All About Montana Horses
Here at Montana Horses, owned and operated by us - Kail Mantle & Renee Daniels-Mantle, we run several hundred head of saddle horses on and around our ranch near Three Forks, MT. We are a horse leasing business with clients from top-notch recreational equine operations across the Northwest and private horse enthusiatists. The Mantle Family has been in the horse business for over a century. All told, the family has thousands of working horses scattered across a few ranches in the West. The Mantle name has become synonymous with the horse business and we uphold a long and proud tradition of quality horse leasing.
The Horses:
We specialize in safe and sound. Our great group of lease horses consists primarily of quarter horses and quarter horse crosses. We love a good big-boned stout horse with a quiet disposition and the right attitude for this business. Though we have a little of everything, most of our horses are suited for the beginning rider. They both ride and pack, and are solid all-around mountain trail horses. We run both mares and geldings, usually mid-aged (7-18), in all shapes, colors, breeds, and sizes. (We do not use gaited horses or mules in our leasing program.) Our brand )V( is located on the right hip. Each horse also has an individual identification number on their left shoulder. Every horse has a name and we know it and love every horse on our place.
We specialize in safe and sound. Our great group of lease horses consists primarily of quarter horses and quarter horse crosses. We love a good big-boned stout horse with a quiet disposition and the right attitude for this business. Though we have a little of everything, most of our horses are suited for the beginning rider. They both ride and pack, and are solid all-around mountain trail horses. We run both mares and geldings, usually mid-aged (7-18), in all shapes, colors, breeds, and sizes. (We do not use gaited horses or mules in our leasing program.) Our brand )V( is located on the right hip. Each horse also has an individual identification number on their left shoulder. Every horse has a name and we know it and love every horse on our place.
Our business is simple - we locate, purchase, and maintain a herd of quality, gentle horses who are reliable and useful in various disciplines and provide them to people by lease or sale. Most of our clients are not professional horsemen. Our horses are suited specifically to recreational horse enthusiasts. We know we have the best horses in the business and we are uniquely qualified to serve this section of the horse world very well.
Scroll down to meet the Horses, the Family, and the Crew at Montana Horses below!
In Montana since 1995, we began with 14 head of horses. Eventually, we built our incredible herd and our ranch and now provide a much needed service - seasonal horse leasing and quality horse sales across the West. Kail grew up in the horses lease business in Wyoming and met Renee in South Dakota where we operated a trail ride business for several years, utilizing horses leased from the family ranch in Wyoming - Wyoming Horses. We have operated our own trail ride businesses and guest ranches and our working ranch and leasing operation and have handled every aspect from the ground level up. We have been lessors and lessees. We buy for our own operation. We understand this particular part of the horse business from all angles. We are truly a small owner-operated business that was created and grown from its own merit and resources. We place our stamp of approval on all of our undertakings.
OUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY is this - in order to be successful, we must sell our services and our horses at a profit and still satisfy our customers. If we satisfy our customers but fail to make a profit, we will soon be out of business. If we make the profit but fail to satisfy our customer, we will soon be out of customers. The secret of doing both lies in the one word - service. Service means doing something so valuable for the customer that he is glad to pay a price that allows us to make a profit. We strive to take care of our customer.
Our ranch is located near Three Forks, Montana on the Missouri River. Our horses are run as close to nature as possible, and the herd is healthy and well adjusted to the rigors of traveling to different environments and working in different capacities. We believe nature does it best, but we also know that just by using horses, we intervene and we must also take responsibility for it. Our horses are worked into our program carefully and thoroughly - we run most of our horses on range conditions and keep things simple and practical. We have horses to USE them, so do our clients. Our horses are our livelihood and our family - we treat them accordingly and so do our customers.
Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery July 28,1805
"This affords one of the best winter pastures on earth for horses or cows, and of course will be much in favour of an establishment should it ever be thought necessary to fix one at this place," wrote Lewis, upon arriving at the Three Forks.
Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery July 28,1805
"This affords one of the best winter pastures on earth for horses or cows, and of course will be much in favour of an establishment should it ever be thought necessary to fix one at this place," wrote Lewis, upon arriving at the Three Forks.
Meet the Horses, the Family, and the
Crew at Montana Horses below!
Crew at Montana Horses below!
We also love horses and this life.
We believe that if we do not share it with others,
we don't deserve it.
We believe that if we do not share it with others,
we don't deserve it.
The Family:
Steve Mantle
Steve lives and operates the Mantle Wild Horse Training and Adoption Center at his ranch near Wheatland, WY. Cousin Steve is a world -renowned horse trainer and also a contract trainer for the BLM Wild Horse Program. He joins us at Montana Horses every summer on our Ranch Work Weeks and conducts his colt starting clinics and horsemanship clinics with our guests and horses we are introducing into our program.
