Every year, as summer fades, my young family returns to our roots on the Colorado plains for a tradition we call “Gathering Time.” Growing up on a working ranch has shaped me in countless ways—from my work ethic to my deep respect for animals.
For my family, there’s no holiday, sick day, or vacation from this life. Ranching is a 24/7 responsibility, and growing up, we were taught that livestock always comes first. This instilled in me a sense of duty and resilience that I want my kids to understand and embrace as part of our family ranching heritage.
They Call it Horsepower for a reason.
I grew up knowing that our horses were central to our livelihood—and taking good care of them was inextricably linked to our income. This is really
no different from how in pre-tractor days people depended on horses to plow their fields and haul the crops in at harvest time.
And while tractors replaced horses in these jobs, that idea just doesn’t work with cattle ranching. You can’t doctor in the pasture from a four-wheeler, and an ATV can’t cut a cow. Gathering and sorting the cattle on rugged terrain isn’t just a nod to the generations of ranchers before us who understood the value of working cattle with horses. Horses are essential partners in this process. They help keep the cattle calm to prevent weight loss from stress and allow us to work with the land in a way no machine ever could.
Gathering time always brings the pure thrill and sense of accomplishment of working cattle on horseback to bring another successful ranching year to a close. I still get a little choked up when I see those big cattle trucks come over the hill on shipping days. Not only does this herald the culmination of another year of hard work; it affirms the continuation of the lifestyle my family has maintained for generations.
Lifestyle and Legacy
From the time I was big enough to hold a pitchfork, caring for horses was not only a passion but essential to the livelihood of my family. I obviously love to ride, but I love caring for horses just as much—and I am constantly researching and tweaking my programs as needed to keep them happy and healthy and thriving. This whole lifestyle that puts horses and hard work as the center point is the foundation of my own business today. Not only does this legacy position me well for owning and managing 4Hearts Ranch, but it taps into my passion for taking care of horses that underpins every decision I make as a ranch owner.
My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity my upbringing has given me to continue the rich traditions I was raised with in my own way, as owner and manager of a premium equine boarding stable that is home to more than 100 horses. Drawing from this deeply instilled ethic of hard work and sacrifice, my commitment to this legacy puts every dime this ranch earns back into making it everything I know, want, and expect it to be.
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