3 BITS RANCH

Some Things Are Meant to Be

2012-01-22T16:38:00.001-08:00

Some Things Are Meant To Be
Given the poor state of the horse market we stopped breeding our Paints several years ago and have gradually sold off some of our herd. Prior to winter we bought enough hay for the three we kept but then wound up selling one more horse. So we were sitting on some extra hay but decided to keep it as it is barn stored and would be good for part of next year's supply.Recently my daughter told Jay and I about a friend of hers who hasn't exactly been dealt the best hand in life. The friend has a 2 1/2 year old gelding that is the love of her life and had been boarding it at a ranch in Keating. The boarding fee was way more than she could afford and the ranch owners wanted her to move the horse. Ruthie asked her mom and I if we could allow the horse to be boarded here at an amount the friend could afford.I should have known the Lord was behind this when my wife (who isn't a horse person but does the stalls five days a week) was receptive to the idea. So, we said "yes". Today I found out why.The girl had a friend bring the colt out last week and it looked for awhile that Ruthie's 26 year old show horse wanted to kill it. No problem with the 6 year old Paint but the quarterhorse wanted to kick the colt's butt. We put them in adjacent stalls and the 26 year old got one good bite on the young guy's butt and it seems that's all it took.Next day I turned out our two horses but fed the newcomer in his stall. Wasn't quite ready for what I was sure would be a huge horse wreck. An hour later the 26 year old mare and the colt were grooming each other over the stall rail. So I put him out with our horses and they are inseparable. It's almost like the 26 year old is "mothering the colt".Now about the colt. The day Ruthie's friend brought her here she groomed him in the stall. I noticed right away he has a calm demeanor, liked attention, and had been worked with by the young lady. He's great having his feet handled, isn't pushy, respects her space and is just a good looking sweet boy with lots of potential. And he's a little over 15 hands so he'll be good sized.Today the young lady came back to work with the colt and asked to use our round pen. I watched and she has done a lot with that colt. There is obviously a very close bond between the young lady and the young horse. I commented to the girl what a nice horse she has and what a good job she's doing with him (she has put 15 bareback rides on him using only a halter!).The girl looked at me and with misty eyes said "when my parents split up this horse kept me sane...he's my friend". As I said, some things are just meant to be. That horse can stay here as long as needed and as far as I'm concerned there is no boarding fee. What money that girl can scrape together can go to the tack she needs to really ride the horse she's so justifiably proud of. What I saw and heard from the young lady and the bond I see between her and her horse brought a tear to this old guy's eyes as I walked away from the round pen.

2011-12-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

My new book FIRESTONE PARK: POLICING SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES will be available for on line order through Amazon Books on December 15, 2011. Harry Penny, author of Behind The Badge, wrote the book's Forward and says in part "this book is a must read for anyone in law enforcement or anyone who wants to know what policing a high crime area is like"

The book is a compilation of war stories from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Firestone Station. It puts you in the front seat of a patrol car as calls, ranging from humorous to horrendous, are handled in the third most violent policing jurisdiction in the United States.

Cost is $14.95 plus S & H. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book benefits the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation in Washington DC. I hope you enjoy the book

Last Ride on Susie

2011-12-03T16:04:00.001-08:00

It was a cold day butI had to ride Susie one more time since tomorrow she's headed to Idaho to her new home. Like I always get when a good horse goes , I'm sad to see her go. She has been a good horse for us for 7 years and took both Ruthie and I to some blue ribbons in various shows. Sweet horse but time to reduce the expenses. She'll make a good horse for the new owners.

FallTurning to Winter

2011-11-24T20:42:00.001-08:00

Fall is here

2011-10-25T17:12:00.001-07:00

Night time temps in the low teens. Leaves are changing fast and some trees are already bare

Some Critters on and Near the Ranch

2011-09-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Moon

2011-08-16T18:48:00.001-07:00

Pig Goes to Fair

2011-08-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Despite breaking her collarbone just a few days ago Ruthie took her pig to the County Fair and won Reserve Champion in her class. It auctioned for over $1000. Nice profit on her investment!

Ruthie and Friends Riding--video

2011-08-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

CLICK BELOW

http://vimeo.com/27037506

NICE SUMMER TIME CLOUDS

2011-07-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS TAKEN FROM OUR RANCH

Riding in the Creek

2011-07-09T15:17:00.001-07:00

The pictures don't show it but the water is running pretty fast and this horse has always balked at riding in moving water--she's over it!

