Golden Curls Ranch welcomes American Honey

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
 

Chatting with Curly Girls :> - April 2011 RAC Challenge

Hello Friends,

Well our Curlies are such a fun loving and competitive group that the girls and I decided to have a "girls verus fellas" competition going while we are working on our obstacles for RAC this month. I explained to them that they were out numbered over 2 to 1 with the guys and our BLM Curly Mustangs mares were unfazed.

I know these ladies they can handle it as the BLM Curly Mustangs are not only beautiful they are extremely smart.. So, here are photos of the girls and I chatting on the cell phone today. Blossom really got into it and Sunny was certain it was something good to eat. Golden Red was a little more shy about the device and had those ears working, moving to the rythum of the music, each time it rang..She will make a wonderful dance partner when we begin working in western dressage.

 Blossom BLM Curly Mustang

  Sunnie

 Golden Red BLM Curly Mustang

 

From All the girls from Golden Curls,

Chatting with Curly Fellas{:> - April 2011 RAC Challenge

 

Our Curly friends are having a great time desensitizing their Curly horses and competing with each other.
Here is a video of Lakota and I.....talking on the cell phone while in the saddle.
Join us for other wonderful fun at
http://rideacurly.blogspot.com/
Angie

Sparky never meets a stranger

Hello Curly Horse Friends,

Whats better than having wonderful Curly horses to love and spend time with everyday? Sharing your wonderful Curly horses with others!

My good friend Connie Rivas, caught a flight into Dallas week before last to visit our Curlies. Connie is a horse owner and true friend of Curly Mustangs. She also has allergies to horses. So this was a test of sorts and a great opportunity for me to learn more.

Connie has Archer, a three year old gelding, BLM Curly Mustang, who is related to our Blossom and Golden Red. They were gathered at the same round up by BLM.

Here are a few photos of Connie and Sparky, our Wild Mustang. OK, really folks does he look wild? Sparky has never met a stranger and immediately partnered up with Connie. He allowed her to do the same ground training techniques I do such as picking his feelt, grooming and leading.


It was a very wonderful feeling to see our young man so well behaved. I am truly a proud Mama mare.

BTW, Connie had no allergic reaction to our curlies...she did have a reaction to our sweet Quarter Horse/ Paint, Allie, who, like Sparky, has never met a stranger and is always ready for a gentle rub.

Angie and Sparky in the Lone Star State.

Fun with the boys

Hello all,

We have had a wonderful start to our New Year at Golden Curls Ranch. Lots of great moments spent riding trails and working with our horses. Here are a few photos of Sparky and Bucky. Sparky has turned three with the new year and is a handsome, gentle BLM Curly Mustang stallion whom we adopted in August. Bucky, is our year old colt stud whose mom is our BLM Curly (Smooth coated) Mustang, Golden Red's Nevada's Blossom and dad our wonderful Curly Stallion, Chester. They are best friends and when I work with them we have lots of great fun.

Best wishes for many wonderful moments spent with your Curly horses in 2011.

Angie and the boys

Texas

www.goldencurlsranch.com

Curly J a true ranch horse - in the arena and on the trail{:>

Hello all,

Jubliee's Curly J and I worked on barrels a bit. He is so smart and learning his patterns really well. Levi has been working with him on his stops and boy did it take me back when I said whoa...he stopped in a second with a slide and I almost flew between his ears{:

 

Gotta love those Curlies, I am convinced they can do anything they want...Levi and I are working with Curly J on his jumping and yesterday he was practicing jumping over approximately one and a half foot cavaletti.

After we practiced in the arena we cooled off on a wonderful trail ride....made me think the best way to look for a Christmas is in saddle with a Curly friend.

All our best, 

Angie and Curly J

Sparky's Big Day

Hello friends,
Just wanted to share a few photos of Sparky. Yesterday, was a big day as we introduced him to pasture buddies. The sweet, gentle, soul that he is gave me big hugs before running off with the boys.
Angie

 

Blanca and Carolina

Hello all,

Just a few photos of our canine girls, Blanca and Carolina. Blanca was at the barrel race arena a few weeks ago...been there a while according to Leann. Next thing I know Levi and Leann picked her up and put her in the back seat of my truck. We came back to the ranch with her nose in my ear all the way home.
She is a Great Pyrenees and quite the protector..but she is still a teenager as she sneaks out of the gate at dark and crawls back in at dawn{:>
She also has the patience of Job (biblical) as you can tell with her little friend Carolina.
Guinness, of course, just shakes his head and says...what next?
Hugs,
Angie

More Whole Lot of Pink and Curls at T Bar T Feed Supply in Kaufman, TX

Chester and I showed our curls at our favorite feed store, T Bar T Feed Supply in Kaufman, Texas. Our good friends, Anthony, Jeremy and Jeff were even wearing pink  wahoo..... let's hear it for the men:}

We had lots of great fun showing our Curly Man, Chester to everyone. He is getting really wavy with this cooler weather and is such a joy to take out meeting folks. Curlies truly are awesome horses with loving personalities.

The event was all for helping a great cause....Save the Tata's....promote Breast Cancer Awareness and continue the research.

Purina is doing their share and donating a percentage of every 

bag of feed sold directly to finding a cure{:>