Pretty Pony Ranch News

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RANCH WOMEN

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Reasons not to assault a Ranch Woman!

Violence does not scare us...

We ride 1500 pound horses and stare down an alley full of mad, snot slinging cows that weigh over 800 pounds.

We've held down cows that outweigh you by four times. Don't try to intimidate us. Most of our husbands stand a head and shoulders taller than us and out-weigh us by 100 pounds and we aren't scared of them. Why should we be frightened by someone who can't keep their pants up?

Every time we work cows, our husbands threaten us if we don't get out of the gate. They threaten us if we don't stay in the gate. We are pretty much not impressed by threats. Plus if you get much closer, we may give you some threats of our own to consider and be able to back it up.

Don't wave that knife at me boy. I castrate. When we brand, we throw the mountain oysters on the fire and eat them dirt and all. You probably don't want to go there!!!

Don't threaten to steal my pickup. I work for a living so I have insurance. The chances of you being able to drive a standard are next to none and there is no spare. I've walked from the back side of the ranch. I can walk from here.

You want my purse? Take it. It has little money in it because as I mentioned I work for a living. You will find various receipts for feed and vet supplies, some dried up gum and the notice for my next teeth cleaning. The only drugs you will find in there is something that is either aspirin or a calf scour pill but it's been in there so long I've forgotten which one is which.

Don't threaten to hurt me. I may look old and fragile to you, but I can ride horseback for 12 hours with nothing to eat or drink. I have been kicked, bucked off, run over and mucked out. I've had worse things happen to me in the pens than you have experienced in the little gang wars you've been through, and still cooked supper for a crew...

You may whip me son but you'll be a tired and sore SOB in the morning and yes I will remember your face because I am used to knowing which calf belongs to which cow. I'll also remember which direction you went and what you were wearing because I have tracked many a cow with less information than you've given me.

You are not going to scare me with that little 'Saturday Night Special' when I have a .38 in my boot. Don't think I won't shoot you! I've shot several coyotes and numerous rattle snakes. I put down my horse when he broke his leg and shot my pet dog when he killed a calf. Don't think I won't consider you a rabid dog and go on my way.

New Photos

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:28:00 +0000

I just got some new photos from my annual summer trip to the Alvord Ranch in July 09. Thank you so much, Kim, the photos are wonderful!

Life's Lessons and Memories

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:13:00 +0000

I got woken up this morning by the phone call I knew was going to come soon, but you never want to get. After complications from a surgery that my father didn't need to have, his body finally gave out and he passed away this morning.

My father was WWII veteran and a world traveler. While working for the government in the 50 and 60's, he travel to Saudi Arabia where he met personally with King Fisal. I used to collect the different colored baggage tags off his suitcases when he returned for a trip.

He lived in Alaska when it was really wild. One of his projects was putting the DEW Line across the top of Alaska and Canada when the cold war was still a threat. I remember a story he told me about flying into the wilderness, landing on a lake in a remote location and the plane being attacked by a moose.

My father taught me to sail and we navigated the Lake Michigan together. He raced Star class sail boats every weekend. Because of him, I can single had a 55ft sail boat alone and even have raced ice boats across a frozen Mecox Bay in the Hamptons. He was a photographer and would let me help in the dark room he set up in our basement when I was 5 yrs old. He was a pilot of both fixed wing and gliders. As a young child, we would fly to Grandma's house in Ill. instead of driving. This was long before the interstate highway system was built.

Dad seem to bounce from one hobby to another. He was an amateur radio operator, his call sign was W8EDN. He would sit for hours with stacks of electronic equipment in front of him, talking to people all over the country. I was usually sitting on his lap.

He raised, trained and showed dogs, and always had a dog or two on his lap or lying at his feet.

Dad always had sports cars, MG's and later V-12 Jaguars, and could super tune two 8 barrel carbs to perfection. The last Jag he owned was called Miss Kitty. I remember the day I got that car, he cried in the driveway when it was being loaded on the flat bed, taking it to its new home. It is parked in my garage right now. Because of him, I was a Jaguar judge at a Jaguar Concourse D'Elegance.

