Sierra Ranch, LLC

Where You Leave The City Behind!

What a last few days!

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Well, it’s been kinda a whirlwind the last few days. Had so much going on don’t know if I am coming or going. Only up to reading Wend. emails have 168 to read and have way too much stuff to do. Hope to get some of it done in the next few hours. Who am I kidding!

Last Monday we had one of the pasture horses examined as well as Loud Forum. The vet found a mass on the pasture horse. He had been dribbling pee for a couple of months. We had done blood work and urine sample, but not a physical exam. This time the new blood work showed an increased white blood count. It just didn’t sound good and this vet didn’t have a scope small enough to go up there. They suggested we take him to OSU. So Friday, I made arrangements with the lady who had lent him to us and she agreed to met us at OSU and take him back. Everything was going fine. UNTIL…

The add coolant light came on. It was not running hot and I was in traffic talking to my boss, so I figured I would pull into the halfway point and service it. Unfortunately, the Chevy had different ideas. Just as I got on the turnpike the silly thing blew black smoke, lost power, and stopped. Just as Rick was calling. Yep, I blew up the Chevy. Luckily, Rick drives a Ford one ton and came to save me. Even though we did have to push the Chevy uphill to get it from in front of the trailer. So we get back on the road and are just a few minutes after 5PM at getting to OSU.

So we discuss on the way home what to do. The Chevy has never been something that just anyone can drive. We have either blown the head gasket or something worse as it would not start. My car is almost paid off and we had discussed getting a SUV so I could get hay or feed on the way home from work without destroying my car, but it gets such good mileage. So we decided to look at a truck on the internet.

And what do I find… The cutest truck in the world. OK, so I am weird and think that one ton dually diesel Dodges are cute. But it is really spiffy. Leather. Really sweet looking. Just to die for. So I do some checking and there is just not much out there. It is at a great price. We have credit. And if I bypass it will I ever have another. Needless to say, I couldn’t sleep Friday night. I finally got up at 3AM and finished the research with carfaxes and all. It is a sweet deal. We showed up at the dealer at 9AM Sat. We check out the other dealer we like and I finally end up with the sweet pickup in the photo above. Yeah, I am spoiled, loved, and very lucky!

But there is more! As we have all predicted the kids (16yo that married an 18yo and then got pregnant) finally figured out that they could not afford to have their own place. With tails between their legs came to us and asked to live with us. We said yes with conditions. You pay off rent in helping with the horses. You will have a contract so that things are well spelled out and your pit bull can NOT live with us. She whined and Rick finally said OK to the pit bull. I spent the rest of Sat. rearranging the back bedroom to allow the kids to move in. Make the bunks into a king and do mucho general cleaning and tossing that goes with removing all little kid stuff from the room so that these two can move in. She shows up with her dog, tosses my dog out of his yard and put hers in. Starts bossing around her sister and is being a general pain in the ass. Now, it is 9pm ish. I have been up since 3 and am not in the best mod when I am tired. She throws a wall-eyed fit and had her hubby find another place for them to live. I am not real sure why we talk to this child. She says her older sister is the drama queen. OH, PLEASE!! She can not even move in without massive drama. For some reason, she thought she could move in and rule. I just don’t get it. But at least our world is almost back to normal. I have too much to do to put it all back today but will work on it.

Back to the horses. We were really worried about Loud Forum last week. We have the vet look at him. He needs to take him into the clinic and x-ray. He has not foundered but has bruised his toes. He should be fine. Needs meds, polises (like you really think I can spell that) and hand walking for a few days. Silly horse will not get it in his head that he is retired. He just plays too hard. Oh well, it could be much worse.

And work is getting more hectic. I have dentist and doctor’s appointments this week and will b off on Friday to go to a ride so it will be even worse. Considering talking off a week in a few, but not sure if I can. I know I should and I need the downtime, but dang it. Just don’t want the massive catch up that will need to be done. It’s a never-ending story.

