Memories...

Every time I ride with the Forsbergs I have a blast, but I remember one particular time that my dad and I went to their house to ride, and I was having a few problems with my horse.  Me and Melinda went and loped circles, played follow the leader, and made up our own silly, yet interesting games while Jack and my dad did what they do best... Talk.  As I was walking past them I heard Jack say to my dad that every horse has the potential to do or be something great, but we have to believe they can do it and give them the opportunity to try.  My words aren't exact but that is the lesson I gained from hearing it.  As I thought about what he had said I realized that I didn't believe in my horse or myself and I was holding him back.  I let go of my doubts and kept riding with Melinda.  After a few times of trying to accomplish what I had set out to do, I had success.  It was a great day, not only because I got to ride with, and learn from three of the greatest horsemen I knew, but because I got to ride with, and learn from three of my best friends.

-Em

Understanding A Horse

The simplicity and grace of a horse is beautiful, yet the intricacy is too.
The fragility of their minds should not be overtaken by the ability they have to do something new, it's a learning process.
We should not rush them, rather take the time to thoroughly teach them.
We should not criticize them for what they can not do, rather compliment them for what they can do.
The simplicity may show on the outside, but the intricacy lives on the inside.
- Emilee :)

Cowboys and Indians

        I remember playing Cowboys and Indians when I was little.  I remember running to the barn with my brother Josh when I was 5 years old.  He climbed up the ladder to the top of the barn and grabbed the kid saddle.  I was waiting to watch him climb back down the ladder holding the saddle in one arm and gripping onto the ladder with the other.  That was the day I learned that life isn't always going to go how you picture it to go.  I heard Josh shout 'CATCH'!  The next thing I knew, he was throwing that old saddle out of the barn door and I was standing right under it.  I quickly put my arms out and caught the saddle as it knocked me down.  We took the saddle home and grabbed a saddle stand out of dads shop. We got it all set up and got ourselves ready. Taylor and Josh came out with a rope and a toy gun and I came out with a toy bow and arrow and lipstick on my face like Indian paint. The boys came chasing after me as I tried to run away, only to be roped around the ankles and face planted into the ground.  They ran to the saddle and pretended to run away on their horse while I ran to the shed using it as a hiding spot.  Once the boys realized I was gone  and they had run to the other side of the yard looking for me, I snuck around the shed to where the fresh cow hide was stretching.  I started beating on it like a drum, dancing and yelling like an Indian.  The boys came on a dead run chasing me around the yard.  That's where the memory ends, but it is a memory I will always remember.  Now I look around at these small kids, playing on their tablets or iPods.  It's only been 10 years since I was the little 5 year old running around but everything has seemed to change.  Here's to the kids who used their imaginations to think of games to play instead of Google.
   
-Emilee

All the pretty horses

Their long, thick, unconfined manes flowing with the wind.
Their thundering hooves beating the ground in a rhythmic sequence.
Their pink, flared nostrils breathing in the fresh, lonely air.
Their excited spirits flying with their bodies across the open country.
Here comes all the pretty horses.

Gathering

                                                         
    Hey guys and gals! Sorry I haven't posted for a few days, it's a busy time of the year! Heres a new one that I wrote.  With spring coming to an end I thought it was quite fitting.


Slick rocks and sliding stones; the wind creates a whistling tone.
The sun is bright and the sky is blue.  We better get going, there's so much to do.  
We head up the mountain on the back of our horse.  We're talking and joking and laughing of course.
We gather the cows and trail them on down.  It's been a great day, in our happiness we drown.
The day's almost over, we get the cows off the ground, into the trailers and sent homeward bound.

It's not the horse...

        I heard them say it's not the horse, it's you.  I never thought it was really true; until one day I gave it a try, I noticed the difference from my own eyes.  Instead of slouching, I sat up straight; I noticed the progress we started to make.  I kept my heels down and my butt in the seat, I felt the softening of my horse feet. Then when I realized our minds act as one not two, I began to think of that old buckaroo; who made my riding better of course, all by saying it's you not the horse.

I will try

                                                                     I hope you guys like this one!

No regret...

                                                                                     

As I think about living the cowboy life I recall good times; The sound of hooves pounding the ground like a drum, my heart beating a thousand miles per hour while on a dead lope, the wind blowing my hair around in every direction, the incomparable feeling of a successful day. My thoughts also fall back to the long days; The days that felt never-ending, the brutal rain splashing on my face, having eyes filled with dust and hair full of dirt, working from dawn to dusk in stormy weather, with wind so alive you can't stay still. But when I remember the good times of being with family and friends, riding off in the sunset, I'd do it again with no regret. -Emilee Nicholas