Dad taught me to respect firearms at an early age, taking me to the pistol range when he was target practicing.

He told me how proud he was of me when I was training exotics and elephants. My only regret is that he never got to see how much I loved riding or showing my horses, or rope a cow or doctor a calf.

Life is short but when someone you love leaves this earth, they leave behind a lifetime of memories. Thank you Dad, for all you left with me.

MY WISH for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:44:00 +0000

My Wish for You in 2010

May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the many problems you had, forget your home address! May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!

Pride

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:00 +0000

From “ These Were the Vaqueros”

Collected works of Arnold Rojas

1974

“A man transmits his state of mind to his horse.
A rider who doesn’t have enough pride in his trade to
decorate his outfit with a little silver never rides a good horse,
and a horse that has no pride is never any good.”

Christmas Eve Morning

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:33:00 +0000

It was 2 degrees this morning when I went to feed the mares. The wind had died down, the sun was just coming out. The old mare, VooDoo, has her blanket when it gets below 20 degrees and snowy. She had snowballs in her feet, so I took out my knife and dug them out so she wasn't standing on "high heels". I had to chop ice in the stock tank even though there was a heater. Just another cold winter day in Colorado. When it gets really cold I feed heavy the night before so the mares have something in their tummies to keep them warm. Even the mini-donkeys got blanketed last night!

The house is decorated, the lights are all on, candles are lit. The smells of cinnamon and apples fill the kitchen but I haven't gotten around to baking cookies or making fudge yet. The Christmas cards are going to be late - again. Most of my friends who know me well, understand and even look forward to a January Update letter.

On Christmas Day, I will go for a ride in the field. Enjoy your holidays and stop to appreciate the wonderful blessings in your life!

♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪...And A Happy New Year!♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•¨•♫♪.. ♥ ♥ ♥

1930-1979

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:58:00 +0000

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE

1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers
Who smoked and/or drank while they were
Pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,
Tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles,
Locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode
Our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children,
We would ride in cars with no car seats,
No booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day
Was always a special treat.

We drank water
From the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends,
From one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon.
We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.
And, we weren't overweight.
WHY?

Because we were
Always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day,
As long as we were back when the
Streetlights came on.

No one was able
To reach us all day.. And, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill, only to find out
We forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes
a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes.
There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable,
No video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's,
No cell phones,
No personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS
And we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth
And there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt,
And the worms did not live in us
Forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
Made up games with sticks and tennis balls and,
Although we were told it would happen,
We did not put out very many eyes..

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and
Knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just
Walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law
Was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best
Risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility,
and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of them?
CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others
who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the
lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives
for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know
how brave and lucky their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house
with scissors, doesn't it ?

The quote of the
month is by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control,
mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms
tearing up the country from one end to another,
and with the threat of swine flu
and terrorist attacks.
Are we sure this is a good time
to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

For Veterans Day

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:24:00 +0000

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them... I would love, if all my friends on here would copy and paste this statement. Post it where ever you can until sundown on Nov 11th to show your respect for all the brave soldiers that have lost their lives for our country, and to those still serving.

Cowboy Rules

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:13:00 +0000

Cowboy rules for Arizona, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, the Dakota's, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and the rest of the Wild West are as follows:

1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.

2. Turn your cap right, your head ain't crooked.

3. Let's get this straight: it's called a 'gravel road.' I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.

4. They are cattle. That's why they smell like cattle. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10 & I-40 go east and west, I-17 & I-5 goes north and south. Pick one and go.

5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 Combines that are driven only 3-4 weeks a year.

6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.

7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during the hunts, we WILL shoot it outta your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.

8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.

9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest
Saturday to the first of November.

10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age.

11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey.

12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat ... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!

13. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be dark brown, wet and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.

14. College and High School Football is as important here as the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.

15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.

16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway.. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!

DARWIN AWARDS

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:24:00 +0000

The Darwin 's are out!!!!
Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honoring the least evolved among us.

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honorable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies.. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly... He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Getting Ready for Fall

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Where has summer gone? Did I fall asleep for 3 months and winter is here already? Last week the buckets were frozen and all my plants died.

Since I posted last, I showed Hank at the NVRHA Finals. I really had no big expectations as I really hadn't worked Hank much and guess what, it showed. I tend to use horse shows more as a barometer to figure out what I need to work on for the bigger shows. Not that the NVRHA Finals aren't a big deal. I just would rather Hank do well at the Stockhorse Challenge in Winnemucca or at the WRCA Ranch Horse Championship in Amarillo. So when I showed Hank, he snorted at this and even spooked and refused to walk over ---a bridge---which is completely ridiculous since he has never balked at that before. Anyway, it was fun and now its back to work to get ready for Amarillo.

My wonder horse Rio went to a college rodeo and is now officially back to work! It was important for him to travel alone, without his security guard, Hank. Rio had to sleep outside in the cattle pens, gates banging, hearing the pa system, moving bulls. He did great and I had actually forgotten what a good horse he was. I was so glad to be riding him. We are in unchartered territory. I don't know how much I'll be able to do with him but as long as he is happy and sound, I'll be happy.

BUTTER vs. MARGARINE

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:06:00 +0000

Pass The Butter ... Please. This is interesting ...

I am a BUTTER GIRL!

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings..
DO YOU KNOW.. the difference between margarine and butter? Read on to the end...it gets very interesting!
Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.
Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!
Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.
Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .
And now, for Margarine..
Very high in Trans fatty acids.
Triple risk of coronary heart disease .
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)
Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold..
Lowers quality of breast milk.
Decreases immune response.
Decreases insulin response.
And here's the most disturbing fact.... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!
Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC..
This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and an ything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).
You can try this yourself:
Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:
* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)
* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

End of Summer?

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Gosh, where did the summer go? Did I just miss it? It has been raining so much in Colorado that here it is nearing the end of August and the fields are still green. The good news is that there is plenty of grass for the horses. The bad news is all the rain kept the farmers from getting much hay put up. Just when I thought hay prices might be going down some, now there could be a hay shortage because of TOO MUCH rain.

Mack, the 4 yr old dun stallion went to a couple of All Buckskin Shows. What a fruit cake! He screamed, whinnied and hollered the entire time. It was a long weekend. Mack did come away with a Grand Champion Stallion win and some halter points so it was worth it. My mom used to say, "They don't get better at home, you have to get them out". And that is so true. The young horses have to get out and see the world. One more show for him at the end of August and then he goes back into regular training for the winter.

I didn't have many foals born this year and with the horse market as bad as it is, that's ok. I'd much rather have quality instead of quantity. Both babies were sired by Goose, the big blue roan. The first colt was sold at 5 weeks of age and goes to his new home in a week or two (Thanks Meaghan, you are going to have fun with him!). The other foal is a blue roan stud colt and was born late so I'll hold on to him until next spring. That makes all stud colts this year!

I spent most of July in Oregon on the historic Alvord Ranch. I have been going there every year for five years with Martin Black and his students. The place is wonderful, the people are as diverse as you could ever find. Many long lasting friendships have been made over the years there from all over the world. Truly an international crowd. This is not a dude ranch experience and the faint of heart need not apply! The Alvord is a working ranch, and everybody works hard. The Davis kids are some of the best hands you will ever find. Each year when I return, I marvel at how much they've grown. Ranch kids are different. They are hardworking, respectful, polite and just so much fun to be around. Just because the kids live in a remote location, they have visitors from around the world expose them to many different cultures.

