Love Lane Photos

Since I couldn't figure out how to successfully put all these pictures together, here are some photos of Love Lane as well!

Back In The Saddle Again!

Wow! I think I finally caught up with my paperwork (except, of course, filing my taxes!). I'm ready to rock and roll. But first, I promised Alan I would write a little about where the horses stay. It's three locations: the Covered Wagon Ranch during our season, which is June through September,then on to winter pasture at Raspberry Butte Ranch, in Big Timber, and, for a select few, some stay at our home in Bozeman. Even though Satin, Oprah, Nina, Rebel, Alfie, Blue and Lido work as dude horses in the summer, we winter them at our home. They were personal horses before Jerry and I bought the ranch.

Raspberry Butte Ranch is where JT and I will eventually live, but it's hard to give up our home in Bozeman at the moment. Besides, with real estate where it is, who would buy it anyway? In 2005 we built an indoor riding arena, which allows the horses to be worked during the winter. We usually have Jeremy work the younger horses or those that could use a little more "saddle time" as they get started. Once the season is over, Jeremy and Darlene live in the ranch house that's on the property, and JT and I keep a small apartment in the arena, as we travel back and forth from Bozeman. Our home in Bozeman is about an hour from the CWR. Raspberry Butte Ranch in 1 and 1/2 hours from Bozeman to the north east, and is 2 and 1/2 hours from CWR.

When the horses are at the Covered Wagon Ranch, we have limited corral space. You may or may not know this, but we don't own the land down the canyon. The Covered Wagon is on leased land from the Forest Service, and it only sits on 18 acres. For those horses that are not being worked that week, we put them up on the 2000 acre grazing permit we have with the Forest Service, which starts up the hill behind the ranch. That's why we wrangle them up the mountain on Saturday night and bring the ones we need back down on Monday morning.

So, that's how we keep our horses. Make sense, Alan?? :-)

A Little About Myself

I was supposed to be a boy in my family. I came from a mother who was Polish, and her family had 18 children in it. That's not a misprint. My father was second generation Italian. He really wanted a boy. First child was a girl. Having high hopes for their second child, unfortunately I turned out to be female and was dubbed with a middle name of Victoria. My fathers name was Victor. Do we get the picture? Last child was another girl, but since he was so disappointed with two girls already, it was no big deal. I was supposed to be a boy. I was my father's son.

I was supposed to have children, and I couldn't. Which is probably why I have so many animals. All the kids I couldn't have. So what this meant for this strong Italian father was that it was the end of the Naccarto name. Forever. So, since I was supposed to be a boy, I decided, on my own, that I would retain the family name and carry it on forever. Except I couldn't have children. It was the end of the Naccarto name.

I was supposed to be on vacation. We left last Tuesday, for two weeks in Belize. Warm sun. R&R before we head back and start our annual trek to open the ranch this summer. Except the minute I walked into the condo, I received a call from my sister to tell me my Dad just passed away. I left the following day to attend to family business and my father's funeral.

Why do I write all this? Probably just a very reflective mood about my life. Just wanted to let you all know that I didn't forget all of you and there was a good reason why I wasn't writing on the blog. This experience reminds me of the ranch. There are trails that you take that lead you to one final destination, and others that can take you all around the country. You never know where the trail is going to take you, and you rely on your guide to lead you through it. Isn't that a lot like life? Have you ever thought about that? It is also said that if you fall off the horse you have to immediately get back on, and keep on going. Just to let you know that I'm back in the saddle and ready to ride again. Thanks for listening,
debi

Sheep Wagons

I found this neat blog the other day and it gave a blog on the history of the sheepwagon. For those of you who were at the ranch this past summer, you saw two of these wagons on the ranch. We added them for crew quarters. The one pictured here is historic and restored by Anvil Ironworks in Livingston (aka Astrid's Wagon) and the other is a replica. If you want to learn how these wagons were created, it's a fascinating story this woman put together. She writes about the romance of the West. Pretty cool!


debi


http://www.bustlesandspurs.blogspot.com/

Happy St. Valentine's Day

And speaking of Saint's, meet our new horse "Saint", that we just purchased today from the Bozeman Winter Fest. He's a Registered Paint, named Yellowstone Saint, and is a 9 year old Chestnut Overo Gelding. Here's what they said about him: Saint is good looking a nice ride! He's logged many miles on the trail and has been used as a pony horse for young colts. Super nice soft lope and trot that you can ride all day. Stands 15.3 hands with correct conformation and nice, big feet. Really carries himself well in the arena also. Loves people and is loaded with personality."

JT and I watched him ride in the arena and he did really well. His transition from a lope to a walk was very gentle. He was the kind of horse that people came up to and just pet him in the stall. We're very excited to welcome him to the Covered Wagon Ranch!

A Special Request From Alan C.

Now that's a cowboy, right there!! Alan visited the ranch this fall and has become a very special friend to me. It's funny how those relationships develop at the ranch, isn't it? He fell in love when he was at the Covered Wagon, and this is a picture of the love of his life!

I ran into some very hard times over Christmas when I thought my dad was going to pass away. For some unknown Divine Intervention, Alan and I started emailing each other. It turns out that he was in a very similar situation as myself at one point in his life, and he offered some incredible words of advice. It was through his guidance that helped me move through this crisis, and by the way, Dad is doing fine now.

Alan shared how much he enjoyed the ranch, but also how much he loved our horses and the rides. You guessed it - Oprah was his trusty steed!

Now for the Special Request. In my next blog, Alan wants me to explain all the different locations I talk about: the CWR, Raspberry Butte Ranch and Love Lane. Til next time, Alan, and thank you for being such a great friend! I just wanted to make sure I gave you credit for the next idea for the blog!

debi

A Horse In The House????

Jeremy and Darlene had taken our 3 fillies (Lilly, Sis and Roxie) up to Raspberry Butte to start their training. Lilly and Sis are both "coming 3 year olds" and Roxie is 2, so it's time to go to school. They had them in a corral made with electric fence, but the "3 Muskateers" figured they needed to get out and explore their surroundings. When the Young family woke up, here is what they found!

I guess Lilly was thinking it was better to get inside the house instead of outside! Or was she just "taking time to smell the roses??" We'll have more on their schooling in a few days. It was very exciting and they were all such great students (of course, they had an incredible teacher!!!)

debi