XO Cowhorses Newsletter
June 2007
This month I celebrate one year in business and I want to thank each and
every one of you for giving me the opportunity to work with your horses.
It has been a most enjoyable year, never thought we would be as busy as we were
throughout the winter and right up to the present. It seemed every month I was
buying more panels or building another round pen or arena!
Needless to say, but many thanks to those clients who followed me over from my
days in Chico, CA, namely Chris and Fay Gansberg, Andrea Merrill, Cheri Painter
and Dave Bradley.
 Although
the specialty is starting young colts under saddle and working horses on cattle,
we have taken on several different projects such as making a riding horse out of
a Friesian (and showed him a cow!), starting a 6-yr.-old paint mare and starting
a Kiger-bred filly.
As I start my second year here in Fallon, I want to thank those who have
influenced my training philosophies and who have remained available whenever I
need help working thru a situation…
Twister Heller, Congress, AZ
Showed me how to work my first cow ahorseback, let me start my first colt
“Blinkie” (a just-gelded, unstarted, one-eyed, 5 yr old, racehorse-bred
Thoroughbred), sold me my first colt (still have her) and always welcomes me
back for more.
Dave Uhtolf, Wickenburg, AZ
Put me on my first cutting horse Thanksgiving Day 1995…I still remember the
feeling!
Al Dunning, Scottsdale, AZ
Gave me my first cutting lesson, held herd when I won my first cutting
buckle and has encouraged me from the get-go to pursue my horse training
aspirations.
Chuck Mills, Instructor, Colt Starting Class Feather River College, Quincy,
CA
First introduction of horsemanship with “feel”
Todd Bimat, Hamilton City, CA
Gave me the opportunity to work out of his barn and see how a big operation
works when I was beginning a new career in the horse business
Shad Platt, Hamilton City, CA
Showed me how to start reading each horse as an individual and how to apply
what was read into a working relationship with the horse. Shad showed me an
easier way to get a lot done without doing a lot
To all these horsemen, thank you for the interest and guidance…
As for the future…well there is a lot going on at the XO!
Last fall I purchased a long yearling stud colt out of Oklahoma with the
intentions of having a well-bred working cowhorse stud for my clients and local
mare owners to breed to. What I got has exceeded all expectations.
 Boonsmal Lee Olena 4712839
2005 red roan stallion “Oly”
is a red roan with a purple tint, good bone and foot plus personality and
charisma not often found. Now a two year-old, he rides out like a seasoned
gelding, hooked on a cow his first look at cattle, is smart and has heart…show
him once and he’ll do his best to make it happen.
Of course, his pedigree
isn’t too shabby either. By Boonsmal Cee Olena, a $160,000 NCHA money earner by
Peptoboonsmal and out of a Smart Chic Olena mare, “Oly” has the ingredients for
“some kinda” horse.
In fact, he has handled everything so well I decided to try breeding him as a 2
yr. old with the hopes of having a few babies on the ground when I start showing
him next year. With the guidance and expertise of Dr. David Faught from Lahontan
Valley Vet Clinic, we built a breeding dummy and introduced it to “Oly” on May
21st. In that very first lesson we were not only able to collect him but also
able to breed a mare the same day! Two days later, we had to get out of “Oly’s”
way because he knew just what to do and we were able to breed another mare. To
date we have bred three mares, all by A.I. and are waiting to see if they took.
“Oly’s” semen has great motility and holds up well to cooling so we may ship
semen next season. All in all, I could not be more pleased with “Oly” and I
invite you to stop by any time to see him.
Also new at the XO is the opportunity to represent Noble Panels and Gates in
Northern Nevada. Noble Panels and Gates is the premier manufacture of
American-made galvanized steel panels, gates and shelters and come out of
Milton-Freewater, OR. They have been in business for 27 years and ship
internationally. They have just recently pursued the working cowhorse and
cutting horse market so I feel very fortunate to represent them. Enclosed in
this month’s mailing is a brochure from Noble that shows some, but not all, of
their products. I invite you to visit their website at
www.noblepanels.com
and/or give them a call at 800-437-3966 for more info on specific products. Of
course, you can always give me a call and let me do the legwork!
 Over
the next several months, I will be setting up some Noble Panel Products here at
headquarters, specifically the 4-stall Trainers Series Barn and a 3-sided
shelter for “Oly”, so please stop by and see the quality for yourself. As
interest in the product is built, I will have product in stock and if I don’t
have it, I can get it quick so don’t be shy about asking.
That’s all for this month. Thank you for taking the time to get caught up. If
you haven’t had a chance to check out the website, please do so and keep
checking back as we will be adding a “Horses for Sale” category and more
pictures of “trainees in action.”
Happy summer everyone,
Van Batchelder
XO Cowhorses
Fallon, NV
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XO Cowhorses