It was a strange visit to the ranch this year. On Day two, while out gathering cows, Martin tangled with a couple of bulls and broke his leg badly. Thank goodness for cell phones! I have often wondered since that accident, what would a cowboy have done in the olden days if he wasn't able to call for help? Would Martin have tried to ride back to the headquarters? Would he have just stayed there, unable to ride and would someone have found him in time? Anyway, he is on the mend and hobbling around on crutches for a few more weeks.

On the way back from the Alvord, I stopped at a Ranch Horse Show and entered Hank. He was a good boy and finished with a Res. All Around Championship. by showing him in that show, he qualifies for the NVRHA Finals in Sept.

That's about all for now. Hope you all had a grand summer!

Back Home and Back to Work

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:57:00 +0000

Returning from the Alvord is always bittersweet. I just love the people and the country, the hard work and the jobs my horses have when they are there. But it is time to get back to work.

On the way back to Colorado, I stopped in Granby for a NVRHA show with Hank. You have to attend two events during the course of the year to be able to show in the finals in September. This was the first NVRHA event I have ever attended and I have to say, the people were wonderful and very supportive. It wasn't like they were trying to be nice, but a genuine kindness. The people aren't trainers and their livelihood doesn't depend on if they win or lose. They are there to enjoy themselves and have fun with their horses. What a concept! Anyway, as a newbie, I started out in the novice division, and Hank did quite well, except for the trail class where he forgot how to back up - ! Hank was Res. All Around Grand Champion Ranch Horse in his division.

The weekend of Aug 1st, I am putting on a good old fashion Horse Swap. The idea of bringing sellers and buyers of all types of horses together in a very poor horse market was a challenge I couldn't pass up. Based on all the interest and phone calls, it should be exciting. Check out the web site for more info. If there is enough interest, this event might become an annual thing. Go to www.HorseSwapUSA.com

RIO RETURNS TO THE ALVORD

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:11:00 +0000

It has been just over a year since Rio's freak accident at the Alvord Ranch. Since then, Rio has had several different treatments all with the goal of, hopefully, restoring his knee's function ability. We did every thing from Cold Water Therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors, AquaThread, to range of motion excerises.

Yesterday I saddled Rio and rode out on Rio to gather cow and sort pairs. Besides having some major separation anxiety from his best friend Hank, Rio is sound and healthy. He acts like a 6 yr old insecure colt. I don't think he has had 10 days of riding all in one month since I've gotten him. Last year was a total loss. Now I have to begin all over.

As I rode out past the horse corrals ( passing Hank) and down the lane to the fields, Rio hopped up, put his head down and tried to buck. I felt pretty good because it was a very half hearted attempt buck and wasn't at all a serious attenpt to get rid of me. After that temper tantrum, we headed out to the field without a problem.

Once Rio had a job to do, he settled right down. Martin always says by keeping their feet moving, you keep a horse's brain working. Giving a horse a job is the best therapy! While we were sorting through the cows looking for pairs, Rio was fine. He moves slowly through the herd, and wasn't bothered by all the water crossings and streams we have to cross. When Rio was standing around holding rodear, he starts to get bored and fidget. I was helping get a cow out of the herd and took off in a slow canter to chase down the cow. Rio got right up to the cow, then his head down and bucked a couple of good ones. I went right off since I was leaning forward anyway. I hit the ground and Rio ran over to the other horses. Besides a few really nice bruises, I am fine. I got right back on Rio and rode him for the rest of the day. He was just fine after that little incident.

I am so proud of Rio and how brave he was during his recovery. I am grateful for my dear friend Katherine, who took care of Rio when he couldn't travel. Everyone at the Alvord are so amazed that he is walking again, much less back to work. I am in uncharted territory now. I don't know how much work I will be able to do with Rio. Only time will tell. For now, he is feeling good enough to buck me off! BIG SMILES!

A POCKET KNIFE BAN?

