Seeing all the Fence............



Taking Cows to Summer Pasture with Uncle Jim



Going to the Back Side.........here in the Flint Hills there are still Cowboys who gather cattle the "Old Fashioned Way"......with only horses and cowboys, leaving all motorized equipment at the House!!! After getting dropped off and your point of direction from the Lead Off Man, there is nothing but rocks and tall grass to look at while picking your way through the country looking for a few head of Bovine.  To settle my wondering mind I make sure to see all the fence, rest a sure not to leave a single head behind. In the Cowboy world there is nothing worse then having another Cowboy bring in a straggler from the country you just covered.  While on my tour to the Back Side today I found my self in a deep thought.......

Going to the Back Side of a Pasture is a lot like Life in general.....

In Life we get in such a hurry just trying to keep up with the daily "Rat Race" that we often forget to take our time to do things correct and efficient.  Look back on your own Life....has there ever been a time that you didn't see the fence, or didn't see the other side of the hill and now wish you could go back and make that memory you might have missed.  I often ponder myself on the "what if's" and the "wish I had's" but trying not to waste my time on the unchangeable and remember to make less of those moments.  Living every day to it's fullest is hard to do when you get in a routine or get caught with too many irons in the fire.

Time spent making wet saddle blankets and swore butts as you put the miles on a young horse is all in the makings of a loyal partnership and a nice ride.  During this awkward stage of bonding there can be several chances for wrecks to occur. Once you trust your horse to pick him self out of the wire on the ground and he understands that you will help him out as much as you can when everybody is wrapped up in a rope with a 1000 pound cow at the end of it looking for a reason to climb in the middle of your saddle.  After you gain each other's trust the miles get smoother and more enjoyable for all.  I look at a marriage of man and wife no different, with all the small things in life that can ruin a relationship,  its the long gravel road drives on a sunny day that makes the heart grow.
Remember to enjoy your ride of Life, not be afraid to ride that extra mile to see all the fences (chances) in Life.........You never know what you might find waiting for ya there!!!

More then just a Gold Buckle

Over the years and the miles I have been in alot of rodeos in my young age, everything from Junior Rodeos to World Championships.  Winning all kinds of prizes from saddles, to buckles, spurs to tack  and of course the money. With each and every rodeo I enter, I put my heart and soul into it not only for myself or my horse, but for the team.  One rodeo that sticks in my heart is a men's ranch rodeo in Stillwater Ok the OSU Rodeo Team put on. Our team wasn't stacked up like the others.......we had 2 girls and 2 guys.  Of course it was me and Chris, good friend-neighbor Joyce, and Chris' long life friend Joe. With odds against us we went to them.

Not remembering the order of events now that it it has been 5 years, but one event was the Trailer Loading. Unlike any other way I have ever done it before, trailer was packed in the middle of the arena with gate open. The teams were to sort their 3 head out and load them in the trailer with using nothing but your horsemanship skills...........Kick Butt!! We were the only team to get a time in that event (out of 20 teams)!!! Next was the Doctoring, they turned 2 steers out and however you chose to get  them roped and tied down was up to you. We decided to split up, Joe-Joyce and Me-Chris.  Chris roped ours at the end of the arena where all the Cowboys were gathered. Not giving the rope enough time to get tight, I was off my horse and mugging the steer to the ground. The second Chris thought I had it under control, he was off and headed my way to tie him down. Bt that time the steer had taken back alittle control of the situation, before I knew it I felt my teeth chatter in my head and All the Cowboys had heard it. In the end we got both steers tied down in a good time. Last but not least was the Cow Milking, each team got 2 loops to catch her. Joe chunked a big oh "shitty" loop and missed, I happened to be the closest one to her for the 2nd loop.  Lining her out, trying to make everything just right, I hear......"Don't Miss, Its Our Last Loop" .......I wasn't going to miss for the word.... I roped the Big Longhorn Cow and after the boys mugged and Joyce milked we put up a great time.

After the rodeo we were waiting for the annoucment of the Winners........figuring we got 2nd and excited about it we were sitting around waiting for a check........"Top Hand goes to....... Amy Potter".....shocked to say the least, I road out in the arena to get my Prize, sleeping baby in my saddle and all. Looking back now I don't even remember what the prize was. Come to find out there was 2 judges in the crowd and each team voted on it as well, so to know the other Cowboys had voted for me was worth the Whole World.   Riding out of the arena I received a lot of "Congrats" and "pats on the back"...........................but the best thing I ever won was the feeling of making my Husband Proud!! He isn't the best about sharing his feelings but as I rode by, I over heard him tell a Cowboy friend....."Thanks, I'm proud of her.....One thing about it, If you are going to get beat by a girl, I'm glad she is my Wife not somebody Else's"........Man did my heart melt causing a dirt tear to run down my face. Making him proud was the best prize I could ever Win, and the Song from Chris LeDoux reminds me of it often!

