Dear Friends of WHR,
Here we go again! Just now arriving in Mesquite, NV on Christmas eve!! and I made it another year! Thanks be to God. 2024, though full of challenges, has settled into the sunset and the horizon of 2025 is upon us all. Much to be grateful for and all our hearts resonate collectively with anticipation and the hope in change.
Reflection is always healthy, looking back at our accomplishments and struggles that ultimately point to our personal growth that the good Lord always has in store for us when we go thru trials to triumphs. That's the way of His plan. To grow. To improve. To reach higher ground, to handle in the "finished bridle" fully supple and giving, like our horses, when we keep striving for that same unity with Him.
My whole life with Wil has been a journey of just that...seeking higher ground. We had such a good time, so special a marriage and partnership and with reverence to honor that, I must keep Wil's spirit & intentions alive, in all we did as a team. So, at a different pace, the WHR Legacy continues... "Where the pursuit of perfecting horse & rider is a way of life"... that "way of life" is the part I choose to focus on and share more of. Be there for people on more than just a horsemanship level, but more importantly share his pearls on the spiritual level. As I have been more vocal about our faith as the years passed, with abandoned... unashamed, open and proclaiming... for all to know...the Lord their God, Jesus Christ, the way the truth and the life. Behold Emanuel...God is with us. Doesn't get any simpler or better than that. Just like Wil would say "keep it simple" and described that relationship by saying "Horses and Life go hand in hand...what you put out is what you get back."... and the Lord put it "As you sow...so shall you reap."
I've been told I should write, which you know I'm good at, at least once a year!!
But yes, write I must. Winter is a good time for that. So I'll start with another longwinded annual recap... set back and enjoy the ride...
2024 In Review...
Last year I did enjoy my time down in Mesquite, Nevada again, my new winter retreat, from December 23 to mid April 2024. Spent my time at the gym, Yoga & riding on the AZ desert along the Virgin River bluffs & Snow Canyon, Utah enjoying Sparkanic and sharing Waldo with friends. I went on down to Scottsdale, AZ and shared a warm & family felt Christmas with Grant Lindaman of G2 Performance Horses and his family, giving his kids lessons as every trainer's child needs instructions from another trainer! LOL! Coming back later in February for the Cowgirl's Cadillac Horse Sale in Wickenburg which was quite the event to take in, as it encapsulates all that Wil & I were doing in marketing our geldings, way ahead of the curve.
Christmas 2023 , my first alone, but with loved ones...it was a joyous time for healing for me.
Running into many long time friends there was refreshing, but felt odd being alone now. Got to reconnect after 28 years! with Lia Sauvez from Long Island, NY who shows NRCHA Non Pro We had sold her and her partner Wayne Dugal "Tucker" Wil's horse he used in his training videos. After selling both of them good geldings, our story & instructions inspired Wayne & Lia to start their horse business which has been a success as a major boarding & Training center for Western horses and Cow Horse events on the eastern seaboard for over 25 years. We had a ball riding together in Wickenburg. The Scottsdale Sun Circuit Quarter Horse Show was another fun event to reconnect with many horse folk and revel in good horse flesh.
Spring... Back to Oregon
Upon returning to Richland last April I was feeling pretty good, refreshed like I was healed and ready to take on the world like nothing happened...well I was wrong... I came home and though spring brought forth renewal and hope, it also brought me to a standstill. A deep depression of sadness and grieving welled up again as the anniversary of Wil's passing approached. I suppose the month of May might always be that way. But at least now I know what to expect. So I poured myself into gardening and irrigating and the idea of looking for a new WHR horse project.
The Chautauqua Music Festival held in Richland was an event that Wil so enjoyed and was the weekend that marked his passing, so I absorbed myself in helping with the 2024 event by volunteering and hosting the first year of their "Poetry Corner Stage" reading some of my own work and that of Rio Painter, my dear, young cowgirl & horse woman I mentor in her horse training. Her writing is extraordinary as I have shared at Wil's Memorial and previous newsletters. Always an honor to share Rio's prolific and colorful work. Here is another recent exchange of ours...
I won’t let you die
By RLP
Oh vaquero, vaquero
To where have you gone
Is there still some of you hidden among the ever thinning oak trees
Hidden in a sweet old barn, braiding rawhide, engraving silver, and teaching your ponies to slide and spin
In the old Spanish spade?