Well best get back to my working. Hope you all had a much less stressful weekend! If you see me and I am getting greyer then you know what is happening. Have a great week!

Leasing versus Owning

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We are looking for some comments and suggestions.

Most of the horse people I know only use their horses in the spring and fall, then they are left to fend for themselves in summer and winter. Wouldn’t it be better for both human and equine if the horse was leased rather than owned?

Especially if:

  • The leased horse comes with a saddle that fits him and his rider.
  • The leased horse gets regular farrier work as part of the lease.
  • The leased horse gets regular veterinary care and vaccinations as part of the lease.
  • The leased horse has access to horse transportation to and from events, trails etc.
  • The leased horse can be changed at the request of his rider for another without a penalty.
  • This means that as a rider progresses he or she can trade for a more spirited or performance oriented horse at any time.
  • And finally, the horse gets care all year long.

Let us know what you think. I know the hoses we first had were not the same caliber as the ones we have now, partially due to the fact that we are better riders. That’s kinda part of the reason we have so many horses. But, a lesson horse is not quite the same as leasing in that you never know who is on it. The leased horse would have pretty much one ride. Kinda leads to the whole owning without having to make that first big commitment.

Thanks in advance for you input.

Are you leading for the right reasons?

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The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his
back on the crowd.- James Crook

Everyone wants praise and attention for a job well done. But for every Kobe Bryant making news for a game-winning shot, there are a million Average Joes doing great things but receiving no credit. If you’re upset by the lack of attention you’re getting for your leadership, perhaps its time to reevaluate why you are a leader in the first place. True leaders lead to help their team, community, or office–not for fame and attention. Sure, receiving recognition feels good, but remember that you are there to lead the group in front of you, not the ones watching behind you. Spectators will soon forget about you, but those you led will remember what you’ve done even after you are gone.

 

This is another Healthy Reflections from SparkPeople.com. It hits kinda home like so many of these do. And a fitting relfection on Boss’s Day. My folks at the office did a great job of making me feel appreciated. It was pretty nice.

 

On one of my groups about weight loss I mentioned that stress seems to be making or keeping me from progressing on my weight loss journey. Someone suggested quitting doing something to make more times. Geeze, then the option would be what to quit. Can’t quit the real job. It pays the bills. Can’t quit the ranch, it needs to pay the bills. Well, at least it needs my attention to try to get the horse bills paid at least. And the other two jobs I have I really don’t want to quit because they have made me so much better at the first two jobs. I have gained mucho leadership skill or at the very least honed my leadership skills by working with the BGTRC. And I have found a love and somewhat of a talent in graphic arts working with them and the Hooves for a Cure project. Now you see my delimia. Just have too much stuff I want to do and not near enough time. At one time I did, but (as I am sure you all are tired of hearing) it just frigging won’t quit raining. Not that I am worried about that at the ranch. We needed the grass. Just should not frigging do it in Tulsa. I need to get caught up.

 

Well, since one of the most important things is to get enough sleep, I am out of here. Hope your week is going great! Already looking forward to the weekend and it’s just Tuesday.

Hoove for a Cure Website is updated!

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Well, we finally did it. And have most of it updated. Well, kinda. We have our very own website. Whhooo! Whhooo! So come check out stuff on the new hoovesforacure.com site and let us know what you think.

Soon we will have pictures on the web of all the rides. We are soo happy and really excited to start working on the ride locations for 2008! So check it out and let us know what you think.

Purchases of merchandise with the logo will be donated as well: http://cafepress.com/hoovesforacure

We have the “I rode” logo on some t-shirts on CafePress. We will have the 2008 logo on stuff soon as well as some things without logos. In addition, we are thinking about a 2008 calendar with pictures of the 2007 ride. Pictures from the rides are posted on the Hooves Yahoo Group site.

Thanks to everyone who came to a ride and everyone who donated!