…. when the horse bug gets you ….

… I’m happy to publish a story by Salzmann Sepp, master tinsmith in Bad Hofgastein, in today’s blog. He took the time and writes about the horse hobby, which has such a high value for many in our valley, and gives strength and joy.

My love of animals began back in the 70s….. saved up diligently and went with my father to Maishofen to the sheep auction, where we bid on 4 sheep. …in the years that followed we first bred Texel sheep, then Tyrolean mountain sheep, and until a few years ago also black-headed sheep. In the mid-90s, by a funny coincidence, I went on a ride with a few friends on Haitzing Hias’s horses and discovered my love of horses. Over the winter we then took riding lessons together with Hias and in spring finished with the riding pass….. Of course it didn’t take long and I wanted a horse of my own. After a warmblood mare and later a gelding, it so happened that I got the opportunity to learn my great passion: Western riding. With my Quarter Horse mare Elly I learned to love this horse-friendly way of riding and had many great experiences with her over many years.

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In those years, the black-and-white spotted Paint stallion Black Contynentel was added as well.

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With the two of them, I bred the beautiful buckskin stallion “Jaconty v.d. Salty Ranch”—my pride and joy—whom I raised, partly trained myself, and sold at the age of 3 to the well-known Pat Parelli instructor Michael Grohmann.

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Working with my Western horses gave me a lot of joy and I enjoyed the rides with friends and holidays with my riding group. This riding group and friendship has now connected us for over 20 years, and we still do our annual riding trip, which has even taken us to Montana, where we worked for a week on a ranch with cowboys.

Since this passion is quite time-consuming and unfortunately the point came when there was no longer enough time, I decided to part with my Quarters and looked for and found great places for them with “horse people” where they would be well looked after.

Only….. once the “horse passion” has infected you, it’s incurable….! Of course it didn’t take long without horses, and so 7 years ago I came to my little lawnmowers….. the mini horses.

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Tiny small and yet a horse. Since then I’ve been breeding the little dwarfs and by now I’ve got a nice colourful herd together. Watching them in the evening as they eat and romp around carefree gives you the feeling that the problems of the day really aren’t that big anymore, and that nature and animals are among the most beautiful things in life that we have.

Unfortunately we forget that far too often. …..in this sense, dear friends, enjoy life and take care that the horse virus doesn’t catch you…. because it’s incurable!! Kind regards, Sepp Salzmann “Salty Ranch”

Thank you, Sepp, for this lovely contribution!! Enjoy reading, dear horse friends.