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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?