KIDS & HORSES They’re all at home these days, so we figured it was

KIDS & HORSES A life with horses, through the eyes of children. There is nothing quite as adorable as an honest interview with kids. Here are their unedited answers.

Interviews and Photos by BAR XP PHOTO

SCOUT DUNN Age: 5 Horse: Bones

Scout is a soft-spoken sweetheart with a contagious smile. This talented, young horse woman loves her dog, Prince and her special horse, Bones. In her spare time, she loves to ride in the arena and play with her little sister, Sloane.

Q. What’s your horse’s name / colour / breed? A. “Bones – He’s Brown – He’s a Quarter Horse” Q. What does Bones do when you’re not around? A. “He always rolls.” Q. Who’s your horse’s best friend? A. “Ozzy.” Q. What would make Bones laugh? A. ““Ozzy saying funny things.” Q. If Bon es could travel, where would he go? What would he do? A. “He’d go down the road and kill animals.”

Q. What’s Bone’s favourite food?

A.“Hay and grain.”

Q. What do you like to do with Bones?

A.“I like to ride him and trot him.”

Q. When Bones is bad, what do you do?

A.“Put him in his pen.”

Q. How much money would you sell Bones for?

A.“5 dollars.”

Q.Are there any other horses that you want to tell us about?

A.“There’s this one horse that I don’t like. Her name is Brighty. She rolls and when I kick, she stops.”

DESTRY GONNET Age: 12 Horse: TR

Destry is a calm, cool cowboy with an eye for a good horse. This handy fella turns heads as fast as he turns cattle. Not only is he talented with a rope, Destry also builds his own tack. His polite, punchy nature, showcases his western roots and this young man has a promising future.

Q. What’s your horse’s ba ckground? A. “W hen my parents fir st moved here, she was a two-year-old. My dad showed her for about four years. Then she went home with the owner to be a ranch horse. In 2018, she became mine.” Q. What does TR do when you’re not around? A. “Eat.” Q. If TR could travel, where would she go? Why? A. “The hayfield because there’s a lot of food.” Q. Who’s TR’s best friend? A. “My little filly, the roommate.”

Q. What would make TR laugh? A. “A joke about not being able to eat anymore.” Q. If TR could tell a joke, what do you think she would say? A. “Is yo ur refrigerator running – yea – well you better go catch it.”

Q. What’s TR’s favourite food?

A.“Hay and beet pulp.”

Q. What do you like to do with TR?

A.“Rope and ranch work. Brandings and gathering, mostly.”

Q. How much money would you sell TR for?

A.“25 Thousand.”

BLUE (LEVI) SWALES Age: 8 Horse: Trona

Blue is thoughtful and skilled horseman with a bright future ahead of him. He loves riding on his family ranch and working cattle. He’s a natural with a rope and approaches life with a blend of confidence and caution. He’s proud of his horse, Trona. The two have a notable bond.

Q. What’s your horse’s colour/breed? A. “Trona’s a sorrel. Quarter Horse.” Q. What does Trona do when you’re not around? A. “Just eats grass and lays around.” Q. If Trona could travel, where would she go? Why? A. “Mexico, because it’s hot th ere and not freezing cold.” Q. What would make Trona laugh? A. “Throwing a tree at him.” Q. Who’s Trona’s best friend? A. “Izzy or Tink.” Q. What’s Trona’s favourite food? A. “Grass. Grain”

Q. What do you like to do with Trona?

A.“Rope on him, in the indoor.”

Q. When Trona is bad, what do you do?

A.“Jerk on him.”

Q. How much money would you sell Trona for?

A.“I dunno. 50 hundred”

TEHL BELL Age: 6 Horse: Archie

Tehl is a confident, charismatic horseman who thrives in the fast lane. Whether he’s penning cows or rolling on his dirt bike, this energetic cowboy is always on the move. He enjoys working cattle and his favourite horse, Archie is an appreciated team-mate.

Q. What’s your horse’s name / colour / breed? A. “Black. Quarter Horse. I use him for penning and sorting.” Q. What does Archie do when you’re not around? A. “Roll around in the dirt.” Q. Who’s Archie’s best friend? A. “Felix” Q. What would make Archie laugh? A. “If I did funny jokes.” Q. If Archie could travel, where would he go? What would he do? A. “Montana. Go to Randy’s. Hangout by himself”

Q. What’s Archie’s favourite food? A.“Oats.” Tim Yaworski

Q. When Archie is bad, what do you do?

A.“Put him in his stall. Once he ran away, down the road to Greg’s house and got cut.”

Q. How much money would you sell Archie for?

A.“10 bucks. 100 bucks.”

DYLAN LOCKWOOD Age: 12 Horse: Vegas

Dylan is a kind, caring young lady who loves all animals. Her athletic adventures keep her very busy and she loves riding her favourite horse, Vegas when she’s not swimming competitively. She’s a quick learner and sets high expectations for her riding development.

Q. What’s your horse’s colour/breed? A. “Vegas is a palomino, Quarter Horse.” Q. What does Vegas do when you’re not around? A. “She eats and runs around with the other horses.” Q. If Vegas could travel, where would she go? Why? A. “I think she would go to t he Yaha Tinda because she loves the mountains and wide open spaces.” Q. What would make your horse laugh? A. “If I tripped and fell in her poop!” Q. Who’s Vegas’ best friend? A. “My Uncle’s horse, Hank. Th ey’re always walking around together.” Q. If Vegas could tell a joke, what do you think she would say? A. “What did the horse say when it fell? Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddy-up!”

Q. What’s Vegas’ favourite food?

A.“Oats. Oats. Oats and more Oats.”

Q. What do you like to do with Vegas?

A.“I really enjoy riding Vegas in the mountains, on a sunny day, either in BC or AB.”

Q. When your horse is bad, what do you do?

A. “Yell at her like a mom and correct her!”

Q. How much money would you sell your horse for?

A.“Well, Vegas is NOT for sale. If I had to give a price, it would be high!”

LATHOM KRAFT Age: 6 Horse: Walter

Lathom is an amicable, entertaining young cowboy who calls the Calgary Stampede Ranch near Hanna, Alberta, home. This naturally talented, littlehand is on the go, all the time. He loves to rope and work cattle with his family. He has many role models in the rodeo arena and makes new friends,

Q. What’s your horse ’s name? Why do you call him that?

wherever he goes. A. “ His name’s Walter. ‘Cau se my dad let me have him. He’s a good horse.” Q. What does Walter do when you’re not home? A. “He goes up on mountains. He fights horses.” Q. If Walter could travel, whe re would he go for a vac ation? A. “He would g o to the mountains to have fun.” Q. What would make Walter laugh? A. “If his friends told him jokes.” Q. Who’s Walter’s best friend? A. “Uh, Redman.” Q. What’s Walter’s favourite food? A. “Grain. He likes water.”

Q. What do you like to do with Walter?

A.“I mostly jump over logs and race.”

Q. When your horse is bad, what do you do?

A.“I give him a jerk.”

Q. How much money would you sell Walter for?

A.“A trillion bucks.”