ranch life « Goddess Power with the Psychic Cowgirl

Horses~dangers and pleasures

Posted by Creative Goddess on August 17, 2010 in flow of life, lessons, ranch life with 4 Comments

we are on the lookout for another horse. we have kids getting ready to ride a lot, and they both want to ride my horse. Duke. they are smart kids, because he is the best horse.

so, at swimming lessons we heard about a horse that was being re-homed because the girl did not have time to ride him. he is gentle, has been used in gymkana. 17 years old and a gelding. sounds really good.

the person who was coming to get him, changed their mind, now the horse was available again. friends of ours were going to be in the area and look at him, and let us know. they got busy and did not make it over there. so we went ourselves. well, he was very quiet, needed a big hoof trim, his feet and neck showed signs of founder, which is Ok. we are looking for a kids horse that will not work real hard so we can live with a little founder, after all the horse is free.

so, we load him up and take him home. my husband spent a lot of time trimming hooves, and Joe ( the horse) was not quite as gentle as we had been told. well, he is at a new place, with new people, and it did start raining so we will see in the next few days.

I went out the next morning to see how Joe was feeling and perhaps let him out with our 5 horses. our concern was that his feet not hurt him too much so he can run away if they picked on him a bit too much as they establish the pecking order. ( haha on us) as I went to check on Joe, I noticed that that quiet friendly demeanor was somewhat missing. he was prancing and arrogant. really??? I was not at all comfortable with this horse, and did not let my kids anywhere near him. my horses came around and they all met over the fence. Lots of squealing going on, which is the way of horses. My 5 then took off running away. ( 2 geldings and 3 mares)

I thought well Joe feels great, I will let him out, I did and got the hell out of the way, because this horse is a bit aggressive. MY 5 horses went to the furthest corner that they could get and hid in the bushes for a whole day. I had to go to swimming lessons and my plan was for them all to meet, mingle and establish who is the boss ( Bambi- my husbands rope horse) while we were away. did not happen. we had to go get my herd to mingle with Joe. they were smarter than us.

Joe is completely aggressive, thinks he is a stud and tried to take over the herd in a not nice way. he hunted the mares. my geldings had to be on their guard to protect the ladies. my horses did not get any rest. I kept an eye on the situation for a day or so. then we had a birthday party and part of the fun is loading up in the truck and looking at the cows, highland steer, Llama, and bulls. then we go and pet the horses and hand out apple treats and enjoy a lot of love. well, our horses were too stressed to visit us for apple treats. ( that has never happened) my husband walked into the herd with the bag to coax them to the kids waiting in the back of the truck to enjoy horsey love. as my horses were distracted by the bag of treats, Joe took full advantage and backed aggressively into the herd to kick and do damage, and yes my husband was standing right in the middle. NOT GOOD!!!

so, after the party ended and I could go spend some time out with the horses, I did. what I observed and felt did not sit right with me. my horses are very gentle and loving. the come up for petting even though they are keeping a wary eye out for a halter. ( I do hide it in my jacket) luckily they think I have gained weight, not hiding the halters. hee hee. as I stood out there one of my paint mares Sienna, really wanted to come for some love, but she couldn’t. she had to stay with her herd for protection. then I observed my other paint mare wanting to roll and get rid of some itches. she was having a hard time finding a place. took her an hour and as she was rolling Joe was trying to get to her. what he was planning to do to her while she was down, I am not sure, but I do know that it was not good. My old guy had to protect her. I have had him for 17 years, and we have been on a lot of adventures and around a lot of horses together, and I have never seen him have to do this. he was constantly on guard to protect his herd. as soon as I saw that, I sent my husband out to separate Joe. he is just too dangerous to my horses and to us. after Joe was removed from them, I did go find my herd and gave them treats and investigated their damages. a lot of bruises from being kicked. that broke my heart. they were back to their friendly give me love and apple treats selves, although they were back to being in the furthest corner away from Joe.

the horse we have here is not a gentle kids horse. he is aggressive,and thinks he is a stud and that makes him dangerous. I called the lady that I got Joe from. she had no idea that he was like that. the interesting part is how the stories change. now she admits that her daughter could not handle him, and was scared of him. she thought and she is correct that being experienced horse people we would be able to handle Joe. then upon further conversations the people she got Joe from did tell her that you do have to watch him around mares. she did not know what that meant, so disregarded that information. YIKES!!!

at this time I am waiting for her or the people she got Joe from to call me and let me know if they are coming to get him, or if I am selling him at the horse sale on Friday and making a donation to the food bank. after I buy my horses a bag of apple treats to say sorry.

