Jon Michael, left, and Charlie Ip put on their work boots before heading out the barn to feed and take care of the horses for the night.

Pat Gottemoeller gives her brother Jon Michael a shoulder rub after he returned to the house from working on the farm. Goettemoeller was in town from Columbia, Md. to help her brother out after he had stomach surgery.

Jon Michael, left, calms down Mahlak Hala, one of his Arabian horses while Charlie Ip de-worms Sarriah. "When Charlie first got here he picked up a barn cat and thought it needed to go to the vet because it was purring. He'd never been around animals before," Michael said.

Jon Michael, left, and Charlie Ip de-worm Tuhot, one of the their horses 12 Arabian horses, Monday morning. The two de-worm the horses every six weeks.

Jon Michael climbs over the fence after opening it so the bison can get to their feeding pen. Michael, who owns 31 bison, began raising them in October 1995. "Bison are the lazy man's cattle," Michael said.

Jon Michael, right, holds the door open for Charlie Ip as he carries buckets of water out to the horses in the pasture Tuesday evening. The 12 Arabian horses on Michael's farm have their stalls cleaned and are fed twice a day.