Horses

Barb Han With a Little Intrigue

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A big hello from North Texas, the place I call home with my hero-worthy husband and our rescue dog who is often referred to as a hot mess. I grew up around dogs and horses, so I’m right at home in the setting of my current Harlequin Intrigue release, RANCH AMBUSH.

Crystal Remington, the heroine, works in law enforcement as a US Marshal but her family owns a paint horse ranch. The hero, Wade Brewer, medically boarded out of the Army six months ago, and hasn’t quite gained his footing in the civilian world as he turns state’s witness.

I loved writing this story because it combines two of my favorite things: a strong Texas heroine and an ex-military hero who is damaged physically and emotionally. Wade has had to overcome a lot in life to get to this point. He’s bitter. But Crystal sees beyond the angry façade. As they work together to bring a dangerous criminal to justice, Wade learns that he can trust Crystal to have his back. He’s even more guarded with his heart but Crystal is the one person who can penetrate the walls he’s constructed.

Here’s an excerpt that I hope you enjoy:

Brewer glanced down to where his left shin used to be. Underneath his cargo pants, it was impossible to see the prosthetic leg. He knew part of himself was missing now and would never be replaced no matter how many advances were made in medicine. No one would want to spend the rest of their life with a partial man.

“I’ve been going on and on about my family. I’m not usually this talkative. I apologize.” Crystal blushed, and it only served to make her more attractive.

“Don’t,” he said. “It’s making the time pass faster, and I’m interested in hearing more. Takes my mind off my current problems.”

“It’s just not what I do when I’m working. Better to keep a hard line between personal and professional. I hope you can understand.”

He leaned his head back. “Do I ever. The only way to survive in the military is to push all other thoughts other than survival out of your mind. Right before a mission, I used to take a few minutes to think about what I’d be doing once it was over. Plant the seed that I was confident no matter what I faced that day, I’d be back in a few hours, days, or weeks, playing a pickup game with one of the guys in my unit after chow time.”

“Sounds like a good strategy.”

“It kept me alive this long,” he mused. Even though he hadn’t exactly come home whole. “Other than Aunt Rosemary, I didn’t have anyone else to come home to like some of the men. They’d stare at a picture of their girlfriend or wife. Some had kids. They would memorize those smiling faces and take that into a combat zone with them. It was enough to assure they came out alive.”

“It’s good to have something or someone to look forward to.”

She had to have read in his file there was no one in his life. “What about you? Anyone special you’re going home to?”

He half expected her to remind him that her personal life was none of his business. Instead, she shocked him by saying, “Not in a long time.”

A beautiful, intelligent woman like her shouldn’t have to be alone. “Too busy?”

She opened her mouth to speak before clamping it shut again. He’d crossed a line he shouldn’t have.

“Sorry,” he said. “You don’t have to answer that. I get it. Your personal life is on a need-to-know basis, and I don’t need to know.”

“Something like that.”

* * * * * * *

How about a contest? Tell me what kind of animals you grew up around for a chance to win your pick of either my current release or anything from my backlist. Three winners will be selected!

A “Heart” Horse Influences Melinda Curtis’s Writing

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Hello, I’m Melinda Curtis and I write lighthearted sweet romance and romcoms. Today, I’m talking about my “heart” horse (a horse you love more than you might need) and how she influenced how I include horses in my western romances.

When I was a teenager, I owned a seven-year-old, red roan, appaloosa mare. Misty was gentle as a kitten when I was in the stall with her, in the pasture with her, grooming her, washing her, or saddling her up. But something happened when I got in the saddle. Misty wanted to run. And once Misty started to run, she didn’t want to stop.

The cowboys in the neighborhood told me I had soft hands and good legs—which meant I had a light touch on the reins and knew how to control a horse with my heels. They very politely never said anything about my seat—which refers to how much air goes between your booty and the western saddle when horses go faster than a walk. My seat wasn’t good (I got a lot of air).