I am happy to have my loving herd back, and hope they are catching up on rest and relaxation. I cannot wait for Joe to leave so we can ride our pretty horses again.

this whole situation has been interesting. I am glad that we met Joe and the family who had him. I am very glad they did not ride Joe around mares and get everyone into a dangerous situation. I am also glad that I was able to let them know the situation. what happens to Joe now, I am not sure.

I do hope that anyone reading this who is thinking of getting a horse for their family, please do your research! get someone you can trust and who understands horses and horse energy to help you. when you have a horse that you connect with, there is nothing like it. also get lessons for whoever it is that wants to ride the horse. lessons will save your life. they are many amazing teachers out there and it is important. horses have a lot of power and energy, if you do not know how they think or cannot connect to them, it could be very dangerous. horses are not big puppy dogs.

so, we shall see how this story ends and hope that everyone involved has learned valuable lessons, including us. whether Joe gets recycled Friday or goes to another place to live in solitude, I do know that it will work out how it is supposed to.

a day in my paradise

Posted by Creative Goddess on July 21, 2010 in ranch life with No Comments

life on our ranch is amazing. this morning the munchkins and I got to watch a deer cautiously walk across the lawn looking for succulent grass, and mushrooms. I did not know deer ate mushrooms, but she did. neat. then she delicately wandered around all her senses on alert as she surveyed the area for the tastiest looking grass. as vehicles drove by she froze still as a statue hoping they do not see her. I am sure the drivers who did see her were busy praying, please do not jump out into the road. she didn’t. she is such a beautiful tawny reddish colour. with delicate features and soft alert eyes. it is such a gift from mother nature that we got to watch her this morning. I am very grateful. a few nights ago we got to see Elk grazing in the pasture. they are an amazingly rich looking burnt red colour right now. so beautiful as they majestically and gracefully move through the grasses looking for just that right tender morsel. it is amazing how quickly they move for such a large animal. again we were feeling very blessed to live here on this ranch and co-existing with the wildlife.

my boys and I drove out to check the cows, with all the rain the grass is thick and lush and the cows, horses and Llama are very happy. Annabelle the diva longhorn has not even jumped out to seek greener pastures. amazing really. Usually it is her we see from the living room window, not Delia the deer. one of the fun things we get to do is each pick out a heifer to keep for replacement, give her a name and a claim. everyone gets their own. so, it is a big decision, there are lots of girls to choose from. as my almost seven year old was making his decision, my four year old had to chime in with his. my seven year old weighs his options very carefully, asks opinions and finally comes to a decision. they four year old makes his lightning fast.

the seven year old was choosing between Angel the diva longhorn cows calf and dolly, one of his favorite cows calf. His decision did get easier once he found out that Angel is staying no matter what. so Dolly is his replacement heifer. the four year old saw a calf that looks like a cat in her face complete with whiskers and immediately claimed that one and named her AlliCat. he has a big orange cat named Alix so his calf had to have a matching name. very creative I say. we then toured through and checked all the cows and babies and enjoyed their contented happy energy. seeing the mommy cows and their calves looking so healthy and happy is why we do this.

Dolly

AlliCat

after we got back and I walked by one of the boys rooms, I noticed the toy farm animals were um…. umm…. well there was a bull and a cow and the bull was in the position to do what he has to do to impregnate the cow. birds and bees are learned early on a ranch, and the best part mom and dad do not have to explain much. although I may or may not refer them to their dad when questions start being asked.

even with all the work maintaining fences, making sure there is enough feed for the winter, constant health checking, and baby sitting during calving there is no place I would rather be than right here on this ranch. my boys get to learn a lot from mother nature and the exquisiteness of connecting and interacting with animals, and to appreciate the opportunity. I hope we still have ranches and the ranching lifestyle when they are ready to be on their own in this world and that they get to enjoy it.

where will all the Cowboys and Cowgirls go?

Posted by Creative Goddess on June 19, 2010 in flow of life, ranch life with 1 Comment

Happy Cows

I wonder if ranching and the cowboys that work on them will become extinct. a distant memory of amazing adventures, wide open spaces and the love of animals both domesticated and wild. will the smaller ranches who are taken care of by men and women who truly love their cattle, and are stewards of the land be replaced by big business. factory farms that are only interested in the $$ and do not appreciate the amazingness of a steer, and be in gratitude.

