Each of us decide for ourselves what we do in our lives. Finishing what you start is just as important as being courageous and taking pride in the work that you do. It is more than completing a project; for taking pride in your work is impossible if the job is incomplete. James P. Owen talks about the life of a cowboy, and how “cowboys hated quitters.” He references a story from a John Wayne film, Red River, about a cowboy who intends on driving his cattle a thousand miles to Missouri from their ranch in Texas. The drive would be treacherous as they faced Indians, dry wells, foul water, border gangs, cattle thieves, and murderers. John Wayne’s character says to the men, “Nobody has to come along, we’ll still have a job for you when we get back. But remember this: every man who signs on for the drive agrees to finish it. There’ll be no quitting along the way. Not by me, not by you.” What would your answer be if if you were a cowboy asked to ride? Would you decide not to go? Would you make it to Missouri, or die trying?

We may not be faced with decisions such as this in our every day lives, but the way we make our choices is just as important, even more so. Every choice we make for ourselves we have to also decide, am I going to follow through? Am I going to finish the job? Am I going to be my word?

Once we chose our path, we get to make the decision to simply do our job or take pride in the fact that we finished and did it to the best of our ability. Finishing what you start is more than completing a task, it is giving it your excellence until the very end. There is breakdown in the process; creating short term and long term goals, communicating with others as necessary, being thorough in the steps needed to complete these goals, and following through with each step. When things get a little rough, we seem to find our biggest issue. When things don’t go exactly as you planned it’s easy to decide that your whole plan maybe wasn’t “meant to be.” As Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Adversary will find its way to us no matter how perfect our plan is. And once we are faced with that, what will you chose to do? “The true test of a man’s honor is how much he would risk to keep it in tact.” James P. Owen also tells us, “When you’re riding through hell… Keep riding.”

Finish What You Start is the third Code of the West for a reason. It is impossible to live by the rest of the Codes if you are unwilling to accomplish this. We all have the power to accomplish our goals, our dreams, our plans. And we learn from the cowboy that quitting is not an option. “No cowboy ever quit while his life was hardest and his duties were most exacting.” J. Frank Dobie, A Vaquero of the Bush Country (1929)

*all quotations were taken from the book Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen

Written by Tracy J Jones

The second code in The code of the West is Take Pride In Your Work. Although the life of a cowboy is simple, it is the cowboy that has pride in all that he does. Some tasks are dangerous and difficult, and others are very monotonous and never on the top of the favorite list: such as digging post holes. Yet any job asked to do, the cowboy is obliged and always does his best.
This certainly sets an example to the rest of the world regarding our own work skills and talents. Society has assisted in assuring us that we are never quit good enough; whether it’s at work, at an art, or at anything we are trying to accomplish for ourselves. If we succeed, there is doubt that what we did wasn’t the best, wasn’t good enough. We then try again, and do our best, but then feel the same about our accomplishments.
There is so much beauty in the process of creating anything in our lives. When we work, when we play, when we speak; we are constantly living and breathing. Each moment we have the opportunity to just be who we are. In that is reason enough to take pride in who we are and what we do; if, however, we are doing our best. “What your teacher told you back in first grade still holds true: Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” If at each breath of your life, you are living your truth, then you have every right to be proud of yourself. I know that it is easier said than done, but it’s a good place to start.
At Equine Journeys, we teach hard work. The students here get to go back to the old ways of life, and really learn how to put their whole heart into their work. I can tell you that once the fence is built, although it’s just a fence, each individual has pride in their hard work. Once they ride the Fifty-Mile Mesa and bring cattle down the treacherous trail, they have a new sense of pride in who they are. “Cowboying doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” Taking pride in your work and who you are is a beautiful code to live by.
There will be times of succeed, and there will be times of failure. “Success in not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” (Winston Churchill). When we are proud of what we contribute to this world, by our truth and our work, we then gain courage to continue on; no matter what life brings us.

*all quotations were taken from the book Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen

Written by Tracy J Jones

The first code in The Code of the West is Live Each Day With Courage. This may be fairly self-explanatory; today we don’t want to discuss what living with courage is or looks like, but why courage is a core value and how it encourages a true lifestyle. “A man wanting in courage would be as much out of place in a cow-camp as a fish on dry land. Indeed the life he is daily compelled to lead calls for the existence of the highest degree of cool calculating courage.” (Texas Livestock Journal 1882)
James P. Owen wrote a beautiful book about the values and morals of a cowboy lifestyle, and I happily encourage everyone to read Cowboy Ethics if ever a chance presents itself.
Courage isn’t just about risking your life for the sake or safety of another human being. Courage isn’t about risking your life for a daring stunt. Courage is a moral, emotional, and mental strength. There are those who have the courage spontaneously to handle a situation, and then there are those who live with constant courage in their lives. Being willing to speak up for truth and saying when something isn’t right, following your heart when the world is telling you that you are wrong, and fighting for what’s right even when that means going up against partners, colleagues, superiors, or even someone you respect. That is courage. Also, “real courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
Every day we each have the opportunity to continually make conscious decisions. So, do we go with the flow, do whatever we’re told, and just let others decide for us? Or, do we reach a place of truth and a belief in ourselves that we are able to stand up for what we truly believe in? How many of us truly know what we believe? As I think about courage, and what it really means, I realize that there is no foundation to be courageous without truly knowing who you are, what you believe, and your personal truth. There is a natural courage that comes from living in truth. That’s not to say that those who may be lost cannot be courageous; but those who practice honesty daily about who they are and what they stand for, have a stronger foundation from which to be courageous. “A man who doesn’t stand for something will fall for anything,” and as we learn to live our lives from a place of truth, we continuously encounter opportunities that reveal our true character and courage. “A person must meet fear to know courage.” So as we have opportunities, that quite frankly scare the heck out of us, we then have a perfect opportunity to be strong. Mental, emotional, and moral strength increases as we continue to choose to be courageous. Just like everything in life, we have a choice. We get to choose for ourselves if we are going to be courageous. Courage isn’t always easy. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. “But nobody said it would be.”
Always be true. Always be honest. Always be courageous.
If ever you reach the evening of a rough day and you are telling yourself you wish you could have been more courageous, rest easy, for in the morning when you wake, “Behold, the gift of a brand new day.”

