I have the pleasure of living on a working ranch. My family runs Cross Creek Cattle Company. We sell grass fed beef. Living and working on a ranch is an exciting place to be, especially for a boy my age. I love being outdoors. I also like doing “manly” things like fishing, hunting, showing animals, etc.

I am also a proud member of the Grimes County Sheriff’s Junior Deputy Mounted Posse.  I call it the Posse for short.  I would love to continue to share my experiences of riding in this group here.  I hope that you find it interesting.

I plan on writing as the spirit moves me.  So please bear with me as I expand my blog.  I hope you enjoy it, get to know me better, and encourage me by commenting on my articles.  Until next time, I hope you have a good day.

I decided to videotape Tyler riding the gelding.  Notice how he is riding not only bareback, but bridle-less as well.  Tyler has really worked hard to desensitize the horse.  I personally wish I had the money to buy it, but I thought I could help out by advertising for him.  If you are looking for a good, young horse to ride, then contact Tyler at (936) 870-6976.  The price is $1,500.00.

We roped it around its neck. Then we tied a rope around his girth to give us something to hold on to. One of us held him still while the other jumped on top of the donkey bareback. When we were ready, he was let go. And he would jog, run, and buck to try to get us off of his back.

It was so much fun! We took turns over and over again. The donkey tried harder and harder to throw us off of his back. Sometimes he was successful and sometimes we jumped off.

If you ever try to ride a bucking donkey, remember to stay away from his back end. Donkeys have very strong kicks. One kick to the face or head and you are really hurt. Watch out and be careful.

My mom won’t let me ride bulls, but she allowed me to ride Burrito. And, I am glad that she did.

Before he performed I chatted with him for about 30 minutes.  I love to talk about horses.  Guy McLean is from Australia. He started training horses at the age of 14.   Through our conversation I learned about his horses.  We had a nice discussion, but I learned more from watching Mr. McLean ride.  It was mesmerizing!

He entered the arena riding one horse and surrounded by four other horses unbridled and untied in any way.  They were completely free.  However, he has trained them so well that they obeyed his every command. 

Have you ever seen a horse canter backwards?  Only three horses in the world can.  Mr. McLean’s horse is one of them.  It was an odd sight to see.  It also cantered sideways and in place as if on a treadmill. 

His control of his horses was amazing.  They did everything that he asked them to do.  A horse would sit like a dog.  It laid down on cue.  Another horse side passed over the laying down horse.  It was incredible.  I really enjoyed watching Mr. Guy McLean and his horses.  I found a short video which includes many of his abilities.

I hope you can see why Guy McLean is another horse trainer that I look up to.  He really is talented.  If you want to learn more about Guy McLean, check out his website. Or to see him in action in a longer video, watch this one.

The Drumming of Hooves

The horse is running in the wind.
It sounded like drums
Singing throughout the day,
“Clop! Prr-um!, Clop! Prr-um!”

-Jake DeHaven

My mom also says that poets read their own poetry best.  So, if you want to hear me read click, “The Drumming of Hooves.”

]]> http://www.crosscreekhorsemanship.com/2010/09/cowboy-poetry/feed/ 1 http://www.crosscreekhorsemanship.com/2010/05/bushwhacked/ http://www.crosscreekhorsemanship.com/2010/05/bushwhacked/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 10:46:22 +0000 Jake DeHaven http://www.crosscreekhorsemanship.com/?p=161

Bushwacked!

My neighbor, Tyler, and I ride horses for hours almost every afternoon when he gets home from school.  I take turns riding Ladd and my sister’s horse, Dolly.  We ride all over our ranch and even in surrounding pastures and woods with permission of course.

Last Saturday I was riding Dolly and Tyler was riding the horse that he is getting paid to train.  We rode into the pasture with my PawPaw’s cattle herd.  We rode up a dam and Dolly turned to the right.  She began running.  She ran through bushes and under tree limbs.

I did not have time to react.  I was only worried about staying on the saddle.  I hung on for dear life as limbs and leaves began hitting me.  They stung my face, but I kept my eyes closed.

It happened so fast that I did not have time to think.  I heard myself thinking, “Pull back.  Make her stop.  She can’t run away with me.”  I immediately pulled back on the reins and said, “Whoa!” in a calm, but commanding voice.  She responded instantly.

I looked around me and realized that we had only traveled about 10 feet.  Man, time sure passes slowly when your adrenaline kicks in.  Everything had been in slow motion.

Tyler encouraged me.  He praised me for taking back control.  He praised me for staying on Dolly.  He also persuaded me to ride back to the barn and tie Dolly to a patience post.  Then we walked home together.  I wanted to make sure that my eye was okay.

When I walked in the door, my mom immediately saw my eye.  “What happened to you?” she asked.  She thought Tyler and I had gotten into a fist fight.  I laughed and said with a smile, “I was bushwhacked!”

Tyler and I stayed for lunch and told the story.  Then we walked back to the barn, untied our horses, let them get a drink of water, and rode out again.  Dolly did fine the second time out.