I find you rarely, the hands that are fine as the dealers of Reno
The one whose horses know the Jaquima and Freno
When I find you, I am all ears and eyes
I want your hands, your two hands that bring them along gently
That mold as fine reining horses as ever where made
I’m always watching out and looking for you
Sometimes I think that I catch a glimpse
Then I’m disappointed
When I see force instead of feel
Is there yet still some of you hidden in the oak trees...?
The last of a gallant and dying breed?
But I’ve seen you
You’re still here
Riding the foothills in wooden stirrups swinging your long Riata
Your ponies sleek and dancing
Are all a man would need
I’ve seen your hands in the hands of my friends whom I have grown to love and respect
I won’t let you die
I will carry on your legend
Through my hands
That I hope maybe one day
Will be as fine as the dealers of Reno
Making fine reining horses
That know the Jaquima and Freno
In response...
The Old Vaquro & The Young Vaquera
by BJH
Oh my...your words echo longing, tradition and respect.
My friend who is a seeker, a Horsewoman of rare desire,
Laden with talent in her hands and seat...
Developing bridle ponies as we speak,
Finding that feel that she seeks.
Old Vaquero embrace her try,
Be there for her when she rides by,
Lend a word, a token of wisdom, it won't fall on deaf ears
Nor be pearls thrown to swine,
Your gift is sacred in her care,
and will produce fine horses like yours if you compare.
From horsehair to rawhide in her clutch,
She has that softness in her touch.
Bless her journey with your presence,
Ride with her amongst the great Oaks in her mind,
As she lopes circles under the shade of its branches,
Her steed vertical, collected, light footed and light mouthed.
Everything you'd dream for in the next generation of seekers,
She's Iike those "good" horses ...we call keepers.
This year the Chautauqua Music Festival will feature Cowboy Music Entertainer of the Year for over a decade, singer-songwriter Dave Stamey. He captures the life of of the working cowboy, and western ranching lifestyle having lived it with melodies that melt your heart mixed with fun tales & deep ballads .In addotion Carter Junction will be back with their bluegrass & Celtic flair and hopefully our very own "Locals" will be playing too! More Poetry will be shared and the Sunday Morning Gospel Jam is always a treat to close the show. Come join us this spring!
May 16-18th 2025 here in Richland! Call Beverly for local accommodation options.
520-820-1096 cell/text
One Gone & New WHR Gelding acquired...
My spring search for a gelding added to my stress as I scoured catalogues for the many Ranch Horse sales that are held throughout our region. I attended the Pendleton Cattle Barons Sale and met up with our dear friend, horseman Zeph Schulz from Greenough, MT again as he has reigned the top seller there the past few years. But I didn't find a suitable match. All in Gods timing ...as the Lord dropped a perfect gelding in my lap the first week of June! A beautiful strawberry roan, 6 yr by Metallic Rebel by Metallic Cat & a Smokem Oak mare. Just the perfect Wil Howe kind. Good mined, kind hearted, gentle and athletic. He had fell through the cracks of the performance world and yet has had a good foundation and miles tending to cattle and on back country trails on NE Oregon, he hadn't been pushed and was ready to step up to my higher education. Back to the WHR basics , building the platform of softness and connecting his feet to my hands. "Sugar Ray" come a long way this summer in his collection, cadence, cow-work and moving into the bridle nicely, staying between the reins and acquiring our smooth WHR signature neck rein. He's been a joy to school on. Still got things I want to do with him this winter in the roping pen , but he's one you'll want to be watching for. He's on the high side of 14.3 hands and a flashy frosty roan. The whole story of acquiring him is a tale in itself and amazing as the gal that had owned him we actually knew 40 years ago back in Medford Oregon! Like us, she rode cutters at the time & was a professional horse photographer and did promotional photo shoots of our horses, and worked for our Vet. Crazy small world and how God works all things for the good, given time.
Summer Season... Training, Clinics & Widows Retreat
In May and June I had a couple outside training horses and kept busy with those, giving lessons & working with the owners and some new barn help. On Father's Day I held a private Father -Daughter special weekend clinic attended by long time student, Teresa Bateman and her Dad, Jose Olano who has been a Wil Howe "groupy" since the 90's. With a nice 5 yr old blue roan gelding, Teresa & Jose had been working on, the two made great progress with both their horses. Teresa has been working hard at Cowboy Dressage with her own mount, a big handsome 5 year buckskin gelding and it was a treat for them to getaway and immerse themselves in the training. That's the whole point here at WHR. Teresa has reaped the benefits of being a dedicated horsewoman.