So Misty and I tried compromise. I worked on my “seat” and exercised her more. We galloped up hills and in circles around the corral. I got a little better, but she never lost her need to run. Then one day, after she should have been winded from racing up a vineyard hill, she took the bit in her mouth and tossed her head. Her neck hit my nose. Blood spattered everywhere. She shook her head once and realized as I did (in horror!) that she’d broken the chin strap. The chin strap is what holds the bit in place. No chin strap means no bit pressure which means Misty could ignore the reins.

She whinnied. It was a happy sound. A carefree sound. If you were a horse, that is. To me, it sounded more like brouhahahaha! Misty spun and headed back downhill between the shiny green grapevines at a full gallop. I knew she was headed back home. But I also knew there was a barbed wire fence at the bottom of the hill and we’d have to make a hard left.

Now, my teenage brain was calculating the odds of me falling on that rusted barbed wire fence. They weren’t good odds. I’m not a daredevil. I don’t bungee jump. I don’t even cannonball into swimming pools. But that day, I leapt out of my saddle and tumbled about twenty feet in clay soil to the bottom of the hill. Took me a couple of minutes to catch my breath, wipe my bloody nose and my tears, and get to my feet.

And Misty? She was waiting for me back at the door to her stall, ears perked up and ready to be brushed and loved and cooed over by her adoring girl. Do goldfishes really have the shortest memories? That day, it seemed like horses did.

Have you ever had an animal that taught you a lot about life and/or yourself? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment to let me know. One lucky commenter will win a digital copy of the first book in the series — A Cowgirl Never Forgets. The drawing from the commenters will be Sunday.

Fast forward to me writing cowboy romances/romcoms. I love drawing on my experiences with Misty when creating the perfect foil for my hero or heroine. My characters’ lives aren’t perfect and neither are their mounts. But they learn to deal with it and laugh along the way to their happily ever after.

Here’s a little about A Cowgirl Never Forgets:

Rodeo cowgirl Maggie Blackwell doesn’t need her estranged family. She’s got Clem Coogan—her best friend, rodeo buddy and absolute rock. But when a rodeo accident leaves Clem with a terrible concussion, he’s convinced they’re a romantic item…and proposes to her. Now until his memory comes back, Maggie’s playing along. But can she keep this headache from turning into heartache for both of them?

 

You can meet my latest western couple—Griff and Bess—in The Rodeo Star’s Reunion. In this second chance romance, Bess had a sweet spot for reckless cowboy Griff—until he ghosted her on prom night. No explanation was ever given, and Bess was too proud to ask for one. Now, years later, he’s suddenly offering to help with her ranch and with the high school rodeo team that she coaches, which rekindles a spark from long ago. But will their resurfacing feelings survive when Bess discovers the real secret that Griff’s been holding on to for all these years?

The Rodeo Star’s Reunion is Book 5 in the Cowboy Academy series. Each book features a hero that spent time as a foster child at the Done Roamin’ Ranch, a rodeo stock distributor and teen foster home. The books are all connected but all stand alone. You can grab your copy of The Rodeo Star’s Reunion on Harlequin HERE or Amazon HERE.

 

BIO:

USA Today Bestselling Author Melinda Curtis writes lighthearted sweet romances and romcoms, both independently and for Harlequin. Half her titles every year are western/cowboy romances. You can learn more about Melinda’s books, shop for deals and autographed print editions, or listen to her audio books for free at the following sites:

Website  /  Direct Store  / YouTube Channel

Gypsies in Western Novels by Janice Cole Hopkins

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I have traveled quite a bit, and I’ve noticed small bands of gypsies in many of the European countries. This sparked a special interest in their lifestyle, and it’s always been in the back of my mind to write a novel including them. My chance came when I became a part of the multiple-author collection, The Matchmaker & the Mother-In-Law. However, it wasn’t until I chose my book cover from the ones offered that I locked onto the idea. By the time I saw them to select mine, the only one I liked was a Spanish-looking woman. I remembered the gypsies I saw on my trips to Spain, and Carmen’s Wedding Dilemma was born.

 

The gypsies in Spain are called Cale (Kah.lay’). There, as in most places, gypsies have historically experienced prejudice and discrimination. They might be barred from entering certain establishments, and it was hard for them to find gainful employment if people learned of their backgrounds. All sorts of rumors followed them, saying they were thieves, kidnappers, dishonest, and disreputable as Carmen’s mother tries to explain to her when they first move to Utah:

 

“No, no, no,” Mother rushed into the room shaking her head. “Do not tell her about the gypsies. She doesn’t need to know about them. We all need to forget about that part of our lives.”

