Yesterday the best part of my day was getting to train with volunteers, working with the horses, and teaching horse handling and behavior. There are few things in the world I love more than helping people expand their comfortability around the animals, it is so rewarding to me. I am grateful for that! What was the best part of your Friday?

I am grateful I got to spend some quality time with my daughter last night, just being silly and watching tv. It was fun.

I am grateful I was able to watch the entire bull elk drama unfold. I got more videos of them lounging around, butting heads, and scratching their racks on my fence. The entire time the horses were on edge, pacing around nervously. Then Chilli come charging out from a far back corner of the property, and straight at the elk. Natalia, and Emblaze, were not far behind. I was a little concerned about what was about to unfold. Chilli stopped for a moment, head up, and then continued to advance straight at the huge animals. They did not take much time to consider how to respond, and with amazing agility, they all stood up and bolted. In a sort of majestic parade, they each jumped the fence and then continued moving like a freight train across the road, and right on through the neighbors field without hesitation.

Chilli took off after them right up to the fence. I was not sure if she would cross the fence too! But she did not. She then came back, and she, Natalia, and Emblaze pranced around in a little happy dance like ‘HaHa we told them!” I felt so lucky and grateful that I was able to witness all that, that somehow the fence remained entirely intact without any damage, that Chilli stayed in, and that all the animals were safe. It was sure fun to watch it all!

​I gave Chilli lot’s of treats and told her how strong and brave she was. It must be hard for her to reconcile staying inside the fence, when going through fences like the elk was once just as natural for her as it was for the elk. Why didn’t she go through? I am so glad she didn’t though. She is maybe finally learning how to be a domesticated animal and getting used to her comfortable life here. I sure hope so, I just want her to be safe. This morning I get to go to work and it’s going to be a very busy day. I have to get my day started even earlier, and caring for the horses is much more labor intensive without a tractor to move large bales of hay. We are resigned to feeding only the small bales of hay, which have to be fed by hand, and of which the horses go through 4-5 of them each day. I put one in a little cart and pull it out to the field and spread them out so all of the horses can get a chance to eat. It’s not the worst thing in the world as long as we don’t get too much snow. And it’s good exercise to pull that cart around, I just have to be careful so I don’t slip or fall on rocks buried in the snow. I am just glad I am physically able to do it. And another one of the many reasons why horse people need to get into the gym at least a couple of days a week to ensure they are building strength and keeping their back safe. Are you working out? I sure hope so. Unless you already have a job where naturally all day long you are doing hard physical labor, the rest of us need to be doing those squats, and definitely lifting a little weight, even if it’s just two water bottles overhead at least a few times, a few days a week.

In order to take great care of our animals, we need to take great care of ourselves. Even bending over to keep the littler box clean twice a day, and certainly making sure you are steady on your feet before walking your dog (s), even if just from the front door to the car and back. I don’t want you to get hurt. So make this the year you do some strength training, do it for yourself, and do it for the love of your animals.

Welcome to the weekend, it’s Saturday, hoorah! I hope you have plans to have the most fun day ever! I hope it involves spending time in nature, and with animals. And if spending time around horses is on your wish list, keep in mind we will soon be adding to the website Horse Experiences where you can come out alone, in a group, or as a couple, and get to have a facilitated interaction with the animals. I worked on the brochure for this yesterday although it’s not quite done. And my other Big Reveal? Well, I invited some testers to make sure it all works correctly so it’s almost ready, and I am so excited about sharing that big gift with you, just not quite yet. Stay tuned! Remember, you woke up today for a reason, there is still something on this earth for you to learn, to enjoy, to experience, to give to others, your presence is valuable.

So get out there today and make the most of it, you Animal Loving Angel! And if it is at all in your capability to help us with getting our tractor repairs we sure appreciate all the help we can get https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Resqranch

Have a wonderful day, make it the best day of your life! 

Catch this morning, and EVERY MORNING's wakeup video at www.YouTube.com/@the1drQ