In July, though an extremely hot day, I held an impromptu Day Retreat for local Widows. The yard was shady and in colorful full bloom. We gathered for fellowship, prayer and solace. Lunch, refreshments, grief literature & crafts projects were provided, each leaving with a self care encouragement gift packet for spiritual & emotional support. I will do it again this year, but earlier like June before it gets too hot. We had a lovely time anyway, sitting in lawn chairs, staying cool soaking our feet in the creek.
Richland Wild Fires & Trip to Wyoming
After hay season, I took off for Wyoming in August. But only after after we suffered a devasting range fire that completely burned all the Snake River country and mountains to the south of us and south east of Baker City and along I-84 to Huntington, Ontario and west. We thought the fires were over, and I left for Wyoming with "Sugar Ray" for 12 days.
The day after I left another fire started just north of Newbridge in the Canyon on Eagle Creek!
Within 48 hours Newbridge was evacuated including our horses "Waldo" and "Petunia Pony" whom my friend and neighbors hauled a couple miles away to safety. Richland was covered in a blanket smoke and overrun by the Government Firefighting apparatus that descended on the community and with the tankers bombing the hills surrounding our ranch and up at the powerlines many of you who have been to our ranch have ridden up on those very ridges above the valley,... it was way too close for comfort. But not much I could do being in Jackson Hole riding in the Tetons, so I gave it all to the Lord..."Thy will be done, if its supposed to be mine please protect it Lord Jesus" We were spared and very lucky, as there were some folks up Eagle Creek just neighboring the Forest Service borderlines that were burned out.
Jackson Hole
I had a wonderful trip despite a couple days of sleepless nights keeping updates on the fires... I took Sugar Ray and rode into Leigh Lake at the foot of the Grand Tetons next to Jenny Lake, where my father spent his summers as a boy. Wil & I and my Dad hiked into Leigh Lake back in 2008 where my father played as a kid, so I was on a mission to spread some of his ashes there at the lake. It was a perfect day on the trail and the lake crystal clear, shone its silver pennies in the afternoon sunlight. The beach with sand clean & white, as my fathers ashes, mixed as one, once again. A very special time of closure for me since we hadn't been able to get back to Wyoming since Dad's passing in 2017. A precious memory etched with the Grande towering in the background forever.
On the Hoback
I spent a couple days there at the Hoback River Ranch with friends Bob & Suzanne Bradley who hosted our clinics there in 2016 & 17. Suzanne, 81 now, who owns Wil's personal bay cow horse, Woody and their other WHR gelding Wishbone, now rides a Mule! and we spent the day on the mountain riding up Willow Creek with her Cowgirl Mule riding friends from Colorado. An epic day at 8-10,000ft!
Pinedale, Cora & Daniel Junction
From there to Pinedale, WY to visit our cowboy friends Kent & Heidi Snidecor in Cora, WY and onto visit the old Grindstone Land & Cattle Company, Daniel, WY up at the Duke Place, the summer ranch headquarters at 8000ft, at Merna, where we rode summers for Maggie Miller 2007-2012. Fondest memories of my life cowboying with Wil.
Jim Nelson is still cowboying there at 72, and took the time to saddle up with me and ride up to the forest, Ball Section, to go over ground we used to ride and loved so much there. Pronghorn Antelope scurried by like bands of Indians and just as quickly, would disappear over the sagebrush horizon. The balsam flowers were dry and crunchy beneath the horses as we climbed up the ridges to the Spruce thickets and quaking Aspen of the "Bear Patch" ....stopping to let the horses breath & turn around around and soak in the vast rangeland before us and Wind River Mountains to the east. I had to take a big swallow to keep the lump in my throat pushed down. It was spectacular to be there again. Home on the range.
Our ride circled back and we met up with Maggie, now 75 and spry as ever, and her granddaughter and we rode together another hour or so up to the old whiskey still remnants and reminisced of the good times and good horses we shared. The awesome ride finished off by an impressive display from a huge bull elk that emerged from the timber just long enough for all of us to get a good look before ducking back out of sight...a nice farewell. Thank you, Lord.
The Unita Mountains
Off to Evanston, WY and dropped my horse & trailer off at a friend of a friends place and went on south back up to 8000ft, 30 miles south of the border into the lodgepole forest of the Unita Mountains of Utah to visit my new friend from Mesquite, NV who was also a recent widow, losing her husband last year as well. She was having his Celebration of Life Party at her summer cabin and it was a grand time and good to be there to support her.
Wil's Mercury Truck...
