Lakota and I welcome Cinnamon River to Golden Curls Ranch

Hello All,
After a brief bit of cold weather we are excited to get out and soak up the sunshine. It's a good day for fence work. We are busy making plans for Cinnamon River to come home and join his buddy and cousin Renegait Chesterfield...Chester. Lakota has never met River so the cross fences will be a good chance to meet and greet. Cinnamon River has been working under saddle with Chris and Caren Ruthven, owners of C & C Colt Training for five months. He is a smooth ride and his gaited trot is a joy to ride.

River is a gelding approaching five years of age. He has the wonderful bloodline of Walker's Prince T ABC # ABC 90 (f) MFTHBA F-12781 and is a handsome Strawberry Roan with Sabino markings like his mom Cheyenn's Penney, ABC#ABC 1034 (f) MFTHBA87-30135.

Cinnamon River - his name really fits - will be a wonderful addition to Golden Curls Ranch and his gaited trot will be heaven sent for older folks like me whose body has needs a less jarring post. Check back soon and see more photos of this handsome and loving horse.

Renegait Chesterfield

Hello All,

I would like to introduce Renegait Chesterfield "Chester" ABC #3665. He is a handsome, sorrel, stallion with flaxen points who stands approximately 15.2 hands. With our cooler weather his coat is really curly and his mane a beautiful halo of golden, red, ringlets. While Chester is a handsome guy I am more impressed with his personality. He is the most gentle and charming fella I have yet to meet. He was quite green when he came to us and worked with our husband wife team trainers, Chris and Caren Ruthven at C & C Colt Company in Whitesboro, Texas. He learned ground manners through Natural Horsemanship for four months and is beginning work in the saddle. He is a very smooth ride.

Chester is the one who comes running up to greet me each morning. When we first met he would not eat carrots, apples or treats ....now they are a daily treat usually with his bright smile and twinkling eyes asking please. He is a pleasure to groom and seems to enjoy it immensely. He has beautiful dark brown eyes with golden curly eyelashes. What a handsome face. His sire is Stag Creek Berndt Warrior and carries both Mead's Northern Express and Hammrich Range bloodlines. On his dams side he carries Walker's Prince T and Pride of the Valley Lad which gives him the smooth Curly trot. Chester is a true Curly stallion with the calm and easy to fall in love personality. We at Golden Curls Ranch as happy to have the opportunity to call him our own.

Angie

Communication

Hello All,

Communication is an important part of any relationship and we are trying to learn more about it at Golden Curls Ranch so we can be more effective in dealing with the critters. Humans, like myself, feel confident that once we say something it is understood and agreed with or the other critter (human) will let you know that they don't agree by saying so or at least make body movements indicating they don't agree. Such as when I say I'm coming with the feed bucket and Lakota doesn't agree with how long it is taking he will take his right foot and paw on the ground. Then I usually say "stop that" in a meaner than I wanna to be voice and he gets my message, he stops pawing and then he gets the food - we have just communicated. Well, sometimes it goes wrong. For example, my adorable, understanding and caring husband is convinced that when he says "mashed potatoes" I hear sweet potatoes. OK, no problem for me 'cause I like them both - but he doesn't like sweet potatoes. When he says mashed potatoes he assumes - and folks I wont even try to explain what that word does to married couple's relationships- that it comes with gravy. OK, I don't make a very good gravy. I have tried all my married life to make a good gravy. I've used corn starch, flour and even those pre-measured "packet for dummies" and it still turns out with lumps and gooey. And...since I could sit down and eat a whole bowl of potatoes with just butter - what's the point?

In most cases it's OK if you don't always communicate clearly; however, there are those few times when it is important to speak clearly and correctly what you want (or need) and to hear clearly and correctly (and maybe focus) when the other person is communicating to you. That should have been today what my dear hubby and I did today.

I wait till my loving hubby is with me at the ranch to tack my horses and ride. I figure since I make dinner and warm the bed he will take care of me like no one else. Also, if I get hurt he will get me to the emergency room and make sure that I am treated quickly so that I can continue to make dinner and keep the bed warm. So.....