I have rodeoed on the circuit

for nearly fifteen years

To reach the top

it took alot 

Of blood, sweat and tears

I finally won the title

I finally gained the fame

But, honey, it don't matter

if the whole world knows my name

Of all the things I have ever done

I have to tell you true

The greatest Prize I ever won

was the Love I won from you

Colt 45

Spitting image of his Dad.....never having much to say but always having that little shy smile on his face. Cowboy at heart, Gentlemen because mom makes him, and Hard worker because that is all he knows.  Saddles, Bits, Spurs and Pocket Knifes are his trades, never try to get the upper hand on a good knife trade with Colt. A good friend of ours called him 45 one day and its his trade mark, its on everything he owns including the cow herd him and little sister operate.

The Piss Head

That's right, he already knows the down fall of being a Cowboy and that is having to ride all the horses, not just the good ones. He has always had a good one in the pickings but there has also been a colt or "piss head" there for him to ride also. A couple years ago Chris, Colton and Tyler (a good friend/day worker) were at Drummonds doctoring on some yearlings. Tyler had brought a young horse that day, he didn't know much at all and tracking cattle was not one of his good skills. After Chris would line out the sick one and rope him, Tyler would attempt to heel it as his horse would run by never seeing the cow. As Tyler is training on his new ride and trying to get him pulled back around to head back to the action, Colt trots 'Paint' (good ole faithful) over and heels the steer like there is nothing to it. It didn't just happen once, but all day long. When the trailer gate closed for the day Colt looked at Tyler and said..."Why don't you ride a horse you can get something done on and leave that piss head at home?".....Tyler just laughed because Colt was 6 years old and said it like he was the ranch manager. Chris over heard the little boss giving orders but didn't say anything.............But the next morning he picked out Colts mount for the day.....yep you guessed it.....a piss head!!! A young horse that didn't know a single thing!!! They loaded up and met Tyler in the same pasture as the day before excitement had happened. Dragging his feet with his head hanging below his shoulders Colt made it to the back of the trailer to unload his prize ride for the day. Tyler was waiting for him there with a smile on his face......."Morning Colt, what you riding today?" (Tyler knew exactly what it was).  Colt looked up at Tyler with a tear in his eye and said "A piss head"..............well as you can imagine the day went along with Chris and Tyler roping all the cattle because Tyler followed the boss's orders and rode a broke horse. Poor Colt he spent his summer vacation pulling piss heads around!!!

 

 The best part of the story is the unspoken words between two shy cowboys. Chris never had to tell him about talking to older cowboys with disrespect, and Colt will forever be grateful of a broke horse!

Miss "Fred"

  



Carlee Jo "Fred"



Cowgirl all the way through........High maintenance I must say. She would prefer the pink hand made tall tops over any other boots or shoes for that matter. Only the best for her horse "Molly" which she saved bottle calf money to buy.....Molly has it all: Handmade Bit on a headstall that Fred won at the Junior Ranch Rodeo Finals and a Saddle custom made by Matt Hunn tooled with  flowers and butterflies.

Fred, is no different then any cowhand......depending on the duties for the day or rodeo, makes a difference in the horse she picks from the Rockin P string. Molly would be the everyday ranch work choice, for she is calm and has a lot of cow. As for the rodeo mount she picks "Sorrely". The good ole faith full, never letting a cow by!!!

I am so proud of this girl, she is a better horseman then I could ever be (she must get that from her daddy). Balance is a natural thing, and skill is something that is easy to learn for her. But Heart is something that couldn't ever be bought or taught!!!

This is her story:



Day After!!



July 2009, one hot evening I was cooking dinner and Chris was shoeing a shoe in the front yard.  Her Daddy had put a halter on Sorrely and threw her up on his bare back to ride around the yard like she did on a daily basis.  I grabbed a glass a tea and took it out to Chris, as I was walking back inside to check on the cook stove I heard a scream.....Whoa Whoa Whoa.....looking up I saw her hanging on for dear life as he was running full speed to the barn. After a duck and dive between pick ups and barns, he lost Carlee in the concrete steps. Everything was slow motion from there......Chris ran to her, picked her up and from the look in his eyes....something was way wrong. Running as fast as I could, screaming, and freaking out trying to get there fast........She wasn't awake, but was trying to come to and catching her breath..... her eye/forehead was swelling fast!!! Before we knew it we were all loaded up in the truck headed to town......We started to think she was fine when she looked in the mirror and asked "Is my eye always going to be like this?" The small town hospital sent us on the Bartlsville. In just a few minutes they had her in a CAT scan and found 3 fractures in her skull!! Waiting for Doctors to come in....reality hit Chris and I. Trying to remember if I turned the oven off,  remembering that horses were still tied to the fence waiting to be shod, and of course Sorrely was still running around somewhere.  Trying to find the strenght to call a friend and ask them to take care of what we left behind, Chris lost it. All he could say was...."I almost killed her, I'm so sorry. Its my fault, I should have never have put her on him". I was doing good until that point....When Chris cries you know is it bad.  With in minutes I was on my way with Fred to Tulsa St. Frances Children's Hospital by ambulance and Chris was dropping Colt off with Papa and heading our way. After a long night in Trauma and ER, we finally made it up stairs where they watched over her the next 12 hours and decided that she was tough and good to go home.  We no more made it through the ranch gate and she asked her daddy to catch the horses show she could ride......Chris told her we better not push our luck and she needed to take a few days off.  Staying off her horse was the last thing she wanted to hear, but didn't argue the fact.  Two years later you would never know what a wide ride she took that night, until you look real close at her. Her left eye is starting to sag just alitte.....with time the doctors will decide whether it is something that needs to be fixed or just left alone as a reminder of the blessing from God!

