i am a horse girl.

the sun falls soft on the horses mane

not a flaw to be seen

in this moment of just me

& all my horses

the red hair falling to the snow

their shedding

reminding us of spring

& we dance

our feet as one

stepping through the moves

his reigns in my hand

my heart in his eyes

the steam from their bodies rising

reaching for my sky

Gods sky

my horses & me

we have liberty

we are liberty

i will always have liberty

if i am by my horses

& if we can dance

in the palm of Gods hand

xo, ginger

i am a horse girl.

my daddy threw me the reigns & slapped that tiny pony's rump.

& that is how my life has been ever since.

they told me i was born on the saddle.

My cowboy boots were shorter then the horses hoof

and I think my soul was one with my pony

I live on fishburn ranch.

___________________________

We are a family ranch in Southern Alberta. We have a passion for raising happy beef, riding good horses, and making healthy vibrant soil and grass. We love our community. We love God.

Soil.

When Dad bought the ranch in the 1990s it wasn't much. Nobody thought he could make a go of it. The land had been poorly farmed and overgrazed, the topsoil had blown away(its windy here) and the dirt was dead.

A grazing plan was implemented that used fences to keep cattle in close herds and gave the grass long rest periods between grazings. This mimicked the ancient patterns of the elk and buffalo that had this country thriving before us humans came along and got in the way. Our ground breathed a big sigh of relief and started growing grass. Lots of it. Now we have a wide range of new species growing many of which the seeds had just been waiting in the soil for the optimum growing conditions. And our soil is alive, bugs and worms are everywhere. Sometimes we think of ourselves as bug ranchers because if you have healthy bugs you have healthy soil, grass, cows, beef, people, relationships, families, communities.

Beef.

As a ranching family trying to make a go of it it was a no-brainer that we ate our own beef. Our regenerative grazing plan has our cattle eating a wide variety of plants when they are at their best stage of nutrition and growth. Our cattle are chosen based on their ability to stay fat naturally in the grassland environment they live in. They are grass-fed and grass-FINISHED there is a difference. The results are amazing and we cant wait to share them with you.

Community.

Fishburn was a little town that started in the 1890's. With ease of transportation the town eventually fizzled out but our community is strong. One of the early owners of our ranch donated a small piece of creekside property as a park and we still have neighbourhood picnics a couple times a year. The Fishburn Community Hall is just downstream and theres a little red and white church with annual Christmas and Easter services up near the corner of one of our pastures. We invite you to come check it out. Maybe you'll get lucky enough to bump into one of our fantastic neighbours!

Gods' Country.

We don’t get the credit. This land, these cows were created this way. It's when we step back and observe, that nature can reach its potential & when we stop trying to force production with chemicals and abusive management. We still mess it up too often but we are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a big big plan that works.

The link to our life.. & to yours.

https://www.fishburnranch.com/

____________________________

today i follow my boots to the horse herd

It seems when I have spare time. & I’m outside.

Thats where my boots lead me.

We share blood.

These beasts & me.

I plop myself down and whistle.

The shrill sound echoing through the valley

Their heads jerk up

& one by one they are here

There nostrils flaring

Breathing energy onto my lifted face

Horses come & go on this ranch… it breaks me.

But as each one gets sold there is another bought

theres always around 17

Sharing their beauty with Fishburn

Their lips playfully play with my hair

Leaving snot on my forehead

Sharing my breathe

Long legs closed against me

they all want my mittened hand

Against their majestic legs

The puppy barks

My friends spook

& run

Their hooves pounding the frozen earth

Creating music my heart loves to hear

Heads held high

the equines that share my blood

& nobody will ever understand

How it feels

Thank you Jesus.

The mountains are still watching <3