Welcome to the Ranch!

Steve and Jake with Ladd on Jake's birthday.

Years ago when we were looking to purchase good, broke horses for my children to ride, we met Steve Prewitt and his family.  We were struck by his honesty and knowledge.  Steve was a working cowboy at the time as well as training to be a preacher.

We ended up purchasing a paint mare that we named Cheyenne from him.  My dad was sold when he saw the picture of Steve standing in the saddle swinging a rope.  The young mare just stood still, completely desensitized.  My husband fell in love with this horse and he rides her every chance he gets.

Steve also helped us find another mare.  We named her Roxie.  It was not even his horse, but he drove us out to the stables where she was kept and let us ride her in the parking lot.  It was getting very dark.  The parking lot light threw shadows all over the ground, which will spook most horses.  With only a halter and a lead rope, our family rode her around.  She did not spook.  She responded to our commands without a bit.

Now my son Clayton rides her.  He loves Roxie and together they work well together.  If it is riding around Cross Creek Cattle Company, down a busy street during a parade, or in the rodeo arena, Roxie and Clayton make a good pair.

My son, Jake, and Steve hit it off immediately.  They both have a passion for horses.  When our ranch first hired Steve to train and work with our horses, he spent hours with Jake training him as well.  For a while there, I thought I would get sick of Steve’s name because he is all Jake talked about.  I appreciated the fact that Steve took the time to be a good role model for Jake.  Not only is he a good man, but Steve made time for Jake.

For one of Jake’s birthdays, we had a family and friend trail ride.  I think he was more excited when Steve Prewitt drove up with his wife, Dee, to present Jake with a brand-new rope.  It meant a lot to Jake; therefore, the act meant a lot to me.

Steve has helped Lane be a better rider.  They worked together to be able to open and close gates on horseback.  Lane has watched and taken mental notes of how Steve does groundwork in the round pen.  Lane, too, has enjoyed Steve working here on the ranch.

Now Steve is moving.  He has found a great job about an hour away.  We are excited for him and his family as they embark on a new journey.  It is a bittersweet moment for us, though.  We are losing a great cowboy, horseman, and role model.

Thank you, Steve, for being a part of Cross Creek Cattle Company.  We appreciate all that you did for us.  And, we wish you the best in your new adventure.  We are going to miss you.

Some of our horses with the pond in the background.

Nine horses call Cross Creek Cattle Company home.  During the fall and winter, they graze in small fenced-in pastures. Then we lead them to their stall in the horse barn to spend the night.  We feed them grain and plenty of fresh hay.  In the morning we feed them grain again and then lead them back to the small pasture for exercise, fresh air, and some grass.  Then we can spend two hours a day cleaning the stalls.

Compared with the Beefmaster cattle we raise, horses are much more time-consuming and expensive to raise.  We buy their feed, supplements, and hay.  Shavings are needed to spread over the floor of their stalls.  These things all cost money.  Horses also require training, exercising, and riding. And, this requires time.  In addition, the ferrier comes out every six weeks to trim hooves.  Horses are high-maintenance, plain and simple.

With the wonderful rain that we have been receiving this summer, our pastures are filled with tall, green grass.  We always have our cattle rotating pastures to ensure that plenty of fresh grass is being consumed.  While the cattle are eating grass in one pasture, the grass in the other pastures are growing.

This summer we have also let the horses have a vacation from their routine.  We have released them into a large pasture full of grass that also has a 3 acre pond.  At first the horses’ heads went down to taste the tall grass.  It did not take long before the excitement of being in a new place caused them to forget the grass and run as a herd.

It was one of the times I wished that I had my video camera.  It was a beautiful sight to behold.  Like a herd of wild horses, they ran over the pasture, up a hill, down the hill, around in large circles, in figure eights, etc.  I don’t know what was more beautiful: the beauty of the horses themselves moving as one or if it was the landscape in which the ran.  The sky was bluer than blue; the grass was swaying in the light breeze.  Thinking back, it had to be the combination of the two.

All the pretty horses.

They settled down and then noticed the pond.  Every single one of the horses stepped out into the water.  Some literally went for a swim.  They were completely enjoying themselves.

Weeks later, the horses are still enjoying their freedom.  They have all kept up their condition on grass only, including the oldest horse, Ladd.  We are enjoying not having to clean any stalls.  Raising horses on grass is much more economical, which is why both equine and human alike are enjoying the summer here at Cross Creek Cattle Company.

On Saturday, October 11th, the Holliday family of Cross Creek Cattle Company hosted a trail ride for the Grimes County Jr. Deputy Sherriff Mounted Posse.  Mr. and Mrs. Holliday as well as Lane, Kyla, and Jake DeHaven worked very hard to blaze and clean up trails.  Lane had also tried to shred all the pastures.

The amount of rainfall we have received lately made it impossible to get all the shredding done.  Every time Lane tried to shred, the water would begin rising out of the soil under the weight of the tractor tires.  The last thing we want is for our pastures to be full of ruts.  Therefore not much shredding occurred.

