The South Dakota Cowgirl

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My First Ride

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I trust that everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July Holiday, and that we’re all slowly easing back into things. We even took a vacation (gasp) and went to the river on Saturday and Sunday! We slack. I’m aware. But all work and no play, make this cowgirl cranky. I jest, I jest!

Yesterday, we were back to our regularly scheduled programming. Sunday, as my present to myself for America’s Birthday, I went to the pasture that morning, and caught my pretty 2yo filly Dolce. Some of you will remember when she was born, and how excited I was. I cannot tell you how long it seems to be from the time you breed your mare, to the time they foal (it’s an 11mo gestation period, in case you’re wondering), and then comes the excruciating wait for them to be big enough and old enough to ride.

My.
Wait.
Is.
Over.

Since I had my filly around to play with when she was a baby, she is well halter-broke, and super friendly. She figures anytime we come to the pasture we more often than not, have feed with us, so she came over to see us when we arrived. I caught her, and 5 minutes later had her in the trailer. Keep in mind, that since she’s been weaned at about 7mos, I haven’t touched her other than to see her in the pasture.

I gave her a few minutes to settle in and then went to playing with her. About 20 minutes, and some flagging later (I promise to explain flagging at some point this summer), she was ready to saddle. Quiet, unconcerned, and standing better than a lot of saddle horses we get in to ride (for other people), she let me saddle her and go right to more ground-work. I didn’t get to throw a leg on her this day, as we planned to be at the river, and I ran out of time, but manana  is the word of the day, everyday, here, so Monday would be the magic day.

So yesterday rolls around, and I saddle her, move her out at the walk, trot and lope, and then climb on like I’m climbing on her mama. It could not have gone better! She’s willing, soft and tries really hard. By soft I mean that she follows a feel- so I don’t have to pull her, I can guide her with the float in my lead-rope, as we make the first few rides in a halter so as not to mess up what God put in the horse naturally.

Here’s three short videos of our ride. Enjoy!

I know what I’ll be doing today, and I bet you can guess too! Have a good one!

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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. Kristen says

    looks like a great 1st ride! Sometimes I contemplate sending my mare up your way to give her a taste of the ranch life, get some hours on her! All I have access to is an indoor arena, she needs more than that!

    Reply

  3. Thea says

    Congrats on your first ride with Dolce! She look so soft & you she’s really expresive – you can see here thinking through things. Nice little filly 🙂

    Reply

  4. Kimberley says

    Looks like you have a natural on your hands! You obviously have a lot of solid ground work on her for just pulling her out of the pasture.

    Reply

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