Mini Mag Mar 16 2021

Even More Opportunities With Horses Despite Industry Transitions, Legendary Horsemen Agree By Frank J. Buchman

Many changes have occurred in the Quarter Horse industry during the past half century. Today people have more opportunities with horses for productive use, recreation, mental wellbeing and profit than ever before. Three legendary Kansas horsemen agreed with that synopsis during their panel discussion at the EquiFest of Kansas in Salina. Moderator was Dr. Justin Janssen, Alma, representing the Kansas Horse Council sponsoring organization for the three-day horse extravaganza at Salina.

Panelists included: Mark Gratny, Leavenworth, trainer of many champion Quarter Horses and exhibitors. Dr. Stan O’Neil, Salina, exhibitor of several world champion rope horses. Jerry Riemann, Dighton, breeder, owner, exhibitor of world champion horses. After a brief introduction of the panelists, Janssen called upon each horseman to expand on their background and experiences. Growing up at Claflin with diverse purebred livestock enterprises, Riemann became a Dighton feedlot manager after graduating from K-State. “We later bought and developed our own farming operation,” he said, “including the Quarter Horse breeding business.” Involvement in the cattle feeding industry has also again been a part of Riemann’s agriculture endeavors.

Dr. Justin Janssen, Alma, moderated the legendary Kansas horsemen panel discussion during EquiFest of Kansas at Salina.

“I do ride a lot, but I’m not a horse trainer,” Riemann emphasized. “I’m more intrigued by livestock breeding so we worked on developing quality Quarter Horses.” Success is apparent as Riemann has produced a handful of American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) world champions. Stallions he’s owned have produced an equal number of world champions. Highpoint awards have been earned by his horses several times in Europe and Hawaii. “I feel like we’ve been very lucky,” Riemann said humbly. “As important as our show and using horses are, we’ve produced a lot of nice horses for family companionship enjoyment. Our focus has been raising horses with a temperament that most people can get along with.”

Growing up near Winfield, O’Neil’s family farmed with draft horses. “I wanted to be a cowboy and ride horses, not drive them,” O’Neil said. However, in order to ride, O’Neil was mounted on a half-Draft horse pulling farm equipment. As a 4-H member, O’Neil raised a colt as part of Extension’s breeder mare lease program. “After the colt was weaned, the mare would go to another 4-H member to raise a colt,” O’Neil said. “Mine was a gaited horse not for a cowboy, but I trained him to work cattle and rope.” On a KU basketball scholarship playing with renowned Wilt Chamberlin as a freshman, O’Neil eventually graduated from KSU in veterinarian medicine. “In the

Legendary Kansas horsemen Jerry Riemann, Dighton; Dr. Stan O’Neil, Salina; and Mark Gratny, Leavenworth, were featured during a panel discussion at the EquiFest of Kansas in Salina.

meantime, I taught at Meade where I met Mike Drennan, an outstanding all-around horseman and cowboy,” O’Neil said. “Mike’s the one who really inspired me to become a team roper.” Developing his Salina veterinarian practice, O’Neil had his children Todd and Kirsten involved in showing horses. “They were successful including winning youth world championships,” he said. “I enjoyed roping and was fortunate to win world titles in team roping.” Gratny grew up near Olathe where his grandparents had horses. He was a member of the Rodeo Kids group which did trick riding and roping at rodeos and events including the American Royal. During the Vietnam War era, Gratny enrolled at KSU in engineering before transferring and graduating with a feedlot management degree. He was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and joined the Reserves. “I worked for Orville Burtis (former AQHA registration inspector) in his cow-calf operation and also trained some horses,” Gratny said. “I met my wife Linda through mutual horse interests during college. “Linda became a veterinarian and we moved to Leavenworth where I’ve been breeding, raising and training horses,” he continued. “I had the opportunity to work with trainer Denny Hassett. When Denny moved to western Kansas, I took over some of his training horses and stallions.” Quarter Horses Gratny has trained have collected titles in world breed shows as well as reining events. “We’ve trained horses in a number of disciplines from reining to jumping, dressage, pleasure, horsemanship, roping and working cow horses. Most recently, it’s been ranch horses.” While showing, Gratny coached youth and amateur exhibitors for many years. “Today I work more with amateur riders in ranch horse classes,” he said. His daughters Kelly and Maggie have been successful training and showing horses. The legendary horsemen credited mentors for influencing their lives with horses. “The Winfield veterinarian Dick Warren and an area cowboy J. Blaine Adams inspired me from an early age,” O’Neil said. “Of course, Denny Hassett helped me along, and I learned through Dean Smith, Bob Loomis and other trainers,” Gratny credited.