Neither one of us know why she bolted.  I guess she was tired and wanted to go home.  Maybe the patience post was what she needed after all.  She sure behaved that afternoon.

The clipping says, “These have been posted on the wall of a ‘cowboy church’ at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, TX. They were too good not to pass along.”

1. Just one God.
2. Honor yer Ma ‘n Pa.
3. No telling tales or gossipin’.
4. Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
5. Put nothin’ before God.
6. No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal.
7. No killin’.
8. Watch yer mouth.
9. Don’t take what ain’t yers.
10. Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff.

The source of the clip was USA Today. I do not know when it was printed.

Jason was knocked down to sixth place with one of the last rides of the night.  We were sad for him, but he was such a good sport.  It made me think of the saying, “You lose some, you win some.”

My cowboy hat is completely covered with the autographs of many bronc riders and steer wrestlers.  Each one was so nice, but my favorite cowboys are Ryan and Jason.

On Saturday, my mom ordered the rodeo finals on pay-per-view.  It is so exciting to watch an event when you know people competing.  Ryan was the first bareback rider to participate.  He scored an 84.5.  We were cheering because we knew that was a good score.  He placed third and moved to the Super Series.

The winner of the Super Series receives a $50,000 bonus.  Of course, we wanted Ryan to win this money.  He was up against the best of the best that day.

Ryan rode second.  His ride was so good!  His horse did a great job bucking and moving.  Ryan rode in time keeping the rhythm of the horse.  It was a beautiful sight!  We knew that he did a fantastic job, and we hoped that the judges would score him accordingly.  He made 90.5!!!

We were yelling and cheering because we knew his score would be tough to beat.  We watched the other two riders ride well and waited expectantly for their scores.  In the end, Ryan was the winner!

Below you can watch their video blog “The Pride of the PRCA.”  You can also view the Houston Finals of 2010.  Unfortunately it is just an overview of the rodeo.  You can only watch part of Ryan’s ride.

Immediately he was interviewed on the arena floor.  I was really impressed because he praised God.  He came across being very humble.  I also found out some information about Ryan and Jason.

Ryan is a member of Forever Cowboys.  They try to spread the Gospel wherever they go.  Jason and Ryan have a video blog called “The Pride of the PRCA.”  The shoot video footage of them traveling, behind the scenes of the rodeo, and interviews with other cowboys.  It was fun to watch.

Ryan also has his own website.  To visit it, click here.  If you are interested in rodeo or in either one of these two bareback riders watch their video blog.  I enjoyed seeing what life is like for a rodeo cowboy.

Congratulations, Ryan, on your victory in Houston!  Thank you both for such a memorable evening at the rodeo.  Jason, good luck next time.  I hope that this year you will both do your best and stay safe and healthy.

Ryan Gray, Jake DeHaven, and Jason Havens

Sunday afternoon was an exciting time for me after church.  My PawPaw and Grandma had met some bareback riders at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo earlier that week.  My PawPaw used to ride bareback before my mom was born.  Anyway, my grandparents invited these two cowboys to our ranch for a day of fishing.

I did not know if they were going to take up the invitation.  I really wanted to meet them myself.  When I got home from church later that afternoon, two men were fishing on my PawPaw’s lake.  I could not wait to go meet them.

Ryan Gray is from Cody, Wyoming.  He is doing very well at the Houston Rodeo.  Jason Havens is also doing very well.  Jason is from Oregon.  Both of them were very nice.  They agreed to take a photograph with me.  They also signed my straw cowboy hat.

Now I have three signatures on my hat that are special to me.  Clinton Anderson,  a famous horseman, along with Ryan and Jason’s signatures decorate the back brim of my hat.  Even when I grow out of my hat, I am going to keep it forever.

Both Ryan and Jason are going to ride in the semi-finals tonight in Houston.  They are going to try their best to make it to the finals on Saturday.  I am very excited for both of them.  I am even more excited because they got my family tickets to see them ride tonight.  So, not only are Ryan and Jason great cowboys, but they are also generous.

I will be cheering with all of my heart for my two new cowboy friends.  Good luck to both Ryan and Jason!  I hope that you both have the ride of your life tonight!

I love horses and I love to write so I thank my mom for letting me own Cross Creek Horsemanship, which allows me to share my two loves with others.  She also counts this as part of my school work.

With the acceptance of this award, I am supposed to share seven things about myself that you might not already know.  This is harder than it looks because some of my readers know me very well and some do not know me at all.

1.  I have mutton busted three times at the Grimes County Rodeo.
2.  I carried the Texas flag in the grand entry of the rodeo while riding Ladd.
3.  My favorite author is John Erickson, who writes the Hank the Cowdog series.
4.  My favorite dinner is chicken-fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn-on-the cob.
5.  I am a Christian.
6.  I like to cook and am learning to grill.
7.  I am dyslexic.

I hope that my blog encourages others.  I want to help people enjoy horses.  My mom has taught me that talent can only get you so far.  It is passion that separates you from the crowd.  I certainly have a passion for horses so I hope that what she says is true.