The South Dakota Cowgirl

Life on the Ranch Through My Lens

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This week on the Ranch

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We have a Tempurpedic mattress. When we first got it, I loved it. And I can still sleep exceptionally sound (save for my old, incontintent, little papillon dog, Higgins, waking me up 1 – 4 times each night needing out to go potty). Lately though, I’m waking up really stiff. Maybe I’m just not stretching my hamstrings enough? I’m looking forward to Spring and warmth, when Higgins will want to stay outside all night again.

On the subject of sleeping, Zach can literally put himself to bed in the middle of a tornado, I tell you. I can be watching something on the TV, he will say goodnight and just roll over and be asleep – in a matter of moments. Are any of you blessed with that ability?

I’ve been reading Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, by John Le Carre, for upwards of 2 months now. I’m barely halfway through it. I love a good spy novel (Robert Ludlum’s work is my favorite), but I’m struggling with this book. I’ve seen the film twice and I really enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not a very good reader, but it seems to me that Le Carre (the author), jumps back and forth between what’s really happening, and what’s being remembered, and I have trouble telling the difference. Have any of you read any of his novels? Am I alone in my thoughts?

The past two weeks I’ve slacked in getting articles to the newspaper. I really need to schedule myself time to write them, or dig through the archives of this site for something to publish. I’ve slacked in the photography/creative vision department too. Many of you probably only come here for the photos!

So far, I’m surviving this 28 day cleanse. I do miss coffee, cheese/dairy, and red wine, though. I cannot lie.

The days are getting longer. Which means more time at the barn with the horses (the lights aren’t up yet, so I’m still dependent on daylight)! This makes me a vewy, vewy happy cowgirl!

Last week I took my colt outside for his first outside ride. It went really great! I can’t even believe I glossed over it in this week’s colt cam chronicles!

first outside ride

Our weather has been toying with us, however. Yesterday, I rode in a long-sleeved, thermal t-shirt.  When I was finished up, I almost didn’t make it out of the road to the barn it was so, so, muddy! Actually, I didn’t even make it in to the trap where the barn is located. I had to hoof it from a “dry” spot. And it’s a good thing I keep an extra pair of boots up there so I didn’t have to ride in my gumbo-laden Sorels.

clean and muddy boots

t-shirt weather!
And now this forecast:

is it spring yet?

The good news is, today’s wind, combined with colder temps, should mean the mud will either dry up, freeze up, or both!!!

Has Spring hit in your part of the country yet?

Happy Trails!

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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