I go out to the paddock and Lakota, my sweet insightful horse, comes right up to me. I put a halter and lead rope on him and bring him into the arena all the while thinking what a great day it is. I ask my handsome hubby to video tape our ride so I can watch it and learn from it. Never could there have been a more appropriate day! So, I pick Lakota's large black hooves and brush him while saying sweet things into his big fuzzy ears. Next, I place the pad and saddle on adjusting it slightly and noting that he likes to have time before you girth him tightly. (I would too - thank you very much) Now, for the bridle - I am much more comfortable with a snaffle bit so that is what we use. I note to myself I need to work with him so that he lowers his head when bridling 'cause he is a big boy even when I am standing on my tippy toes! Now, we're ready!

I try to mount with the mounting block and he seems a bit nervous. He wont come up to it and so I think,well, let me move it to him. He backs up. Wont go. Ok, "Hank, could you hold Lakota's bridle and reins while I mount?" I think no problem...I've done this over a dozen times before....Ok,Hank is holding the reins of the bridle and I as I put one foot in... whoa, off we go - hey *&^%$#@_______ OK I think ______ (communication with four letter words might help) I grab the mane, I still don't have a right foot in the stirrup and no reins. NOooooooooooooooooooooo, and plob, _____plob, ______plo__bbbbbbb - yeah it took me three plobs to finally land. My sweet instructor, Miss Jen will be pleased to know that I was wearing my helmet! You taught me well dear instructor - now if only you could teach me to communicate with a man!!! I get up, brush myself off and stumble around - that's a good sign - nothing's broke. I take off my helmet walk it off and after a few minutes I come back inside the arena. Lakota comes over to say hey "was that fun or what"? He seems to be unfazed by it all. My sweet and dazed hubby says with a straight face...You might want to take a shower" I keep my response to myself.....and then as if reading my mind he adds...."so you wont be too sore tomorrow" . Ohhhh. I ask why he didn't hand me the reins before he let them go and he said "oh, I thought you had them". I digest it while noting that he doesn't have an intentional harmful bone in his body.... and quietly wondering if I will have a concussion from the fall. So we at Golden Curls Ranch are continuing to improve our communication skills, we will always, always wear helmets when riding and have a partner (yep, but from now on we get to pick'em ). And, in case we don't always communicate clearly..... and I will continue to eat lots of broccoli and take extra calcium supplements so those bones don't break.

Angie and Lakota the most clearly communicative horse I know!

Groceries - The Rest of the story....

Hello All,

As Paul Harvey says; "....now for the rest of the story".

Good news.....none the of the hay and grain went to waste....humm, well actually it went to Brownie, Braden, Becca and Christina's waist! Our very efficient and hungry Boer Goats.