Jerry, Kevin & Chris before a ride

2011-06-08T20:40:00.001-07:00

Ruthie's Fair Project

2011-03-26T13:05:00.001-07:00

Just weaned today at a little under 30 pounds--headed to 260 pounds at fiar time in August

IMPEACH OBAMA

2011-02-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Grounds? There are two that are very recent and if the "new" Congress is to do the job the American people elected them to do they will initiate impeachment proceedings ASAP. Will it be successful? Maybe not, but it is the right thing to do and the right message to send.

Ground #1
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is the law of the land. It was passed by Congress and signed by a previous President. Obama took the oath of office vowing to uphold the law. He has stated that in "his" opinion (HE IS NOT THE SUPREME COURT) the law is unconstitutional and thus he has ordered the Justice Department not to defend DOMA

Ground #2
A Federal Judge has ruled that "Obama care" is unconstitutional. Unless a higher court over rules that decision pursuit of Obama care is a violation of law. Obama continues to pursue it in defiance of the court. He is technically in contempt of court.

Our government is a representative republic NOT A DICTATORSHIP. There is a separation of powers. The Executive (Obama) cannot ignore or flaunt the Judicial Branch yet that is exactly what he is doing in violation of the Constitution and his oath of office. For that alone he deserves impeachment.

ARE WE CRAZY?

2011-02-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

Things on the ranch have been quiet but things in the USA and the world have not. In a major departure from what this blog usually deals with I am posting this discussion of the threat to the security of the United States posed by our generally uncontrolled borders.

There is no other developed country in the world that allows its borders to be as porous as ours. For the world's superpower, hated as it is by Islamists, to not take border security seriously is both frightening and impossible to comprehend. No President in recent memory has mandated that border security be taken seriously. The current regime, however, not only fails to do its job but openly lies and deceives regarding just how little has been done.

Recently the incompetent Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stated that our borders have "never been more secure". Who is that idiot trying to kid? How can a border which, BY HER OWN AGENCY'S ADMISSION IS ONLY 40% SECURE, be called "safer than ever"?

Safer than ever? BS. How can it be called secure when in Arizona and Texas there are signs 75 miles away from the border (ON U S SOIL) warning U S Citizens that they should stay out because of the danger posed by illegal aliens entering across that "secure" border? We capture hundreds of thousands of illegals every year and the best estimate of experts is that is a fraction of the number actually crossing.

Just poor Mexicans coming here to find a better life? Again I say BS. What about the "OTM's" (that's other than Mexicans...people from countries like Yemen, Iran and Lybia) that are pledged to the destruction of the USA? We have caught a few thousand but again the estimate is that is a drop in the bucket. These are Islamic terrorists schooled in suicide bombing, dirty bombs, and bio-terrorism. Wiping out entire U S cities is their goal and if they die in the process they are heros and get to spend eternity with their 72 virgins.

And of the Mexicans crossing the border what about the trafficing in both people and drugs? The cartels have killed tens of thousands just over the border in Mexico. Anyone who doesn't believe that is about to happen on OUR side of the border is incredibly naive or just plain stupid. Cartels have vowed to take over cities in the USA the population of which is predominantly illegal alien. Why? So they can pursue their criminal enterprises in the "land of the free". They will do it by bribery and corruption (that's already happened to several cities in Los Angeles County) or if that fails--by force. They have already put bounties on the heads of U S law enforcement officers.

Never happen you say? Well it wouldn't IF we had the juevos to commit the necessary resources to secure the border--and at this point that would have to include the U S Military with proper rules of engagement in order to be effective. The influx of heavily armed cartel operatives has already overwhelmed U S law enforcement--- some of the reason for that is "politically correct" so called top cops.....police chiefs and sheriffs who are gutless and unwilling to meet the responsibilities of their oath of office. Another reason is the cartels are far better armed than U S law enforcement. From Red China and the former Soviet Union, smuggled through Columbia and other central and south American countries, they have AK 47's, IED's, LAWS rockets, grenade launchers and the training to use them. Want to support Cops who DO enforce the law as the federal government should? Go to SupportOurBorderSheriffs.Com

Is there a solution and what can I do? If EVERY U S voter took the time to do the following this problem could be solved. If it isn't, our children (much less our grand children) will live in a much different America than we have:

1. Relentlessly tell your elected officials (particularly your U S Congressman and U S Senator) that your vote depends on them voting for border security and opposing amnesty.

