Whoa Podcast About Horses and Horsemanship

The Whoa Podcast About Horses and Horsemanship is just that - a conversation about all things horse related. Join us, John & Ranae Harrer as we explore this wonder world of equine ownership.

Devils Garden Mustangs with Laura Snell

September 29, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Devils Garden Mustangs with Laura Snell

M squared photography

Laura Snell knows a lot about the Devils Garden Mustangs and their Herd Management Area. She is a Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor for Modoc County. Laura works with the US Forest Service helping with research and management of the herd. I thought the BLM managed the wild mustangs, then learned several agencies involved. The Devils Garden is on Forest Service Land and is the largest herd managed by the Forest Service. There are approximately 2,000-2,500 horses on this land. While this is by some estimates 10 times the amount of horse than the area can sustain, not that long ago that 4,000 horses roamed this area.

Devils Garden Mustangs have roamed this land for over 100 years. The horses are from ranches that occupied neighboring areas. The area was a source for Calvary horses, and they introduced some draft horse bloodlines. They are sure-footed, stockier horses that are used to living in a rough environment.

We’ve produced many episodes about mustang and mustang programs. Joe Misner uses mustangs as part of a wild horse program in a Sacramento Correctional Program. Spring Creek Basin Mustangs have TJ Holmes to administer PZP to maintain population control. If you’re interested in more stories about mustangs, please check out those podcasts.

Links to the Devils Garden Mustangs

Forest Service Devils Garden Site

Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals

Fall in Love with a Devils Garden Mustang

Tom Hagwood Performance Horses

Tom Hagwood on Facebook

Join Us on this Journey

We want you to be a part of the show. Tell us about your horse. Share your challenges, triumphs, or just everyday items that make horse ownership unique. Create an audio file using the memo app on your phone. Or contact me and we’ll set up a time to talk by Skype or phone. Perhaps what you have to share can help someone in THEIR horse journey.

You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #176

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Looking Back at the Podcast

September 1, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Looking Back at the Podcast

This week we are looking back at an episode I produced 8 years ago. If you listened to last week’s episode, you heard my interview with Lane Selz. Lane and I met through my farrier Sean McRoberts. While still in high school, Lane qualified for a permit to ride in the PRCA. I got to follow Lane’s pro Rodeo career.

While I research last week’s episode, I came across a recording I did when Lane was just starting out assisting Sean. I’ve edited the old show down quite a bit. It shows the changes in both the podcast and Lane. Back then, we called the podcast the DUH Podcast because I was/am a big fan of the Downunder Horsemanship Method. I used to open the show with a motivational or funny quote. We left that in too.

Throughout the broadcast you can hear the natural sounds from my backyard: cars driving by, birds chirping, nippers and files. My philosophy then was to bring the listener realism and experience. I don’t think I pulled it off.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Join Us on this Journey

You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #175

Support the Whoa Podcast with this Amazon Link.

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My Horse Trailer Setup Travel Safely with Your Horse

August 31, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

My Horse Trailer Setup

Your horse is most vulnerable when he is in your trailer. I wanted to show you my horse trailer setup. Now, I am not an expert, but I have talked to Rebecca Gimenez/Husted of Technical Large Animal Rescue and she gave me some useful tips that can help anyone who trailers a horse.

There are the essentials: a contact sheet with important phone numbers. I include my vet’s name and number, both my wife’s and my number, and a non-horse emergency contact. In this case, my older brother who I can count on to come whenever I need him. Close to this list, I keep a chart showing the normal ranges for a horse’s temp, pulse, and respiration. Sometimes in an emergency we may not think clearly, so this helps.

When I spoke with Rebecca, she pointed out the primary danger of a trailer breakdown or roadside emergency. Often, the driver is in such a hurry to run back and check on their horse; they forget about their personal safety. She recommends a reflective vest and a red roadside marker to set up behind your trailer. Having traffic see you is important so you can focus on your horse.

Our Equipment

We like the Blocker Tie-ring for both inside and outside the trailer. It’s Easy to connect and disconnect the horses from the ring. We also have reflective vests and emergency road markers.

Stock your First Aid Kit with products you think necessary. For us that’s gauze, tape, and Vetwrap. Remember, the products in the kit are designed to get your horse stabilized until you get to professional help.

However, you have your horse trailer setup, you’ll want to be sure to include flashlights, a good spare tire, and a trailer jack.

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Working Cowboy Lane Selz Ranch Life in California

August 25, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Working Cowboy – Lane Selz

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a working cowboy in 2020? My friend, Lane Selz, day-works for several ranches in the area. He describes life in today’s ranching world.

When I first met Lane, he was still in high school. He was so good at riding bulls in high school, he earned his permit to ride in PRCA. From there, Lane spent a few years riding on the professional circuit, traveling to rodeos across the country. Lane returned to Bakersfield, CA to open up his own farrier service business after working for several prominent farriers locally, including Ernest Forsberg and Sean McRoberts.

But Lane grew up wanting to be a cowboy. As a kid he rode his bike to Denny Watkins place and helped where he could. In Central California, where we both live, there are several big ranches. Lane contracts with many of them as a day-worker. When the ranch needs extra help, they call in day-working cowboys. As extra help, Lane never knows what job he might get for the day. It could be sorting, branding, or gathering. It’s not a total mystery, Lane can usually predict what work needs done by the season. They may brand in the fall, calve in the spring, etc.

I talked to Lane about what it’s like for today’s working cowboy in California. For more info on the Californio Tradition, check out this video with Tommy Thompson.

Join Us on this Journey

You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #174

Support the Whoa Podcast with this Amazon Link.

Checkout My YouTube Channel

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Stallion Springs Trail Ride

August 7, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Stallion Springs Trail Ride

Friends and I explored the Stallion Springs area of the Tehachapi Mountains in Central California. There is plenty of room for your horse trailer at the intersection of Horse Thief and Mustang, called Buckskin Park. You’ll find a few horse pens, hitching posts, and picnic tables to enjoy. From here (our elevation was about 4,000 feet), you can horseback ride in a couple of directions. Some trails are alongside the streets, but the residents are very respectful of horseback riders and take care.

At the time of this video, some trails needed maintenance, but that won’t always be the case. Stallion Springs Trail Maps: https://www.stallionspringscsd.com/equestrian-hiking-trails

There were five of us riding on this outing. Two of the people knew the area well. Stallion Springs, and the Tehachapi area is a very horse-friendly. While we ride through residential areas, the lots are big and far apart. There are lots of oak trees. I believe there are five distinct types of oaks in the area. As we rode through one area, a group had labeled many of the plants.

Most of the group drove from places with a little elevation. Scratch lives at 500 feet. I found he was huffing and puffing going up the hills. The temps can reach the high 80s in the summer. At that elevation, it feels even warmer.

As we wound around the mountains, magnificent vistas of the Tehachapi valley would emerge. Then, we would turn around another corner and trees and mountains surrounded us.

Wildlife and the Old Golf Course

Real estate in the area took a hit a few years back. As a result, the Stallion Springs golf course lost its owner. It’s overgrown now. Golfers knew the course for its fast greens and rocky terrain.

We saw a few deer from the trail. Two elk walked through Buckskin Park as we unsaddled. There have been some reports of rattlesnakes in the area. Keep an eye out.