Allow me to introduce you to two very special members of the Elrod Ranch family: Cowboy and Chrome.

These two boys have been with us since the very beginning of our ranch journey, but for me, they’ve been part of my story for much longer.

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I bought my first horse, Cowboy, when I was just 14 years old. Every single dollar I had saved went toward bringing him home. He cost $800, which sounds like a bargain today, but back then it was everything I had.

Chrome came into my life years later as one of the greatest surprises I’ve ever received. He was a gift after I graduated from horse college (yes, that’s actually a real thing!)

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These days, life with horses looks a little different than it once did. As a mom of young kids, I don’t spend hours in the saddle like I used to. Most of my time with the boys now is spent feeding them, checking fences, or watching them graze while my kids play nearby.

But every single time I step onto our front porch and see them standing out in the pasture, I get the same butterflies I did all those years ago.

I know this season of life is about raising babies, building our homestead, and teaching our children to love these animals the way I always have.

One day, I’ll spend long afternoons riding again.

For now, I’m soaking in the joy of watching the next generation fall in love with horses.

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Cowboy

My horse obsession started when I was seven years old.

Like so many little girls, I dreamed of having a horse of my own.

Unlike most little girls… I never grew out of it.

For years I begged my parents for a horse, but horses are expensive. Buying one is honestly the cheapest part. Feeding them, boarding them, veterinary care, farrier visits all adds up quickly.

So I saved every dollar I could. Birthday money, odd jobs… anything that got me closer to my dream.

Then one day I found an ad for a horse named Cowboy. Literally on DreamHorse.com

We drove out to meet him, and if I’m being honest, I’d already decided he was coming home with me before I even stepped out of the pickup.

My parents had finally agreed to let me buy a horse, and there was no way I was leaving without one.

So Cowboy came home.

What I didn’t realize was what I had gotten myself into. Cowboy came from a working cattle ranch. He wasn’t looking for a teenage girl who wanted leisurely trail rides.

He wanted a job.

And he made that very clear.

He bucked, bolted, reared, and tested every ounce of confidence I had.

More than one trainer told me I should sell him and find an easier horse.

But quitting was never an option. Instead, I went back to the basics.

I spent countless hours on the ground learning how he thought. I watched training videos, studied every method I could find, and worked harder than I ever had before.

Slowly, everything changed.

Today, more than 16 years later, Cowboy is my heart horse.

He’s the horse I trust with my life.

The horse who taught me patience, consistency, and perseverance.

The horse who made me a better horsewoman.

I can’t imagine my life without him, and I already dread the day I’ll eventually have to say goodbye.

He’s held my heart from the very beginning.

Chrome

Chrome’s story is one of my favorites because I never saw it coming.

While attending horse college, I spent months training young horses as part of the program. Chrome was one of those colts.

At the end of each semester, the horses were auctioned off.

I remember watching my boss buy Chrome during the sale and thinking he wanted another ranch horse.

It never crossed my mind that he was actually buying him…for me.

A few weeks after I returned home, Chrome showed up at my barn wearing a bow on his halter. He was my graduation gift.

After pouring so much hard work into that program, it was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.

Chrome was only two years old, so I had the opportunity to start fresh and shape him into exactly the kind of horse I wanted.

Where Cowboy is all go, Chrome couldn’t be more laid back.

He’s gentle. Easygoing.

Happy to take life one slow step at a time.

He’s exactly the kind of horse I hope our kids will learn to ride someday, and I can’t wait to watch that chapter unfold.

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What These Horses Mean to Me

People often think horses are just animals but to me, they’re so much more.

They’ve been there through every major chapter of my life. High school, College, My career training horses, Meeting Tyler, Getting married, Having babies, Building Elrod Ranch.

They’ve taught me responsibility, grit, patience, humility, and the value of showing up every single day. Even when things don’t go perfectly.

I honestly can’t imagine telling the story of my life without Cowboy and Chrome in it.