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:29:00 +0000

This is hard to believe, but if you carry a pocket knife, read the following,

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=100679

WEAPONS OF CHOICE
Obama move would eliminate 8 of 10 pocketknives
'If this were to pass and you cross the state line with one, it's a felony'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 09, 2009
8:40 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is proposing a new definition that could be used to eliminate 8 of 10 legal pocketknives in the United States right now, according to activists who are gearing up to fight the plan.

The federal bureaucracy is accepting comments – written only – that must be received by June 21 before its planned changes could become final, but Doug Ritter of KnifeRights.org, said the implications of the decision would be far-reaching, since many state and federal agencies depend on the agency's definitions to determine what is legal in the United States.

For a long time, those switchblades that have long stiletto blades that are spring-ejected powerfully from the side or end of the handle have been illegal in the United States, but now a review by the agency of its own approval in 2008 of a particular type of knife for import is raising serious alarms.

Ritter said the effect of the proposed change would be that the new design in knives, many of which contain a tiny spring to help the user pull open the blade and lock it into position, would be classified alongside those true weapons where the user just presses a button and the blade is ejected.

"They are saying that any knife that you can open quickly or any knife that you can open with one hand is therefore a switchblade," Ritter told WND.

On his organization's website there are suggested letters for consumers to reproduce and dispatch to both the Customs agency as well as their members of Congress over the issue.

Ritter suggested that up to 80 percent of the pocketknives sold in America today either are one-handed opening knives or so-called assisted opening knives – and they all suddenly would be classified as illegal switchblades.

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The agency change came in a case involving a knife called the "VanHoy Assist," whose importers were represented in a request for affirmation of its legality by a San Francisco law firm.

Such determinations are not unusual since an importer does not want to have a shipment of products sitting on a ship waiting for unloading only to have a federal agent call them illegal.

The knives first were approved by the agency in 2008. But only a few weeks ago, Frederick McCray of the agency's Intellectual Property Rights and Restricted Merchandise Branch did a review.

"This is in reference to Headquarters Ruling Letter ('HQ') H032255, dated August 12, 2008, which concerned the admissibility of the 'VanHoy Assist,' a 'release-assisted' knife described below, pursuant to the Switchblade Knife Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1241, et seq. In the referenced ruling, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (hereinafter 'CBP') determined that the knives at issue were admissible into the United States pursuant to the Switchblade Knife Act. We have reconsidered the rationale of, and the admissibility determination made in HQ H032255 and found both to be in error. For the reasons set forth below, we hereby revoke HQ H032255," the letter said.

That could mean headaches for the knife industry, Ritter said.

"Customs," continued Ritter, "is the only place where the switchblade is interpreted in various rulings. Whenever a federal, state, or local jurisdiction is looking at what a switchblade is, whenever there's a court case or whatever … they will look to the feds."

He said the change came after the incoming administration of President Barack Obama reassigned some managers at the agency.

"What we do know is when the incoming administration reshuffled assignments at Customs, it moved the responsibility for knives and switchblades from one organization with Customs to a new organization," he said. "That group has, as far we can tell, virtually no experiences, background or anything with knives."

Officials with Customs told WND that they do not comment on issues during an open comment period, such as going on for the regulation change right now.

"We do not comment on pending proposals for changes in our rulings under 19 USC 1625. We are in the comment period and we will carefully weigh the comments that we receive before deciding whether to proceed to a final decision," the prepared statement e-mailed to WND said.

Ritter said the reason for the change isn't clear, "but certainly this administration is no friend to things like knives and guns," he said.

A successful campaign to change the definition would mean thousands would be out of work in the knife industry, and the impact would have far-reaching effects.

For example, if someone would be caught with a newly-illegal "pocketknife," would the resulting charges be structured to allege that person was dangerous or had an illegal weapon, and how would that change the defendant's right to own a firearm, he wondered.

"If this law were to pass and you cross the state line with a folder (pocketknife) in your pocket, it would be a federal felony," he said.

In reality, pocketknives are tools, he said. "Certainly they can be used as a weapon." But so could a screw driver or other hand tools.

