Off Grid with Horses

Off Grid with Horses
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Wilderness

Venture high into the Colorado Rockies where Russell and Alecz introduce their extraordinary lives with horses at 9,300 feet above sea level. Far from mainstream society, their 28-acre homestead borders National Forest and represents a deliberate choice to live closer to nature and further from modern distractions.The hosts reveal their personal motivations for embracing this challenging lifestyle. Alecz explains how being away from the energetic noise of civilization helps her feel more grounded and at peace, while Russell describes the profound experience of being accepted as part of the natural landscape—where deer graze undisturbed just feet away and sunsets across the mountain valley remain unspoiled by human development. What does "off-grid" truly mean? Unlike those who simply choose not to connect to available utilities, Russell and Alecz live six miles from the nearest power line, relying instead on solar panels and specialized systems for electricity and water. Yet they're not complete hermits either, making occasional hour-long trips to town for supplies and maintaining connection to the outside world through Starlink internet and spotty cell service. The podcast offers an intimate look at the daily realities of caring for horses in this remote setting. From dawn feeding routines to innovative solutions for bear-proofing garbage cans, listeners gain insight into both the practical challenges and unexpected joys of their mountain lifestyle. Wildlife features prominently in their stories, including heart-stopping bear encounters that showcase both the beauty and unpredictability of living among wild creatures. Join us for authentic conversations about this extraordinary way of life that 350,000 Americans have embraced, including 30,000 with horses. Whether you're curious about solar power, mountain weather patterns, or what it's really like to share your space with 400-pound bears, Off-Grid with Horses offers an unfiltered window into a life where "the air is thin but the breathing is easy, and life is hard, but the living is good." Have questions or topic suggestions? Email info@offgridwithhorses.com or visit our YouTube channel to see visual glimpses of our mountain ranch life.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Fern’s Great Escape And The Third Grader Herd

    Send us Fan Mail The weather finally shifts in the high Colorado Rockies, and that one change touches everything when you live off grid with horses. We open with an honest update on Merlin and what it looks like to care for an aging horse when you suspect the next winter may be too much. We talk about the day-to-day signals we watch, why “pain” is a tricky word, and how our focus stays on comfort, connection, and making sure his time with us feels safe and valued. Then monsoon season shows its teeth. Rain is a gift after months of dry ground, but slick footing can be dangerous, especially for a senior horse who circles and crab walks. We explain why straw can be the wrong choice in a paddock, and how we use pine shavings to change the grip and stability of the dirt so Merlin can keep his balance. After dark, the calm disappears. A fence panel comes apart, the herd erupts, and a dust cloud forms so thick Alex can barely see the pens. Fern is suddenly out, weaving through pine and aspen with downed timber everywhere. We walk through how we find her, how we use voice and presence to slow the chaos, and what happens the moment she’s back where she belongs. We finish with practical summer horse management: flies, bees, and water access. From daily manure cleanup to fly predators, ranch fly traps, specific bait, and careful fly spray use, we share what works for us at 9,300 feet. If you’ve got better tricks, we want them. Subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave a review so more off-grid and equine folks can find the show.

    Fern’s Great Escape And The Third Grader Herd

  2. Jul 23

    Horse Camp and Russell's Adventure

    Send us Fan Mail A quiet mountain evening can turn fast when you live off-grid with horses at 9,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies. We start with a real update on Merlin, who’s holding steady but having more frequent spins and spills, and we talk about the seasonal grind of fly management when summer finally kicks in. Even the weather shows up with us this time, as a rainstorm rolls through while we record. Then we shift to the best kind of tired: kids horse camp week. We break down what we actually do all day with campers, from catching and grooming horses to goat herding, riding games, and creative projects like painting horseshoes. The week builds into daily demos for parents and a Friday finale where every camper tries vaulting, gymnastics on horseback, including standing on a horse’s back with no saddle. It’s equal parts skill, trust, and courage. We also share what’s next on the ranch: a women’s weekend horse camp planned for the last weekend of September in Eagle County (Colorado River Road, out past Dotsero), plus ideas for a Saturday night get-together and live music. Finally, Russell tells the story of running the ranch solo, building a massive log fence for mustangs, and a tense “last check” where Merlin goes down with a hoof stuck in a 20-gallon water bucket, followed by an unexpected bear sighting on the road. Subscribe, share this with a horse friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Off Grid With Horses.

    Horse Camp and Russell's Adventure

  3. Jul 14

    We Learn To Read Merlin’S Body Language Before He Quits Eating

    Send us Fan Mail Merlin keeps us humble. One quiet morning on our Colorado mountain ranch, Alecz finds him down in the early light and has to make a fast call: let him rest, assess what’s happening, then step in with the safest help possible. We talk through what we saw, why a senior rescue horse can get “stuck” even when they’re not panicking, and how a couple of lead ropes, the right angle, and a calm plan can help a horse get their feet back under them. From there we get practical about equine care and animal behavior. Merlin is sensitive and disruptions can shut down his appetite, so we share the tiny body language cues that tell Alecz he’s struggling at the bucket, from face rubbing to that unmistakable feed rattle. If you care for an older horse, a hard keeper, or any rescue with a complicated past, you’ll recognize how much progress depends on routine, observation, and staying present when they eat. We also zoom out to the broader off-grid ranch life we love: our hands-on kids ranch camp (horses, chickens, goats, farming, and safety), wild turkeys that surprise us with how smart they are, and the joy of spotting newborn elk and antelope. Finally, we get real about Colorado wildfires and why evacuation planning is different when you have rescues, limited trailering options, and animals that mirror your stress. If this feels like your kind of real-world horsemanship and off-grid living, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What part of animal care do you wish more people understood?

