Welcome to our world....: Wild Women of the Wild West

This last weekend I was so graciously given an opportunity to have a weekend just for me! Although as a mom, it felt as I had to assemble a small army to make sure everything was covered while I would be away.

In order to make sure everything was taken care of, I left Gracin at home to babysit her dad. But she called in reinforcement help from her Grandma Joyce, Grandpa Randy AND Grandma Connie. All in all, they survived, so did the dogs, horse, and my house!

Presley was packed up with me and Twister, and we hit the road after we got Gracie on the bus. She was going to spend the weekend at her Grandpa Barry and Grandma Sandy's house. I stayed the night there too, but Presley did not know I was around (I will get to that next). This was Presley's very first time essentially on her "own" with Grandma & Grandpa, no sissy and no mom or dad! I was a nervous WRECK!!!! Presley has always been such a mama's girl and is starting to grow out of it :-( It was about this same age that Gracie started to go spend the weekends at my mom's and now it's Presley's turn. She is growing up....... So I sucked it up, and dropped her with Grandma and continued on my way for my weekend!

So my journey continued another 40 miles from my moms, to a weekend only for women, horses & cows! The only "boys" that were allowed were geldings and steer's. Got saddled up and was ready for one WILD weekend. The first day started off with a scavenger hunt, on horseback, throughout the ranch. The ranch included about 100+ acres of stuff hidden everywhere and some serious obstacles to get to the stuff! This was not only entertaining but kinda scary watching some riders and horses. Most (about 90%) of the horses were not, um, trail horses.....But this was prefect for Twister. I am sure glad he got the trail miles under him this summer! I had so many complements on how "tough" he was! I had to try and not laugh because all the gal's that I trail ride with, their horses would have kicked butt at this! Oh, and my team won! :-) The next day was even more wild. We were all told we would be cutting blindfolded! We all took our turns getting blindfolded and then rode up to the flag (mechanical cow used to teach cutting horses), we had to keep our hand down (standard in cutting) and feel our horse and trust our horse. It was a rush! We then moved on to 3 other cutting exercises that made us ride correct and watch our cow's! Then the last day was even more cow time, making correct cuts and picking good cattle. I could not be more happy with my little gritty gelding, over the weekend we did trail obstacles, turn back and then right to cutting. Riding as the sun came up till well after it was down, he handled it all without missing a beat. I also learned more than I thought I could absorb in 3 days. It also helps a little that he and I won 3 other of the cutting competitions and the complements on him kept rolling in! :-)

And to the last part (I think...) Each day started at about 7am and ended at 9pm. All the other gals stayed at the ranch and I drove back in forth to my mom's each day (so I could make sure Presley was doing ok). I had to leave early and got back late she did not even know I was there. And frankly I don't think she cared once she discovered I was. I tried the whole weekend to leave my phone alone and not keep it on me while I was riding, but I am guilty of running back to the truck to make sure no one needed me. Grandma Sandy was awesome at texting me throughout the day to let me know all was well! And I knew Gracie had her dad under control! :-)