I’ve only ridden once more since, and that was on the back of an old mare who didn’t share my riding style. She still needed to be guided with both hands, while I’m used to horses who only need one hand holding the reins. It was fun and all, but not my best ride ever, especially since it was really hard to revert back to the basics, and it was my first ride in a new saddle. Riding in a brand new saddle is hard on a rider's back and legs. Like a lot of things, saddles need to be broken in before they become comfortable.

It still sucked to lose her though when she was put down on the last evening of summer this year. I found it peculiar that her name was Summer, and she died as the last rays of the final summer sun dipped below the western mountains. It’s almost as if God was putting my cowgirl days to rest along with Summer, but I refuse to let her be the last horse I ever hold the reins to.

The lifestyle of ranching and riding is in my blood. To let Summer be my last horse would be beyond a tragedy. I come from ancestors who were cowboys, and I even grew up around them. My grandpa Lyle is a cowboy, though he never worked cows on horseback. He worked cattle on foot and in his old pickup truck. He rode his horse to elementary school and tamed the wilder ones for fun. My grandpa Bob was a true cowboy before he lost his ability to ride. He used to work cows on horseback, but even when he lost his ability to ride, he would watch as his kids and grand kids worked the cattle instead. One could argue that I’m a cowgirl myself. I’ve never worked cattle on horseback, but I’ve helped to calm stampedes on foot, and I’ve ridden and worked with horses of all kinds. While my cowboy hats have changed over the years, my love for the simple life of ranching hasn’t.

It's true that I was born and raised in the city, but that doesn't mean I wasn't born with a country spirit. Truth is, the only way people can tell I'm from the city is by my address. In every other way, I'm just like my family. I prefer the simple life, and I enjoy the hard work that comes with farming and ranching. Sure, I could get good grades if I go straight to college, but as of now, I plan on mastering a couple trades before I get my degrees. In this day and age, trades are high in demand while students with law and writing degrees struggle to find work and pay of their debt. I'd much rather spend a life in the saddle than in an office cubicle, that's for sure.

I will return to the wide open countryside. I will get back in the saddle one day. I will tame the reins of another horse, just like my ancestors on both sides have done since the beginning. The wrangler way of life is in my blood just as much as hunting is. Sometimes the days are hard, and every rider gets bucked off at least once, but it's worth it, and I miss it everyday. I just need to find ways to feed that passion, which I will one day, hopefully very soon.