By: Annette Bridges

Being Remembered By A Cow

You have no doubt heard the expression “an elephant never forgets.” I can confirm the same is true about a cow, especially one you have raised from birth.

Various health problems kept me away from helping my husband feed and move our herd to new pastures for a couple of months. I was so very happy to get back in the groove of our old beloved routine.

To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Utilizing the horse to human connection.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor

Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.

Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.

“My boys have been riding since they were 18 months old, and for the first 17 years they had a leader and sidewalker. When we moved here, and Mandy started teaching them, she just said, ‘Let’s see what they can do,’ and they ride independently now,” Danielle Frank explained, whose two sons, Adison and Aiden, ride with Stable Strides Farm. “Mandy is amazing beucase she doesn’t place any limits on them, she always wants to see what they can do.”

It is her dedication to never setting limits that earned Cleveland a spot as a national finalist for the NSBA 2024 Dianne Eppers Cowgirls Reaching-Out-to-Community Award. The award was established by the NSBA Foundation to recognize cowgirls across the industry for their selfless contributions to the equestrian community.

To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of the NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

(Photos Courtesy of Hannah Claxton)

By Annette Bridges

I suspect I am not the only city girl married to a country boy who goes deer hunting. I have many fun memories of sharing my man’s love of hunting, especially when the experience included camping with his best buddies and their significant others. I will never forget the first time we butchered and packaged venison from our first deer hunting trip together. My vegetarian roommate never forgave me for using our kitchen table.

Actually, my man no longer has a deer lease or joins his buddies for Colorado hunting adventures. For most of our four-plus decades together, there were a few November nights spent apart when he went hunting without me. It was during one of these times I started experimenting with watercolor paints. Art has always been a longing and a love. In fact, I wanted to take some art classes in college, but my schedule never seemed to permit it.

My interest in creating art goes back to my young childhood years with my daddy. He was quite talented, and I have early memories of him showing me cartoon and doodling techniques. He passed away when I was 10 years old.

To read more, pick up a copy of the August issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.