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Merlin was part of our family and he sadly passed away in the early morning hours of Halloween, October 31, 2026. He was 40 years old and lived with Alecz for 21 years. This is a very emotional episode and was difficult for us to make without breaking down and crying. You can hear in our voices how much we loved Merlin and how much we miss him.

We talk through the moment we learned he passed overnight, and we slow down to remember who he was across 21 years together. Alecz shares why Merlin felt like a unicorn to so many people, especially through liberty horsemanship, where the horse has true choice and connection matters more than gear. We also point you to the “Flight Without Wings” Equilinguistics video, because seeing Merlin’s softness on camera helps explain why his presence hit people so deeply. You can see the video at our Youtube channel, "Off Grid with Horses."

From there, we get painfully practical about geriatric horse care off-grid at 9,300 feet: mash feedings multiple times a day, a dedicated space to keep him comfortable, and the everyday problem-solving that comes with age, weather, and herd dynamics. Alecz tells the story that still makes us laugh through the lump in our throat: one icy winter night, one tiny piece of frozen poop, and Merlin tipping over like a toy horse, totally fine but absolutely unforgettable.

We end with the rituals we’ll carry forward, especially “scritchies,” the thank-you knicker, and the little rhymes and songs that helped him settle, even when Alecz wasn’t there in person. If you’ve ever loved an animal into old age, we think you’ll relate to this episode.

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A single inch of snow shouldn’t be a big deal, right? At 9,300 feet on an off grid horse ranch in the Colorado Rockies, that “nothing” snow can turn paddocks into mud, cloud over the sun, and throw the whole day off balance fast. We’re Russell and Alex, and we’re sharing what the start of winter really looks like when your power comes from solar panels and your priorities are four-legged.

We talk about why getting sick or exhausted hits harder off grid, and what it’s like watching weather do strange things in the mountains, including snow dumping only on the last stretch up to our place. From there we get practical about off grid solar power in winter: shorter days, valley shade, storm clouds, and the very real chore of clearing snow so your system can charge at all.

Then it’s horse time. We update you on the herd including a surprisingly intense blow-up sparked by a “favorite” salt lick. We also share Shom’s training progress in the round pen and out on a ride, where he bravely passes big scary stuff… then gets absolutely rattled by a tiny solar panel lying on the ground. The turnout ride brings a few bucks, a lost pair of glasses, and a teaser for a more advanced technique Alex uses when things get lively.

If you enjoy off grid living stories, horse training realities, and honest lessons from life in the high country, subscribe, share this with a fellow horse person, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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Lightning cracks close to the paddocks, hail pounds the ground, and the wind turns every corner of the ranch into noise. Out here in the Colorado Rockies at 9,300 feet, we do not get to pretend storms are “just weather” because we are standing near metal fencing, managing shelters, and watching horses decide in real time whether to hunker down, bolt, or lean on the herd for confidence. That pressure-cooker moment becomes the perfect way to talk about something we believe every horse owner can learn: horses are communicating all the time and all we need to do is listen.

We walk through what we notice when a horse is scared even without pinned ears, why a high head and tight posture can signal an oncoming explosion. From there, we zoom out into equine communication and horse body language: how horses “talk” with ears, eyes, breathing, stance, tail carriage, and the direction of their nose. We also share why living off-grid reduces distractions and makes it easier to catch the subtleties that most people miss.

We trade examples from daily ranch life, from cats and deer to flapping tarps and even the rabbit that somehow becomes terrifying. We also break down one of the clearest signals you will see, pawing as “I want,” and why context changes what that message means. Finally, we connect communication to horse care by sharing how we spot early colic signs and small health changes by knowing what “normal” looks like for each horse.

If you love practical horsemanship, off-grid living, and learning to read what your horse is already telling you, subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the clearest signal your horse gives you when something feels off?