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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.

Our family of riders

Jake turned eight last Friday.  He had many options for his big day.  His baseball team was being awarded their championship medal at a banquet that evening.  He could have invited some friends to spend the night.  We could have gone camping on the ranch wherever he chose.  He had some great options, but he had to choose one.  Having read his articles on this blog, I am sure that you are not surprised when he decided to host a trail ride on the ranch in honor of his birthday.

We invited our neighbors who are big horsemen.  They ride in trail rides throughout the year, including the big one to Houston for the Livestock Show and Rodeo.  They arrived riding a mule and three other horses.  A friend of their oldest boy, who lives further down the road, showed up as they were heading to our house on horseback.  So he joined us, too.   All in all we had eleven horses and riders participate in the trail ride.

Jake had a blast!  They crossed creeks, rode through brush, went across the dam by the lake, and rode all over the ranch.  They did not miss a single pasture.  About two hours later, everyone dismounted and rested.  We served dinner to everyone.  We grilled hot dogs and homemade sausage.  I made potato salad and heated up some ranch-style beans.  Jake wanted a chocolate chip cookie cake.  We served it with homemade goat ice cream.

They are going to meet up with our guests.

Then Jake opened his gifts.  He got a brand new pair of cowboy boots and some bumper spurs like the ones he saw at the Clinton Anderson workshop.  He also got some jeans and western-style shirts.  Jake received a lasso from a fellow cowboy whom Jake really admires.  Daily, he practices roping anything and everything he can.

Jake is an amazing boy.  He has always wanted to be a cowboy.  He doesn’t just look the part or act the part.  He is a cowboy.  For him or anyone else in my family, there is no better place to live than out here in the country on Cross Creek Cattle Company.  We enjoy so many aspects of life that are lost to children growing up in urban areas.  If we had to live in the city, then I am confident that we would manage.  Jake would probably own a huge dog and try to ride him down the sidewalks.   Until then, we will live each day thankful for being a part of this ranch.