Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Questions for Montanans

I am aware that you probably do not want anyone else moving to your state. My possibilities of getting the job is pretty small, so don't fret too much. If it's any consolation, I am not a Californian and call New Mexico home.

I have questions for anyone involved with horses.

I have a been involved in horses for some time, but have never had horses in the extreme cold. I read Western Horseman, but have no Montanan horseman connections.

What do ranchers or horse people do with their stock during the winter ??

I've heard nothing but horror stories of minus 40 temps from all areas of MT, but I am sure it's cold in the Dakotas, WY, etc. Not sure what those people do either.

By having a barn, does it really do anything for the animals just by getting them out of the wind ?? I mean -20 is still -20.

I also understand that Kailspell is different than Helena, but I have a chance at a job in either location. Any input on the differences in habitat, temps, and hunting opportunities between the two locations ??

You need to talk to Rimrock, he's one of our regulars. I think he could answer most of your questions.

They do just fine. If the move happens do what the locals do until you get used to the differences in care, feeding and stabling.

I kept horses in Fairbanks for 18 years. Never had a problem. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

--Mike

I live in SW Montana - rural resident. My two quarter horses and those of my neighbors get no special housing for the winter. They do need water (heated tank) and a good supply of hay if the grass is getting covered with snow. Grain once or twice a week helps. What I am really saying is that IF you livestock is aclimated to the area the will do fine without any special care. Don't bring in a Kentucky race horse that has never seen a real winter and turn him loose or you will both be sorry. Hope this has answered you questions. BTW in my area we have seen 52 below zero

What he said... We've housed horses on our property from before MT was a legitimate state... Fresh water and at least a wind break for when its really cold out... Horses are pretty tough... But we always have some place for them to get out of the wind, wether it be a board fence or a small shack or a stand of willows...

BTW... us Montnanans like to talk up the cold weather to keep the Californians out mostly... It rarely gets to 40 below and might get to -20 four or 5 times a year... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Well at least where I grew up and where my family lives in SW MT... Now if you moved to Havre it would be a diffrent story, but Kalispell and Helena won't be all that much diffrent.

I disagree that Helena & Kalispell are not much different. The climate in Helena is nothing like Kalispell. Helena is high desert.

A wind-break makes all the difference in the world.

A friend of mine runs an outfitting business in northern B.C., in the famous Prophet-Muskwa River area. He leaves his horses out in the wilderness, free-ranging, all winter long, with no problems whatsoever. It would simply be too expensive and time-consuming to get the horses in and out every year, as it's about a three-day ride to the Alaska Highway, and then he'd have to truck them a few hours to Ft. St. John. Up there, -40 is very common, with occasional spells even lower. The horses survive the winter just fine. They're completely on their own; there's no supplemental feeding. Compared to that, a pasture in Montana would be paradise.

My horses get no special care in the winter, other than making sure their bellies are full and they have somewhere to get out of the wind (which to my everlasting delight we don't get much of right here).
But then there's some "horse women" (you know the type, right?) around here who all but bring their nags into the house if it gets below 32. I was always amazed at the Winter Fair horse sale, that perhaps most of the nags had no winter coat to speak of. Obviously blanketed and likely kept in a heated stall.
That's bloody ridiculous, IMO! A couple of mine wool over to where you could just about shear 'em come spring.

I've had horses in NW Sasakatchewan and we never did anything special for them. There were some trees that they could stand behind for some wind protection but that is about it. By the way, -20 with wind is a lot different than -20 without. That wind will add a wind chill factor that can make it feel much colder, even though the mercury doesn't indicate it. If you can block that wind, the livestock will do fine.


SS

Had horses most of my life and central oregon gets pretty chilly in the winter....Get them out of the wind if they'll go, which can be a chore in itself, but leave off the damn blankets.

All the blankets are good for is them loosing their natural protection in hair and tolearance. It's like being where you live and never getting used to the heat because of the air conditioned cars, houses, and workplaces.

When the weather really gets cold, the best thing I've found is a couple of flakes of alfalfa twice a day......That generates more heat for them than any grain or oat. Just be careful not to feed them too much, as it can burn their guts out.

Most defintely get water tank heaters as well.....A horse will drink more water in the winter than they do in the summer, if you can believe that, but I've seen it for too many years.

The average temps betwen Helena and Kalispell are not all that diffrent... One could be warm and the other cold at any given time. to say that they are not close is well... way off IMO

http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/montana/kalispell.htm

http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/montana/helena.htm