Eagle Scout

Cameron had his board of review and he is now officially an Eagle Scout.  

Breaking Colts or Breaking Us?

In September of 2011 we decided we would purchase three long yearlings to break in the spring and ride them a couple of summers and the sell them as well started three year olds.  Part of the plan was to have Cowboy Cody, one of our wranglers, break them for us.  I went to a special horse sale in Macon, MO and started the plan by purchasing the three colts, a buckskin, a dun and a little sorrel.  The plan was going well until Cowboy Cody got another job and moved back to Oklahoma.  Cowboy Cody was a main piece so this was a bit of a problem. 

To make a long story short, we lost our horse breaker, a drought came upon us (we have hay but it is more expensive to feed a horse per year now) and we are busy.  The summer went on and we decided to go a head and consign the now two year old geldings to the special sale in Macon.  

A year early and they were not started under saddle yet and consigned to the sale.  We had our work cut out for us with our busy schedules and old body's.  I started their ground work.  Getting them use to saddling and regular horse handling things... which they were not taking to very well.  We did decide that the third colt was small and not ready to be started to so we consigned him to sell as a lead through.  Are you following this okay? 

The sale date was coming quickly and they had not been ridden yet.  They lunged and saddled... well the dun saddled but the buckskin not so much.  Every time I would tighten the cinch (the strap that goes under the saddle and holds the saddle on) he would jump up in the air and buck around the round pen.  

After Barry helping with getting the buckskin use to the saddle we started to ground drive them.  This helps the colts understand steering and stopping without being on their back.  That way when you get on their back they kind of understand things most of the time.  

Below are some photos of the breaking process: 

This is the dun colts 2nd ride.  Barry likes to ride them in a wide open area like the arena instead of the round pen because in the round pen they tend to ride right up against the fence and knock his knees on it, which does not feel to swell. 

Tyler Clark (Danny Clark Jr. is his father who worked for us back in the early days of the ranch) helped out by ponying Barry around the arena to avoid any run offs. 

The dun to too sure. 

You can see the dun is a big tense.  Barry has his feet very forward just incase a bucking episode breaks out. 

After a few rounds the dun is now relaxed. 

Spectator 

Riding on his own.  Nice and relaxed.  This gelding was very athletic and didn't ride like an awkward 2 year old.  He had good balance and handled himself well under saddle. 

He has a naturally soft mouth which was a bonus for us. 

Not bad for ride #2.  

That night Barry tried to ride the buckskin for ride #1 but he would not stand still with the pony horse and it turned into a fail on the ride.  

The Next Morning

Back to basics...ground driving. 

Sometimes when all is going well they decide that they don't want to do it our way.  This would be called a little tantrum. 

Later that day Barry was able to ride him, it was very uneventful. 

All was going well and then....

The sale date was fast approaching so every day we were working these guys getting them ready.  It was to be the dun's 4th ride.  Barry had me go up in the arena to lunge and ground drive him then he was going to come up and ride him.  I did my part and thought to myself, "He has been doing really well, I can save Barry some time and I will just ride him."  

When I got on him I went to get my foot in the stirrup on the other side and it spooked him and he took off.  I remember Barry saying at one time that you have to stay relaxed, ride it out and they will calm down.  My problem is I panicked because I didn't have a stirrup on one side.  I started pulling on the reins a lot but that just made him more upset.  Then I remembered to think, relax.  We ran in a circle for a bit as I pulled him one direction.  Then he started running down the arena but felt like he was slowing until my hat blew off and hit him in the butt.  He really took off but I stayed on, still no stirrup, he turned and really started running back down the arena... he lunged in the air a bit and went full out and cut really hard to the left.  Not having my right stirrup to put my weight in I flew off onto my back and hit the ground hard, and probably slid a couple of feet.  My sunglasses ended up about 12 feet away.  Our arena is just a base, not sand, so it is just short of landing on concrete.  At least that is what if felt like.

The entire crew was down at the barn watching the "show" I had put on so it did not take them long to make it up to the arena.  It took me a minute to catch my air and get up.  When did get up I could tell I was going to pass out so I put my hands on my knees and waited a moment.  After a few we tried to walk to the big rock under the tree but I didn't quite make it. I had to stop again because I was feeling sick and for sure thought I was passing out...which I did.  

I woke up to Barry saying "Jason, go call and ambulance."  Which I replied "What's going on?"  Oh wait, that is for me... 

After getting checked out at the E.R. - MRI from my waist up they said I was just bruised and good to go.  Moral to the story... that was dumb.  Oh, and I didn't save Barry anytime by riding the horse for him.  

We took the geldings to the sale about a week later.  We didn't get the price we wanted for the buckskin, now known as Buckshot.   The dun who I fell off of brought a decent amount so he has found a new home  with a young Amish man.  

Barry said we are never ever doing this again, we are too old for that kind of stuff.  

Back to School...All Ready. :(

It seems like each summer break goes by faster each year.  You hear a lot of parents how they say they are ready for their kids to go back to school, but not us, we like our kids around.  Well most of the time.  This year Cody is homeschooling so I should have taken a photo of him by the computer.  Cameron doesn't to to school until after 9 and is done by 1:30.   Sierra and Creed have the traditional school schedule. 

I can tell Sierra is getting older because she didn't want to have her photo taken at school.  I promised I would hurry and take it before anyone saw us.  I think it's a 6th grade thing. 

Utah Visitors

A few years ago or more we traded a ranch vacation with Paul's family for some airplane tickets.  I can't even remember what they were for, probably a wedding.  Finally they were able to come and get their part of the trade.  They also brought Grandpa with them.  I think they had a good time.

There first day they had the honor of riding in the wagon with these children.  You should ask them about the experience they had.  It is most memorable. 

Breakfast cookout

Watching Cody climb at the Goat Cave

First trail ride of the visit. 

Waiting for the other ride to go by. 

Marcus and Dacius 

Geared up to go climbing

Cody NOT letting me take his photo.  Grrrrr!

Shooting time.

Down time on the HCR Trading Company porch. 

Marcus trying to beat June.  Don't think he did.  June was visiting from Korea. 

Grandpa decided he wanted to try out new big zip.  It's 2300 ft long and can reach up to 50 mph.  The hike up was the hardest part.  He said he wouldn't hike up there again but it was worth it.  He is not the oldest person we have had on the zipline at the age of 86.  Go Grandpa!

Meanwhile back on the rock Cindy was saying she was tricked... all she wanted to do was go on the big swing and the zipline.  

This was not in the description is what Cindy is thinking. 

On another trail ride. 

Made it all the way the first time. 

Dance lessons from a guest. 

Headed to the steak cookout. 

Brave Grandpa

Grandpa and I leaving on our final trail ride of his visit. 

Working young horses

Cody tried the cinnamon challenge.  FAIL. 

Creed where he loves to be.