Monday was Kaine’s first summer  football game, so Coco, Shea and I went to it. It was fairly warm, Shea fell asleep as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, so Coco and I packed the stroller up the stairs into the stadium. The only shade was at the very top. Shea slept most of the game, and then woke up in a great mood and we shared some watermelon and she played with the toys I brought her from my office. Toni had court in Ritzville, so headed up there for most of the day. Toni and the rest of the kids did chores. We got a feeder set up for Chick, as she is now an orphan. This way she has feed available with milk replacer in it, 24 hours. Except when Cleo knocks it open and eats the feed. She seems to really like to eat the milk replacer.  Kade really started to ride Joss because she finally turned 2 so he is working on her a bunch.  We brought home Papa Murphy’s for dinner.

On Tuesday Kaine had his second summer game in Royal City, it was a windy day since it is always windy in Royal. The kids washed their steers and heifers to get ready for the show this coming weekend. Kade had an orthodontist appt and Jaxsen elected to hang out with mom. Steve Jarmen brought out a mare to breed to MC and two more donkeys. So now we have 5 donkeys.  We also got another outside mare in to breed to Cappy. The 2 young studs have the most outside mares, but that is probably due to their location by the house.  Kade put another ride on Joss.  Dad and I went to the scrimmage in Royal, it was a lot of fun, there were 8 schools there.

On Wednesday Jag headed to SE Idaho first thing to get a few rides on her. Then Toni and Kade  took For in to Sagehill Vet to get Coggins and health for the sale. He did great. It was his first ride alone in the trailer and this colt continues to just really impress us. He is super smart. The one thing we would change is to make him a gelding, that should really make him smart.  Toni took Jaxsen’s halter as a leash for her dog, so Jaxsen used a string to catch his steer. Gunz was fine until he got to the barn and Gunz decided he had not finished eating and drug Jaxsen back to the feed bunk. Toni stayed with grandma on Wednesday and I was actually home for chores, no game. 

On Thursday Toni got some more videos of Kade riding Joss. She is doing great, very smart, picks things up quickly, agile, she has been a great little mare. She isn’t the biggest in stature, but seems to have a big heart. She also has really good bone and hoof size for her actual size. We think she will make a great breakaway mare. Jaxsen went down to rinse his steers and forgot a halter so caught his steers with string he picked upon the ground. At least he was a problem solver. We also continue to try to pet, handle, love on all the foals at the house. We have some really friendly buggers.

On Friday Kaine had a scrimmage in Connell at 9:30, it was windy and cold, but I was wearing shorts since the kid are on summer break. I am committed to summer no matter what.  It went until around noon. The kids clipped and dyed heifers and steers in the afternoon. I checked cows and fixed fence. Then went down to do chores early to go to grandmas. Toni was late due to meetings, so her and Aby fixed fence. We have a couple of fences that need some work. Nothing extreme, just maintenance. And the Sagebug fence needs to be put up every year because we take it down for the winter. Fence, fence, fence, seems to be what we do way too much! We need a fence fairy. So far we haven’t found one, if anyone has one for sale, please let us know.

On Saturday Ben took the three older kids to the UCCA Desert Classic in Hermiston. They all did really well. We had a few class winners and Kaine’s steer, RJ, was Grand Champion Overall steer. At home I was building fence for Sagebug and his mares to come down to circle 3. I checked Sagebug’s pen after the thunder lightening and hail we got. Toni and I did chores with the shags. We took a couple of mares out of MC’s pen. We are trying to get mares cycled out of pens that require feeding and out onto the pasture. There is no real secret to fat happy horses, they just do better on green grass.

Happy Father’s Day. Sunday we did not have the storm but it was still very windy, and we need to spray. So that didn’t get done. After a lunch of steak and baked potatoes, Ben and Kaine worked on Kaine’s pickup, and Anna and I went out and put mineral out. Marlo brought Toni some cats, and then Toni and Marlo went down and messed with the yearlings, pulled some of Lightning’s hair for DNA and got Katana and Colada in, Colada has a cut on her leg that needs doctoring. Kade continued to ride the young horses. It is really a debate which of the two year olds are doing the best, they are all so good. Gucci, out of Blue and by Tank is a favorite, but so are all the others! It is always hard to pick a favorite.

Just a reminder that if you want to show in the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge you must have a horse bred by an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder. We have been enrolled in the program since 2011 and are the AQHA 2022 Heritage Breeder of the year. Check out our amazing foal and yearling offerings!