Febuary 11, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.

Dinner, Cowboy Stories and Music!
Cost: FREE
You must call and reserve to attend.
800-480-9635 

Cabins are available to rent. 

SKY SHIVERS: WESTERN HUMORIST / COWBOY STORYTELLER

 Awarded “1997 & 1999 Storyteller of the Year” - by the Academy of Western Artist
Awarded “2006 Best Storyteller” - by the American Cowboy Culture Association

A “Doctorate” in Cow Lot Psychology, a Masters in Colorful Thinking and several “B.S.” degrees in Pert Near True Tale Telling is only part of the qualifications that make Sky Shivers one of America’s favorite Western Storyteller.

Sky started at an early age on the journey to attain these lofty degrees by hangin’ around cattle auctions, and attendin’ feed store gatherin’s on winter days after the locals had fed up the stock. 

Sky even apprenticed as a driver for several years with two highly successful but ethically challenged dealers of second hand mules and horses.

After years of tutelage from “ole men,” each of whom were legendary; Sky now shares his talents of making a true story even truer, puttin’ hair raisin’ excitement into past mediocre events, and creatin’ wondrous works of fiction from pick-up tailgates at gatherings and festivals where a well dressed story is valued.

JD Baker

JD Baker has written and performed cowboy poetry for over 15 years. He has performed all across the United States, from a chuck wagon camp in Oklahoma, to the University Club in St. Louis. From pack trips and hay rides, to western festivals and cowboy gatherings, JD takes pride in keeping the tradition of cowboy Poetry alive.

From a mere hand full of stories around a campfire to an entire evening of western entertainment, JD aims to please with something for everybody: Classic cowboy poetry, modern day poetry, Gut busting funny, or a good old tear jerker.

This is the time of year when the guest ranch part of the ranch is closed and we start on projects.  Right now the lodge is getting the walls and floors refinished  and  the little old shooting shack (which it is truly a little shack) is being torn down and a new one put in it’s place.  These are the normal types of things that happen over the winter but this time around we have added a new project that we haven’t done in a long time, young unbroken horses.

Back when we first started the guest ranch and didn’t have as many horses as we did today we decided it would be “fun” to buy some young quality stock, that normally would cost quite a bit older and broke, and start them ourselves with the hopes that they would work out for our trail string around the age of  4 1/2 – 5.  Max and Slingblade are couple of those that have been here for many years.  This past year we decided since we had Cowboy Cody and Tember, who have both started colts and are very capable of training a horse, why not get a couple “projects” with the intent to either resell to pay for an older broke horse or keep him around and turn him into a trail horse for the string in the future.  So off I went to last September  Lolli Brothers Special Horse Sale in Macon, MO to pick out a couple long yearlings (these would be two in the year 2012). And I did just that, except I came home with one extra…oops.  :)

Here are the colts I purchased at the sale, they have yet to get their nicknames:

Zebs Dunn Parr - born May 21, 2010 Registered Quarter Horse

BQH Buckshot Burney - born June 7, 2010 Registered Quarter Horse

Sheer Golden - born June 1, 2010 Registered Quarter Horse

 This guy is the “extra” horse… guess you would call him the third wheel since I was only supposed to come home with two.

Then we remembered we needed to add Thistle to the “project” list.  She was born and raised here.

Thistle

Thistle - born April 2010 Sire: Quarter Horse Dam: Flower (Spotted Draft)

In December Barry and I decided to go  the Tulsa Horse Sale in Tulsa Oklahoma to see if we could pick up a riding horse or two for less than we would pay in the spring.   During the sale a coming three year old bay roan gelding was led in, not broke of course.  His price was so cheap that now he has been added to our “project” list.

Belles Sixcess - born May 31, 2009 Registered Quarter Horse

Now that we have our “projects” it’s time to get started with them.  The 2010 “kids” will only need to be worked with in the round pen with saddling and bridling, very minimal stuff, until they get a bit older this summer.  The 2009 gelding is old enough to do it all.  We have only run into one problem with our plan, Cowboy Cody left us to work on a 650 head cattle ranch in Oklahoma but we still have Tember.  :)

We are looking forward to watching these guys (and girl) grown and develop into reliable and fun trail horses.

What is going on?  We were just in the mid 60′s and we blink for one second and what do we have? Snow!  It seems a bit early to be getting snow.  I wonder if this is a sign letting us know we are going to get more than usual this year.

One of our highlights of the year is when the LA Center for the Blind come to horseback ride & rock climb in the fall. Thanks Morgan for putting together this video of their experience.

The 2011 season is over for the most part (there is still one more chance to book a ranch vacation this year – the week of Thanksgiving!) and we decided a staff trail ride on the Buffalo National River  would be fun.

All loaded up and ready to go.

When I said we "all" thought it would be fun, well Morgan (climbing guide) might not have thought it would be fun. But he was a good sport and came. Cody Johnson, also might not have thought it would be fun but trail riding meant missing school.

