At no time in my life did I imagine running a guest ranch. Over forty when horses first entered my life, it never occurred to me that they would be anything other than an expensive distraction from an already full life as a wife, mother, and career biometrician. So how did all this happen?
Well, like many horsemen, I bought a second horse for guests to ride. Then, like many Montanan’s, we built guest quarters to accommodate all the relatives and friends who descended each summer to enjoy Montana’s great outdoors. This all escalated into several guest quarters and many horses until one relative finally exclaimed “why, it’s like a little resort here!” All this happened at a time in my life when I longed for a structural change – a change that would get out from behind my computer and into Montana’s backcountry – a change that would connect me more with people and animals than numbers and reports. So here I am and ever glad for the transition!
It has not been easy. There is a great deal of truth in the saying that “the business owns you rather than you owning the business.” It has been a struggle in many ways – learning so many new things: business plans, marketing strategies, financial statements, licenses and permits, insurance, and employee benefits. Whew! These have been some of the busiest years of my life!
But I would not go back. The people, the animals, the places, the activities, the adventures, the misadventures, the trials, the joys, the tears, the heartbreaks, the challenges, and the opportunities that have come my way via Dunrovin Ranch have enriched my life beyond measure. In many ways, Dunrovin is a reflection of my life and my values. It nourishes me in so many ways – plenty of hard physical work, strong emotional bonds, spiritual connections, never ending challenges, awe inspiring moments, and more things to learn than time in which to learn them. Every Day at Dunrovin brings new stories with new characters, new adventures, new plots, new scenes, new beginnings, and new endings. No one knows where the Dunrovin story will take us.
I hope you will become part of our story. You don’t have be to here physically to share the experiences, participate in the conversations, and contribute to the story. The magic of the internet with our web cameras, chat rooms, videos, photos, and forums can connect you in meaningful ways to all of us, this place, our animals, and each other. Together we’ll write the story of our Days at Dunrovin.