Cowgirl Decorating!

I think you have all seen pictures of my tack room here in the desert. I have one of the 3 (coveted) cedar buildings with it's own porch. I even have a sink on the porch witch really does come in handy. No hot water, but it works great for filling the horses water bottles and rinsing out things. I used to share my tack with "The Ghost Rider" but she has moved to another stable and does not at this time have plans to come back here. The big joke around the stables is...who did you have to sleep with to get that tack room??? Now, it's no secret that the owner of the stables thinks I am a bit long in the tooth for him...

Private tack rooms are only assigned to year round boarders and The Ghost Rider and I had agreed to pay board full time to be able to get a private tack room. Oh the horror stories I could tell you of sharing a tack room!!! Anyway after The Ghost Rider left the stables...I was worried who they would put in the tack room with me because the tack room is meant to be shared. But because Little Lady will be mine when I come back next year and I will be paying board for 2 horses I hope I do not have to share my tack room. Quite frankly...it is hard to be sharing it...you always seem to get in each other's way!

I have been waiting oh so patiently for the Bossman to have a day off so that he could help me do the work. I said I would get one of the wranglers to help but he poo pooed that idea...he said they do a lousy job. I think he really wanted to add his opinion to where everything should go if you ask me!!!

One wall had 2 rows of 3 saddle racks side by side. I do not need that many saddle racks but I do need a saddle pad rack...so we took down the saddle racks and discussed for an hour how and where the saddle pad rack would go!

When I arrived the Bossman had already taken out all of my tack that would be in his way and put it in the back of his truck!

My pop up barrel's and poles will go back in the trailer now for storage as I am done with them for the season.

Tack that is going back into the tack room after the remodel is all over the porch!

The counter is full of nails, screws and whatchamacllits!

This is where the 2nd row of saddle racks was! The Bossman is moving hooks that will be in the way!

And yes...even though it was not a ride...the Bossman tended bar!!!

I will be posting pictures of the newly remodeled tack room soon!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Unbridled Time!

Your Desert Rose!

Jesse's New Reins!

For several years now I have been looking for some reins with color. If you have ever done this you know that it is near to impossible because "IF" you find a set of reins like this...you can't afford them!!! I ride with Rommel reins because I hate the feel of knotted split reins. I don't ride with split reins...well if you've ever dropped a split rein on a drop off cliff...you think twice about using them. Besides...I can still direct rein "IF' I have to with my Romel's.

I did purchase a lovely set of Hand braided reins a few years ago at "Cowboy Xmas" that I use for my Desert Riding group rides or any other special event. I thought I would faint the first time I used them...what if they got dirty...or sweaty??? Now I don't even think about what will happen to them, cause when they are in my hands they feel like butter!

When my Loving Husband and I were in Hawaii I had a day of "Cowgirl Shopping". At one of my favorite stores on Maui...

I found these!

These are braided horse hair in a diamond pattern. The colors are really red and turquoise...I was not able to capture the true colors. They are split reins...but when I get to the desert I will call my "saddle guy" and see if he can come up with a way for my reins to be joined without tying them in a knot! He's good at these kinds of things.

Jesse will be so excited to wear his new bling!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Jesse's Saddle Bling Award!

Jesse's Saddle Bling Award!
Dedicated to Cowgirls who Love Bling!

Jesse has decided that he wanted to do something fun for all those cowgirls out there that love bling the way his mom, The Desert Rose does! This award is a picture of the stir up on his saddle.

These are the rules...once you receive the Jesse's Saddle Bling Award you must post about your favorite 3 bling items for your horse, 3 for your house and then 3 for you! Please include pictures when you can. Then pass this award to 3 new cowgirls who love bling! Yes you can be fancy and link to posts and all that stuff but don't worry if you don't. Just pass along the love of bling! don't forget to let your Bling Cowgirls know of their award!

I will start off the award by posting "our fav bling" items ...this will be hard cause I am the bling queen so, Jesse's bling first!

Horse Bling!

1. Jesse's hair on hide halter

Jesse was very proud to model it for us!

2. Jesse's Red and Turquoise Head Stall

Jesse does NOT look happy about modeling his new bridle...we had just returned from a 5 hour ride and he must have thought he was going to have to go out again cause sometimes, mom or The Bossman needs him to "cowhorsethefuckup" (25cents in the cuss jar) and just go out AGAIN!!!

