Golden Curls Ranch: April 2011

Hello Friends,

I'd like to announce the newest addition to Golden Curls Ranch.; Golden Curls American Honey. In January, a fellow Curly Mustang friend, Linda in Kansas contacted me with a note saying there is a Curly Mustang in Mustang Heritage Foundation's, Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover. I followed the link to the video to see the beautiful, bay, mare and I saw my Sparky in her eyes. So we set out on a new journey.
This journey was not one of gas stops and odometer numbers instead it was an emotional quest filled with a most difficult task; waiting. This is something my friends know is very hard for me as a certified ADHD. Still, we submitted our application to BLM in January and waited. They extended the application period; another test of patience; but, my good fiend Connie was there every step of the way. In fact, when I called her in January and explained about the first noted Curly Mustang in a Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover she immediately exclaimed" Let's do it". You see our Curly Mustang friends are not only a supportive group but are also an adventurous bunch.
So after over three months of waiting we received word. Golden Curls ranch was approved to bid. OK, now to wait for April 16 to bid. Meantime, I would ask Sparky if this beautiful, tall (over 15 hands) Bay mare was his mom or sister when I'd spend quite time with him. They both were gathered in the Black Rock East area of Nevada at the same gather . The answer was simply; "she is a sister, in that we are all related in this big ,wonderful world".
So, the days slowly clicked by, and were checked off the calendar one at a time. Then, April 15th arrived and my friend Connie flew into Dallas to join me in the bidding. Our good friend, Dr. Mitch Wilkinson who is a wonderful Curly Mustang mentor called ofter to say, I'm here for you in journey and was supportive in every way.
The energy level increased as we headed to Ft. Worth. John are barn manager and trainer, his cousin Adam, my wonderfully supportive husband, Hank, Connie and her friend Howard who drove over six hours to join us and my fellow horse friends, Leann and Billy.
Not sure of the bidding time, I insisted on getting there early. It was great to see the folks as we walked up and down the beautiful brick cobbled streets that has seen so much history in the steps of the many different shaped hooves. Connie and I met a wonderful cowboy and his 17 year old horse Clinch who walk the streets meeting and greeting folks in their cowboy attire and crack their whips as they wait to take part in the cattle drive demos. Wonderful artists sitting peacefully strumming their guitars, ladies in period customs who look like they walked out of of the Ft. Worth Stockyard Hotels a hundred years again and the fabulous smell of slowly and tenderly smoked BBQ. Oh, and of course, lots of cold beverage to keep the nerves settled and parched, mouths comfortable.
One O' Clock, the televised bidding begins, and it's standing room only. I walk in with my bidder number, 165. Lucky numbers I feel, and my friends are all there waiting to either catch me as I fall or hug me with gusto. I watch the people, some cowboys who came right out of the corrals, you can tell by the boots, yep; grandpa always said you could tell a lot about a man but the shoes or boots he was wearing. And, there were others who looked as if they stepped right out of Rodeo Drive.
Eyes darted around the room and we quickly sized up each other up without moving a muscle. Folks, who were chatty, were the the employees of Superior Productions, the company handling the auction. There was as banquet table laid out with snacks and goodies; but, who could possible nibble at a time like this? So, the bidding began. The camera man zoomed in and out, the four monitors were showing videos of Lot #1, Lot #2 OH MY Goodness did that Mustang just sell for $5000. I looked at Connie, she just smiled. I looked at John he smiled....I looked my husband and he smiled...but I was not sure what all those smiles meant.
Now, they were auctioning Lot #8. I sure wishes that fella in the Black Cowboy hat would slow down and speak a little plainer. I am just a small town, southern girl and processing all those numbers was getting harder by the minute. I tried to see a pattern, they would go up to $500 and then down and up again. OK, so I decided our strategy would be to not place the first bid. I could feel John standing closer to me as Lot #20 comes up on the video. I hear someone say,
a "Curly Mustang". I step up quickly to make sure my bidder number can be seen over the crowd and make eye contact with the fellow who is in charge of the relying the bids to the cowboy in the Black Hat with the microphone.. Time seems to slow down for a brief moment and I see another fella across the room raise his hand. The cowboy with the microphone calls him Bill. The phone rings and the numbers start. My man sees me and realizes I am in the game. OK, we will go. What was the budget Connie and I agreed on again? Oh no, deep breathe. The phone rings again and Bill agrees with the newest number. My fella looks at me. I agree (not sure where we are on the numbers as they sure to seem to go and then down a lot) The cowboy looks at Bill, and asks again, Bill shakes he head no. The cowboy with the microphone looks at me and asks me I say yes....bamm, I see the gravel hit the block and she is ours!
The waiting is over.....American Honey is coming to Golden Curls Ranch.

Hugs, and more hugs, paperwork is completed and we head out into the wonderful sunlight of a beautiful Texas Saturday afternoon. There is music and friends and I feel the greatest relief of emotions in months. I want to just sit down and rethink it all but it's celebration time. Wahoo, we head to the White Elephant and toast with good friends. Phone calls to my sister, Dr. Mitch and emails starting popping in and I even receive a call from a good friend in Missouri, "did you get the Curly Mustang" yea.

My husband and I head back to ranch, I doze. Amazing how the body needs to recuperate from all the pent up energy. Our Curlies are waiting and it's dinner time. I love the rhythms of life at our ranch. It helps keep me centered. After feeding everyone, I head to bed.realizing tomorrow a new journey begins.

I would like to thank everyone for all their wonderful support and invite you to join us on Golden Curls blog found at www.goldencurlsranch.com for updates with American Curly and her journey to the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover which will be held September 15-17 at the Ft,Worth Will Rogers Colosseum.

Angie and the Golden Curlies and Mustangs