At one point Lane pulled a log out of a pathway only to be instructed to put it back.  It turns out that my dad, Kenton Holliday, had spent a bit of time carefully trimming off any branches.  He intended the log to stay in order to make the trail more challenging and interesting for the riders.

The day before the trail ride and meeting the weather was nice.  It was sunny and cool.  We were hoping that the weather would hold and make a perfect day for horseback riding.  I made brownies and rice krispie treats for dessert. The Hollidays purchased drinks and provided cakes.  The day of the event we went over early to help set-up.

Later we arrived at the barn to saddle up and ride the horses through the creeks to the cabin.  Our plan was to wait there for the trail ride to begin.  Just as the last saddle was being tightened up on the fourth horse, it started to rain.  Soon after, our phone rang and the trail ride had been canceled.  However, we were still having a meeting of the Posse at the cabin.

I promise you that nobody was more disappointed than the Hollidays and the DeHavens.  We had worked so hard and were really looking forward to people enjoying our ranch.  We have creeks, trails, pastures, woods, logs in the paths, and more.  It really is the perfect place to ride your horse.

About 30 people showed up for the meeting.  I felt this was a pretty good turn-out especially considering there was rain and no ride.  The Imhoff ranch donated food, which we enjoyed after the meeting.  Despite the weather, the Posse had a good get-together.  Now we are trying to find a date to re-schedule the trail ride.

Commander our gelding

We have a somewhat new gelding named Commander on the ranch.  He is a great horse.  Unfortunately not long after he arrived, he injured himself by trying to jump over a fence.  The wire scraped him up and my husband, Lane, was doctoring his scraps with a spray anti-septic and liquid wound care.  His wounds were healing nicely, but all of a sudden his chest began to swell.

Lane took him to the local veterinarian.  The doctor said Commander was pigeon-breasted because he had an abscess in his chest like an internal blood blister.  She drained the area and instructed Lane how to flush the drain out daily for a week.  After the required time period, Commander’s chest looked the same.  It was still hard to the touch.  Nothing had changed except that something was hanging out of the drain.  Lane knew something was not quite right.

He called the veterinarian again and made an appointment for that afternoon.  The head veterinarian saw our horse.  The doctor examined Commander and determined that the wound was full of scar tissue.  He made a larger incision for the drain hole.  Through the hole, he began removing the scar tissue.  He then flushed out the area with a water hose.

Now Lane has to flush it twice a day with a water hose.  He also has to apply an aspirin solution to the outside of his wound.  Commander’s chest has to heal from the inside out.  It has already improved.

We are looking forward to the day when Lane does not have to flush Commander’s wound and our horse’s health is restored.  We love our animals at Cross Creek Cattle Company and work hard to do what is best for them.

Kyla riding hands free.

All five of my children love to ride horses.  Because of their ages, the oldest three are much more accomplished riders.  As I watch them ride now, I am so proud of how far they have come since their first day of riding.  If you have ever seen a first-time rider sit the saddle, you know what I mean.  Riders that are stiff in the saddle.  Riders that hang on to the saddle horn and reins like their life depends on it.  In so doing, riders that are too rough on the horse’s mouth and/or send it mixed messages through the bit.

My children were not quite so rigid as I described.  I attribute this to the fact that they rode bareback for a month before sitting in a saddle, but even then you could hardly call them relaxed as they sat in the saddle.  Through the guidance of my father and his wife, my children have learned to move with the horse regardless of the gait.  While walking, they sit in pure relaxation.  While trotting, they post.  While loping, they sit relaxed, but alert.

Riding bareback really helped them learn to move with the horse.  There is nothing separating the rider from the horse; therefore, it is much easier to move as one.  Still there has to be a certain level of comfort and trust between the rider and the horse.  Groundwork really helps the two to get to know one another.  Longeing, round-penning, etc. are all methods to help develop trust and comfort as well as a sense of respect for each other.

Jake also riding without hands.

While riding my children also do some desensitizing exercises.  As they keep their horse moving, they are also leaning back and touching its hindquarters or leaning forward and patting its neck.  This exercise helps make the horse less sensitive to movement on its back while building confidence in the rider.  You want to ride a horse that you are not always worried will jump out from under you because you leaned to the side.

In the end all these exercises and techniques develop a partnership between the rider and his/her horse.  They become friends.  They both look forward to their next time together.  Now that my oldest children share this level of comfort with their own ability and their horse, I often hear, “Look, Ma, No hands!”

This is the last installment of the Horsemanship Camp series.  The ranch sent my three oldest to the Texas Charm School and Cowboy College. Cody Johansson runs the camp.  Her goal is to empower youth with horsemanship.  I know that all three of my children gained knowledge, skills, and confidence.  They had five great days at her place in Field Store, Texas.

Today Clayton, my thirteen year old, will be demonstrating longeing and the human currycomb.  Clayton is becoming an accomplished rider, but has learned that ground work is just as important.  He enjoys working with his horse, Roxie, at the ranch.

