Memoirs from the Ranch-Episode 5

Okay I know it has been forever and I'm trying to repent here and give you the update from the ranch. First, let me share some stories:

Story #1

About a month ago B and I went for a ride under the full moon. It was pretty cool and something I had always wanted to do. It was good to just get off the ranch and enjoy the quiet of the evening. As we were going along a country road, I noticed an oval-shaped rock about 15 feet in front of us on the road. Because of the shadows I thought it so strange that a rock of that size would just be sitting there in the middle of the road. Then I thought it must be a jackrabbit because of its size but it didn't move so I wasn't sure. As we got closer and my horse Rusty was about to step on it, it moved! It was in fact a hawk that had badly injured it's wing and was unable to fly. A beautiful creation but on it's way out of this world. We thought about wrapping it up and bringing it back to the ranch, but there is no way for us to care for it and it would only die there so we left it to mother nature. We have several hawks in the area and even more vultures that sore above us during the day. Pretty cool.

Story #2

The boys who participate in equine or other activities are awarded two "ranch bucks" each day, which they can then redeem for all kinds of things at the ranch mercantile. Often, if I don't stamp their ranch bucks book during the day, they will find me in the evening when I visit with the boys and get stamped then. On another note, during their rec time in the evening, the boys will often take off their shirts because of the heat but most of them are very good to put a shirt on when a lady comes into the bunk. So, one night I was making my rounds and stamping ranch bucks when one of the boys wanted a stamp but was shirtless because all of his shirts were in the laundry. His solution was simple, he hid behind a pillar that is in each bunk and reached around with his ranch bucks book kindly asking for a stamp. I obliged with a laugh, only to find his arms reaching around the pillar with a "thank you" once I had stamped his book. Gotta love these boys!

Story #3

One of my biggest struggles at the ranch is building relationships with the boys. From Arbinger you learn that you really can't do much correction if you haven't been effectively teaching and communicating. And that can't be done well if you haven't listened and learned, and built the relationship, etc. You just move your way down the triangle that you see below. Everything we do when we want to have influence with others has to be grounded on a solid foundation of being "out of the box" or having a good "way of being" where you see others as people and not as objects, obstacles or irrelevant to you.

So, there are a few boys where it has been my pleasure to build a relationship with them and it feels so good when they invite you into their life potentially to be a person of influence. I had such an experience with one boy who insisted on us doing "trail time" together, a short time at the end of the day when we talk together about how we are doing at getting out of the box with others and find ways to support each other in our "way of being." I felt like it was such a privilege to get to know this boy better and understand his hopes, desires, and fears especially as he was nearing graduation and returning home. There have been other boys who I have had similar experiences with and it is the highlight of my days here at the ranch. I'm learning that I need to spend more time down the triangle building relationships with these boys so when the time comes for instruction or even correction, the foundation will be there.

Okay, so some other things I promised I would share from the ranch. Below is the horse I am currently training. His name is Dancer and he is really fun to work with. He is a true Dun colored horse which means he has a dorsal stripe down his back and tiger markings on his legs. Pretty cool! I got a saddle on him last week and want to get on him this week but we'll see how it goes. I never have as much time as I would like to work with him. He is also really tall and that means it is going to be really fun to jump and run with this boy!

About six weeks ago we moved into the new tack room and I am still slowing working on getting it where I want it to be. Below you can see pics of our attempts at organization.

The saddle pads are the hardest or organize. I'm having our welding instructor work with the boys to create a drying rack for the blankets and pads that will be really nice when completed.

I have a white board for horses who need meds or other notes and I'm putting up a cork board to have the boys' weekly goals posted as well as pictures from our adventures on horseback! It's going to be good!