2. Boycott ALL "sanctuary cities"

3. Demand that your state enact legislation similar to Arizona regarding immigration enforcement

4. Demand that your local elected officials direct their police departments to enter into cooperative agreements with the federal government to enforce immigration law

5. Demand that "in state tuition" not be granted to illegal aliens---in fact demand that once identified as such illegal aliens be expelled from any taxpayer financed institution and deported .

6. Demand that neither drivers licenses nor any other form of government identification be issued to illegal aliens.

7. Demand severe financial and criminal penalties be enforced for employers who knowingly hire illegals.

8. Resist, via communication with your elected officials, the current "soft" attitude towards Islam in the USA. Islam is NOT a religion and it certainly is not a "religion of peace". It is a political ideology hidden under the umbrella of "religion" which states emphatically that non Islamists should be killed. One cannot be a peacefull Islamist---it is like being "a little bit pregnant". The USA MUST LEARN NOW THE LESSON EUROPE HAS LEARNED TOO LATE. Once the Muslim population reaches a certain point they will impose their law and the U S Constitution will be meaningless...not that the current U S president (small p is intentional) thinks it means anything anyhow.

9. Finally, PRAY. Ths country was founded upon Judeo- Christian principles. We have become a nation without principles and are becoming a country which denies its Judeo-Christian roots. We need to learn from history. A study of ancient Rome would be a good place to start.

THE RANCH BRAND

2011-02-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

THE 3 BITS RANCH BRAND

Ready to Check Fences Before The Storm

2010-12-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Winter Sunrise

2010-12-21T15:16:00.001-08:00

Sunrise at the ranch December 21, 2010

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

2010-12-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

Want to listen to some absolutely fantastic Christmas music? Google Celtic Women and when you get to their site click videos. They have graciously posted 107 of their performances. Many are Christmas songs. They are fantastic.

Random Ranch Views-Nov 2010

2010-11-07T10:12:00.001-08:00

RIDING RAIN

2010-11-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

With the 7 year old mare having some health issues the five year old ("Rain") is getting most of the work these days

Beautiful Fall

2010-11-01T18:37:00.001-07:00

Winter's Coming

2010-10-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

First snow expected Monday night/Tuesday. Actually it snowed pretty good up on the mountian last night.

Pig at Fair

2010-09-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

The pig shown in a much earlier photo was shown by Ruthie at the Baker County Panhandle Rodeo and Fair in Halfway Oregon this (Labor Day) weekend and was sold at auction. Ruthie's first time showing a pig and the pig's first and last time as it is headed to slaughter tomorrow :(

Summer is over and the battle is on

2010-09-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a good summer on the ranch. Got our hay in for winter and at the best price in years thanks to an abundance of rain in the Spring and a good harvest. Horses grazed on non-irrigated pasture until almost the first of August. It actually snowed in the mountains just to the west of the ranch on August 11 and 25. Weather forecasters seem to agree that we are in for a longer, colder and heavier snow winter this year and that we are at the beginning of a 7 year cycle of cooling. A return to the occasional 35 degree below zero and 30-45 days in a row of high temps being below zero is expected. We are OK on firewood for this winter but will have to get more in for next.

Frankly less time is being spent on ranch stuff and this blog and more time being active in defeating the morons who are now running this country into the ground. I could go on an on about the incompetence, dishonesty, anti-United States perspective and just plain evil of Obama and his minions. That however is not the purpose of this blog. It merely explains why postings are few and far between lately. After the November election hopefully that will change though us God loving Conservatives have plenty to do to unseat the arrogant socialist in Nov 2012.

Oh, we still ride the horses almost daily and will until weather makes it impossible.

Kevin, Shellie, Reese and Teagan visit the ranch

2010-05-18T19:26:00.001-07:00

Family visits the ranch

May Snow

2010-05-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

8 inches over night May 5th, 2010

Another animal for county fair

2010-04-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

In addition to the steer Ruthie now has a pig to raise and show

Winter is still here

2010-02-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Last Ride on Deck

2010-01-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

Put my last ride on Deck yesterday (1/4/10) just before his new buyer hauled him to the ranch where he will grow and develop into what I'm sure will be a fine working horse. I really hated to part with him as we had developed a bond I've seldom experienced with a horse. But he needs to go to the next level which I have neither the time nor the talent to make happen. His new owner will work out the "colt kinks" and by spring he'll be ready to go herd cattle in Burns, OR and at the next BLM Mustang roundup in the Steens Mountain range he should be able to help gather horses in for adoption. Short of family and my profession getting Deck from birth here on the ranch to being a quiet rider is one of the most satisfying things I've ever done. I'll miss the big guy.

