These old ranch horses might not be worth much on paper—but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Our kids have put in the miles on their horses these last few months, jumping in to work with the crew almost like they were grown cowboys and cowgirls. In a way that can only make a ranch momma’s heart swell, they have put in the long days right by our side, coming home hot, tired, and dusty.
This could be a note about how proud I am of them, and don’t get me wrong, I am. But I’m also grateful for those four-legged partners that have carried them across the range all those long days. Looking back, I can see countless times those kid horses earned their keep in ways that had nothing to do with getting the actual work done.
Having a determined child who was not about to wait to enter the branding pen meant that we had to have a horse that was ready, willing, and able to take care of him in any situation. We needed to put him on a mount we knew we could turn our backs on and everything would turn out okay, every time. It wasn’t until midway through the season that I realized we had chosen just the right mare for the job.
On this particular branding day, we were short-handed, battling the wind, and had already tallied half a dozen days out on the range working. My boy was eager to swing into the saddle and start roping. Following his dad, he scooped up heels left and right as they teamed up to bring in the calves. It was almost like he couldn’t miss.
As every kid does, he wanted to “do it himself,” meaning he wanted to heel a calf and drag it from the herd to the fire all on his own. After finding a calf paired up, he threw his shot, managed a catch, and stacked his dallies only to learn he had caught the calf by just one foot. Startled by the rope, the calf started running around, ducking right behind his horse.
It wasn’t the first time this had happened in the branding pen that day, but it was the first time it had happened to him, and he wasn’t sure what to do. Without even being told, that mare simultaneously did two things to take care of the situation. First, she tucked her tail under faster than you could blink to keep from getting “rim fired.” At nearly the same time, she spun around to keep the calf in front of her, avoiding the kind of tangled wreck that can happen in a hurry.
I was a little amazed that this simple ranch horse had it in her to navigate what could have been a really tricky situation. We knew she would take care of our boy while roping—trailing the calf right, stopping when he went to dally, and dragging it to the fire—but we didn’t realize she was ready to keep him square in the saddle in just about any circumstance.
It isn’t only in the branding pen that I have seen these kid horses step up to take care of my kids. With all of the spring and summer turnouts and cattle drives, even our littlest is game to come along and ride. It’s exciting that even at seven years old he wants to brave a long, dusty day on horseback, but it is also worrisome. I’m always torn between the help I need to give and the responsibility I have as a momma to keep them safe.
When the kids are riding along with me, I work hard to take the best route for them, keep them close, and avoid leaving them behind if I can help it. Every once in a while I have to gather in a stray pair or bring up a pocket of cows to the herd. Usually they trail along together and everything turns out great.
But lately my independent child has decided he wants to be the one to go after the stray animals. Without a word, he will spur up his horse, duck into the trees, and be gone before I know it. Then, not long after, he will pop back out trailing the cattle he went in after. I used to worry in those moments, but I’ve learned that trusty steed has things under control. Now, instead of fretting that everything is okay, I’m full of pride when I see what my little cowboy can do.
These old ranch horses might not be worth much on paper—they aren’t fancy bred, haven’t won any awards, and probably wouldn’t catch anyone’s eye. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Their value isn’t measured in dollars. It’s measured in confidence, independence, and peace of mind.
They are the horses that teach kids how to work, how to solve problems, and how to handle responsibility. They are the horses that bring them home safe after a long day, forgive their mistakes, and quietly take care of them when Mom and Dad can’t be right beside them. Around here, those old kid horses have carried far more than calves and cowboys across the range. They’ve carried my greatest treasures, and that’s worth more than anything money can buy
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