Upon returning home, I went all out, in a big hurry, as I had planned to do some work on Wil's classic ole 1966 Mercury 4x4 Pick Up and put it in our local Hot Rod Show & Shine in Baker City the following Friday, Wil's birthday, August 16th. Long story short, I employed Wil's hot rod buddies who sanded the prepped the rust spots and put a Patina clear coat on it, making the paint pop, giving the old "Rat Rod" a new look. I put a new headliner in it, doing the work myself. I redid it with western tooled faux leather and got assistance to mount it back in by another friend, added a couple new things taillight lens, door knob, seat cover etc and cleaned it all up and hauled it in to town, displaying it with honorary memorabilia about Wil and loaded with great stories to tell of his 50 years of ownership of the truck. I had a blast that weekend and romped the 428 with its throaty headers with the guys down main street sitting up high in my favorite truck with Lainey Wilson blaring out the radio singing "I Got A Heart Like A Truck"... I think I had more fun than is allowed. All in honor of Wil.
The show attendees also thought the truck was cool and I was awarded from the Rods of Idaho & Oregon Car Club out of Nampa, ID their "Pick of the Show" award! I couldn't believe it. I've now got the bench seat in an upholstery shop this winter to redo with the matching tooled faux leather as accent. New floor carpet & gear boots and new cowl emblem to mount come spring and we'll be good to go to a few more shows next summer!
A couple weeks later I had the Mercury it over in Halfway getting a new carburetor and tune-up done for Labor Day and drove it in the Fair & Rodeo Parade with Katie Dog riding shotgun and little Petunia pony riding in the back! along with 6 Cowgirls all wearing Wils' Cowboy hats with Sunflowers and American Flags a flying! It was a riot.
Harney County Fair Cow Horse Futurity...
The next Day after Labor Day, I loaded up and picked up my young horsewoman, trainer friend, Rio Painter in Keating and off we went in the mini Motorhome to Burns, Oregon 4 hours away to their Harney County Cow Horse Futurity & Derby. More Oregon wildfires were burning out on the desert and we literally had to drive thru some areas where it was burning on both sides of the highway. Amazingly winds shifted in the morning and the skies cleared enough so the horse could breathe and the show commenced! I was in my glory helping all day in the cutting pen settling the herds & turning back for the competitors and coaching Rio. She had the top score in her Derby Cutting class and won the 4 yr old Derby in her Division! Sparkanic was a gem enjoying the deep sand and good cattle. Nothing like compares to him, at 18 he's finally "there".
Idaho Fall Trip...
Fall flew by as I had lots of restructuring the WHR business entity and other administrative obligations but I did manage to sneak away with the horses to Idaho in October and hook up with my compadre from the past, "Saddle Up Sue" Schaffer and her husband, Mike of New Meadows, Idaho. We got to ride together for a couple days in the crisp fall air in the mountain timber and meadows of Circle C Ranch. The visit was graced by bald eagles by day and bull elk bugling all night on the meadow. Mike & Sue are still mounted on their reliable, faithful, well broke WHR geldings Monty at 24 and Moon Shadow at 26! They all look great as ever! Good friend & horsewoman Teresa Batemen, of McCall, Idaho joined us as well, and then I returned to McCall to ride with Teresa down on the Payette River and school horses with her for a couple days. Perfect fall getaway!
IRCHA Futurity
November went by in flash too, as we take a breath and breath after the election. I headed to Nampa, Idaho to attend the Idaho Reined Cow Horse Snaffle Bit Futurity & Derby Finals & Bridle Horse Class November 1 & 2nd. Rio was entered in the Limited Open Derby and I met up there with Teresa Bateman and her daughter Isabel Sweetwood, who finished off a fantastic final year of High School Rodeo Competitions with her ever faithful "home trained" gelding, Texas earning her Division's HSRA Horse of the Year award. Now she's competing at College Rodeos & open barrels and breakaway roping. Nice to have these gals around together.
Rio made a smoking fence run and ended up with a high Fence mark in the Limited Open Division! Congratulations Rio! You rock Cowgirl!
Zeph Schulz was on the the NRCHA Judges panel at the Idaho Futurity and worked for hours on end all week. I did get a half hour with him to catch up and have him check out some of Wil's things I had for him. He handsomely wore one of Wil's western sports jackets I gave him during the Finals and I wore a shirt of Wil's he showed in at that very show 40 years ago. A very nostalgic weekend and lots of fun to be amongst those I call "my family".
