A variety of ranch horse topics were discussed recently at the 15th annual Holt Cat Symposium on Excellence in Ranch Management in Kingsville, Texas. Experienced horsemen, practicing veterinarians and ranch managers shared their horse program success experiences, including on horse safety, legal risk, ranch economics, health, nutrition, reproduction and more.

The Horse Program Success on Working Ranches symposium, hosted by the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM), attracted nearly 250 attendees from 25 states and Washington, D.C. In sum, attendees represented more than 6 million acres of ranchland.

The keynote address was presented by John Welch of Welch Cattle Co. in Wolfforth, Texas. With decades of ranching experience, Welch offered participants a unique view on two approaches for successful ranch horse programs: horses as a profit center, and horses as a support center.

Welch illustrated the big picture of the ranch horse’s place in the operations as a co-worker and tool that benefits employee recruitment and retention and aides in the improvement of stockmanship and cattle performance.

Ranch horse safety was discussed by Bob Kilmer of Matador Ranch in Matador, Texas, who shared the ranch’s experience initiating change regarding employee and horse safety after a record number of accidents on the ranch in 1999. The change began with himself as manager, followed by the mindset of the team, he explained.

Protocols and guidelines were implemented to help the team understand their important role in preventing accidents. After two years, the results showed a positive change in attitude, improved horsemanship skills and growth in employee pride in the program. Kilmer reiterated that improving and making positive changes in the safety program at Matador is an ongoing process.

Horses and ranching operations come with much risk that must be understood by managers and owners. James Decker, an agricultural attorney from Stamford, Texas, explained how guests on the ranch fit into different legal categories and provided advice on reducing legal risk exposure for the ranch. The best legal policy, Decker said, is to strike a balance between workability for the parties that limits risk and protects management/ownership.

Equine nutrition consultant Dr. Dennis Sigler explained ranch horse nutrition and feeding guidelines, suggesting that regular exercise and feeding are key for healthy horses to meet the energy demands associated with the daily work the horse is performing. Such a strategy is seldom that easy, and Sigler went into more detail about conditioning and nutrient requirements of the working horse.

Feeding recommendations for a 1,100 lb. horse at maintenance or performing light and heavy work were illustrated. Sigler advised attendees to follow good management practices with providing routine vaccinations, regular exercise and quality forage and feeding horses a balanced diet.

Dr. Glenn Blodgett, a veterinarian with 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, outlined a basic preventative health program for ranch mares and saddle horses. He emphasized that the horses’ health and well-being are a vital component of all successful ranching operations and that no two ranches share the same health risks. Relative to health risk management, Blodgett stressed the importance of a biosecurity program and isolation of new horses as well as horses that have traveled off the ranch to work or compete. Blodgett also shared fencing, housing and nutrition guidelines.

Equine reproduction technology has advanced significantly in the past 20 years, according to veterinarian Ben Espy, who explained the relationship between a mare’s exposure to light and her ovarian activity, management of light exposure and estrus synchronization protocols. He also enumerated his experiences with handling semen and techniques that contribute to artificial insemination success.

The question of buying versus raising saddle horses was illustrated by ranch economist and KRIRM associate instructor Stan Bevers through a scenario that showed the cost to produce colts, a two-year-old filly or gelding and three-year-old mares and geldings (mature horses). The costs were compared to the results of the 2017 "Return to the Remuda Sale," and Bevers advised attendees to consider the question of what financial benefit is derived from the remuda to other ranch enterprises and activities.

A ranch manager panel with representatives from Parker Ranch, Singleton Ranches and Sooner Cattle Co. discussed horse strategies and policies. Attendees were able to ask the ranchers questions about how each ranch deals with riding outside horses, incentive programs, ranch rodeos, tack allowance and hoof and health care. The panel provided attendees with multiple perspectives from different types of horse programs from various geographical regions across the country.

A King Ranch demonstration and equine tour concluded the symposium. King Ranch horse division manager James Clement III and vice president of ranching and wildlife operations Dave DeLaney spoke to attendees about the rich history behind the King Ranch horse program, where it stands today and its outlook for the future. While Clement and DeLaney discussed the history, King Ranch vaqueros demonstrated the athletic ability of the King Ranch horses and halter breaking weanlings. A lameness diagnosis and treatment demonstration and discussion was led by ambulatory equine veterinarians Espy and Kurt Heite.

Formed in 2003, KRIRM is a ranch management master’s program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. As the only ranch management master’s program in the world, KRIRM teaches graduate students using a multidisciplinary, systems approach to ranch management. The institute also provides lectureships and symposia to stakeholders in the ranching industry through its event outreach component.