for a strong bond

I know after I'm gone that they'll have each others backs.

Father Daughter Bonding - again

I'll be willing to bet my Dad never thought he'd be spending a Sunday afternoon target shooting with his three daughters.

It doesn't just happen in the show ring

As I mentioned before, we've been going to the dairy barn this week so Faith and Andrew can work with their calves. The goal is to eventually be able to show them in a dairy show, but that doesn't just happen. There is so much more to it than simply washing them and walking into the show ring. They are working hard on getting them ready. Not only do the kids need to work on getting the cow clean, they actually need to teach the cow to walk. I know it may seem odd, teaching the cow, excuse me, heifer calf to walk but it's an important thing for them to learn. When the judge says stop, they need to be in position within about two or three steps. Then when the judge asks you about your calf, you'd better be prepared, that all takes time and practice and a level of self confidence I've seen Faith gain already! (Self confidence has never been an issue with Andrew.) That being said, these calves are babies; 200- 450 pound babies, and they can give you an attitude. They've been known to step on feet and decide not to go where asked to go and have taken correction and redirection beautifully. Everything is new to them and it can be a big scary world out there, but in the hands of a confident handler the world isn't so bad. It's a beautiful thing to see these babies gain trust, knowledge, confidence, experience, patience and understanding. Nice to see it happen to the calves as well.

Faith leading her heifer...
...and brushing her...

Andrew leading his heifer...

...and bonding with her...

and brushing her...

and more bonding...

and more bonding...

Andrew has always been the cow nut, any type of cow he's always loved, Holsteins and Texas Longhorns being the top two, and he is really the one that wanted to join a 4-H dairy club. In fact Faith had very little interest in it but went to the first meeting because she had no choice, she had to go because I was not returning home before the meeting started. Surprisingly, she loved it and was totally on board with it and even looked forward to showing! I was floored. It's been really nice to see her try something she wasn't really into and gain a level of self confidence that she really needed.

Three years ago today...

...my life changed forever. It was the day Garlic arrived at his forever home. When I walked into that pen and saw him he managed to get a hold on my heart like I never though was possible with an animal and I've never looked back. Though he was not the skinniest horse I'd ever seen; close, but I'd seen worse while volunteering at an equine rescue out west. He was in really bad shape and I knew it. I knew he was a gamble I just didn't know then that gamble would pay off in more ways than I'd ever know. Against all the naysayers I bought him and had him delivered the next day, and I can honestly say he was not what I was looking for, in fact quite the opposite, but he is exactly what I needed. Funny how those sort of things work out. He has taught me patience, understanding, and trust. He's given me the ability to relax and chill more than any drug, prescription or otherwise ever could. When I was a horse crazy little girl I'd drawn a picture of a bay horse in a red box stall with white x's on the door wearing a blue halter. Three years ago that's exactly what I got. I don't know his past; where he came from or really anything about him other than the sorrowful old soul with a kind eye and a heart of gold, and yet I'm thankful for everything he went through, (though I wish he didn't have to be starved) so he could be in that pen on that day and steal my heart and join my life forever. We've ridden many miles together and I'm so thankful for each one and as long as I live no matter how many other horses come into my life I know I will never have another Garlic. A while back I read a saying that went, " All horses deserve, at least once in their lives. to be loved by a little girl." To that I would only add, or a woman whom had waited her entire life to love her horse.

Garlic, a few days after he arrived here; yes, he's skinny, but this picture was taken after he'd gained about 80-100 pounds!

Father Daughter Bonding

What a great day! I got together with my sisters and our father and fired off a number of rounds as target practice. Not a bad day of family bonding!



It turns out I'm not a bad shot! I've come a long way as far as my opinion of firearms and really enjoy shooting. I sincerely hope I never have to use this skill.