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A diesel mistake, a broken clamp, a two-hour drive to the dealer, and frost on the ground at 9,300 feet. That’s the kind of chain reaction we deal with on our Colorado mountain ranch, where off-grid living with horses turns “small problems” into all-day projects and every trip to town has a cost in time, weather, and momentum.

We start with the gritty logistics: hauling manure with an ATV and wagon, what happens when the ATV gets filled with diesel instead of gasoline, and why a tiny broken hose clamp can become a multi-hour hardware run when the nearest store is far away. We share another dose of remote reality with our truck repair saga, including the frustration of driving two hours for service only to learn the needed part never got ordered. If you’re into rural life, self-reliance, and the practical side of keeping animals safe in the mountains, these stories will feel very familiar.

Finally, we pivot to the “great wasp” segment, and it’s not what you think. We talk about why we’ve never liked wasps, how they became a problem around the horse water, and the surprising moment that changed our perspective: watching wasps pluck flies off our mule’s legs like tiny, efficient pest control. We also share what happened when a wasp fixated on a scab on Alex’s arm and what that taught us about what they’re actually doing.  

If you enjoy real off-grid stories, horses, mountain weather, and learning how nature and ranch life intersect, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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Fall is creeping up at 9,300 feet, and that change sharpens everything: colder nights, the pressure to get chores done faster, and the reality that an off-grid life does not care about a weekly publishing calendar. We’re Russell and Alex, and we’re resetting our routine so the podcast stays fun, honest, and doable with the work that comes with living high in the Colorado Rockies.

From there, we get into what’s been on our minds most: senior horse care and the daily decisions behind keeping Merlin comfortable. We talk through a recent vet visit, why herd dynamics matter when you’re managing an aging horse, and what happened when we tried separating Fern for her own good. We also share farrier updates that made us feel hopeful, including how hoof condition can show real progress over time, especially with therapeutic pads and careful trimming.

And yes, there’s barn comedy with a point: Karma’s full-body meltdown over a tiny piece of carrot that Fern got last. That “last bite” lesson turns into a surprisingly useful window into horse behavior, fairness, and how to prevent unnecessary drama at feeding time. We close with a couple of classic off-grid surprises, including ravens that now act like they belong with the herd and a teaser about aggressive fall wasps that have become a real nuisance.

If you enjoy off-grid homesteading, horse behavior, equine Cushing’s disease conversations, farrier and hoof care details, and real talk about quality of life, subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave us a review.

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Late August is supposed to feel like summer, but up here at 9,300 feet on our Colorado mountain ranch, fall has already started tapping on the door. Nights drop into the low 40s, you can see your breath, the heat may kick on, and even the hummingbirds start disappearing. Off-grid living in the Colorado Rockies comes with a different clock, and when the weather shifts early, our horse care routines have to shift with it.

We get real about what’s been wearing us out lately: Merlin has lost enough weight to worry us, and helping a 40-year-old horse gain weight is not a simple “feed more” answer. We walk through our 24-hour feeding schedule, why we space meals out for digestion, and how temperature affects appetite and timing. We also share the very specific, very Merlin details that can make or break a meal, from the ATV acting like a dinner bell to his need to actually watch the food go into the bucket.

Then we zoom out to something we’re always learning out here: horses communicate constantly if you pay attention. Between mash “stirring” that turns into an every-few-minutes routine and Fern’s grazing mask showdown that ends with a hilariously clear message, we talk about reading equine body language, reducing stress, and building practical routines that keep everyone healthier and calmer.

If you enjoy off-grid stories, high-altitude homesteading reality, and grounded advice on senior horse care and equine nutrition, listen now, then subscribe, share the show with a horse friend, and leave a review so more people can find us.

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A horse strolling out the gate should be simple to fix. On our Colorado mountain ranch at 9,300 feet, it turns into a full cast production: screaming herd mates, nervous humans, and one very calm pony proving he has all the time in the world. We talk through our real off-grid morning routine, including the unglamorous details that keep horses healthy and the day moving, from early feedings and fly masks to the little choices that prevent bigger problems later.

We also break down how we feed a herd without spending the entire day throwing hay. You’ll hear why we do grain bowls (even for horses that do not “need” them), how slow feeder hay nets like hay bonnets reduce labor and support steady intake, and what we do to prevent mold with simple platforms built from pallets and plywood. We get honest about the tradeoffs too, like how the feeder design can still let rain and snow in during hard weather.

Then we shift to the week’s adventures: Marty escaping by casually walking out the gate, Fern doing her own repeat performance, and the kind of improvisation you only see on a working ranch (yes, someone used a belt to help catch a pony while also trying to keep their pants up). We close with an update on Merlin, our senior horse, including slipping in muddy conditions, using wood shavings for traction, and planning careful hoof work to keep him as comfortable and stable as possible.

If you like grounded stories about off-grid living, horse care, and the reality behind “simple” ranch days, subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

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A wild Mustang takes one step toward a human, and suddenly the whole room understands what trust costs and why it matters. We’re Russell and Alecz, living off grid with our horses at 9,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies, and we just came back from an eventful stretch that took us from mountain chores to the Wild Horse Refuge and Symposium in Craig, Colorado, plus the theater in Steamboat Springs for a powerful documentary premiere.

We talk about the independent film “5,000 Miles for 5,000 Mustangs,” which follows Lisanne Fear riding across the American Discovery Trail to raise awareness for America’s wild horses. It’s the kind of Mustang documentary that feels grounded and personal, with real stakes and real miles. And yes, we have a hometown celebrity moment: our beloved “spare parts dog” Zendi shows up on screen as a puppy on the trail, running, riding, and earning his tiny movie-star badge.