*all quotations were taken from the book Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen

Written by Tracy J Jones

This blog, along with the next ten, are all inspired by the great author James P. Owen. As a man who spent many years working on Wall Street, but felt the devastating and corrupt energy among the system, he wrote beautiful words of truth and encouragement, to the world, of a life “of the true American Spirit.” Of cowboys who “live a rugged, clean life: a difficult, yet simple life.” With his books, Cowboy Values and Cowboy Ethics, Owen reminds us all of a time and way of life of courage, optimism, self-reliance, authenticity, honor, duty, and heart.
In Cowboy Ethics, Owen talks about The Code Of The West. This inspiring idea has truly encouraged me to write this series of blogs. Today we would like to introduce the Code to those of you who are unfamiliar with it, and from this day forward we will write a blog each day on one at a time.
The Code Of The West:
1. Live each day with courage.
2. Take pride in your work.
3. Always finish what you start.
4. Do what has to be done.
5. Be tough, but fair..
6. When you make a promise, keep it.
7. Ride for the brand.
8. Talk less and say more.
9. Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
10. Know where to draw the line.

This series of codes remind us that there is a true and pure way of life, founded by morals and honor.
“A man is only as good as his word.”
“The rich man is not the one who has everything, but the one who needs the least.”
“The spirit of the cowboy is the spirit of America.”

Please visit our website every day following to read more about Cowboy Ethics and The Code Of The West.

Written by Tracy J Jones

This winter while dairy cows have given birth to their calves, students of Equine Journeys have had an option to work towards their goals by being financially independent. All of the students are currently taking high school courses and working towards graduation. And some individuals have already applied for colleges and are very close to graduation. During this process, some students have taken the initiative to earn money to pay for their own college education.

Once a student purchased a newly born calf, it was then their responsibility to tend to the health and care of the infant, and raise them. Once the calf is a little older and healthy, they would sell the calf for profit, thus making money to save for college. It has been a lot of early mornings, and hours of care, feeding the calves. It has been a beautiful learning experience for those who have taken on this opportunity. They learned responsibility, money management, dedication, honor, and so much more. We’re very proud of them!

Created by Tracy J Jones

Every individual who comes to Equine Journeys has a special relationship with their horse that they work with. And we want them to leave with something that captures the energy of that to always remind them about all the lessons they learned, the bonds they built, and the trust and love in their horse. We did a photo shoot and wanted to share the pictures with everyone! They turned out great and will be wonderful memories to have forever. Pictures were taken by Jennifer Spanedda, our very talented and wonderful staff. She studied photography in college, and demonstrates her quality abilities for us often.

Created by Tracy J Jones

Traditionally, jumping is an English style exercise. In Western riding, horses to encounter opportunities or situations that require jumping over natural obstacles. But we set up jumps in the arena for a more set course to work on the mechanics of jumping. As an experienced jumper, Jenn instructed the adolescents in the rhythm and art of the jump. As you can see, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the horses also showed excitement with their upbeat energy. Because the horses were saddled, the jumps never exceeded two feet, unless it was done bareback. We hope you enjoy the pictures!

Created by Tracy J Jones

On Wednesday March 6, 2013 the EJ kids attended the Due West and Sawyer Brown concert at the Sevier Valley Center in support of Lynn Burr, who is recently fighting bone cancer. Thirteen year old, Lynn is loved very much by his friends here at EJ.

Prior to the concert, Lynn was able to participate in a meet and greet with the band, Due West; whose lead singer, Tim Gates, was born and raised in Richfield, Ut. The band members were very accommodating, gracious, and supportive of Lynn and his situation. They provided an opportunity to take some pictures with them.
Lynn Burr with Due West

It was a very fun evening, and Lynn had a blast. He enjoyed the music very much, and expressed that with his huge smile, dancing in his seat, and cheering for the bands. It was a memorable evening and we are very happy to have been able to share it with him.

Created by Tracy J Jones

After applying to Southern Utah University and completing the interview process, a female EJ student was accepted at Southern Utah University and given a $5200 per year scholarship as a result of her current academic progress and grade point average while attending high school at Equine Journeys. She is projected to complete high school within the next two months and will return home to California for a short time prior to entering SUU as a freshman.

We are very proud of her and wish her the very best of luck on her future ventures!! She is a very smart, talented, and energetic soul.

Great Job!!

Written by Tracy J Jones

At the farm here at Equine Journeys, there are continuous projects to work on. Currently, our young adults are building a roping shoot for an addition to the arena. They have been using the beautiful weather to their advantage and have done a fantastic job so far.



But before the young adults can continue building, there needs to be a few post holes dug. So we invited the adolescents to help out.





It wasn’t too long before they finished their work; and so we spent some time enjoying the sunshine, and goofing off. Well… the roping shoot needed to be tested out.








It was a fun day, and the weather was so nice. Soon spring will be here and we will be spending most of our days on the farm: riding, changing sprinklers, building fence, etc. But for now we only enjoy what sunshine we can!








We hope you enjoyed the gallery! More blogs coming soon!

Created by Tracy J Jones