“I got to see a lot of top horses and horsemen traveling with photographer Alfred Janssen,” Riemann said. “Leading breeders Howard Pitzer, Matlock Rose and other top horsemen helped me a lot too. “Billy Allen trained and showed a number of horses for me and we owned some horses in partnership,” Riemann added. One major change in the industry has been in the show ring. “I had the opportunity to manage lots of shows at Salina,” O’Neil said. “In the early days many horses would often be entered in every class halter, pleasure, reining, barrel racing and roping. Sometimes there’d be 15 or so horses in a class and we’d be done in early afternoon. “Today with open classes there are the youth and amateur classes which are subdivided into novice divisions,” he continued. “Horses are much more specialized and only compete in one event. A show will often run all day and well into the night.” Riemann echoed O’Neil, “In earlier days, ranchers used their horses all week and brought them to shows on the weekend. Now there are trainers who work with many of the horses in specific events. It’s much more professional. “Many Quarter Horses today are not all-around horses like the objective when the breed organization was formed,” Riemann insisted. Exhibitors nowadays typically have outlandish equipment with silver and expensive fitted extravagant outfits, the horsemen agreed. “My amateur riders have become more interested in the ranch classes to get away from that show trend,” Gratny said. “They are taking top cutting and reining horses and developing them to be more versatile horses,” Gratny added. “They’re going back to the foundation for more relaxed enjoyment with their horses.” While high dollar futurities attracted increased horse investments, that trend is changing. “There are still some futurities,” Gratny said. “But we want to work slower to develop more solid horses for long-term use.” Standing stallions for public service and also personal use were important income for Riemann and Gratny, but that has changed. “Shipped semen for artificial insemination has reduced demand for our stallion services. It has hurt us,” Gratny said.

Regardless, breeding still makes the difference in the horse. “You have to be a geneticist. Do the research and mate the right bloodlines which will produce the desired outcome,” Riemann insisted. “There are opportunities to be successful in the horse business. Attention must be given to bloodlines, quality, conformation and brains, horses with the right mind,” Riemann continued. While O’Neil never considered horses as a profitable business, Riemann and Gratny agreed horses have proven investments with return. “Just because a horse is high priced doesn’t mean it’s a smart investment. There are still outstanding horses available at a reasonable cost,” Riemann said. Panelists concluded in consensus: horses offer vast opportunities for many people. “They are excellent companion animals for recreation providing physical and mental exercise which relieve stress.”

Visit our magazine youtube page at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQBaGJAsdnm4VtZjOnYJy9Q For our live interview with these Kansas Legends!

Rain Has Always Come

“It’s sure hard to grow anything in the dust.” The one getting his haircut in the barber’s chair made that evaluation as the waiting room conversation continued about weather. Nodding heads and grunts were in consensus as latest heard forecasts were shared with personal opinions aired as well. Certainly, there’s dire need for ample rainfall in some locales where even those promised showers have passed by. Still drought maps indicate much of the Midwest is shy on moisture with downpours in every county a necessary solution. Such dry conditions and record wind gusts brought fire danger warnings which have sadly come to reality. There have been a number of local pasture fires consuming large acreages plus some facility loss. Truly heartwarming how friends, neighbors and firefighting crews will come together seemingly instantly and diligently work as a team. Of all the dangerous jobs, battling blazes in very dry conditions with unrelenting record speed winds is the most hazardous. Additional issue is probability of a controlled fire restarting after firefighters have left the scene. On several occasions’ fires have been considered out and hours later come calls they’re furiously aflame again. Weathermen have been partially accurate with forecasts for widespread relief of moisture distress. Still early on there’s been great inconsistency with one farm receiving nice rainfall and neighboring counties getting zilch.

Before rains began already negativists were complaining how mud would increase work difficulties. Exclamations expanded when there were just a few scattered showers around. True moisture brought mud first increasing difficulty traveling country roads. Worse is feeding hay in native pastures with mechanical equipment leaving scars to never completely heal. Added to issues is how much feed that can be wasted during wet weather conditions. Spring is around the corner and cows are not very easily satisfied as when it’s subzero. Despite being given quality feedstuffs they’ll often just tromp hay into the ground begging for something different. Farmers are never satisfied whatever the weather. Regardless, water is the most essential ingredient for every farm production. It may not be exactly what and when requested, but rain has always come sometime or another. Reminded of Deuteronomy 11:14: “He’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time. So there’s plenty of grass for your animals and you’ll be able to harvest your crops.” +++ALLELUIA+++ XV--11--3-14-2021

Photo by Kirkwood Creations Photography

Kansas Pioneer

Crock Pot Corned Beef Serves 6

3-4 lb. 1Large

Corn Beef Brisket Green Cabbage

5 lb

New Potatoes

6 large

Carrots (if desired) peeled and cut in 3 in pieces

Open Package and drain juice from Corn Beef. I discard packet of spices. You can sprinkle it over the top if you wish. Wash potatoes, peel and cut Carrots (if using). Cut Cabbage into 6 wedges leaving on core. Place meat in bottom of crock pot and layer with potatoes and cabbage wedges.

Cook on high for 8 hours.

Note: This sounds like a lot of meat, but it shrinks a lot during cooking even in the crockpot. Start with at least ½ pound per person.

Kansas Pioneer

Irish Soda Bread

1 ¾ c. 4 ½ c.

buttermilk

Flour

3 T. 1 t. 5 T. ¾ c. 10”

Granulated Sugar

Baking Soda

Butter cold and cubed

Raisins

Iron Skillet or cake pan Combine dry ingredients in work bowl. Cut in butter as for biscuits. Add raisins. Stir in buttermilk. Lightly flour work area and pour dough onto flour. Work lightly into ball knead several times to form ball. Place in prepared pan. Score an + om top of loaf. Bake for 40 -45 min @ 400°. If bread starts to brown too much cover top loosely with foil. Let set for 10 min. remove from pan to cool on rack. Can be served warm from the oven or toasted.

LazyEArena Guthrie, Oklahoma

BFI VENDOR AREA !