I hope you enjoy watching him work with a horse named Mike.

This week is Jake’s turn to show off the skills and knowledge that he acquired at Texas Charm School and Cowboy College.  It is located in Field Store, Texas and operated by Cody Johansson.  Jake fell in love with her pony named Boudreaux.  He said, “It feels great to be as tall as a horse.”

If you read the articles from this blog, then you already probably feel that you know Jake.  He is a cowboy through and through.  Jake is eight years old now and going into the 3rd grade.  He is happiest when he is outside doing something with his hands.  Horses have been a great outlet for him.  He has to learn to be relatively calm and quiet around the barn, which is slightly difficult for boys his age.  He also has to be focused.

I hope you enjoy watching Jake with Boudreaux.  I think that you will see how much Jake enjoys being with this pony.

Cross Creek Cattle Company sent my three oldest children to Texas Charm School and Cowboy College last week.  The instructor is Cody Johansson, who wants to empower children through horsemanship.  My children had a great time and learned a lot about horses.  For the next three weeks, I will be posting a video of each of my children as they showcase what they learned at camp.  Ladies are first, so here is Kyla.

Kyla just turned ten years old last week.  She loves horses and has been working with them seriously for a little over a year.  Kyla attended the horsemanship camp hoping to gain more confidence working with such big, powerful animals.  I think that as you watch the video there will be no doubt that she is confident.  Enjoy!

Hey, it’s Jake again!  I am finishing the second grade this week.   I am really excited.  Today, I want to tell you how inspired I became after attending one day of a horsemanship clinic.

On April 26th, I went to Conroe, Texas to hear Clinton Anderson from Downunder Horsemanship speak and demonstrate horsemanship skills.  It was called the Walkabout Tour.  Mr. Anderson is originally from Australia.  I think he was born with a true gift, a gift of understanding horses.

I really had a good time.  Mr. Anderson was hilarious.  I laughed out loud on several occasions.  Several people from Cross Creek Cattle Company were there, too.  My PawPaw, Grandma, and Dad took me to this workshop.  We all enjoyed listening to Clinton and we all learned something, too.

He showed us how to load a horse into a trailer and how to get a horse to side pass among many other things.  He demonstrated both what to do and what not to do.  The what not to do demonstration was the funniest.

The most important thing I learned was how to load a horse into a trailer.  Some lady brought her 5 year old black gelding who had barely been halter broke.  Clinton Anderson longed the horse.  The he took the horse to the trailer and showed how most people try to coax their horse into the trailer.  You know, like people trying to reason with a horse saying, “C’mon horsie, we have to get in the trailer.  C’mon sweetie, do it for mommy.”  I was laughing so hard!

You cannot talk a horse into the trailer or bribe them with carrots every time.  He showed us to make the horse uncomfortable outside.  Then he would get it in the trailer and leave it alone.  He would get the horse out again, make it uncomfortable, load it, and leave it alone.  The horse soon understood a trailer was a good place to be.

My favorite part was when Clinton Anderson showed us his horse, Mindy.  She is really pretty.  She can do tricks like the Spanish walk.  If you don’t know what that is, it is a style of marching where the horse kicks its leg out in front of itself before stepping down.  It looked really cool!  Mindy could also do a one-legged bow, a two-legged bow, and a saddle bow.  She could play dead, too.

At the clinic, Clinton Anderson was selling horse equipment and tack.  I was really interested by the spurs he uses.  They do not have rowels.  They are just round balls attached to your boots that get its attention.  He was selling saddles without saddle horns.  He was also selling all his training tools.  You could buy gloves, training sticks, etc.

I feel that I learned a lot and understand horses more than I did before I attended this clinic.  I also learned that Clinton Anderson has a television program called Downunder Horsemanship that shows on RFD.  I highly recommend viewing his show and trying to attend one of his clinics.  You can check out his schedule here.  I am a better rider because of it.

Kyla, Clayton, and Jake in Posse uniform.

Hey, this is Jake again.  I love to ride my horse, Ladd, especially in the Grimes County Sheriff’s Jr. Deputy Mounted Posse with my dad, sister, and older brother.  My horse get a lot of exercise riding with the Posse.  One time we rode about 12 miles on a trail ride.  Ladd loved every minute of it.

Jake with Ladd in Plantersville Parade.

We ride in many parades.  The Christmas Parade in Navasota was at night.  Ladd was a little spooked with the loud Christmas music, the sirens on the fire trucks, and the flashing lights on the police cars.  To help calm my horse down, I spoke to Ladd in a calm, soothing voice.  I also patted him on the neck.  Ladd settled down because he trusts me.

Clayton and Jake with Posse on Pony Express ride through Grimes County.

Trust is built by riding and working with your horse.  You need to bond with your horse.  It is in both of your interests.  It will keep you both safe.  Also, I highly recommend finding a group of friends to ride your horse with.  Ladd and I really enjoy riding with our friends.