“Why, Mamá?” Carmen knew her parents didn’t want to talk about that time in their lives, and they didn’t want Carmen to know about any of it, but she’d never really understood.

“Other people don’t understand the gypsies,” her mother tried to explain again. “They accuse us of all types of criminal activities. A few of them are true for a few gypsies, but certainly not most of them. However, if others know you come from gypsy stock, they won’t like you or have anything to do with you. For your future, for all our futures, we must keep it a secret. Do you understand?”

Carmen nodded her head, and she did understand the words. She just didn’t understand why anyone would hate her because her grandparents and parents had been gypsies at one time. To her, the gypsies were fascinating, and she wanted to know all about them.

 

In the book, although Carmen was born in America, her parents and grandparents had been gypsies in Spain. Carmen’s father was falsely accused of a crime, so he and his family leave their gypsy camp in the middle of the night and sail to America. Carmen was born several months later.

 

Once in the new country, they decide it would be better to hide their gypsy heritage. After the Civil War begins, they move to Utah, her father starts a horse ranch, and he brings horses from Spain. When Carmen becomes a young woman, her parents decide that Mateo should be her matchmaker. After all, who has her best interest at heart more than a girl’s father.

 

Historically, Spain is known for their fine horses. The Andalusian, a famous Spanish breed known for its beauty and versatility, is one of the best-known breeds, but there are others as well as mixes.

The Hispano-Arabe is part Arabian and part Andalusian. Galician horses are an ancient breed believed to have come from the Celts. They are friendly horses who are people-oriented and very protective of their foals, so they make great mothers.

Paso Fina is a versatile breed. They come from several breeds that Christopher Columbus used when he was in the Dominican Republic, including, Barbs, Andalusians, and Spanish Jennets. These horses have a smooth gait, are extremely smart, easily trained, and like people. However, they can be spirited.

Merens are sturdy and strong and make a good all-around choice. They’re known for their endurance either riding or pulling vehicles.

The story continues with Holden Judd’s mother driving him crazy, trying to match him with a woman he has nothing in common with. When he goes to buy horses from Matteo for his livery business, he keeps returning, and it doesn’t take long for him to fall in love with Carmen. However, his mother is determined to break them up, even if she must be secretive about it. Carmen’s Wedding Dilemma is available for Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. Check it out – CLICK HERE.

Do you have a special interest in an ethnic or cultural group? Explain why or why not.

Leave a comment to enter the drawing for a Kindle copy of Carmen’s Wedding Dilemma.

 

A Cowboy with a Different Kind of Ride

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Good Morning (or whenever you choose to read this),

When we think of cowboys, we certainly have a prototype in mind, a clear picture of what a cowboy is. I would bet that cowboy is not in a wheelchair for most of you. Well, in the book I’m releasing the end of next week, the hero is a cowboy with all the heart, honesty, and beliefs of a cowboy, he lives on a ranch and works hard. In fact, he works very hard, and he’s also in a wheelchair.

You may be thinking, how can that be? If he has no legs or no ability to use his legs, how does he ride a horse? Those are good questions (and also questions people are sometimes afraid to ask for fear of legitimately hurting others). The answer is, in many cases, yes. Paraplegics can ride horses. Let’s chat about it.

This is Brendon Ruse, he is a former Army Ranger and suffered a debilitating spinal injury. After recovering, he becomes a clinical psychologist and offers counseling to victims of human trafficking at Wayside Ranch. While he’s not a wrangler as many of the men on the ranch are, he still enjoys riding.

Brendon has worked hard and enjoys his life on the ranch. He has an all-terrain wheelchair that helps him move around on the rougher terrain of a rural setting. His chair looks something like this one (this one is from Razor Blade Terrain).

