Rafter 7C Ranch

02/13/2026

I see two from the ranch listed here! So proud of this team!

02/11/2026

Proud to support this amazing organization! Come and show with us!

02/10/2026

Bucky’s reaction to his paste dewormer reminds me of Mr. Ed. Too bad most of these kids have no idea who that is. It might be time to bring out the DVD’s and play the good old movies and tv shows! What’s your favorite “oldie but goodie”?

02/10/2026

So thankful for our amazing family who worked ALL day to tear down the old arena panels and set up the new ones. It was a hard day’s work, but we are so blessed to continue to make improvements for our riders and their horses. God did this!

02/10/2026

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

02/07/2026

Today the sun blessed us with a grid to follow as we worked on lead departures down the fence. I took this photo so we wouldn’t forget what it looked like when the shadows shifted or the sun wasn’t out, so we could keep on working even when we couldn’t see the grid in front of us.

This reminds me of faith.

God gave us His word - the grid for our life - to study and follow. Then as we go about our day and it isn’t right in front of us, we can trust that it still applies and works even when we can’t see it.

But if you don’t use it - actually study and read the Bible - when it’s out of sight it’s out of mind. And then your opportunity for clarity and guidance is gone.

Study the grid. Apply it to memory. And go back, like this photograph, and study it over and over again. You will find your departures into life circumstances will be much more comfortable, just like these lead departures.

“All Scripture is inspired by God , and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/2ti.3.16-17.CSB

02/07/2026

We love our kids, young and old, who grow up at our barn. What a blessing!

🩷 Let Them Have a Horse...

Let them have a horse, let them ride,
Let them learn with dirt stained pride.
Give them reins and room to grow,
Show them truths only horses know.

Let them feel the morning chill,
Boots in stirrups, heart be still.
Let them fight for what they earn,
Through every fall, let them return.

Let them brush and braid and mend,
Make the barn their second home.
Let them whisper, laugh, and cry,
Beneath the endless, open sky.

Let them know the work is tough,
That love alone is only one part.
That feed needs hauling, stalls need cleaned...
That dreams are earned by hands that work.

Let them feel the wind in their hair,
And the freedom only horses share.
For horses teach what words cannot...
Strength, respect, and all they’ve got.

So when they ask, don’t think twice,
The price is high, but so’s the gain.
Because without a horse, they’ll never know, the kind of love that helps them grow.

❤️ Michelle | Born In The Barn

02/07/2026

Sometimes when night falls upon you on a trail ride, you just stop and watch the stars come out while you talk about the Creator of the universe! So blessed to be able to glorify God in all that we do. God did this!

02/02/2026

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

No filter needed. God did this!

01/30/2026

Burn the ships! All in!

There’s an old saying, burn the ships. It means full commitment. No escape route. No Plan B. The story gets tied to Hernán Cortés who’s said to have destroyed his ships after landing so his men had one option. Move forward or don’t come back.

That idea ain’t just history.
It applies to life.
And it applies to training horses.

You can’t half commit to a horse and expect them to believe in you. They feel it the second you step in there unsure, second guessing, keeping one foot pointed toward the gate.

Horses don’t need perfect.
They need decided.

When you’re all in, they get a chance to be all in. Your confidence gives them permission to be confident, and that’s when things start to come easy.

If you’re scared of getting bucked off, you’ll ride tight.
If you’re scared of failing, you’ll hesitate.
And hesitation is what gets more people hurt than courage ever will.

Burn the ships when you train.
No Plan B.
No quitting halfway through because it got uncomfortable.

You might get knocked down. That’s part of it. You’re going to hit the dirt in horses and in life. That’s guaranteed.

What matters is what you do when you get back up.

You don’t let being scared of falling keep you from swinging a leg over.
You don’t let one wreck decide the rest of the ride.

Get up.
Square your hat.
Learn from it.

Then get on and ride.

Because a horse and life will meet you where you show up. Show up halfway, and that’s what you’ll get back. Show up all in, and success comes a hell of a lot easier. Written by Kissing Horse Ranch