Colt Update

2009-11-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

Ride #42 this morning when the temp was below freezing. We'll keep working him until winter prevents it. He is way ahead of the game as far as training. Next spring we'll put him on some cattle and see how he does

THE BEAST

2009-10-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

New addition to the ranch---Ruthie will show him at fair in the summer of 2010 when he is double his current size

More of the Colt

2009-09-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

Deck is up to 20 rides and is doing super. Great attitude, good mind, and very calm. Does what we ask and is learning ques quickly.

Working the Colt

2009-08-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Deck is coming along fine and Ruthie has put 4 rides on him...but every once in awhile he gets disrespectful as he was today...so Ruthie put him to work. He bucked a couple of laps around the round pen then settled into a lope.

Our Tenants

2009-08-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

These guys live on our ranch. They are not the biggest bucks we have in residence. With archery hunting season just days away the big guys have gone into hiding. Sometimes these bucks will come over to the sheep pasture and go nose to nose with our sheep.

Decks First Ride

2009-08-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

Ruthie rode Deck for his first ride. I kept the lead rope on him for safety reasons but all went well and next time Ruthie will ride with no lead. Click on the attached to see a little of the ride. The entire ride was much longer with the horse backing, as well as turning left and right. He's just 2 yrs old so he's off to a very good start

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeB9ppi6X4A

Fawns

2009-08-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

We have three pair of fawns who bed down on our place. Here's one pair with the doe

ABCA Border Collie Stud Service Available

2009-08-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

Our very athletic male, Luke, is available for stud service. For details see our Border Collie site:

http://3bitsbordercollies.homestead.com/

Feedback received from buyers of pups sired by Luke has been excellent in terms of temperment, physical conditioning, and working ability

PICTURES

2009-07-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PICTURE ON THIS BLOG AND ENLARGE IT

Riding the Paints

2009-07-15T19:35:00.001-07:00

Susie (6) and Jerry riding on the ranch, July 2009

Jerry riding Rain (4)

Colt Training

2009-07-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Deck, our 2 year old gelding, is in the final stages of ground work training and we anticipate putting 10 easy walk rides on him by Fall. Then we will let him be a horse until the Spring of 2010 when we will begin to finish him as a good riding horse. Deck is a solid color paint out of one of our ranch mares. He is big (15.5 hands at 2 years) with more height and of course quite a bit of filling out to come. Deck will be for sale in the summer of 2010 once he is more than just green broke under saddle.

Deck has a very mellow temperment and learns quick--and he retains what he learns. As an example he was trailer loaded in the Fall of 2008 and then not trailered again until April of 2009. He stepped right in like he's done it every day of his life. He is easy to groom, bathe, and trim. Our farrier is very happy with his calm demeanor when it's time to do his hooves. Deck has been exposed to all sorts of "scary" stuff and generally yawns his way through it. As you can see from the photos he's a good looking guy. While we have not put any rides on him yet Ruthie and I have both sat in the saddle on him and he is willing to just stand. He does not move away from the mounting block like some colts do and when working him on the ground at all gaits with a saddle on and bit in his mouth he does not offer to buck. I have a feeling he will be like a Mustang we once owned that rode off easily the first time we put a ride on her.

To see a brief video of Deck being worked on long reins see:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_kgx8TVBCo

BORDER COLLIES

2009-07-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Border Collie pups out of our dam Lady, sired by our male Luke have all sold and moved on to very happy buyers. The feedback we are receiving regarding these ABCA pups is very positive. Now a few months old, the pups are proving to be smart and very athletic just like their parents.

We will be breeding again so if interested in a quality working Border Collie check here in the spring of 2010 to see what we have available.

The Boyds

2008-10-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

Contact US

2008-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

We may be contacted at exlasd@msn.com

THESE FLAGS PROUDLY FLY AT THE RANCH

2008-08-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

click on photo for larger view

These flags (US and OFFICER DOWN IN THE LINE OF DUTY) proudly fly above the ranch 24/7/365