July 14th, 2018 – Volume 13 – Issue 27
Hi everyone!
What a whirlwind this week has been! The excitement and temperatures have been rising as preparations for the Buck clinics have tilted into full swing. This week we had a wonderful and diverse group of guests with whom we were able to share the ranch, horsemanship and beautiful country.
Vivian and Dunny
Janice, Kevin, and Scott took Ben, Erica, Shannon, Ali, and both Julies out on a couple of ¾ day trips into the state section to check cattle. When we check cattle we are sure to observe as many groups as possible making sure they’re behaving normally, are uninjured, don’t have runny eyes, and often we will drive them to a water source in order to assess whether they are moving correctly and that none are lame. We did have one steer that looked a little off so it was important that the groups going out checked his progress daily – by the end of the week he was looking much better. Later the groups rode to the top of the mountain and stopped for lunch, dining with a picturesque view of the Cabinet mountains.
Julie B. and Jenga
Horsemanship started the week in the arena and on several occasions moved to the shade of the trees in the elk pasture.. This was largely due to the new footing that has been being added to Shayne’s arena to prepare for the Buck clinics. There has been a steady stream of dump trucks in and out. It will be exciting to ride on it when it’s done. The elk pasture is a really neat place to ride and everyone had a great time.
Meadows ready for harvest.
Haying season has officially begun at the ranch! On Thursday Randy, Dave, and Anna began haying in the meadows. It’s interesting to hear the conversations coming over the radio about bale density, mowers, rakes, and making sure vehicles are in their proper locations. Haying will continue during the next two weeks as the crew works to get hay put up for the winter. I can’t wait until the hay sheds are full and the meadows are open for riding. Until then we all get to enjoy the delightful smell of fresh cut grass and the hum of tractors in the background.
L – R: Kate, Ben, and Zoe
Since the temperatures this week have been mostly in the upper 80s and mid 90s a trip to the lake was in order. Janice, Brenda, and Vanessa took Ben, Kate, Zoe, Kathy, Cody, Erica, and Julie C. to the lake which was a refreshing break after a hot week of riding. Kate, a professional bass fisherwoman, observed that the clearness of the water was far different from that of the lakes back in South Carolina. The group kayaked and paddle boarded all afternoon, convening in the middle of the lake to enjoy fresh melons and other fruit. Not a bad way to end a great week!
This week Julie B. remarked on how amazing it was to be served by staff that are so efficient in their jobs but so kind and happy to help where they can. It’s something I notice with everyone I have the pleasure of working with here and something I’d like to discuss in more detail as it is something of which we are all extremely proud.
Alie and Shannon
It all comes down to leadership. Doing ranch work requires a special and important brand of leadership. When most people envision leadership they think of offices held, teams captained, and employees supervised. Here, each staff member and intern is a leader taking initiative to see what needs to be done or fixed, communicate with those around them, and insist on quality at all times. At the ranch there is very little hierarchy, which allows each of us to work autonomously enough that we don’t need constant direction but can also see the whole picture as to who should be where and what they should be doing while they’re there. For example, when handling the horses each person is responsible for each horse they lay eyes upon and needs to check that all the shoes are on and firmly placed, no one is off, any doctoring is taken care of, and all tack and gear is fitted properly and in good repair.
Kevin enjoying a well earned lunch break.
The brand of leadership cultivated at McGinnis Meadows is why we’re all so eager to help, teach and accommodate. It is because we endeavor to see problems before they arise and know that each of us makes such a difference in the experience for the guests and the horses. Each of us knows we have the agency to make something better and strive to do so. By studying horsemanship we seek to be kinder and better human beings and this shows in our everyday interactions with each other and those around us. As Buck says “Horses and life, its all the same to me”.
Until next week,
Jessie
L-R: Erica, Alie, Julie C.
Zoe, Gunner, and Jasper
Twizzle