Funny, I never would have guessed it, but looks like it's come to pass...

Recently, my wife and I inherited a ranch. 5 Acres, she even has a horse (and room for many more in the stables). A large house (4BR/4bath), and even a tack business (horse related items, bits, bridles, saddles, that sort of thing).

Quite a big change from being two city people working 9-5 in the city, paying rent, living paycheck-to-paycheck. She grew up around horses, and we always talked about maybe someday being able to work our way towards a place that was in the country enough to have horses. Of course, financially, we were never really close to obtaining it.

All that has basically changed overnight. Even better, it's only about 5 min to actually go to the city (not our current city, but another one), so kind of the best of both worlds. We can still go to all of the places we like to go to for convenience, but then retreat to our own little ranch.

I don't want to gloss over that it took the death of a loved one to happen though...we really didn't see this coming. He was relatively young (60's), so we never even considered he wouldn't be with us for decades more still. Was a bit of a shock on many fronts. Still is, I suppose, really. I think we're doing right by him with her continuing her father's business and all.

I'll still work in the city (and commute) for a while yet, at least until we're sure about how things will go (and while she learns the business)..mostly to keep insurance and of course some steady/predictable income. But, I'm definitely going to have to "cowboy up" as it were on evenings and weekends. We're looking for another horse so we can both ride...(I'm what I'd call a competent amateur, whereas she could live on the back of a horse, hehe...)

Kind of like that old saying...be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. We certainly did. Will be a lot of work making the house a home, learning the ways of the ranch and the business (luckily, we're both MBA's, so we have a good basis here)...but we're looking forward to the challenge, and we've got a great support group of folks in the horse community, and our family and friends.

I hope all of you eventually get to realize your dreams as well, regardless of how much work it takes to achieve them.

You uhmm... Gazrok uhhmmm... Well uhmm...

Just finished reading your thread Gaz, mate, that is so cool, see sometime out of thin air things happen and when they do its often the better.

Nice one..

Congratulations. You are gonna love this life. After about a year, you will measure days by sun up and sun down...the seasons will be apparent by what chores are out in front of you... and the horses will be your new children... the source of much pride and joy and angst.... yes, you will have pictures of them to show.

You haven't lived until you are awakened by a honking car horn at 3am and go out to see what is happening and realize your horse is standing on the side of the road in the headlights munching on the grassy right of way.

Or, like an over eating teenage son, wonder just how much that horse can eat and what really happened to all that hay you just bought.

Oh, and the weather...you will track rain with glee and storms with anxious anticipation as it is not thunder or lightening.. but winds that can do the most damage to a barn roof. The weather will be the first thing you look at and the last... one day, you will be sitting in a country diner...eating.. and like all the other farmers and ranchers...you will be sipping coffee and watching the Weather Channel on the TV in the corner of the room... and then laugh at how you got to be so "country."

Then the metamorphasis will be almost complete. The final step will be when you can step in horse manure and not even whince.... in fact the sweet smell of hay mixed with the pungent odor of manure will smell like... home.

Good Luck, Cowboy

But, if that's you in the picture in your avatar, then it was a sign to the future.

Yep, it is actually... We got pics done at one of those places where you put on different garb and stand in front of various settings pieces. This one, of course, was a Wild West one. So yeah, pretty fitting avatar these days. It's also one of my favorite pics of me.

You might want to watch the movie City Slickers. It'll teach you everything you need to know lol.

I am sorry about your loss. But happy for your gain. I hope it doesn't turn into a white elephant for you.

So sorry your wife lost her Father. Give her hug from me.

Congratulations on becoming a Cowboy! How cool is that! You are gonna have so much fun. It will be an adjustment, but wow,livin' the dream. What I know about horses, if there is a nail anywhere in the pasture a horse will find it and eat it.

Much Luck to you and in your endeavors.