Copper Head-Ranch

19/12/2025

Ace is 100% content NOT going out into the Michigan tundra today ❄️ We feel the same, Ace!

13/12/2025

Baby Ace is nice and snuggly warm on this windy day ❄️

11/12/2025

Our horses are thriving, not just surviving. 💜

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. . .

If I had a dollar for every time someone pulled out this tired argument, I could finally build that new barn I have been dreaming about.

So I am here to set the record straight. Comparing domestic horses to wild horses is not the slam-dunk some people think it is. Rather, it falls apart once you get past the surface because it was never solid logic to begin with.

Yes, ‘wild’ horses, moose, elk, antelope, and whatever other critters people like to use in this argument don’t wear blankets. But here’s the part that is conveniently left out: they survive by paying a price. There is no safety net. Nature is not kind. And when a wild horse isn’t thriving, nature removes it. And it can be a painful and drawn out process.

Thankfully, domestic horses don’t live this way. But the trade off is that they are required to live within the constraints of human expectations.

They live in limited space, depend entirely on what we provide, and do not have the ability to roam miles to find shelter, better forage, or protection from the elements. Some drop weight dramatically in winter. Some have metabolic disorders, clipped coats, low body conditions, or age-related problems. We groom them, ride them, and many have been bred for refinement and traits that excel in the show pen, not rugged survival.

And here’s the biggest difference: our responsibility to domestic horses is not to simply allow them to survive but rather we have a responsibility to help them thrive.

I am a huge advocate for letting a horse be a horse. But it is not always that simple. Humans domesticated them so it has become our duty to manage them.

Blanketing is not about pampering. It’s not about fashion. It’s not about treating horses like fragile glass figurines. It’s about understanding the individual needs of the animal in front of you. Some horses will be perfectly fine naked all winter. Others will burn calories they don’t have, shiver for hours, lose weight, or struggle quietly.

Will they survive without a blanket?
Most likely.

But will they thrive?
That depends on the horse. And as their caretakers, it’s our job to know the difference.

So stop using that lazy “wild horses don’t need blankets” line.

We’re in the 21st century. We have knowledge, tools, and compassion. Use them. Do what’s best for your horse, not what a wild animal has no choice but to endure solely based on principle.

And I want to be clear. I think MANY horses do just fine without blankets, just not ALL horses. And that is the distinction I am trying to make here.

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

I am also super grateful for Untamed Souls Photography (link to their page in the comments!) for letting me use their picture in this post. While I pride myself in creating my own visuals, I didn’t have anything I loved for this post and her picture captured my vision perfectly!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cmm3YCV3q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

20/11/2025

BFA World Championships Cancelled Due to Confirmed Case of EHV-1

In a statement posted to its social media platforms, the BFA made the call to cancel the remainder of the BFA World Championships after receiving an update from the Oklahoma State Vet of a confirmed positive EHV.

Be safe friends!

2025 BFA World Championships Cancelled - Barrel Horse News

The Barrel Futurities of America World Championships held November 15 - 22 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, was cancelled November 18 through the remainder of the event due to a confirmed positive case of EHV.

07/11/2025

The large space that we leave in front of us is not room for cars to drop in. It's room for stopping slowly so we dont kill the animals we're hauling or the person in front of us. 💔 Please share this important message with those you know. Especially with winter knocking on our doorsteps making slick roadways. Like you, we want to get where we're going safely. 🐎🫶

Sharing a post from T. C. Morrow, Auctioneer...
⚠️Non-Horse riding and those that do not haul heavy weighted vehicles. You need to SEE THIS THE MOST AND RESHARE. The avg horse trailer and rig is nearly 22k lbs. Plus live weight does not stop smoothly. It surges with a forward and backward motion. Making the combination of weight a battering-ram with unyielding force.

The photo indicates the damage the weight of these rigs brings to bear. Just like a big rig, the distance we try to maintain in front of us is to allow for proper breaking distance. Our speed is to keep those in the truck, trailer, and around us safe.

DO NOT DROP IN FRONT AND HIT THE BREAKS, WE WILL END UP IN YOUR PASSAGE COMPARTMENT

DO NOT TAILGATE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE YOU.

DO NOT PULLOUT IN FRONT, YOU MAY GET T-BONED

DO NOT PASS THEN CROSS IN FRONT TO EXIT HWY. RELAX AND WAIT THE EXTRA 30 SECONDS.

01/11/2025

Yesterday Tay brought home her 4yr old thoroughbred, Jack, from training.

Just WOW. 😍
What a beautiful glow up he's had!

He spent 60 days with Superior Performance Horses (Maddie Neeb). Tay is beyond thrilled with how he changed! We are excited to have him back home and to continue his training 💜

While Tay says she has no plans to jump into an English saddle... I personally think Jack would look STUNNING in the show ring 🐎😍

Thank you again Maddie!

29/10/2025

Baby Ace met Jax up close and personal today.
Jax might be our herd leader but he is always so gentle (yet firm) with the youngsters.

27/10/2025

Tay & Jack had a beautiful sunset lesson with Miss Maddie 🌅

Their circles don't look like much, but the bigger picture is worth waiting for. I can't wait to see these two in the show ring next season 🫶

25/10/2025

Baby Ace was moved to his outdoor pen for the first time since his arrival today.

It's fun to see how different he has been from our last foal (Tombstone).

Trav and the kids played ball then did workouts while little Ace watched with curious little eyes.

He ran around the pen with me a little, showing off some cutting moves.

17/10/2025

After 3 years of raising and training, today was our 1st ride. 🫶

My ideal ride would have been walk, trott and canter. He gave us walk, trott and some steps into a lope.

I am over the moon!!

He's my 1st c**t that I started from scratch (as a tiny foal) with the help of my amazing husband.

I feel absolutely blessed to have been the one to put his first real ride on!

All our training and prepping him for this day paid off. No drama. No bucking or worried c**t here. Just a clean easy 1st ride.

Thank you Tombstone!! 😍

27/09/2025

We are excited to be welcoming this handsome c**t to the ranch this fall!

🌾High West Winds × Miss N Magnolia🌾
2025 QH C**t from South Dakota

While I truly thought another RMHA Foal was in our future, we couldn't pass up this opportunity.

Time will tell what his future holds. We see him turning into a nice little all-around prospect 🫶

15/09/2025

Watching them run this summer has been blissful.
Even when there were tears.
Even when he wasn't cooperating with her.
Even when she was tired from the day before and full of a little fire.

Parent's remember, you can take all the photos. Keep all the video. But you will never re-live these moments.

One blink of an eye and they grow up. I sure am glad we've been able to be there along the way every step with them.

🫶