He said the proposal, which puts pocketknives in the classification of switchblades – described by a Senate committee as "almost exclusively the weapon of the thug and the delinquent" – isn't fair.

"There are 40 million people in America walking around with pocketknives in their pocket," he said.

Further, the majority of crimes committed with knives are done with the "lowly kitchen knife," he said.

According to Ritter's website, the proposed revocation of the approval for "assisted opening knives," would impact "most other pocketknives, even simple old-fashioned slip-joints."

RHAA Rant

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Back in 2004, I went to my first WRCA Championship Ranch Horse Show in Amarillo. After watching Martin Black win on two of his horses, I decided right then and there that I wanted to show in the RHAA (Ranch Horse Association of America). I joined the RHAA based in Abilene, TX. in 2005 and have been a good member in standing ever since.

I worked hard getting my Maverick ready to show. He was just a rope horse and needed to learn his lead changes, rollbacks, spins and slides. All I had to learn was how to rope! We worked together and attended our first RHAA shows in 2005. At the time, I qualified for the Cowboy class, riders with less than $500 of earnings in any approved RHAA shows.

Since joining, the earnings levels increased every couple of years from $500 to $1000. Imagine my shock when I heard that for the 2009 show season, the Board of Directors of the RHAA decided to raise the limit to $2500, and the Ranch Hand class when from $2500 to $4500. Now, I have never cashed a check in the RHAA in the 5 years that I have been showing in approved shows. I have steadily improved as have my horses, but have never won a class or cashed a check.

When I heard the rumors that the Board decided at the RHAA Finals in Abilene to increase all the limits in the Cowboy and Ranch Hand Classes, I started calling the Regional Board members that I knew, trying to find out what the justification was for the increased earnings levels. One Board member, who was in Abilene in May, didn't know about the rule changes. The other one I spoke with (who was not in Abilene this year) had "heard they were going to increase" but didn't know what the amounts were going to increase to. I emailed the president, asking him why the board made this major rule change and none of the members knew about it. I was told the Board did a survey, so I asked to see the survey. Well, there was no survey. Apparently other than asking a few friends what they thought, this rule change was based more on a wink, pat on the back and a hand shake instead of asking the largest portion of the RHAA competitors effected by the rule change.

I started digging further only to find out that this rule change effected 78% of the members and that the Board was making these rule changes without even a poll, a survey or a vote, and without even notifying the members prior to the change going into effect. Of all the two dozen or so members I have personally spoken, or emails I have received, only ONE person thought the rule change was good. I have asked to see the RHAA by-laws, allowing the Board to change the rules at will and so far, none have been provided.

I officially requested that this rule change be put on hold until the members could be polled or a survey could be taken. The response was that the rule went into effect immediately and could not be changed.

I suggested, in the future, the Board publish any possible rule changes in the monthly newsletter prior to going into effect so the members could voice their opinions. (One Board member doesn't have a computer and the only place the rule changes are published are on the RHAA web site). No Response.

I requested that the regional directors (there are 4) hold a member meeting at a local shows to keep members informed and to allow the members to voice concerns. So far - No Response.

I requested that the board meetings schedule be published in advance of the meetings so the membership could attend if they wanted to. So far, you guessed it - No Response.

One thing is certain. The RHAA did not like me questioning them. When I started making inquiries, it was clear that I was treading on sacred ground. Being a "foreigner" - a non-Texan, and a women, it was very obvious by the condescending email responses I received from the president that I was just being a thorn in his side. However, I have been paying my membership dues, paying my entry fees and supporting the RHAA since joining. ALL MEMBERS DESERVE TO BE HEARD! After learning first hand how the organization operates, clearly something needs to change. I doubt that I will be as supportive in the future unless the Board starts playing fair. The RHAA is being run like the "Texas Ranch Horse Mafia", where the Board makes decisions that favor a select few friends and not the majority. The curtain they are hiding behind is that fact that the RHAA is a non-profit organization.

