriented students an opportunity to understand how horses are best utilized by cow-calf, stocker and feedlot operations.
• Students will develop and improve skills used by ranches employing horses on a daily basis.
• Students will learn about managing horses with cattle.
• Ranch horse safety and the affects of employee injury on Worker’s Comp costs will be examined.
• Class participants will learn about horse utilization and management by different types of operations.
• Students will have an opportunity to learn how horses are used by ranches in different parts of the country.
• Students will develop skills and experience necessary for a successful Internship.

Course Topics

• Ranch horse safety
• Horse psychology & training
• Saddle fitting and tack selection
• Feeds & nutritional management for ranch horses
  ( Dr. Lori Warren)
• Shoeing and hoof care for work horses
  ( Dr. Ed Johnson)
• Cattle behavior and flight zones
• Starting horses on cattle and cattle on horses
• Trailering and hauling horses with cattle
• Utilizing dogs with horses
• Breeding and selection for ranch horses
• Creating value in a ranch horse
• Managing risk on the ranch, workplace safety and worker’s comp
• Gathering, sorting and moving cattle in a pasture
• Moving cattle in a lane
• Roping in a pen
• Roping & doctoring in the pasture