Good morning. I need your help.
I don’t have time to talk about this beautiful weather we’ve been having, or how summer is slowly and in a lovely way turning into fall. Or how I have been procrastinating my chokecherry syrup project for riding every evening.
No. I can’t talk about that.
This shit is urgent.
My horse needs a name.
Here she is, I think you’ve seen her before.
The mare.
The paint mare.
Girly girl.
Miss Piggy.
Mohawk.
Jessie’s horse.
Cause I’ve claimed her. Yup. Put my name all over her after pops brought her back to the ranch for the second time in my life. Maybe I should take some time to explain this so you can get a general idea about what I’m dealing with here.
See pops is a horse trainer, horse whisperer, horse fanatic, horse lover, damn horse crazy man. He admits it.
This would be his heaven. Living, sleeping and eating pie with the horses...
And he admits there hasn’t been a horse in the universe that he has met that he didn’t love. Even the one’s that bucked with him repeatedly for no apparent reason, the ones that will run around the round pen for an hour before they’ll give in and be caught, the ones whose feet are always tender, the ones that walk too slow, the ones that only want to run, the ones that knocked the wind out of his lovely middle daughter time and time again as she found herself launched out of the saddle and whimpering on the hard, clay ground, unable to feel her entire right side.
Nope. Dad liked that horse too. Just not the behavior…of horse or rider I must add. Because in the Horse Whisperer’s eye it is rarely solely the horse’s fault. I suppose Ceasar the dog whisperer has the same theory–it’s misunderstanding. Miscommunication that causes the issues.
And its pops mission in life to talk to the horses, you know, let them know that there is at least one man in the world who will try to understand where the beasts are coming from.
I think he’s been this way since birth.
Which brings me to the reason this ranch has been home to hundreds of horses in his lifetime. They find their way here when someone is having trouble with them. It could be a young colt that needs a start, an older animal with a stubborn streak, a temper, fear or anything in between. Horse owners and friends and friends of friends will somehow find their way to pops who rarely ever says no to giving it a try.
And after a few turns around the corral he always falls in love and either offers to buy the horse or to ride it until the owner would like it back.
That’s the first scenario.
The second scenario is how my-mare-who-remains-nameless found her way to our house the first time–because pops went a looking.
Yup, he found himself at a horse sale watching the hand me down animals come through the ring. Horses that others may have given up on, or didn’t have time or room for. He can’t help himself, even when he swears he’s just going to look, he brings his trailer along just in case. And so, about three years ago when I was working in the big town with the horse sale, pops shows up at my office with the trailer. I walked out across the parking lot, stood up on the tire of the rig in my fancy shoes and slacks and peered in to meet two paint mares that would have likely gone to the land of no return.
How lucky they were that pops was there with his horse selecting technique: jumping on them bareback with a halter to test their reaction.
Well they lived up to the test and so we had a couple new mares, one, the one I call mine, happened to be at the prime of her life. 8 or 9 years old, cowy, quick, sound, calm with just the right amount of energy. Yup. A great little horse. Pops was thrilled. But this is where it gets a little complicated, so hang in there with me.
Pops is like personal shopper when it comes to picking out equines. He was so thrilled with this purchase, but at the time he was the only one riding horses on the place and what he really wanted was his buckskin back. So he called his buddy in the badlands. The buddy who currently owned his beloved buckskin horse, acquired through a previous horse trading deal (there have been multiple in this friendship). He said “buddy, I have a horse for you. You’ll love her. She fantastic. Wanna trade back?”
And his buddy did.
So pops had the buckskin and his badlands buddy had the mare. The mare he titled “Left’er,” claiming that pops had just come around one day and, well..left ‘er. Apparently that horse trade story didn’t sound the same when badlands buddy told it.
Anyway, so there pops sat for three years with his beloved buckskin whose sore feet deem him ridable about three times out of these summer. No worries, there are plenty more horses to ride. Horses that have come to the Veeder Ranch in the wake of a major meltdown only to be coaxed back to life, pops tolerant of their quirks in the end.
