The South Dakota Cowgirl

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A Career Well-Run

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“A horse gallops with his legs, perseveres with his heart, and he wins with his character.”

— From Ride Like a Girl —

His legs carried me to barrel races and rodeos in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and of course our home state of South Dakota.

His heart persevered through all his pain and injuries (fractured side-bones, low ringbone, and navicular) — giving me 110% EVERY DANG TIME.

His character, grit, determination and love for me kept him going — when others would have quit.

a career well-run, no average joe 022, avie, the south dakota cowgirl

All the years.

All the smiles.

All the miles.

All the lessons.

All the struggles.

There have been tears of joy and the tears of defeat.

And more tears, knowing he owes me nothing and has given me more than he knows.

One More Year…

When Avie came up lame in April of 2019, (at age 16), I selfishly wasn’t ready to let him go. I knew I hadn’t finished completing my goals on him, and that he still had more to give me. I told my vet, and farrier, if I could get one more year…

One more year to have him help me show the youngsters in my string what the world off the ranch was like…

One more year for me to get myself together and wrap my brain around knowing his time running barrels was coming to an end.

a career well-run, no average joe 022, avie, the south dakota cowgirl
2020 BBR Finals, Long Round

One more year to work on my goals… And this was a good year. He won me almost 5K in slot races and the likes. We were on fire this summer — for a bit. It was fun. He felt good. I had my confidence back.

a career well-run, no average joe 022, avie, the south dakota cowgirl
Running Home at the 2020 BBR Short Round

Honestly, I didn’t go Texas knowing I was for sure going to retire him after our last run on Sunday, November 15th, but I had an inkling.  He’d fired okay in Huron, SD a couple weeks before. But in Verndale, MN, he felt tired. His heart was there, but his body wasn’t. I’d already entered the WPRA Finals in Texas, so when I got home, I gave him a day off, and went back to work conditioning him. 

a career well-run, no average joe 022, avie, the south dakota cowgirl
Running in Bowman, North Dakota

He was off the pace in Texas — a second off where he’d run three years prior — and after the first day, I knew. I’d promised myself that if I got my permit filled on him, I’d turn him out and let him live out his days, fat and happy, but after the first day, and a tipped barrel I knew I wasn’t going to get it done. Not this time. Not on him. He’s won me just over a third what I need to fill my permit, and that will have to be enough. He’s tired. He’s given me his all. I find it fitting that my Texas bred horse, made his last runs on Texas dirt.

It is now time to focus on the youngsters, most of which I’ve raised. It’s their turn to shine. He taught them what he knows.

Thanks for ALL the rides, buddy (2012 -2020). You’re the best. There will never be another like you.

Enjoy your rest. You’ve earned it.

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

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Comments

  1. Tracey Michael says

    How old is your beloved, Avie? Just curious about the age a barrel racing horse is retired. 12? 15?

    So sad for you but on to the next!

    Tracey

    Reply

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