  This chair with wider front wheels is light and maneuverable 
This is similar to what Brendon would use, except Sam made his and it’s a manual hoist that he uses himself. Image from lifelifts.com

 

 

 

With this chair, Brendon can go almost anywhere he wishes to. The only places really inaccessible are homes with stairs and no railing (he is capable of using a narrow railing and his arms, but he doesn’t prefer to do so).
With his riding mount assist, he can mount a horse without help, though it does perturb him that Connor requires a spotter for him in case the chain would slip from his grasp and he’d land on the floor, potentially injuring himself). All of this came through research. I knew paraplegics could ride from another story I wrote, but I never understood (because while I had mobility issues, I certainly felt disabled) that many people in wheelchairs actually don’t feel disabled. They don’t want to be treated differently. They just want to happily live their lives. And that’s kind of the revelation I wanted to pass on in Operation: Discovery.

Now, to be honest, there’s a lot more in the book than just Brendon’s grappling with one particular woman who he thinks treated him as incomplete when they dated in the past. It is a second-chance romance, but it also sheds light on a horrible situation in this world, human trafficking. The whole series does, but this one is sensitive because it’s about children. Fair warning if you preorder the book.

Bottom line, if a cowboy is made by the condition of his heart, character, and work ethic, Brendon is definitely a cowboy and he’ll ride off into the sunset to prove it.

 

Celebrating My New Release – with Cathy McDavid

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Cathy McDavid – 2

It’s my book birthday! Well, technically it was a couple of days ago, but I’m celebrating the release of Mountain Storm Survival all week. I’m particularly excited about the release of this book as some of it is based on my real life experiences. No, I never accidentally stumbled upon an illegal mining operation or was chased down by bad men intent on eliminating all witnesses. And I was never swept away by a raging river of water during a flash flood. But I did go on dozens of trail rides through the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix and used many of my fond and thrilling memories to describe the action, landscape, and rugged challenges my characters faced.

Purchase Mountain Storm Survival

Here’s the back cover blurb from the book:

“A brutal storm. Relentless pursuers. And more than their lives are on the line…

Helping with youth wrangler camp is how Kate Spencer is atoning for her past. But now she and ranch manager Rand Walkins are trapped in the Superstition Mountains with two girls as illegal miners hunt them down. Rand has every reason not to trust Kate, much less forgive her. But working together is the only way they’ll escape from the danger that threatens them all…”

I hope you’ll take a moment to check out Mountain Storm Survival. Second chance stories are some of my favorites, and this is definitely one. Rand and Kate not only get a second chance at love, but they have both worked hard to turn their lives around and move beyond the terrible events of their pasts. Now, they just have to survive the worst the mountains and villains can throw at them to see how far their newfound love can take them.

 

To make this a real celebration, I’m giving away a digital or print (U.S. mailing only) copy of Wildfire Threat. The winner will be randomly drawn from those who comment below.

Thanks for letting me share my new release with you.

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

Jimmy Stewart’s Best Horse Friend

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Once upon a time, a little girl named Stevie Myers, who happened to be the daughter of a man who wrangled horses for cowboy actor Tom Mix, owned a sorrel Arabian and quarter horse mix named Sweetie Pie. This may not seem like anything all that special, but, trust me, it was. For Pie, as he was dubbed by Jimmy Stewart, was one of the most featured horses in films during the heyday of westerns.

For a period of twenty-two years, Jimmy Stewart rode Pie in a total of seventeen films. Some of the more famous ones are:  Broken Arrow (1950), The Man from Laramie (1955), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Cheyenne Social Club (1970). In addition to Jimmy Stewart, Pie was also ridden by Kirk Douglas, Audie Murphy, Glenn Ford, Richard Widmark, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Yul Brynner. That’s quite a resume for a horse on the small side, who was said to be very choosy when it came to who he liked, and uncooperative when he didn’t much care for his rider.

He loved Jimmy Stewart, however, and Jimmy Stewart loved him. The actor was able to get Pie to perform on command even when his trainer wasn’t around. One of the most famous stories about Jimmy Stewart and Pie’s incredible rapport happened during the filming of The Far Country (1955). Pie was supposed to walk down the middle of the street alone, without a rider, with a bell ringing. Before the cameras started rolling, Jimmy Stewart took Pie aside and whispered in his ear, telling the horse to what to do. When Pie was released, the horse perfectly executed the instructions and in only one take. Everyone was amazed.

