Rafter 7C Ranch

01/17/2026

Good morning to check mamas about to calve and tag some new heifers. God did this!

01/16/2026

Birthdays are worth celebrating! This is me celebrating the Big 5-0! Not everyone gets the opportunity to share Jesus another year! I would love to know each of our rider’s special days so we can celebrate you each month. Please let us know via text, FB Messenger, or write it on the calendar at the barn so we don’t miss anyone. We appreciate you all!

01/15/2026

Let's get ready for some RANCH CUTTING! You will want to jump in on the newest class offered at the Tennessee Stock Horse Association 2026 shows, and this is the place to come, learn, and practice. Be sure to read the information on the flyer and jotform, then sign up to come and ride with us!

https://form.jotform.com/260144530621041

01/13/2026

Let’s give a shout out to those salty horses that have a very special place in our hearts (I can think of a few) - and then let’s go and be a little salt for the world today, just enough so they crave the Living Water of Jesus Christ!

A recent Sunday School lesson put this one on my heart.

“The Salty Ones

The Salty one is going to have a lot to say
They’re going to snort at you a little, and quickly move away.
They’ll be honest about giving their opinions, you’ll always know where you stand, but a Salty one is always going to be one you want to share your brand.

A Salty one will be a little extra, especially on the ground
and take things personal when their heart has been hurting or even worse, let down.

Those Salty Ones, they don’t bluff,
They don’t lie to you, and they let you know,
if you’ve crossed the line and they’ve had enough.

You get a Salty One to trust you and come on over to your side,
and they’ll be there for you every-time and never back down or hide.

If you can’t handle that much Salt I feel sorry for you…
I personally never met a Salty Horse I didn’t like… or a human for that matter too. “

Matthew 5:13 (NIV): “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

01/07/2026

Happy birthday to one amazing young lady! She has persevered through many rides over many years with us to become one tough girl. We are thankful she gets to ride with us and share her life with us. God did this!

01/06/2026

Show team riders: THIS!

When I’m preparing to ride a pattern—and I mean any pattern… reining, cow horse, horsemanship, ranch riding, it doesn’t matter—I want to talk about something that separates the good patters from the great patterns.
I hear people say all the time, “Yeah, I know the pattern.”
And then they’ll start reciting it to me like they’re reading off a shopping list:
“Left circle, right circle, run down, stop, spin, back…”
Now look, I’m not saying you don’t need to know where you’re going. You do. If you don’t know the pattern, you’re already in trouble.
But knowing what the pattern is and knowing how you’re going to show it are two completely different things.
Because “knowing the pattern” is memory.
“Showing the pattern” is preparation.
When I go over a pattern in my head, I’m not just memorizing maneuvers. I’m mentally riding the entire thing, step by step, like I’m already in the show pen. I’m practicing it in my mind the same way I ride it on my horse.
And here’s what most people don’t do—but they should:
As I run through that pattern in my head, I’m rehearsing every single piece:
What am I going to be looking at when I enter the pen?
Where is my true middle?
Where are my run down lines?
What should I be looking at to get straight?
Where is the dirt I want to avoid?
Where do I want to place my stops?
What marker am I riding to on the circle so my shape stays consistent?
What am I looking at through the center so my lead change stays straight?
Where exactly am I going to start asking for that transition?
Where do I want my small slow to peak?
Where do I want to start building speed on the run down?
Where do I want to stop—what dirt am I aiming for?
Where do I want to hesitate so my horse’s mind comes back down before the next maneuver?
I’m not just thinking, “Circle here.” I’m thinking, “I’m riding to that banner. My eyes are up. I’m keeping my horse straight. I’m starting my transition right there so it’s finished right here.”
Because the truth is, the riders that consistently place aren’t “winging it” in the pen. They’ve already ridden the pattern—sometimes ten times—before their horse ever takes a step in the gate.
And that mental practice matters more than people want to admit, because shows don’t just test your horse.
They test your organization.
They test whether you can keep your eyes up, stay ahead of the pattern, ride the arena, and make decisions before your horse forces you into them.
This is exactly what I make my students do at a show. I don’t just ask them, “Tell me the pattern.”
I ask them, “Tell me how you’re going to show it.”
And if they can’t tell me what they’ll be looking at, where they’ll start each transition, what their plan is for their horse’s strengths, and where they’re going to set up each maneuver… then they don’t really know the pattern yet. They only know the words.
Because the show pen doesn’t reward good intentions.
It rewards preparation that looks calm, confident, and deliberate.
So the next time you’re getting ready to show, don’t just memorize the pattern.
Ride it in your mind. Practice every step. Practice what you’ll look at. Practice where you’ll ask. Practice where you’ll finish.
Then walk in that pen and ride it like you’ve been there a hundred times.

01/03/2026

The cost is worth the blessings!

Let's Talk About What Riding Lessons Actually Cost (And What You're Really Paying For)

I see it in Facebook groups all the time: "How much should I charge for lessons?" or "Why are riding lessons so expensive?!"

So let's break this down for instructors trying to price fairly AND for students/parents wondering what they're actually paying for.

Riding lessons aren't cheap. Depending on your area, you're looking at:
$40-$60 for group lessons
$60-$100+ for private lessons

More for specialized instruction or top-level trainers. Yeah, riding is expensive. Here's why...

