The Lucky Horses of TriangleX

At the end of a long day on the trails, the horses of TriangleX Ranch in Moose, WY, are let loose for the night to graze on the sage brush flats in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. The interesting thing to see in this photo is how fit these horses are. They work hard for a living, trail riding sometimes four hours a day. But there isn't a skinny one in the bunch.

Why? First, these horses are all kept up to date on worming and vaccines. Their hooves are kept trim on a solid routine, and they are fitted with saddles that are a good match for their bodies, which allows for a less stressful work day (a good lesson for us). But all they eat each day is the grass that grows wild on the flats behind this ranch. With very few exceptions, the grass is rich enough, and their bodies are so well cared for, that this is all they need. After all, this is what the wild mustangs of America have lived on for hundreds of years.

The horses are brought to the ranch in early May. By the end of June, most are working six days a week. While they are not being ridden during the day they are kept in clean paddocks with fresh water and hay near the ranch. But when the last ride comes in, and the last horse had been un-tacked, checked over and brushed, the gates swing open and fifty or sixty horses file out and head for the hills. They spend their evenings grazing, scratching, socializing and sleeping ~ preparing for yet another days work on the ranch.

www.trianglex.com