If you are a RHAA member, please contact me and let me know if you think this rule change is a good idea or a poor one. Maybe when the RHAA hears from the members, they will consider making changes that will have a positive effect rather than a negative one.

OK, that's all!

BOBBY HURLEY'S ROPING SCHOOL

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:25:00 +0000

I just got an email from the BH Ranch. Bobby Hurley does a Roping School a few times a year. I was really lucky to be able to rope with Bobby whenever I was in Clarksville. Here is a link to a nice article that was written about it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rodeo/news/story?id=4192656

WHERE YOU DRUGGED AS A CHILD?

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:11:00 +0000

I just found this and copied it from another site. The author is unknown.

GOD BLESS THE PARENTS WHO DRUGGED US..

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.
"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.
I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburr's out of dad's fields.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Things I remember my mother saying to me and I find myself repeating are life's lessons that I never will never forget. Here are a couple off the top of my head that I live by.

"Breed the best you have to the best you can afford. If you can't afford it, don't bother to breed."

Anyone can breed a feed bucket to a mud puddle and you will end up with just another common horse. Anyone can have mediocre. To set yourself above all the rest, breed for quality, breed for class. If you don't like what you get, don't keep breeding that mare or stallion expecting to get different results. Take the time to study pedigrees. It will pay off in the end. Maybe the current down turn in the horse market will better the horse industry. People might start to think about what or why they are breeding and be more selective. The final results will be better quality horses in the future. It seems like everyone has a stallion they are promoting just to make a buck, and many of those stallions would make good geldings.

"If you treat an animal special, it will feel special, look special and be special."

I have followed this philosophy since I was a little girl. I remember seeing a scruffy, long haired pony in a pasture, and being able to see past all the fuzz, to be able to see that with some grooming and attention, that pony would be an animal I would be proud to ride into the show ring. I have always been proud of the animals I showed because I put the time into that animal. I would spend hours practicing, grooming, riding and basically fussing over an animal before I got to the show pen. Animals adore being brushed or pet or just spending time with you. Treat them special and they will be special. Special stands out in the show ring.

I need to get out and ride today. Any day I can get into the saddle is a good day. Happy Mother's Day!

New Babies Arriving

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:52:00 +0000

The new foals are arriving! I have ALL STUD COLTS so far with one more mare to foal. Two of the colts are out of mares I bought from the Hurley's when they sold off a bunch of mares last fall and are still in AR. These two mares are sisters to Maverick. I am so excited to see these babies. They had a red roan and a line back dun.

The other foal born while I was in Germany is a red roan colt. He is the first foal I have from Goose and I am very happy with him. I have just one more mare to foal this year. I waiting for my grulla mare to foal with another Goose baby. It should be another colored one. I'll post photos as I get them!

Busy Month of April

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:21:00 +0000

It has been a very busy month, starting with taking horses to Texas. I decided that Huey, my 2 yr old Blue Roan colt, was getting too full of himself. I even threatened to geld him! But decided against it and since he was big enough to start, he went to Martin's ranch in Sanger. I usually like to wait until the colts are 3 yrs old, but Huey was really trying my patience. All went well and by the 5th ride, Huey was out gathering cattle. Doing very well, and a fast learner, I like Huey the more I am around him. He is very sensible, until his juices get flowing and he forgets what he is suppose to be doing. Ah, springtime!

Also along for the ride to Texas was my sweet boy, Rio. Recovering nicely from the horrific trailer accident last June, I decided that Rio needed to strengthen the ligaments around his left knee before I try riding him again. I contacted the SELWAY EQUINE THERAPY CENTER in Whitesboro. The facility is a first class center with an AquaTread and EquineSpa. Rio arrived there looking like a woolly mammoth surrounded by race horses, jumpers, cutters and reiners. After all, it was just 10 degrees out when I left Colorado for Texas.