The Horse (The Biggest Cost)
A reliable, well-trained lesson horse costs:
- $5,000-$20,000+ to purchase (sometimes more)
- $500-$800+ monthly to keep (board, feed, farrier, vet)
- Training and maintenance to stay safe and sound
- Insurance
- Tack and equipment ($1,000+ per horse)

Do the math: One lesson horse costs $6,000-$10,000+ annually just to maintain and more depending on your area and if that horse medical needs such as injections, etc. If that horse teaches 15 lessons per week, each lesson needs to contribute roughly $10-$15 just to cover THAT HORSE'S costs.

The Instructor
You're not just paying for 45-60 minutes of instruction. You're paying for:
- Years (sometimes decades) of riding experience
- Training and certifications
- Expertise in keeping students safe
- Ability to match horses to riders
- Lesson planning and program development
- First aid and emergency response skills

Good instructors don't just show up... they've invested thousands of hours and dollars into becoming qualified.

The Facility
- Arena maintenance and footing ($$$)
- Barn upkeep and repairs
- Utilities (water, electric, heat in some cases)
- Insurance (liability insurance is EXPENSIVE)
- Property taxes or rent
- Equipment (jumps, poles, cones, etc.)

Risk
Horses are unpredictable 1,200-lb animals. Instructors carry:
- Liability insurance (often $1,000-$3,000+ annually)
- Risk of lawsuits
- Responsibility for student safety
- Physical risk (instructors get hurt too)

You're paying for someone willing to take on that risk to teach you safely.

WHAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY GET:
Yes, you're paying for riding instruction but you're getting SO much more:
✅ Physical fitness: Core strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular health
✅ Mental health benefits: Stress relief, outdoor time, connection with animals, mindfulness
✅ Life skills: Responsibility, patience, problem-solving, resilience when things don't go perfectly
✅ Emotional development: Confidence, managing fear, emotional regulation, empathy
✅ Social connections: Barn community, friendships with people who share your passion
✅ Character building: Work ethic, humility, caring for another living being
✅ Unique experiences: How many sports let you partner with a 1,200-lb animal?
✅ Skills that transfer: Focus, body awareness, communication, reading non-verbal cues

You're not just paying to sit on a horse for an hour. You're investing in personal growth, physical health, and experiences you can't get anywhere else.

FOR PARENTS WONDERING IF IT'S WORTH IT...

I've watched riding transform kids:
- The anxious child who finds confidence
- The hyper kid who learns focus and patience
- The quiet kid who opens up while grooming
- The struggling student who finds their "thing"

Can soccer or piano do that? Sure, sometimes but there's something unique about the horse-human partnership that creates growth you can't replicate elsewhere.

FOR INSTRUCTORS STRUGGLING WITH PRICING:
Don't undervalue yourself trying to be "affordable." When you charge too little:
- You can't afford quality horses
- You can't maintain your facility properly
- You burn out working 60-hour weeks
- Your program suffers
- Eventually, you can't sustain the business

Charge what you're worth. The right clients will pay it. Students who only want the cheapest option often aren't the ones who stick around anyway.

Riding lessons are expensive because horses are expensive, facilities are expensive, insurance is expensive, and qualified instruction is valuable. But what you GET - the skills, the growth, the experiences, the joy... is priceless.

If you're a student/parent: Understand what you're truly paying for. It's not just an hour on a horse.

If you're an instructor: Don't apologize for charging what your services are worth. Quality costs money.

And if you're on the fence about whether riding lessons are worth the investment?
Ask anyone who rides. We'll tell you - it's worth every single penny.

Instructors: What do you wish students understood about lesson costs?

01/01/2026

Good to know.

01/01/2026

Y’all it’s DAY ONE of the rest of your life! What are you going to do with it? Starting now, live for Jesus! The future has just begun, it’s DAY ONE!
Happy New Year!

https://youtu.be/Qq2Tp3asLU8?si=17SqeA4VSfOpAsHhs

Official lyric video for “Day One” by Matthew West. Get this song now on “Hello My Name is: Greatest Hits”- https://matthewwest.lnk.to/HMNIGreatestHitsYDSUBS...

12/30/2025

So true!

Good c**t starters are getting harder to find — and that should worry people.
The horse industry is on fire right now. Incentives are growing, big shows are packed, and everyone wants a broke, confident young horse ready to go.
What’s in short supply?
Horsemen who can start one right.
C**t starting isn’t a quick tune-up or a 30-day flip. The foundation and first few rides shape how a horse thinks for the rest of its life. Rush it, cheap out, or put it in the wrong hands, and you’ll spend years trying to fix it — if you ever can.
Every c**t learns differently. Some figure it out quick, others need time. That’s not weakness — that’s horsemanship. The good ones adjust instead of forcing a timeline.
If the c**t starter you want is booked solid, that’s not a problem — that’s a sign. Ask who they trust and wait your turn if you have to. Settling almost always costs more.
Start them when they’re ready. Keep the rides short, clear, and intentional. Give them 90–120 days if you want something that lasts.
And here’s the part people don’t like hearing:
Pay your c**t starter. Pay them well.
It’s not expensive — it’s insurance.
Because those first rides don’t just make a horse — they decide its future.
Kissing Horse Ranch