This is Ralph the Wonder Horse. That’s what Mike calls him. Over the years I have raved so much about how much Ralph could do. No other horse has been able to live up to him and his gentle ways.

I loved to ride Ralph bareback as you can see in this picture. We would stop so he could munch on some grass and I would lie down on his back. He never tried to get away or be spooked by a noise.

Also, look at how he is posing in this picture. I’m not even holding onto his reins. He’s standing right up beside me.

He is also wearing a hackamore bridle. That kind doesn’t have a bit in their mouth. It has only a chain on the chin that tightens up when I pull back on the reins. I just hate those bits. I guess because he didn’t need it. I’m sure most horses do though.

In the background is the milk barn. My grandfather and my dad built that barn. They milked jersey cows in it twice a day, 365 days a year from the mid 50s until December 2004. That’s a long time. Before I was old enough to go to school, I spent many mornings in there with my grandfather helping him milk cows.

By the way, this picture was taken around 1972-74. I’m not completely sure but that’s close enough.