In this last part of the four-part series, I’ll cover one more key area of training that helps turn a foal into a useful partner and companion for farm, ranch or recreational use. After teaching a foal to lead, pick up his feet and tie, we teach him to load in the trailer. Most of […] Read more
Training a horse to load in a trailer
Start by exposing the foal to a range of experiences around the yard – Part 4 of a 4 part series
Calving season begins
Eppich News: A new (to us) bale processor repaired and put to good use
We brought our cows into the corral for calving Feb. 20. It was quite cold then with temperatures ranging from -22 to -30 C before the wind chill. Due to the cold, we had to keep a close eye on the corral. Later that week Gregory had the opportunity to turn our old bale processor […] Read more
Teaching a horse to tie
Neck injury is possible if the foal doesn’t learn to stand quietly – Part 3 of a 4 part series
It’s a great frustration to have a horse you cannot trust to stand quietly when tied. Some horses learn bad habits later in life, but many have never been given a good foundation as foals. We teach our foals to stand tied right after they learn to give to pressure on the halter, and they […] Read more
Grafting a calf made for a happy pair
It wasn't the usual orphan calf scenario, but the cow and calf finally bonded
We started our calving season this year with a loss when cow number 56 lost her premature twins. This cow has always brought home a good calf, and one year even raised a set of twins on dry grass by herself. She’s always been decent to work with and not overly nervous or reactive, so […] Read more
Livestock records reveal odd pattern in births
What are the odds of a cow family and older mare following the same birthing routine three years in a row?
We keep records to help us make management decisions with both cattle and horses. They help us to make good breeding or culling decisions, and on occasion they make for a good laugh. While going through the records recently, I discovered a funny coincidence. In the 2020 calving records I had recorded how I went […] Read more
Getting ready for calving season
Eppich News: Milking two cows leads to a wide range of homemade dairy products
January passed by in a blink of an eye. Gregory fed cows every day and usually had to move snow around to either feed or to bed. Overall, the weather was pretty nice, so the boys and I would work on some schoolwork in the mornings, and then go out and play in the afternoon. […] Read more
Getting foals used to handling their feet
Horse Handling: Ease into it with gentle moves that help build trust – Part 2 of a four-part series on training foals
Horses are a useful tool on the ranch and farm and they are wonderful companions and friends if they are handled properly when they are young. A horse is a prey animal that moves away from perceived threats. Their feet are very important to their ability to get away from danger. If a horse trusts […] Read more
Putting a halter on a foal: Part 1
Horse Handling: Be gentle but firm in getting them use to halter and lead rope. Part 1 of a 4 part series on training foals
Horses are still a vital tool for many ranches. When they are not being used for work, they are a good source of recreation and exercise. Every good horse started out as a foal. A good foundation is so important for a horse’s later usefulness. As we start this four-part series on foal handling, let’s […] Read more
Definitely a cold, snowy start to winter
Eppich News: Blowing snow made it a challenge to feed the cows
December was cold and windy. It was too cold for little Ian to be out at all, and Joseph and James were not allowed to be outside for very long. Usually they got bundled up and then played a little bit on their walk over to Grandma’s house. They had fun but were quite sad […] Read more
Tarp serves as temporary workshop
With blocked wind and some heat, a tire repaired on a bitterly cold day
Tires are an expensive necessity on the farm. Just when you think you may be making good progress on a job or a chore, there goes a tire. It was -35 C in December when Gregory was plowing snow to open trails to feed the animals and open our driveway. Thankfully, he had finished with […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