It’s said Jimmy Stewart tried to buy Pie from Stevie, but she wouldn’t part with the horse. Henry Fonda, who was good friends with Jimmy Stewart, painted a picture of the horse, and it hung in the Stewarts’ home for many, many years. Jimmy Stewart also wrote a poem about Pie which was included in his much-treasured book, Jimmy Stewart and His Poems. And though he was never able to buy the horse, Pie was buried on the Stewart ranch after his death at the ripe old age of thirty.

 

A Little Lesson in Voice Commands for Livestock

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I recently read a wonderful book I couldn’t put down and that has stayed with me since turning the last page. As I often do when I’ve finished a book I loved (or one I hated), I go online and read reviews to see if people agree with me and if they don’t, why. Most reviewers raved about this book and felt the same as I did. There were a few one-star reviews, however, and I read those with curiosity. How could someone not like this awesome book?

One reviewer who gave one star stated they were annoyed by the main character constantly shouting, “Gee, gee,” at the mule she rode, calling the word gibberish. This was apparently enough for the reviewer to bash the book. I was shocked. As someone who’s owned mules, I know that ‘gee’ is a vocal command for equine, most frequently draft horses and mules, meaning turn right, and ‘haw’ means turn left. The main character in the book wasn’t shouting gibberish at her mule but rather instructing it.

Me being me, I decided to do a little research on vocal commands for equine. Turns out, horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are quite smart and can learn a number of commands, including recognizing their name and coming when called. They aren’t the only ones. Bovine, such as cows and oxen, are also capable of learning commands. Goats, too. Pigs are incredibly smart. I once had a pot-bellied pig named Queenie who knew how to sit, stay, come, lie down, and followed me around like a dog.

So, what are the most common vocal commands? Because, you know, you can teach your horse or oxen or goat any command you want. But here are the ones people tend to use:

Whoa:                     Stop

Clucking:                Go or move up a gait

Kissing noise:        Go or move up a gait

Move out:               Go

Step Lively:            Pick up the pace

Walk:                      Walk

Trot:                       Trot

Canter:                  Canter

Gallop:                  Gallop

Easy:                     Slow and steady

Stand:                   Remain standing

Wait:                     Stay put

Back:                    Back up

Gee:                     Turn right

Haw:                    Turn left

Over:                   Move sideways or sidestep

Quit:                    Stop whatever you’re doing

Most horses are taught vocal commands on lunge line in or out of a round pen. Draft equine, oxen, and goats will more likely be trained by walking behind with a set of long reins. Just like teaching a dog, livestock learn well with the reward system. A treat and/or fond petting for a job well done.

What does all this mean? Well, for one, the saying, “Dumb as an ox,” is probably wrong. Seems oxen are kinda smart. Stubborn as a mule, however? That one is one hundred percent true. If a mule doesn’t respond to voice commands, it’s not because he doesn’t understand or is dumb. He’s just refusing!

Two Astounding Women and their Sidesaddle Jumping Records

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When I first started riding as a youngster in Arizona, like so many, I began with a good old Western saddle. But that didn’t last long. I had a fascination with the English style of hunter/jumper. My mom was surprised hut decided to indulge this temporary fad of mine — which wound up lasting a decade before I switched back to Western because, well, my boyfriend at the time was a cowboy. No judging, okay 🙂

While people probably think of jumping horses as eloquent and graceful, like dressage, and not as rough and tumble and difficult as Western, jumping tall fences and walls is, in fact, quite hard and requires a lot of skill from both the rider and the horse. So, when I recently stumbled upon this story about Esther Stace, an Australian woman who set the sidesaddle jumping record of 6’6” in 1915, I was naturally intrigued. Especially when I learned her record stood for an impressive 98 years until October 24, 2013.

Susan Oakes, the woman who eventually broke the record, is an Irish equestrian who trained extensively for her event. Susan not only broke the record, she beat it by two inches, clearing a wall 6’8” high. Wow! I mean, how does an animal weighing 1200 pounds get that much air?