Then we get into the heart of the weekend: wild horse summits and live Mustang training demonstrations. Alecz works with a yearling Mustang named Cheerio, showing what gentle horsemanship looks like when the goal is safety, softness, and a real chance at Mustang adoption. We break down the small signals that mark big progress, why these transformations are not “quick fixes,” and how rescues like Wild Hearts Haven support these horses before and after the spotlight.

If you care about wild horse rescue, humane training, or you’re simply curious what it takes to help a wild animal choose partnership, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share the show with a horse friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what do you think is the hardest part of earning a Mustang’s trust?

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The weather finally shifts in the high Colorado Rockies, and that one change touches everything when you live off grid with horses. We open with an honest update on Merlin and what it looks like to care for an aging horse when you suspect the next winter may be too much. We talk about the day-to-day signals we watch, why “pain” is a tricky word, and how our focus stays on comfort, connection, and making sure his time with us feels safe and valued.

Then monsoon season shows its teeth. Rain is a gift after months of dry ground, but slick footing can be dangerous, especially for a senior horse who circles and crab walks. We explain why straw can be the wrong choice in a paddock, and how we use pine shavings to change the grip and stability of the dirt so Merlin can keep his balance.

After dark, the calm disappears. A fence panel comes apart, the herd erupts, and a dust cloud forms so thick Alex can barely see the pens. Fern is suddenly out, weaving through pine and aspen with downed timber everywhere. We walk through how we find her, how we use voice and presence to slow the chaos, and what happens the moment she’s back where she belongs.

We finish with practical summer horse management: flies, bees, and water access. From daily manure cleanup to fly predators, ranch fly traps, specific bait, and careful fly spray use, we share what works for us at 9,300 feet. If you’ve got better tricks, we want them. Subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave a review so more off-grid and equine folks can find the show.

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A quiet mountain evening can turn fast when you live off-grid with horses at 9,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies. We start with a real update on Merlin, who’s holding steady but having more frequent spins and spills, and we talk about the seasonal grind of fly management when summer finally kicks in. Even the weather shows up with us this time, as a rainstorm rolls through while we record.

Then we shift to the best kind of tired: kids horse camp week. We break down what we actually do all day with campers, from catching and grooming horses to goat herding, riding games, and creative projects like painting horseshoes. The week builds into daily demos for parents and a Friday finale where every camper tries vaulting, gymnastics on horseback, including standing on a horse’s back with no saddle. It’s equal parts skill, trust, and courage.

We also share what’s next on the ranch: a women’s weekend horse camp planned for the last weekend of September in Eagle County (Colorado River Road, out past Dotsero), plus ideas for a Saturday night get-together and live music. Finally, Russell tells the story of running the ranch solo, building a massive log fence for mustangs, and a tense “last check” where Merlin goes down with a hoof stuck in a 20-gallon water bucket, followed by an unexpected bear sighting on the road.

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Merlin keeps us humble. One quiet morning on our Colorado mountain ranch, Alecz finds him down in the early light and has to make a fast call: let him rest, assess what’s happening, then step in with the safest help possible. We talk through what we saw, why a senior rescue horse can get “stuck” even when they’re not panicking, and how a couple of lead ropes, the right angle, and a calm plan can help a horse get their feet back under them.

From there we get practical about equine care and animal behavior. Merlin is sensitive and disruptions can shut down his appetite, so we share the tiny body language cues that tell Alecz he’s struggling at the bucket, from face rubbing to that unmistakable feed rattle. If you care for an older horse, a hard keeper, or any rescue with a complicated past, you’ll recognize how much progress depends on routine, observation, and staying present when they eat.

We also zoom out to the broader off-grid ranch life we love: our hands-on kids ranch camp (horses, chickens, goats, farming, and safety), wild turkeys that surprise us with how smart they are, and the joy of spotting newborn elk and antelope. Finally, we get real about Colorado wildfires and why evacuation planning is different when you have rescues, limited trailering options, and animals that mirror your stress.

If this feels like your kind of real-world horsemanship and off-grid living, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What part of animal care do you wish more people understood?

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A 40-year-old horse teaches you fast that the goal is not perfection, it’s comfort. Up on our off-grid mountain ranch at 9,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies, we walk through how we’re supporting Merlin as he ages, what his daily routine looks like right now, and why we keep adjusting feeding without losing the structure that helps him thrive. We talk about grain four times a day, hay access, and the small hands-on moments that matter most, from scratches and massage to watching how he socializes with the rest of the herd.

We also rewind to a deeper, tougher story: Santi’s decline and the kind of extreme care that can come with late-stage equine health issues. We share what it was like managing sores, hygiene, and comfort day after day, plus what we learned when a prescribed medication led to a sharp downturn in her appetite, interest, and weight. If you care for horses, especially senior horses, this is a real-world look at observation, risk, and the constant balance between doing something and doing the right thing.

Then we answer a listener question we think about all the time: how do we keep our sanity while caring for animals off-grid? We get honest about exhaustion, mood, and how animals pick up on stress, along with the practices that help us stay grounded, like breathing exercises, yoga, eating in a way that supports stable energy, and making time for connection.

And because it’s mountain life, we end with a surprise visit from our wild bear, who outsmarted the trash setup and even opened truck doors. If you’ve ever wondered who’s really the guest in bear country, you’ll relate. Subscribe, share this with a fellow horse person, and leave a review so more listeners can find Off-Grid With Horses. 

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In this heartwarming episode, God performs a miracle in our 40 year old Navaho Mustang.  Merlin's story is truly amazing.  Learn how Alecz creates a special grain formula for Merlin that is keeping him going and may be good for your horse too.