Ranger White Arrow, 9 Yrs. old
Linda E. George

I adopted Ranger from the Ridgecrest corrals in California on New Years eve, 2001. The BLM delivered him to my yard for free. Ranger was 7 mos. old. He was black with a white arrow on his forehead. I had a natural horsemanship trainer come and start working with him. The trainer came twice a week, at first, and would give me instructions on how to carry on until the next lesson. I had him gelded at age two. While he had his moments of fractiousness, he was overall a very tractable colt.

My vet, Dr. Don Vrono of San Dimas, CA., was able to work on him pretty easily from the beginning. As the years went by, the trainer and myself rode him on the trail and I took jumping lessons on him, as hunters and jumpers is my riding discipline. Ranger has proved to be a very talented jumper.

In his 6th year, a young friend of mine who had lost her thoroughbred event horse in a tragic accident asked if she could try Ranger at eventing. I agreed. So Sarah started working with him and began to compete him at the beginner novice level of eventing. He, again, proved to be quite talented at it. However, he didn't quite care for dressage, although he tolerated it. Ranger and Sarah evented for a year-and-a-half.

In February of '07, they rode in two jumper clinics given by jump trainer Tim Grubb, at the Equine Affaire in Pomona, CA. They excelled. Out of five participants, they were the first pair to do the first few exercises with no refusals or run-outs, consequently, they were the first ones to be given applause by the audience. Sarah went off to college after that so I've done all the riding since then. But Ranger helped Sarah recover her emotional health after the accident in which she lost her own horse.

Recently, I have had my trainer start working cattle with Ranger. He went to his first team sorting event several months ago. Again, he went to work and learned to do that. Next, I took him on his first group ride at night, with approximately 100 other horses. He did pretty well at that. He is turning grey, now, but doing it with dapples.

I always get compliments on his looks everywhere I go. He loves to go. He hops right into the trailer and is up for a 5-minute trip or a six hour trip. He just loves to go. He lives at my home. His yard is at the street, so the neighbors and strangers walking by love to give him attention and he loves getting it. He lowers his head through the lowest bars for children. All-in-all, he is a charmer and a lucky find. Who knew!