And badlands buddy, he was loving the mare. Riding her on mountain trail packing trips, through the badlands, herding cattle. That mare had his heart indeed. But badlands buddy is a wandering cowboy and when he made plans for a year-long trip to the mountains where he would be responsible for maintaing trails, he called pops.
And I came home at the end of June to find the mare munching oak leaves in the horse pasture below our house.
So I saddled her up and, well, I will not ride another I say.
I will not ride another.
She’s gentle, but not overly friendly. She’s got a little attitude and is hard to catch unless you have treats or a bucket of anything really. Because sister loves to eat. If we are running through clover field at top speed I swear she just opens her mouth to catch what ever plant might be at the proper height. The girl is hungry.
I can relate.
And when it comes to cows you might as well just take a seat, because she’s got it under control.
I’ve been riding her for a good two months now and I am more convinced every day that she’s the best horse I’ve ridden. Other’s may not agree, but that’s my story and we’re sticking to it, her and I. She makes this ranch woman’s life a little easier…and I don’t even mind her mohawk really because it means less time spent plucking burrs from her hair and more time spent getting business done.
Which brings me, the long way (as usual) to my point.
Girlfriend needs a name.
And I need your help.
Now that you know our story it should be easy right? Oh, and I have incentives! If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been working on putting some of my photographs from this site up for sale on my Etsy site. See that tab up there that says “Store”? Yup. You pick a name that suits her and you can pick any print or necklace you want from there and I’ll send it to your door, a thank you for fixing this little predicament I have found myself in with no name to call out when heading to the pasture looking for her.
You are all creative, intuitive, smart people. I know you can come up with an appropriate title for her.
Thank you.
Love you.
We’ll be out riding if you need us.
P.S. I am constantly adding photos and gifts to my Etsy site. I also have photos for sale in the Visitor’s Center in Watford City. If you see a photo here you would like in a print, canvas, barnwood frame, anything, I would love to fill your order. Just shoot me an email at jessieveeder@gmail.com. These photos make great gifts for the North Dakota lover you know (especially if that North Dakota lover is, you know, yourself).
Christmas is coming.
And that’s my shameless plug.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch... 
So now you have my creative juices flowing – here’s a few for ya –
Hadda – Because you Hadda call her somthin’
Elain – it means fawn in Welsh – and she has white spots with that great brown like a fawn
Etta – because she’ll etta almost anything
Reese – it means enthusiasm in Welsh
Etta…bwahaha..cause she’ll etta almost anything. Profound Holly. Profound!
Switchback comes to my mind immediately. 🙂
Gorgous
How bout Founder oops like found her but not a good name for a horse as you wouldnt want it to become a self fullfilling prophecy so that brings me to the REAL name …….drumrolllll….since the Veeder ranch is just like heaven and this mare has found herself in yes Heaven with an Angel for an owner she should be Sister Sue or Harper or Sister Wing or Sister Song.
We add man to all the boy horses names around here Cashman Tedman Andman and on and on she should be a sister something at the very least.
Good luck Im going to check back and see what you get to choose from cuz I love naming horses and learning the names others come up with.
Have fun! You will be happy to learn we are building a Lean too shed on the back of the house so we will be able to put all my Cowboys construction stuff in it.. I know that it will become the miscellaneous shed by the time the snow flies and yes I will be thinking of you.
Spirit…..Spirit of the Veeder Ranch but just call her Spirit! That’s what came to mind for me as I was reading ………Jessie’s Spirit! Ya, that’s it for me! Good luck deciding!
Well you called her This Sister as in ‘this sister likes to eat… how about This Sister. Sounds like you and she are pretty good together. I am sure she has her own name deep in those eyes. Not an english name – a horse one. it is probably a sound you make when you both take off. Not the woopy one – the crooning one. Her name might be ‘ Somewhere in the Crooning’ c
A horse with no name? How about America? the band, get it? lol
She looks like a “Karma”…what goes around, comes around, you know!
