Today was the first full day riding on the ranch. I rode Duncan first, we went in the prairie and checked some cows and looked for a calf. That was fun and Duncan settled down quickly. It was amazing to me how I could just get on him and not be scared at all. If that was when I first went to Terry's last year I would have been crying. The second ride was Concho. He is a steady guy and always a good ride. My saddle was not fitting him though so I did not do too much after I finally got a saddle to fit him. The third ride was Butter. I really enjoy that horse. He is drafty, but Mindy has done a lot of work with him and I really enjoy riding him. Today we worked on walk to canters, transitions and leg yielding. Fun stuff and good to play around with. By the end little Butter (who is almost the size of a dinosaur) was going pretty well. Overall a pretty good day.

I still feel a little out of place, not because I'm in Colorado, but because everything is different out here. The people are very direct and to the point. Those relationships tend to be great in their own way, but are not what I am used to. Also, NO ONE TALKS. Except for the girl who doesn't speak much English. I probably wouldn't notice it as much if I didn't just come from college where there were a million people around to do stuff with all the time. But I'm getting better at the silence thing... but it's a struggle sometimes. Some rides I get off feeling great and some I feel like I am never going to be as good as those around me. This is day one, and I've already learned a ton, so I'm trying to tell myself it will get better and I will learn a lot more than I expect.

Oh and Kevin told us today that we better start practicing roping because we're all he's got for branding.... So in other words I should pick up a rope.