Well that is the scary story of Miss Carlee......I promise the next story about her will be on a happy and funny note as we all know what kind of a crazy hearted Cowgirl she is!





Carlee and Sorrely at the 2010 WRCA Finals, Ranch Horse Show



The Husband



Chris, Husband, often called Honey. Have you ever heard people say they married their "Best Friend"? I can!! Our story isn't like most, but does have a happy ever after.They say opposites attract.....well that is us. Our Wedding Invitations said: He whispered "will you marry me" and I screamed "Yes".  He is a  man of few words and I'm a chatter box.  Growing up in a small town in Kansas, new faces in town were always welcomed. And a big Welcome if they were a Cowboy.  Funny thing is I had seen him around town just a couple times when going back and forth from high school, work and the arena.  One day his Aunt Debbie introduced us and of course that shy little smile of his gave me butterflies. With a little push on the back from a couple of friends, I stopped by and asked him to go out sometime.....Who would have thought he would have taken me up on the date?

 It was all over from there....we were together from there on out.  Until he went on the semi with his dad for a week and I was lost with out him. Yes Me, little Miss Independent I can do anything and don't need anybody.  Boy was I lost, but to add to it I left for High School National Finals the very next week and he was just as lost with out me as I was with out him.  After only 6 months of dating we were fixing to find out what life was all about, we were going to be parents. Scared, Excited, Ummm a little bite of each and every emotion was running through us. Two kids later and almost 11 years together we have grown so close it is crazy.





 I have to brag just a little....I know I'm proud and could brag all day as I sure hope you could brag on your husband too. I have a friend, a provider and a best friend all in one.  Chris is a hard worker having several jobs, just because he loves to work. He runs this 6,000 acre ranch by himself on top of shoeing 60+ horses on a six week rotation. Anybody who knows Chris knows he takes pride in everything he does from work, family, training horses, and riding Broncs. I could go on and on.....but most importantly he is a GREAT Dad. Taking time to teach the kids the cowboy way, the right way, and the respectful way of doing daily skills. 



I love that it has been several years and a lot of tears along the way and I still get butterflies when he winks at me across the room.  So this is for him, I could never Thank God enough for Blessing me with such a soul mate.  I pray everyday that I can be half the spouse to him that he is to me. Well that is a piece of the pie I call Love....there will be many more details and stories as I share my life with you.



My crazy life in just a few words

Hello from my World......This is for all those folks that have been trying to talk me into starting a Blog, well here you go!! I guess there are people out there that think my life as a wife, stay at home mom, and a cowgirl is something interesting. Not sure where to start? But here goes nothing.....I am a young and crazy gal at heart, married to the Man of my dreams, Chris.  We have 2 kiddos, Colton is 9 and Carlee (often called Fred) is 7.  Life is always interesting here on the Drummond Ranch, to say the least.  What we cant show our kids what and what not too do in life, they figure out for themselves.  We live on a 6,000 acre Ranch on the Oklahoma-Kansas Line, where we take care of 3,500 yearling.  Also we have a small herd of our own, the huge Rocking P outfit has about 65 cows, haha far from huge, but it is a start.  And I must not forget about the kid's partnership, 45 Cattle Company which runs about 15 momma cows.  When we are not chasing cattle, we are off rodeoing somewhere. Not your everyday rodeo but Ranch Rodeo, which is similar but showcases more of the everyday ranching life. We all ranch rodeo, Chris does alot of Open and WRCA (Working Ranch Cowboys Assoc) along with Ranch Style Bronc Ridings. I do the same thing, but along with competing with the men, I do an All GIRL ranch rodeo. This is called the Womens Ranch Rodeo Assoc. And of course the kids do their deal just the same as Chris and I but only younger level. Junior Ranch Rodeo Assoc, if you havnt ever heard of such a thing, go check it out!!!

Well that is a sneak peak into my life. If you find it interesting please stay tuned to my blog as I will share stories of Husband/Wife working together everyday stories, rodeo life on the rodeo, and of course the crazy but funny things my kids come up with.

Until later my you share the dinner table with your family tonight and enjoy the Blessings from God!   Amy