Ranch Rat Stories

Hi there. It’s me Dizzy. My real name is Crystal, but I was born with a lot of heart problems and did not get enough air when I was a baby, so I was always dizzy so that is what they call me. I have already had 5 operations and am doing better now, but still have at least one more to go. I hope that is the last one. I don’t like them. I am 9 now and have been at the ranch all my life. People in school say I am *special* but not in a good way. I am slow at learning because I have ear problems and could not always hear what the teacher said. The teachers all knew that but didn’t do anything to make sure I really heard or understood them. Who is really the dumb one? My Grams has always taken care to make sure I heard and understood everything. She says I am really smarter than most of the kids. She showed me the pictures she is putting on the web site and she is right I am smart. At 2 ½ I snuck out of the house, still in my pajamas, and got my pony and saddled it by myself. How many 2 ½ year olds do you know that can do that? I was in my first show at just 3, the judges were in a panic cause I would not let them do me in lead line. I knew the courses. And I was riding Baby Love. I knew she would take care of me. Grams says it may be because I am slow in other things that I am so good with the horses. That might be true because most of the bad horses that I see come in, will be nice to me but mean to other’s. Grams says it is a gift from Grandfather *God*. To help make up for the slow side of me, and it is OK with me if other’s think I’m dumb. I know I’m not. Any how, I can ride most any horse around and, I have been helping with the training since I was 5. Now I can train some of them by myself. I have been bucked off, kicked, bit, and stepped on, but it was OK because they just didn’t know what I was asking, and they were scared. That is why Grams says it is better to be a horse listener, than a horse whisperer because if I had listened to what they were trying to say I would have known better than to do what I did to get them scared. I saw the picture of me and Omasti Warrior. I helped raise him. His mommy died when he was only two weeks old and I helped bottle feed him and now he is 5 years old, still a stud, and he is my horse I broke and trained him myself. I love this new ranch here but it does make me sad that I can’t be here all the time. I have only the summer to be with the horses, but I think that is more than some kids get. Papa takes me swimming in the Cottonwood creek, then we all go on rides or spend the day training the horses so Grams can get them a good home. So if you are looking for a good horse just ask what one I helped train. I sure wish mommy would move up here. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but I hope I will always be able to come up here and be with my horses. Well I think I said enough for now so as Grams says. RH*RF*WG, That means ride hard, ride fast, with God. PS. I did not type this, I got help from one of the older kids up here this week.