It wasn’t until months later that The Guinness World Records contacted her to say they wanted to verify and recognize her record. Fortunately, Susan had her jump videoed and photographed and several officials presents. She is now and still the proud holder of the record these past five years. Let’s see how long she can go.

Myself, I can’t imagine jumping a 6’8” wall, much less in a sidesaddle. My hat off to these incredible women — and their horses. What an amazing accomplishment.

Therapy Horses Make a Tough Situation Better

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kari trumbo header

I released a book last week in a new genre

I’ve been writing romantic suspense for a few years, but until recently it was only for my agent. Things changed with her when she became her own agency, allowing me to write romantic suspense both as an independent publisher and traditionally, which led to this passion project.

Operation: Restoration

I envisioned a healing ranch where victims of human trafficking could heal and acclimate to life “as normal” again. But, they would need somewhere they felt protected and a way to connect with something . . . like horses or dogs, because relating to people wouldn’t be easy.

That’s how the second aspect of the series came about. The ranch is run by a group of former military heroes, wounded warriors, who want to continue in service but different from how they did as servicemen.

Finally, I write romance (which also helps lighten a series that could get heavy with these topics) so I needed a series trope that people really love. Since the whole point of Wayside Ranch is to help victims heal and form healthy relationships, what if the guys were also tasked with healing from former relationships?

And with that, a series of second chance romances was born

I then started hunting for information on various horse therapy ranches. If you ever have a chance to look any up, do so. It’s really interesting. I found out that many of them use rescue horses (which means that literally every being on Wayside Ranch is there to heal).

Operation: Restoration book cover

Junior Morrison walked away from her to start a life with the military.

Now he works at a special ranch to help rehabilitate victims of human trafficking. When his boss is challenged to fix his one regret, he passes that challenge to all his men. Junior wants to see Gabby, the woman he left behind, again, but how can he explain that he’s not the man he was before?

Gabby Loftens abandoned her girlhood dreams of marrying Junior and went off to school to be a counselor, convinced she could help others heal where she couldn’t help herself. Her life is not full, but she gives wherever she can.

When Junior calls her to come help with a patient, Gabby is skeptical. Why call her? Especially when the ranch is an hour away and he hasn’t talked to her in ten years. She can’t deny she’s curious and what she finds at the ranch draws her in. She wants to help, but more than that, she wants to know what she did to make Junior walk out of her life. Because she wants him back, if he’ll accept her.

When Gabby unwittingly leads a victim back to her trafficker, Junior and Gabby, along with the team at Wayside Ranch, must keep her protected. If they don’t, their ranch, and all the people safely living there, could face their worst enemies all over again.

Grab your copy here.

I’ll give away an ebook copy of Operation: Restoration to one commenter today. Do you think you would find a ranch therapeutic? 

 

“Hay-loween” Fun

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Today is free day here at Petticoats and Pistols, and it’s my turn. Yay! It’s also Halloween. Now, it’s been a long time since my kids were young enough to dress up in costumes and walk around the neighborhood, and I don’t yet have any grandchildren or other youngins’ to dote on and enjoy. We neighbor gals get together, set up a table in front of someone’s house, have hot chocolate or apple cider and pass out candy while chit-chatting. It’s great fun and a way for me to really enjoy the holiday more than just dispensing candy at the door.

Back in the day, both when I was a kid and when I had kids, we not only dressed up in costumes, we dressed up our horses – and had a grand time. Well, you here at Petticoat & Pistols know that I love pictures. So, after searching the internet for a while, I came up with these adorable kids and their horses or ponies in costumes. I absolutely love people’s imagination and talent.

 

                                       

Batman and Robin                                         Pirate and their parrot

 

                   

Super Mario                                                                 McDonalds

 

                           

A knight and their horse                                                               Alice and the Mad Hatter

                           

A farmer riding his John Deer tractor                                        Buzz Lightyear

 

Darth Vader and Storm Trooper

 

This is one of my favorites. A barista and Starbucks coffee.

 

 

And, okay, while this technically isn’t a horse costume, it is pretty cute. You have to admit it 🙂

 

So, what are your plans for tonight? Whatever they may be, stay safe and have fun!