Thanksgiving...Grateful Grateful... our Anniversary
November finished with another trip to our old time friends Sharron & Rick Auterson of Scio, Oregon via a snow storm in Central Oregon. I woke up in Sisters, Oregon to a crystal clear day, snow capped mountains and a quick visit with my brother , Jeffery and over the pass to western Oregon. Nothing like the homecoming of Thanksgiving at the Auterson's Ranch. We have known them 45 years meeting all those years ago at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. Die-hard Cowhorse fans all the way! But mostly our connection is our faith in Jesus Christ and much of our fellowship time is spent in praise, prayer & worship. We have spent the last 4 Thanksgivings with them, its getting to be a tradition.
Elk Meat...
Hunting season in Eagle Valley has really been
something this year with all the countryside burned up, it has drove the deer and elk down to the valley floor since September. A herd of over 200 elk skirt the valley down by the swamps lining the reservoir, breaking up into smaller groups and splitting up on the ranchers hay fields. Master mason, cowboy & outdoorsman and dear friend of ours, Chad West, is an avid hunter. He's into it, to feed his family, and knows the terrain here like the back of his hand. I spent a few nights helping him and his kids package his meticulously prepared elk steaks & burger and for others. Always ready to give, he generously helped our longtime friend & fellow horseman, Jeff Poppe, of LaGrande, OR get his elk meat this year with a handicap spike/cow tag, as Jeff now suffers from Macular Degeneration and is legally blind and can no longer drive. It was a communal effort and a win-win for everyone.
I find myself busy with my local community more than ever. It is a tight community and we all are independent, but we have each other too, and that is something special out here. I am more than blessed.
Back south to Mesquite, NV
December came and went. Finally I departed about a month later than I wanted, but God's timing is something I've learned to rely on. About the time I go to cramming, something He has in store for me, that may look like an obstacle, always leads to His perfect plan. Breathe. An ongoing lesson, horses teach us that just about the time you think you have things handled, go spend some time with a horse, they will remind you of the patience the Lord is trying to show you. So I'm down here in the 60 degree sunshine winter weather here in Mesquite and will be spending more time working on that one with the horses! "Thy will be done."
On that note, I do have a mission while down here, I am finishing writing and adding scripture to my Wil Howe From Foundation To Finished 10 Step Life Training booklets I mentioned a couple years back. These are to accompany my new offering...
NEW! in 2025!
WHR From Foundation to Finished 10-Step Life Training Program FREE Demos
Free 1-day educational training demonstrations highlighting Wil's timeless, iconic program for training, tuning & advancing horses with an applicable message for both horses & riders for living a responsive life of surrender & service. Presented by trainer, Beverly Howe in honor of her late husband Wil Howe with glory to God.
Book Beverly's inspiring presentation for your next event!
520-820-1096 Cell/Text beverly@wilhowe
2025 Tentative Demo Dates & other locations TBA
January 26, 2025 Mesquite, NV
February 23, 2025 at G2 Performance Horses, Scottsdale, AZ
May 18, 2025 WHR Home Ranch Richland, OR
Also in 2025...
May 9-11 3-Day Spring Tune Up Clinic at WHR Home Ranch, Richland OR
June 19-22 4-Day Cowgirls Ranch Horse Retreat at WHR Home Ranch, Richland, OR
August 15-17+ Wil Howe Annual Memorial Gathering- at WHR Home Ranch, Richland, OR Demo/Clinic-Baker City Car Show-Music-Food-Fellowship & Ride
A Word of Hope for the New Year 2025...
May you all know the joy that is yours, free for the asking, a gift that is fully paid for, the Peace of Salvation through Christ Jesus, who was born this season of Christmas and eventually laid down his life willingly for all of us. That's the friend we have in Jesus. May we just humble ourselves, lick our lips, accept His offer and revel in a God that pursues us all our lives... because He loved us first and knows & believes in our best version of ourselves. Just as Wil did in the horses, seeing through the disobedience, defiance or fear to the goodness at the core... His goodness can be our goodness, as He adopts us with a love greater than any we could ever comprehend and His love, that Light, will illuminate our lives penetrating the darkness with an irresistible, everlasting joy and peace. May all of that be yours this New Year!
Keep your eye on the prize and get outside with your horses and breathe... God has something to tell you today through that relationship, whether you are just feeding under the stars, cleaning their pen or in the saddle...checking cows in cold Montana, or running steers in sunny Arizona. Be still and know...the Lord your God is at hand.
From my corral gate to yours... open it and enjoy the ride...
Peace, Love & Blessings Abound
Beverly , "Katie Dog"
and Wil in Spirit
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