Have a great day,

Angie and the very well fed critters

Groceries

Hello All, When our sons were little it was a big deal when I would bring groceries home. I learned quickly that taking them shopping with me would increase my grocery bill by 20% - easily. Not to mention the weird things that would show up when we got home. So they would stay with Dad while I shopped and when I pulled up in the drive it was "Hey guys let's help mom bring in the groceries"! Well, it's not that much different at Golden Curls Ranch. Yesterday I worked in the office with Dad, Martin and Andrew on year end reports. I bought the guys cheeseburgers and cokes. I have found that giving food to critters of all shapes and sizes really makes the time you spend together more pleasurable. So just before dark I headed out on I-30 with everyone else in Dallas trying to escape the city. I arrive at one of my favorite feed stores, Aggie's Feed Store at St. Augustine and Hwy 175 around 5:20 pm. Yep, I 'm cutting it close as they close at 6:00 pm. Have you ever noticed that's when your sweet hubby wants to talk to you on the cell phone? "Gotta go dear, I'm gettin' groceries!" First, it's a 50lb bag of dog food. My big strong friend picks one up and throws it over his shoulder. "Next?" He smiles....OK, need horse food but they don't carry Purina they stock Acco so I say two 50 lb bags of Safe and Sound. "Oh yeah, a bag of Oats...make it crimped - I notice the whole ones are going right through them". No problem he disappears and pops up just in time for me to remember goat food. They're out of goat developer so I go with All Stock thinking I need to separate Mama Becca anyway and I will feed her the last bit of the high protein feed. Brownie and Brady could stand to lose a few pounds and the All Stock is only $8.95 a 50 lb bag. "Oh yeah, two bales of hay". That's what I came here for since I'm out and my hay guy said he could not get to his hay barn with all the rain we've had - he'd get the truck stuck. I figure a few bales will get me through till it dries up a bit.. He charges $3 a bale. Aggie is $8! Then, I see Randy and we talk about laying chickens. I believer he is the owner. He has a lot of experience - actually he is a walking encyclopedia. After looking at the Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Barred Rock I think I like the colors on the Plymouth Barred Rock. But, gosh $20 an adult is way too much. So he shows me the pullets that are only a few weeks old for $2.99 each. Ok, I will need to barn proof my barn from coyotes and more importantly - Maya! So I say I will come back to get the chicks. Back on the road with over a $100 in groceries. Things are the same - people driving dangerously close to your tailgate. I wonder if they ride their horse that close. Ha, if only my Tundra kicked like my Sweet Mama donkey, Salsa! Pulling in the gate, singing with George Strait, I see my sweet, loving critters waiting for groceries. I quickly open it up and pull in and then get out to run close it. Now onto the next gate into the barn, same exercise. Then I get out and leave the music on - it's one of my desensitization technique. Besides, I'm sure the horses like country music. I pull down the tailgate and before I can turn on the lights (yee haw - we have lights) Lakota has grabbed the bag of oats and is eating it off the tailgate like he was a Longhorn frat boy. Chester is right beside him and I swear he is smiling. Mama Salsa is coming up slowing on the side. Sarita was right behind. OK, guys. I start putting feed and oats into the buckets. Lakota prefers to tailgate it. I try to shoo him away. Funny thing about these Curlies. They don't spook - even when you want them to! Let's just get them some hay and call it a night since it is already 7:00 pm. Darn, it's baled with wire and the wire cutters are down at the other barn that is flooded. OK, so I drive through the new barn (well it looks new on the out side) and pray I don't get the truck stuck while I jump out and grab the wire cutters. Back in the truck and on to the new barn. At this point I'm thinking how nice it is there's beer in the frig. OK, the equines are finishing up on the grain and I throw them a couple of flakes. Oh, the goats remind me they have not had their allotted grain and hay. Ok, ok I will unload everything tomorrow in the daylight I think to myself. Pulling through the barn and head to the house. Hugs and kisses to Lee Marvin and Maya. Guinness has been keeping the home fires burning inside and he is excited to see mama. Life is good. A dear, sweet, friend calls we share a beer and chat about life, kids - the important stuff. It's bedtime and boy am I ready. I look out my window and my sweet mama donkey and Sarita are lying down beside the window resting. It's a tranquil and peaceful feeling. Around 11:30 pm, I wake up to Maya barking like a mad woman and look out the garage window to see Lee Marvin's hair standing straight up on his back. Mama donkey is trying to enter their den (garage) and they are not happy. I open the garage door and as I walk out I see this shadow of Lakota picking up a 50 lb bag of grain with his teeth as if it was a bag of Cheetos you'd get out of the vending machine. "Stop I yell" he freezes like he has been caught for about two seconds and continues on this pleasurable midnight snack. I go back inside and after searching for a while find my truck keys and run out and drive it back to the barn. Close the gates and take a deep breathe. Ok, Ok, that's what I should have done earlier in the night! "Dang it, half the hay and grain is gone!" As I walk back to the house I see a figure walking towards me. It's my sweet Lakota. He comes up to me and gives me a big bear, hug and kisses as if to says "thanks mom, for the groceries"!

Angie and her well fed critters.
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