ENJOYING DAILY LIFE ON THE RANCH
The Seventy-four Ranch is the lifelong dream of Larry Butler and his wife, Pam. Both have a love of animals and history that they enjoy sharing with friends and guests. They have created the Ranch so you can get up close and personal with nature and the way cowboys lived over 100 years ago. Come sit on the back porch and allow Pam and Larry to mesmerize you with the history of their ranch and home.
Larry
Butler was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from North Georgia College
in 1969, and then went on to graduate from Emory University School of Law
in 1975. He served as an artillery officer and battery commander in the
Army for three years.
Larry is a firefighter in the Hinton Volunteer Fire Department (Station 6) and a member of the Jasper Rotary Club.
Larry
is President of the Appalachian Children’s Emergency Shelter (ACES)
and is steadfastly committed to creating and maintaining a haven for children
most in need of loving and tender care.
Larry and his wife, Pam, own and manage the Seventy-Four Ranch, an American Quarter Horse and Corriente cattle breeding and training operation and guest ranch in Pickens County.
Pam
is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Southern Methodist
University with honors, and has been a journalist for many years.
Pam is currently writing a children's book about Annabelle, the orphan cow at Seventy-Four Ranch that Pam and Larry have been bottle feeding. You can see pictures of Annabelle on our blog.
Pam has a flower garden that has been blooming all summer long. Fresh flowers
are arranged in rustic containers or crystal vases and placed in all guest
rooms and also in the downstairs rooms of the Butler-Cape House. Pam
has nurtured several varieties of roses, including some large ramblers that
grow over the fences. Pam also enjoys using fresh produce from her
garden to create tantalizing meals for her guests. All summer long the vegetable
garden has been producing two varieties of delicious tomatoes, as well as
peppers and herbs.
The
newest addition to our Ranch family is Melanie Fields, originally from England,
most recently from Florida. Although Melanie has loved horses all her life,
it wasn't until five years ago that Charlie, her red roan Appaloosa, galloped
into her life. Learning to ride again as an adult has given Melanie an appreciation
for nervous riders, and she specializes in teaching adults who haven't been
around a horse since they were kids.
Book
a lesson with Melanie to learn all about horses again - how to lead, groom
and saddle, as well as safety and learning to be the leader. Melanie uses
natural horsemanship methods and focuses on building a trusting relationship
with her horse. Many adults enjoy learning "ground work" - how to communicate
with your horse on the ground, before you ever get on his back. See if you
have what it takes to "talk" to your horse through body language and consistency.
Our
foreman, Menny, is a cowboy and horse trainer from Chihuahua, Mexico. Menny
handles all the stock on the ranch and also gives lessons and leads trail
rides. You'll be amazed watching Menny ride and rope - it is very exciting
watching him rope cattle off his horse. Menny stays busy keeping everything
on the ranch running smoothly and keeping an eye on all the stock.
Come and meet Menny and see what it takes to run a ranch.
Menny
also does something not many people can do - he gets his horse to lay down,
then sits on him, and finally he tells his horse to stand up while he remains
balanced on his back.
This is a very useful skill out on the range when an injury might stop a cowboy from getting back on his horse. Be sure to ask Menny to show you this amazing sight.
Our
ranch hand is a likeable cowboy named Junior. You'll find Junior saddling
and riding and helping Menny with all the ranch chores. Guests naturally
like Junior's fun and friendly manner as he takes them out in Old Blue to
see the cattle and horses or to play in Big Scarecorn Creek.
Junior has lots of experience taking people on trail rides and helping beginners feel comfortable their first time in the saddle.
In
the summer we enjoy the company of interns- and this summer April helped
us with the horses. April lives in Florida but spends her summers in Georgia
and loves spending time with all the horses.
April took many of the photographs of our horses - a job she thoroughly enjoyed.
