Horse or ATV for Ranch Work?

Six questions that might help you decide

Landowners seem fairly evenly split when they are asked if they prefer horses or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for on-ranch transportation. Here are 6 questions to ask before you buy.

Eleanor Tron, an amateur horsewoman from Grapevine, is a retiree who has "always ridden," and became serious about horses 15 years ago when she was in her 50s. Her advice, and thoughts from our friends who answered this question on Facebook, may be helpful to our readers who, according to our research, are coming back to horses in the middle years of their lives.

1. What are you going to do with the horse or the ATV?
Who will ride, what is his or her skill level, what is the terrain like, what do you want to do with the horse or ATV? Answers to these questions will help you choose and, if ATV comes out ahead, determine your power needs for towing, hauling or handling rough terrain.

If you're looking at horses, these answers will help you choose the right temperament. A horse "with a lot of life to him" might not be good for an inexperienced rider, Tron says. "They know when they've got an amateur."

2. How much time do you want to put into being with the horse?
"The horse needs routine care," Tron says. "If you feed 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for days on end, it's not good for your horse if you decide one morning that it's too cold or you're too tired to feed that early."

Gas, oil and tires will service an ATV. The horse will require shelter, a trailer and truck for towing, saddles, tack, hay, grain and access to pasture. Remember to count the horse or horses into the stocking rate for a pasture if they are out with cattle.

"Are you prepared for possibly 10-plus years of horse care and managing the end of the horse's life? You can trade in an old ATV. How will you dispose of the horse at the end of its life? What are the animal health requirements for disposing of the horse in your area?" Tron asks.

3. New or used ATV, green or mature horse?
Speaking as a mature adult, Tron says with emphasis, "Do not go near any horse that has the word ‘green' in the description. If you're not in your teens or even 20s, start with a horse that's at least 8 or even 10 years old or older."

Your budget will help you determine whether you will purchase a new or used ATV.

4. Third-party evaluation or inspection?
"Pay someone with experience to go with you to look at the possible purchase," Tron says. "It will save you money." That could be a veterinarian or a farrier. He or she can help you evaluate the horse's structural soundness, starting with good feet. They'll also help you decide if the horse to the right size for you to saddle and mount. How high and how often can you lift a saddle? How's your leg flexibility and strength?

Your veterinarian should ask for proof of a Coggins test and ask about any genetic diseases in the bloodline.

A third-party inspection applies to purchasing a used ATV. If you're not familiar with the equipment, get your mechanic to inspect it.

5. Where did the horse come from?
Tron purchased her horse Smoke from East Texas where acorns were not prevalent. Smoke developed health problems after consuming them in North Texas. Livestock learn what to avoid in their native range, but can get into trouble in new surroundings.

6. What is the return policy?
A reputable ATV dealer should have an up-front return policy and warranties.

For horses, arrange for a 3-day trial period, Tron suggests. "Be willing to pay up front for the horse," Tron says, "with a guarantee that after 3 days you can return the horse for a full refund if there's a problem you can't live with." Also, 3 days will allow any drugs that may have been administered to clear the system.

Our readers say…
Neil Ranch — An ATV doesn't cost any feed or dollars when you're not using it. It's lower to the ground so I can get closer to trees or get in and out of wooded areas.

Bob Kinford — ATVs are OK on some fences and for running waterlines, but, when it comes to working cattle, nothing beats a good horse.

To see all the Facebook answers to our question go to thecattlemanmagazine.com and click on Rancher's Management Guide.

We asked our Facebook friends our question, "Which do you prefer for ranch work – horse or ATV?" Here are some of their answers. Thanks Readers!

Neil Ranch — An ATV doesn't cost any feed or dollars when you're not using it. Lower to the ground so I can get closer to trees or get in and out of wooded areas.

Rita Thompson Mills — Here's the deal, I've watched my granddad, dad and others their entire lives work cattle in pens, alleys, traps, 5 acres to 10,000 acres and each one of these men would say horseback. Ya just can't turn a critter on an ATV like you can a horse and horses have the ability to maneuver more like cattle and if you have a good one, pretty much think like one too sometimes. I think ATVs have their place in checkin' on things but you just can't beat a good horse between your legs for doing quality cattle work! I don't think horses stress cattle as much as ATV's either.

Scotty Holland – Horseback. Not only do you get to see the country, without all the noise, you can also do some training on your horse. They don't get broke standing in the pasture.

Ty Jones — Horse.
Bristi Cure — Horses
Richard Potts — Horse
Jeff Chaffin — Horseback !
Michelle Weathers — Horse!!!
Michelle Hill Mathiews — Horse!
Scotty James O'Bryan — Nothing replaces a good horse
Blake Denbow — Horse
Kacee Thacker — We use both, for different things. Fixing/building miles of fence sure is easier with an ATV. Buzzing around to break ice on various tanks and creeks, ATV. Cattle work, HORSE. Less stress, easier on cattle, usually quicker since you don't spill as many, more efficient when sorting either in pens or pasture. Some say that feeding a horse is worse than the price of gas. This summer, I saw more money go into the maintenance of our ATVs (4 that aren't used all the time) than it take to feed 4 horses all winter. At least the horse will gain value over the years of ranch experience, where the ATV will lose.
Arnie Finley — Mule
Ernest Davila — Horse!!
Brad Jones — horse!!!
Rosemary Brizendine — Horse
Steven Kahla — Horse.
Russell Freeman — Horse
Jim-Bob Trant — ATV
Roxanne Gabel Erramouspe — My husband and prefer a horse, hands down!
Jennifer Wilhelm — I have to say that Kacee summed up our use of both on our ranch also. While we do have both, the horses are used everyday year round, where as the ATVs are used only for helping to build fence and breaking ice during the winter. When there is good amount of snow on the ground an ATV can get to parts of the pasture that you can't reach in a truck, to break ice in the morning.
Chad D. Miller — Minature horse; that a way if he starts buckin' I can just stand up.
Dustin Breyman — ATV bar none!
Bob Kinford — ATVs are ok on some fences and for running waterlines, but when it comes to working cattle, nothing beats a good horse.
Anthony Pennartz — Horse all the way.

Texas Brand Re-Registration Begins Aug. 31, 2011

Every 10 years, Texas ranchers are invited to re-register their brand in the county or counties in which they run cattle.

Look to this column every month in 2011 for more information on the brand re-registration process. We will also post this information on tscra.org, under Theft and Law — click on the News and Information button in the left navigation list. And, look for these updates on Facebook.

Do I have to re-register my brand?
Yes. In Texas brands have to be re-registered every 10 years.

Brand re-registration always begins in the year ending with a 1. For example, the next brand re-registration period begins Aug. 31, 2011, and closes Feb. 29, 2012.

If you do not re-register within that period, then your brand is up for grabs by someone else. Brands must be re-registered within that period regardless of the dates they were originally registered.

In Oklahoma brands are re-registered every 5 years. This process is the responsibility of the State Board of Agriculture. While brand re-registration dates in Oklahoma are not specified, the code explains that the owners of currently registered brands will be notified about the re-registration period. •