Horse Gentling At Wyoming's Diamond Cross Ranch

Above, a view of Jackson Hole from the Jackson Hole Tram. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since I can remember, I've always liked horses to a certain extent.

But it wasn't until I moved into "horse country" in New Mexico did I develop a deeper appreciation for them. The annual rodeo season will have me in the grandstands enjoying the shows.

I received an email from Boot Barn this morning and while it advertises their goods (western and work wear), it featured a story of a horse rescue in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The ad has a link to Boot Barn's blog and I went there to check it out.

According to the blog:

Diamond Cross Ranch is a historical working ranch in Jackson Hole owned by the Golliher family, Horse Trainer Grant Golliher and Third Generation Rancher Jane Golliher. Jane’s grandparents were among the earliest settlers and homesteaders in Jackson Hole in 1912. As a family, they grew up caring for the land.

Over time, many ranching families departed the valley as property prices escalated and gave way to development. However, the family’s pioneering spirit and dedication to their Western heritage led them to conserve the open space as one of the few remaining historic family-owned ranches in Teton County.

In a day’s work, horse gentling—referred to as natural horsemanship—is among the many tasks that take place on their ranch.  

We teamed up with Diamond Cross Ranch to rescue and gentle horse Jazzy from a kill pen. Grant has made it his life mission to rescue and gentle horses for the better good of others and it is an honor to watch his process with Jazzy.

They found Jazzy at a kill pen the day before she was scheduled to get on the truck to the slaughterhouse. So they had to make a decision quick. Grant has since been working with Jazzy to gentle her. 

To read the full story, which includes many photographs and some videos of Jazzy, go here.