3. Jesse's Pendleton Saddle Blankets!

This way Jesse and his Desert Rose can always match outfits!!! That is if The Bossman emails me to see what blanket I want. His rule is...the blanket on top is the one he uses when saddling Jesse for me. My rule is...he should email me the night before so I can plan Jesse's and my matching outfits! How in the world could I know what I will want to wear...2 days before the ride and leave on top the blanket I "may" want??? Silly Bossman!

House Bling! ( PNW)
1. Portrait of My Beloved Major Special (George) A Major Bonanza Son

2. Calf Hide

3. Tooled Leather Banquette with Star Conchos

Cowgirl Bling!
1. Hand tooled "Cowgirl" Belt



2. The Lazy J Brand Necklace

3. The Desert Rose Belt

Jesse is honored to pass "Jesse's Saddle Bling Award" to

Pony Girl...this cowgirl will post about "Bling" she does not even own yet! She has spirit and spunk and is willing to go the extra mile for "Bling"!!!

Heart of a Cowgirl...this cowgirl is a mom to all sorts of critters! She is soooo talented, creating "Bling" for the rest of us to oooh and ahhh over!

Saddle Mountain Rider...this cowgirl is not always "politically correct" with her "Bling". She will put a HOT PINK halter on a gelding or dress her horse up like he is an aging ROCK STAR! Cousin...what part of "COWGIRL" don't you get??? She gets extra credit for sewing the ROCK STAR outfit herself for both herself and her horse!

Congratulations Cowgirls, pass on the bling!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Saddle Sore!

Most cowgirls are not as lucky as the Desert Rose to be able to spend so many hours in the saddle. But...that has not always been that case for me. 17 years ago when we first bought "George" I was doing a lot of arena riding because of the cold, wet weather in the PNW. My stables only had a few "trails" to ride that was really just riding along side orchards, through Christmas tree farms with a few logging roads scattered among them. At the longest you could ride one hour out and one hour back! When I bought "George" I had my stepson's Circle Y Trail saddle, a man's size, that he had given me with his former "polo horse"! (That is a totally different story I will share someday). This saddle was fine for the arena and for the short trail rides I was able to take. However...after a few years it became to heavy for me to throw over "George" and I downsized to a Cordrua Saddle. Again...this was fine for my needs. But when we got Jesse my rides gradually became longer and tougher. This was a problem because after 2 hours in the saddle...I was in agony! Even my "real sheep skin" tush cush only helped for a while. Finally for my (big) birthday I decided I wanted a new saddle. Now this was a huge dilemma for me...diamonds or a new saddle??? All my friends said... SADDLE!!!! YES... I CAVED!

So...I took the COWPOKE with me to the "cowgirlthefuckup dream store" (25 cents in the cuss jar) a 3 hour drive away to help me select the perfect saddle for me and Jesse. The COWPOKE at that time was still a bit wet behind the ears... barely old enough to legally "drink and ride" but that didn't stop him! The COWPOKE did know a thing or 2 about horses so when I asked him to help a cowgirl in distress he stepped up to the task. Now Jesse is a big butt Quarter horse and almost anything will fit him...my but... is a bit more delicate and only the best would do for it! The COWPOKE must have lifted 100 saddles for me to try before we finally narrowed it down to 2. Then, so we would not have to make the trip back for all the accessories we matched bridles, reins, cinches and anything else we needed for 2 complete "saddle outfits" for me to try.
The "dream store" says I can send anything I don't want back and they will credit my card!
Now that we have accomplished our mission...we are off to buy a birthday gift for the COWPOKE! He chooses a cowboy hat...BLACK FOR AN OUTLAW! We see chinks for a great price, I buy him those too! Then we pick out saddle pads, I get boots to match my saddle, I buy the COWPOKE a PINK western shirt...cause there is nothing sexier than a man in a pink shirt! I tell him it will help get him girls...not sure he believed me. Add some horse treats...fly spray... and some new riding gloves and the credit card pooped out on us. Good thing cause we could have done some serious damage!
Now the part you have all been waiting for...what kind of saddle did I get???

The picture has been "tweaked" so if you can't make it out...It's a MARTIN BARREL RACER!

Chestnut Martin Basket weave with Wyoming Flower, Copper Flower Concho's, with Cameo boarder! I was not looking for a "bling saddle" and would not have put this one together quite this way but my "butt" knew at once...this was the one for me!

Suede mocha seat that I have ridden in for 7 hours and did not get "saddle sore"!

Deep seated cantle...I always feel "in the saddle" not on it!

Matching headstall and hand made romal reins ($$$$$)!

Jesse models his bridal!

And Breast Collar!

Wish you could all come and ride the "HAPPY DESERT TRAILS" with us!

Your Desert Rose!