I am a cattle rancher. I love my cows and their purpose in my life and that they provide so many benefits. I am hearing so much about vegetarianism and don’t eat meat lately, and of course it triggers me. I believe that some part of me is a little guilty that I eat beef. then again I am a strong healthy woman, and I have tried vegetarianism for a couple of days, that was all I could handle. my body loves beef. I am a psychic and I eat beef.

the difference though is that the beef I eat is from my ranch, and a steer from my favorite cows. I know that steer has been loved well, and the flavour of the meat is no comparison to what you buy in the grocery store. The beef I eat has no growth hormones, no chemicals of any kind. I do a ritual of gratitude when it is time for my steer to become my food. oh, I am also intuitive, so I can communicate with my animals. I thank them for being a food source and send them lots of love. it is probable similar to the rituals of the Native Americans who used to roam our lands, and hunt the buffalo. yeah, that is not happening anymore, see my concern.

as ranchers we are stewards of the land. we provide spaces for Elk, Moose and Deer to graze. there is nothing more majestic than to see an Elk move across the pasture as if it is a ship that travels on the prairies. so graceful! Moose on the other hand not so much! it is really hard not to giggle at a moose stumbling across the pasture, they look so awkward, yet so beautiful in the ugly-awkward-hope they don’t trip on their own feet way. the deer too are so beautiful to watch as they gracefully bound over the fence. the moose going through the fence means there is repairing to do. what happens when there is no more open spaces for these animals to live freely? what will the wolves, coyotes, and cougars eat? those are here too.

it does come down to $$ doesn’t it. factory farms can produce more product in a smaller space therefore make more money. Cattle prices for the ranchers has not changed all that much in the last 40 years. what we receive for our cattle sales is not a lot. we are not doing it to make huge amounts of money, we are doing it for the lifestyle it provides and being in service to help feed the world. land prices have gone up, machinery prices have gone up, hay prices have gone up etc…. yet the price per pound we receive for our cattle sales has not gone up. not really fair is it. yet the price you pay at the grocery store certainly has gone up. a lot!!

there is a trend right now to buy organic beef, beef that has not had any hormones or antibiotics. fantastic!! yet, it is not that accessible to everyone. we raise organic beef, and we do sell from the ranch if someone is interested and I am pondering marketing that idea more. you can come and have a tour of where your beef comes from and then pick up the cut and wrapped product from the butcher we use.

there is also all the other uses that a beef animal has upon slaughter. 99% of the animal is used. not just for your leather coats and shoes, lots of other uses as well. if you wish more info on this check out this website

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/jross/beefprod.htm

if everyone becomes vegetarians, does that mean that leather will no longer be available also? in my opinion raising the animals for their hide is wasting, although I am totally biased.

I love being a cattle rancher. tried being a cereal crop farmer, did not care for it. the chemicals needed to raise crops is crazy. all to make more $$$. you cannot blame the farmer, they are trying to survive the only way they know how.

the cattle ranching at our place is organic. the cows eat green grass when it is available, and when it is not they still get grass. it is hayed and baled, then rolled out for them buffet style. I do have happy cows, which makes for tasty beef. raised with love.

I do wish cattle prices were higher for the producer, but my husband has an oilfield job so we can make the mortgage payments. And support us and the cows, horses, bulls, Llama, highland steer, dog, and cats and all the wildlife; in the lifestyle we love.

when you are biting into that juicy steak, or delicious hamburger or wearing your super fabulous leather shoes, thank the rancher who has worked long hours with little pay but a lot of love to provide that for you.

I hope that you have a different perspective on ranchers, and can join me in the wish for us to not become extinct. a huge part of our history is still evident in the cattle ranches today, it will be very sad if all of that is gone.

Mortimer

my horse Duke

Posted by Creative Goddess on June 12, 2010 in flow of life, ranch life with 2 Comments

it is day 5 of the writing and yoga challenge. today for Yoga I chased my diva longhorn cow back into the pasture that she is supposed to be living in while wearing yoga pants. that is my yoga for today. so for the writing I am writing about my horse named Duke.

I did not name Duke, he is named by my ex-husband and in tribute to John Wayne. It suits him and to me he has always been a total gentleman. the first time I rode him was in 1994. I was dating my ex-husband and had gone to his place for a visit. he decided to take me riding. Cool! so,he saddled up Duke for me and his own horse and away we went. it was a beautiful ride through the foothills of the rocky mountains, we got to leap over streams, see amazing wildlife and thoroughly enjoy our day. Duke was very easy to ride and I felt like I had ridden him my whole life. I did not find out until years later after we were married that Duke was a bit of an outlaw to everyone else. my ex-husband thought it was funny to put inexperienced people on his not totally trained to be ride-able horse. Joke was on him when I rode Duke. I was living in the city, so it was a reasonable assumption that I did not know how to ride. the fact that I rode better than my ex-husband and that I finished the training of my Duke without being aware of it still amuses me to this day. also, the fact that I got Duke in the divorce. he was the best horse that we had, but it was easily recognizeable that he wanted to be with me. I could and still can get on him backwards, on the wrong side, and lay on him, anything I want to. not so with my ex-husband, anytime he tried any of that Duke freaked out and did not care for it. all about intention and connection.