    We Learn To Read Merlin’S Body Language Before He Quits Eating

  4. Jul 7

    We Learn What Comfort Care Really Means

    Send us Fan Mail A 40-year-old horse teaches you fast that the goal is not perfection, it’s comfort. Up on our off-grid mountain ranch at 9,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies, we walk through how we’re supporting Merlin as he ages, what his daily routine looks like right now, and why we keep adjusting feeding without losing the structure that helps him thrive. We talk about grain four times a day, hay access, and the small hands-on moments that matter most, from scratches and massage to watching how he socializes with the rest of the herd. We also rewind to a deeper, tougher story: Santi’s decline and the kind of extreme care that can come with late-stage equine health issues. We share what it was like managing sores, hygiene, and comfort day after day, plus what we learned when a prescribed medication led to a sharp downturn in her appetite, interest, and weight. If you care for horses, especially senior horses, this is a real-world look at observation, risk, and the constant balance between doing something and doing the right thing. Then we answer a listener question we think about all the time: how do we keep our sanity while caring for animals off-grid? We get honest about exhaustion, mood, and how animals pick up on stress, along with the practices that help us stay grounded, like breathing exercises, yoga, eating in a way that supports stable energy, and making time for connection. And because it’s mountain life, we end with a surprise visit from our wild bear, who outsmarted the trash setup and even opened truck doors. If you’ve ever wondered who’s really the guest in bear country, you’ll relate. Subscribe, share this with a fellow horse person, and leave a review so more listeners can find Off-Grid With Horses.

    We Learn What Comfort Care Really Means

  5. May 26

    Miracle Merlin

    Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode, God performs a miracle in our 40 year old Navaho Mustang.  Merlin's story is truly amazing.  Learn how Alecz creates a special grain formula for Merlin that is keeping him going and may be good for your horse too.

    Miracle Merlin

  6. 09/02/2025

    Ponies, Horses and Fall is Coming!

    Send us Fan Mail Join Alecz and Russell as they start preparing for winter.  Alecz meets a new horse in "Adventures with Alecz."

  7. 08/05/2025

    Summer Difficulties but So Worth It

    Send us Fan Mail Alecz and Russell have had a tough summer but explain how despite some tough and sad times, living off grid with horses is so worth it!

    Summer Difficulties but So Worth It

  8. 07/23/2025

    Horses, Mustangs, and More Horses

    Send us Fan Mail Alecz and Russell introduce you to some of their horses and take you to the Mustang Summit in Grand Junction Colorado where Alecz secures a baby mustang for a girl who needs her.

    Horses, Mustangs, and More Horses

  9. 06/18/2025

    Why We Traded Utility Bills for Bear Encounters and Mountain Sunsets

    Send us Fan Mail

    Why We Traded Utility Bills for Bear Encounters and Mountain Sunsets
  • 9 Episodes

About

Venture high into the Colorado Rockies where Russell and Alecz introduce their extraordinary lives with horses at 9,300 feet above sea level. Far from mainstream society, their 28-acre homestead borders National Forest and represents a deliberate choice to live closer to nature and further from modern distractions.The hosts reveal their personal motivations for embracing this challenging lifestyle. Alecz explains how being away from the energetic noise of civilization helps her feel more grounded and at peace, while Russell describes the profound experience of being accepted as part of the natural landscape—where deer graze undisturbed just feet away and sunsets across the mountain valley remain unspoiled by human development. What does "off-grid" truly mean? Unlike those who simply choose not to connect to available utilities, Russell and Alecz live six miles from the nearest power line, relying instead on solar panels and specialized systems for electricity and water. Yet they're not complete hermits either, making occasional hour-long trips to town for supplies and maintaining connection to the outside world through Starlink internet and spotty cell service. The podcast offers an intimate look at the daily realities of caring for horses in this remote setting. From dawn feeding routines to innovative solutions for bear-proofing garbage cans, listeners gain insight into both the practical challenges and unexpected joys of their mountain lifestyle. Wildlife features prominently in their stories, including heart-stopping bear encounters that showcase both the beauty and unpredictability of living among wild creatures. Join us for authentic conversations about this extraordinary way of life that 350,000 Americans have embraced, including 30,000 with horses. Whether you're curious about solar power, mountain weather patterns, or what it's really like to share your space with 400-pound bears, Off-Grid with Horses offers an unfiltered window into a life where "the air is thin but the breathing is easy, and life is hard, but the living is good." Have questions or topic suggestions? Email info@offgridwithhorses.com or visit our YouTube channel to see visual glimpses of our mountain ranch life.

Information

  • Creator
    Off Grid with Horses
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Off Grid with Horses
  • Show Website
    Off Grid with Horses