Since Rio has previously been through several EquineSpa treatments successfully, I wanted him to use the underwater treadmill. Rio stayed there for 2 weeks. His program included warming up on the free walker first, then the AquaTread for 3 min., a rest of 2 minutes, another 3 minutes, then finishing up in the walker. He did this twice daily, progressively getting up to 60 minutes on the AquaTread twice a day. You should see Rio now! His attitude changed, he is bright eyed and alert, and so very fit. I plan on riding him this summer. Watch for Rio's complete story on the web site soon. It amazes everyone that he is even able to walk, much less be ridden again. He must have a very special angel looking out for him (maybe his big brother, Maverick)!

Over Easter, I left my truck and trailer in Texas and took a quick trip to Germany to visit my German friends. There is a dear woman I call my German mother, who is getting older but still sharp minded. I spent many summers with her in Austria at her lakeside cottage when I lived in Heidelberg. Worldly, elegant and intelligent, she is a pleasure to spend time with. I just wish I wasn't so jet-lagged the entire time I was there.

Flew back to Texas, I was picked up at the airport and went straight to the Spring Cutting Horse Finals in Ft. Worth. After that, Jack Brainard decided we all needed to go dancing at his favorite honkytonk. Now that man can really two-step! By 9 p.m., I was completely exhausted.

While I was traveling the world, my brother stayed at the house in Colorado, caring for the animals so after a few days recovering from jet-lag in Texas, I had to get right back home so he could fly back to California. I really had to watch the weather and only had a small window to travel in so I wouldn't get caught in a major spring snow storm. I had a horse to drop off in Fowler, then as I got within 50 miles of home, the snow started to come down. I made it home just in time. We were snowed in for two days.

I was home just long enough to see the first foal of the year(a red roan stud colt that was born two weeks early), re-pack, take the dogs to the kennel, and fly to Red Bluff, CA for the Californios Ranch Roping and Stock Horse Competition. It was good to see friends, the roping is amazing and of course, the shopping was terrific. The flights were delayed at every airport I went through on the return trip. I am tired of flying and airports!

Now I am home for most of the month of May except for a couple weekend trips. I hope to go to Abilene for the Ranch Horse Finals. I have never been there because I usually go to the Big Loop Rodeo in Jordan Valley, OR. but this year, the Ranch Horse Triple Crown in Pueblo, CO. is the following week so there is no way I can manage to be in both places.

Any one care to follow me around for a month?

A Pastor with Guts and Balls

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at
the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some
people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open
the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting
the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self esteem..

We have abused power and called it
politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free...
Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than
5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively. The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer
from India , Africa and Korea .

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and
received a larger response to this program than any
other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called 'one nation
under God.'

A Special Day for Rio

noreply@blogger.com (the Pretty Pony) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Today was a special day for Rio and I. It was eight months ago that Rio was severely injured in a trailer accident. He has been healing slowly, just turned out for the winter. His knee is still mending but is completely skin covered. I saddled Rio today for the first time since the injury and rode him around the arena for 30 minutes. This might not seem like much, but for me, it was just amazing to be back astride him again. He is sound and we will be proceeding slowly building strength in that leg, but Rio is ready to get back to work.

Rio's knee today:

A few weeks after the accident:

Next week, Rio goes to Texas with me to spend a week with the chiropractor, Larry "Thumper" Jones. Thumper works at the NFR, race horses and is the best in the business. I talked to Thumper about Rio last fall after the accident and he told me when Rio was healed, to bring him down. While in Texas, Rio is also going to be using an AquaTread to strengthen his leg, then swim for a week or two to build up the muscles in his knee. We will get back in training again soon after that.

A few weeks ago, I was in Winnemucca, Nevada, showing Hank in the Stock Horse Challenge. It was a long trip out there but great show. I had hopes of earning a top 5 spot but had to settle for a top 10 finish which was still very respectable. I was proud of Hank and he is getting better and better at each show we enter. His next show is in May at the Ranch Horse Triple Crown.