we did some amazing cowgirling in Montana; him and I along the Judith river checking cows, doctoring sick calves, and chasing wild run like hell yearlings. Duke taught me how to rope, he kept me out of danger, and is one of my best friends. I can always catch him if I say the magic words ” Duke be a gentleman”, he has to stop and let me halter him. funny hey! when we rode, on the highline not far from the Bear Paw mountains, there are a lot of rattle snakes. GROSS!!! If I was riding Duke, he would walk over or around them and never ever indicate to me that there was one anywhere in my vicinity. probably did not care for my screaming in terror. how do I know this? mr. ex-husband would delight in commenting on it. (see one of the reasons he is ex)

he is not a registered horse, no idea of his blood lines. he came from the Browning Indian Reservation in Montana. to me he is priceless. I have been offered a lot of $ for him, but that will never happen. right now he is teaching my young boys how to ride him. it is sweet to be a part of. he has presence, he is a character, he can fake a sore leg, and shy from imaginary dangers to see if I am paying attention or writing blogs in my head and NOT paying attention. when I need him to be in top form, he is, and when I just want a leisurely day dreamy ride, he is up for that too.

as I am thinking of my best ever Duke story, I am really not sure. We have had so many great memories. the first time he and I drug a calf to the branding fire, the first time I put a loop around a yearlings’ hind feet, and felt the power of that animal, and the power of Duke to hold him. the first time we freely raced across the prairie just for the sheer joy of it, or the 10th, or the 100th, and the next time. the fact that Duke loves chasing 2000 pound bulls as much as I do, which is not at all. so we choose to go with that and simply not do it. when he acts all offended when I ask him to do something that he feels is beneath him, like lead a saddled colt to let it get used to the saddle. that is not in his job description as far as he is concerned. the most amazing thing about my horse Duke is the feeling that I have when I am on his back of his love for me , and mine for him, and that together we can face any challenge and do or be anything or anyone we want to. if you want to know how it feels to be a super hero, ride a horse that you have a connection with and experience the sheer magic of it.

a story about a bull

Posted by Creative Goddess on May 25, 2010 in ranch life, simplifying with No Comments

my energy was all jumpy this evening so I decided it was time for a walk. great idea, although there is still that small issue of the really really grumpy bull who really really wants to be out with the cows but we really really do not want calves born in snowstorms. so, I walk way around his area. he still gives me that grumpy look, but it is from a large distance and steel fences in between us so I am ok with that. or so I thought.

I was sauntering along, and my horses came racing over to see what I was up to, funny how that never happens when I wish to catch one. all this time I am keeping an eye on Mr. grumpy growly pants bull ( kids named him that) as I was nearing the gate to my favorite walking place, a pretty forest of trees, I hear clanging. hmmmm….. Mr. Growls a lot is trying to leap over a steel fence, fortunately he did not make it. unfortunately he keeps trying. I stop to ponder. if he makes an escape, my nice quiet walk in my favorite enchanted forest is right where he is going to go on his way to the cows. hmmmm…. do I want to be up there and hear this awful growling mooing coming at me because he once again has managed to escape and have the sh*t scared out of me, or do I want to head back to the house now. well, I watched him make another attempt and I jogged~ thats right jogged, back to the house.

I was not very happy. all fun and games but this bull is really starting to p*ss me off. he is interfering with my exercise and meditation program, and I really do not have much of an inclination to exercise so this is BIG interference. I stomped into the house and said to my husband, Ok this bull has to go soon!! I do not know if he is going to be able to stay around to do his job. he is either going to break a leg or other parts trying to leap steel fences ( apparently he thinks he has super powers) or he is going to hurt someone with his bad attitude. so what are we going to do. well, my husband in his calmness says I would really like to keep him around for breeding and then we will sell him. I was not thrilled.

then husband says but if he does get out of this pen, I am out of options so he will have to go. I said Ok, I can live with that. it is up to the Universe ( hee hee) if he escapes he is getting sold. I then had the urge to step outside and watch the bull pace around his pen. I called out to my dear husband to join me and said look at him, he is determined to get out. right then we heard a big big crash of fences breaking. yup, you guessed it, he got out yet again. had a few mouthfuls of grass and headed up into my enchanted pasture on his way to the ladies bellowing all the way. I know for a fact that I would have freaked out if I was enjoying my forest and heard him coming. would have totally channeled my inner cat and been up in a tree sooooo fast!!!! thank goodness for intuitive messages. BTW the fence that was between me and him was the one he crashed. so Mr. grumpy growly pants is on his way to the next sale and on to his next purpose~ perhaps a hot dog or a hamburger or a buffet near you. Enjoy! ( and I may or may not have sent out the intention that he escape again soon. I am not admitting to anything )