Steve lives and operates the Mantle Wild Horse Training and Adoption Center at his ranch near Wheatland, WY. Cousin Steve is a world -renowned horse trainer and also a contract trainer for the BLM Wild Horse Program. He joins us at Montana Horses every summer on our Ranch Work Weeks and conducts his colt starting clinics and horsemanship clinics with our guests and horses we are introducing into our program.
Lonnie (pictured) and Grace Mantle
Lonnie & Grace started leasing horses in Wyoming in the early 60's and raised Kail and sisters Dar & Mickie in the business on the ranch in Pavillion, Wyoming. Wyoming Horses leases around 1000 head of horses and operates a sizeable cattle operation. The business is being carried on by the next generation, daughter Dar and son-in-law Bob Vogel (and grandchildren Josee, Kit, and Kage)
Lonnie & Grace started leasing horses in Wyoming in the early 60's and raised Kail and sisters Dar & Mickie in the business on the ranch in Pavillion, Wyoming. Wyoming Horses leases around 1000 head of horses and operates a sizeable cattle operation. The business is being carried on by the next generation, daughter Dar and son-in-law Bob Vogel (and grandchildren Josee, Kit, and Kage)
Ro & Darrel Bellander
Ro and Darrel divide their time between their retirement home in Florida and working the busy seasons at Montana Horses. For nearly half the year, Ro (Renee's mom) handles the office management and both are an integral part of the Horse Drive.
Mickie Mantle
Mickie, Kail's sister, lives in Three Forks. In addition to her horse business, she owns BUNKHOUSE DESIGNS, which specializes in custom embroidery and sewing.
Mickie, Kail's sister, lives in Three Forks. In addition to her horse business, she owns BUNKHOUSE DESIGNS, which specializes in custom embroidery and sewing.
Rick (pictured) & Sherrie Daniels
Rick (Renee's dad) and Sherrie recently moved from SD to MT and live in Helena. Rick oversees all construction on the ranch and lobbies for the horse industry. Both are called upon frequently for horse moves and always help with the Horse Drive.
Rick (Renee's dad) and Sherrie recently moved from SD to MT and live in Helena. Rick oversees all construction on the ranch and lobbies for the horse industry. Both are called upon frequently for horse moves and always help with the Horse Drive.
The Crew:
Lori Fisher -
website goddess, horse sales & marketing, and Horse Drive cowboy (and called upon at all hours for just about everything conceivable, despite having her own horse business to run)
website goddess, horse sales & marketing, and Horse Drive cowboy (and called upon at all hours for just about everything conceivable, despite having her own horse business to run)
Mel Obrigewitch - horse deliveries and cowboy
Dr. Doug Young, DVM -
Our Primary Ranch Vet
(Dead Cow Clinic),
and friend
Our Primary Ranch Vet
(Dead Cow Clinic),
and friend
Leroy (pictured), Mary, Brian Miller -
neighbors and friends - farmers & ranchers who produce almost everything our horses eat for most of the year - grass, hay, and oats. Leroy is the crazy press vehicle driver on the Drive and their family operates their cattle operation. All are essential cowboys on our Drive.
neighbors and friends - farmers & ranchers who produce almost everything our horses eat for most of the year - grass, hay, and oats. Leroy is the crazy press vehicle driver on the Drive and their family operates their cattle operation. All are essential cowboys on our Drive.
Bill Haugland -
Cowboy, Kail's right hand whenever we need one (which is often, despite Bill having his own ranch to run)
Cowboy, Kail's right hand whenever we need one (which is often, despite Bill having his own ranch to run)
Rosalie McCall -
All is quiet on the homefront, because of Rosalie. She takes good care of us (and makes the absolute best cheese rolls.)
All is quiet on the homefront, because of Rosalie. She takes good care of us (and makes the absolute best cheese rolls.)
Horse Drive Crew:
Kelly Campbell -
cowboy (and favorite wrangler)
cowboy (and favorite wrangler)
Ted Williams -
cowboy (and the first friend we made in Montana)
cowboy (and the first friend we made in Montana)
Barb Delaney -
cowboy (sometimes the best cowboys are girls)
cowboy (sometimes the best cowboys are girls)
Butch Anderson -
cowboy (cracks a mean bull whip)
pictured here with Kay Carr
cowboy (cracks a mean bull whip)
pictured here with Kay Carr
Montana Horses, Inc.
Kail Mantle and Renee Daniels-Mantle
9700 Clarkston Road Three Forks, MT 59752
(406)285-3541 or (888) 685-3697-toll free (406) 581-6501-cell (406)285-0918-fax
From outside the US, dial 001 406 285 3541
www.montanahorses.com info@montanahorses.com
Kail Mantle and Renee Daniels-Mantle
9700 Clarkston Road Three Forks, MT 59752
(406)285-3541 or (888) 685-3697-toll free (406) 581-6501-cell (406)285-0918-fax
From outside the US, dial 001 406 285 3541
www.montanahorses.com info@montanahorses.com