Keeping Stories Alive
When I first came across the clothing brand Go Rope, I was impressed with the designs, functionality, and especially the slogan. When I learned the backstory behind “Life is Short, Go Rope”, I was even more intrigued, and grateful to get to chat with founder Jenny Gilbert about how her passion grew into the company.
“To me, cutting is the epitome of horsemanship. The horse has a job and knows the job, the rider and the horse have to work together and trust each other. The rider gives some cues and a little direction but then has to let the horse loose to do their job. The horse has to trust the rider not to get them into danger or the wrong position. It’s a balance. And, there is no other ride that is so exhilarating than the feel of the cutting horse working a cow.” – Mick Rankin, discussing cutting
At a time when ranchers are battling calving in the frigid temperatures, one young man by the name of Sterling Drake is tending to calves …
Pennsylvania horsewoman Mollie Himes social media handle “cowgirlwithgoals” is an accurate description of how she goes through daily life and strives to keep dreams from only being dreams. The name arose out of her wish as a young child to one day win a belt buckle. As she got older, she realized the only way this would become a reality was if she made it a goal and put in the work. She has done just that, accomplishing the childhood dream and much more.
In the cow horse world, there are different types of people. There are folks who thrive off the adrenaline of the crowd, and there are folks who need no encouragement other than the love of the game. The latter are the ones who have the most heart and grit, and know a buckle is no substitute for a job well done under tough conditions. While a mixture of both is healthy and the lines certainly blur, it is the purest appreciation of the sport that will keep it alive and thriving for future generations. As a young woman with a love for the game and an ongoing desire to learn, I was especially encouraged to get to know Oklahoma calf roper Tony Graves, who exhibits the finest characteristics of the industry.
We all find hope in different places throughout life. I once heard a preacher say that we find moments of beauty and joy scattered throughout the world like Easter eggs God has planted. At a time when the world is in desperate need of hope, it is extra special to meet people who remind you there are still a lot of things worth believing in.
Ryder Carothers is a young man who does just that. His character makes me hopeful that there will still be good neighbors, good men, good Christians, and good cowboys in the years to come. The son of clinician and master horseman Tim Carothers (see the feature entitled “A Kentucky Cowboy”), Ryder comes from a long line of horsemen, stretching back at least ten generations.
When I first met Tim Carothers, I was riding in his cattle working clinic and was quickly impressed with his storytelling and quiet confidence. He listened like a pastor waiting to give counsel to each question a participant posed and encouraged everyone that they’d “done the very best.” He watched the people as well as the horses and gave feedback to both on how to improve. Tim told all of us from the start that he’d be the first one in the arena and the last one out and would stay until we felt like we’d gotten our money’s worth. To no surprise, he was true to his word and acted like nothing was going on in the world but focusing on us; these horses and cows.
There have been several well-known cowboys and cowgirls in the western horse world that have made a statement by doing things with their own unique approach. From purple clad Saddle Bronc star Casey Tibbs to brightly adorned helmet wearing Fallon Taylor, these folks’ pair their personal style and charisma with honest talent and hard work.
I first met Tenaya at a ranch rodeo when we were both helping our friends at Cavvietta Quarter Horse and Cattle Co. She exuded a quiet confidence and as we chatted in between welcoming guests I began to learn bits and pieces of her story. She had worked with horses in Australia and throughout the US, and it became clear she both knew horses and that she loved them. Her time inside the show barn world of hunter jumpers was as impressive as the ease with which she could switch to talking about working cattle. I’ve since had the pleasure of visiting Rough Diamond Ranch and learning more of her story.