Oh my, just got in from a ride and have you ever come up with some good ones! Keep ’em coming, looks like this girl might have to go by a few things 🙂
You really need to watch the movie Hidalgo…… I call all paints Hidalgo (meaning noble one). 🙂 I think there is a book as well…
Stomper, Cutter, Betsy, Lulu, Sissy, Lou, Belle
My 9 year old Gracey thinks you should name her ruby….says she always wanted to name a horse ruby but her dad wont let her…lol
Cute. We had a horse named Ruby who now has a home with the neighbors. She is a sorrel so it works perfectly. Tell Gracey she has good taste 🙂
I just found your blog the other day and have become enchanted so I’m a follower. Your horse is gorgeous! I like the name Daisy Mae for some reason.
Thanks for following Christy! Daisey Mae is very cute and old fashioned. Love the suggestion. All these great ideas…I don’t know how I’ll chose. Maybe I should go out to the pen and see what she comes to…although it wouldn’t matter really, as long as I had treats 🙂
Jessie…I suggest that horse should be named Blossom. It seems her nature and her things that happen at your ranch. Enjoy your writing.
Well, you got me brainstormin’ and googlin’ everything from “names meaning gentle” to “celebrities with mohawks” LOL I even consulted my 6 year old girl… Here’s what we came up with: Mindy, Lindy, Betsie, Betts, Rosie, Puddin’, Lily, Millie, Serena, Punky and Maylea which is Hawaiian wildflower. Thanks for the fun and hope you come across something that suits your special gal. 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you choose, Jessie!
Names of great horses I’ve known: Elsie, Chance, Maudeen, Touch, Dream, Sage, Timber, Ruckus, Midge, Glory, Fannie, Sadie, Sicorra….
(still thinking-I love to play the name game!)
ooo, so many ideas! Maudeen and Ruckus…I’ve never heard those before…or Sicorra come to think of it. I did have a Fannie though. She was my grand champion 4-H horse who like to buck me off something fierce when I least expected it.
Hopa is supposed to mean beautiful in Lakota. Or look up Paint and Mare in the language your family name comes from, since she is often called The Mare or The Paint Mare.
I think Sister fits her just fine. Easy to say when you need to talk or call her and what better friend could you have?
She looks like a real “Sweetie” to me.
Hi everyone. Your suggestions are fantastic. I am heading to town today and will be at the North Dakota Rodeo Associations Finals tonight in Watford City…so there will be lots of horses and inspiration and lots of horse people to bounce your ideas off of. I will announce the winner tomorrow and will add a few more goodies to Etsy. Keep ’em coming, I don’t know how I”ll chose! And thanks for playing…you rock!
Hope I’m not too late to get in on the fun. Cindy beat me to it with Daisy – I was going to suggest “Miss Daisy” (as in riding Miss Daisy – yuk, yuk, yuk) so my alternate would be “Miss Betty” after Betty White. I think the name is terribyly important. Before my horse came to me at age 21, he was a world champion show horse. The story goes that he told a psychic that he didn’t like his name, “Yankee” so would his mom please change it and add Mr. since he had earned the respect (he also expressed concern that he was still loved because he knew he was winning less often in the show ring – he only finished in the top 13 at the world championship that year). So he became “Mr. Parker” and his previous owner made me swear to keep him for the rest of his life and always call him “Mr. Parker”. I complied and he was my best friend (sorry husband) for 8 lovely years. So, I think this mare has earned the “Miss” in front of her name!
I had a paint we called whispy (whispering star), do not call her lady, my mare I called that was a pain. I always wanted a horse called cricket. Hope this helps 🙂
Thanks for the advise:) Haha. We had a horse called Cricket. He’s down in Texas now with my cousins. He’s a great horse!
I would name her Foxy Veeder. She was a foxy lady to get back on the beautiful ranch where she belongs. I think that name just is so neat for a beautiful special horse, we have a Foxy too that is such a honey…
Justice!!
OK last one: Liberty/Libby
I still like ‘Saving Grace’ (of course you would call her Grace, or Gracie). And for another person’s vote up above, I liked Whispy. =) Good luck, Jessie Girl!
Am I the only one that got America’s “Horse with no Name” stuck in their head after reading this?
Haha, no Julie. You are not the only one. I have been humming it all week 🙂
I think you should name her Gypsy since she’s been traveling around like a gypsy.