The plan was for everyone to go to the other side of the river and take a group photo. If you notice the wet pant legs on Cody and Barry... the rest decided not to follow.

Just imagine 6 other riders on that rock bank and how cool it would have looked. :)

Time to come back. The water wasn't too bad but the weather was not exactly swimming temps.

Oops, found an even deeper spot.

The Peanut Gallery.

Barry's turn to make his way back across.

Getting ready to get his legs wet, again.

We stopped at a place that is called The Suck Hole to eat snacks, and for some of us, dry off. This location got it's name because there is place under the bluff where the water is "sucked" under the rock and comes out further down the river on the other side.

Morgan climbing. He almost was the third person to get wet in the river when he couldn't find any holds to climb back up. Fortunately he finally found his way.

Missing two family members. Creed is a little two young for this length of a ride and Cameron is a responsible child and didn't want to miss school due to homework load.

Jason getting some R & R before we finish out last two miles.

Thank you to our 2011 staff for such a great year!

All the yummy food and none of the cooking and cleaning!

We will be open the week of Thanksgiving for guest ranch packages – Thanksgiving dinner included!

Just give our reservation office a call at 1-800-480-9635 to book your spot today. 

We also provide a traditional "kids" table.

]]> http://horseshoecanyonduderanch.com/2011/11/09/come-spend-thanksgiving-with-us/feed/ 0 http://horseshoecanyonduderanch.com/2011/11/02/fall/ http://horseshoecanyonduderanch.com/2011/11/02/fall/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:25:57 +0000 Barry and Amy Johnson http://horseshoecanyonduderanch.com/?p=1515

Front gate at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch

Fall is one of our favorite seasons.  To us it means cooler weather, beautiful leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, and a time for family and friends to reunite.  What more could you ask for?

This year in the Dallas Morning News were listed as one of the 5 best places to see “autumn’s glory” in the U.S. . We were a little concerned with the extra hot weather and the lack of rain that all the leaves might just dry up, turn brown and fall off.  Fortunately this was not the case. Usually the best time to see the leaves at peak is the end of October. There is still some good color after that but then they start to fall off.

For us, August means the end of our summer guest ranch season, school starts and the county fair.   We really enjoy fair week.  There is a parade, horse show, livestock show, exhibits, rides (kids favorites) and the rodeo.  Last year the Newton County Fair brought in a Little Britches Rodeo.  If you think rodeos are just okay you should try watching a Little Britches competition.  The rodeo consists of competitors that are 19 and younger.  They do everything from mutton bust’n to bull riding (smaller version of the big guys).  There is just something about watching “the youth” competing that makes it a worth while and  entertaining event.  I have great respect for the little guys who get out there and try.

Steer riding

13 year old team roper.

Horseback riding is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think, “dude ranch”.  Saddling up and heading down the trail, listening to the horses feet hit the ground, can be very therapeutic. It’s good for the soul.

Typical Monday Morning Trail Rides – “Get to know your horse.” 

Waiting...

Scooby is one of our kid's horse that has been her for about 10 years.

The Ozark rocks make for a scenic ride.

"Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys..."

Ookii (Anatolian Shepherd) decided to take a rest and hang out with me while I took photos.

You will ride past or through the herd of goats probably more than once.

Rusty has been her for the past 8 years. We purchased him at an auction from an Amish boy.

Tember riding one of her favorite horses on the ranch, Ricky Bobby.

“Working goats” is when you have to handle them for any reason.  We needed to “work goats” because it was time to check to see if they needed worming, a few needed some extra attention due to some feet problems (they will be sold) and last but not least the young bucklings (little billies) needed to be castrated. Because of this crazy heat wave we have been having we were forced to work goats in the evening after dinner when the temperature had dropped. This also allowed all the employees to be available to help, so we called it the Goat Party.  Guests were also invited.

275 head of goats waiting for their turn to be looked at. The boys caught the goats, I (Amy) checked them and Tember wrote down numbers and notes.

Nathan, Cowboy Cody's little brother, was visiting so he was lucky enough to get an invite to the party.

Both wrangler and rock climbing guide helped out. Morgan was in charge of giving tetanus shots to the goats getting castrated.

The guests that came to the party decided it was more fun to watch.

Barry said it was much easier to have another tall cowboy hold the goats in an upright manner instead of having to put them on the ground to do the job. The old way is hard on his back.

The party ended about 10:30 p.m. that evening.
The next day at dinner there was a special treat for all of the party goers to try…

You've heard of Rocky Mountain Oysters...well this isn't the Rockies and these are a little different so we called them Ozark Mountain Nuggets. Cowboy Cody prepped them for Chef Nick.

The finished product.

Time to try them out. We were both impressed and surprised at how many guests tried them.

Some of the kids trying them.

No worries. A pork chop dinner arrived shortly after the nugget tasting ended.