Home

Last winter when my parents moved out of our family home, I stopped by on last time on a sunday morning to pick up something I forgot. As I was driving away feeling a little senimental, I made the left turn onto 32nd st and started thinking about the barn and what I had to do that day. Then quickly realized the brick house on 34th st was not my home and hadn't been for a long time.

So what is home? Home is the place you long for when your tired, dirty and your ass is dragging. For me it is snow covered pastures on Christmas day, ice leaving the pond and knowing spring has started, the smell of hay just put up in the barn in the heat of the summer, the first smell of horses as I walk through the barn after returing home from a hunting trip in the fall.

I say this because the last month or so I had been pushing pretty hard, add in the some changes this summer, new job, Brothers divorce, Sister in town from over seas, Terry being sick. What I needed was some space and to be home and this weekend I got it. The girls were at a horse show and I was able to spend Sat/Sun in the barn alone, except for Sat afternoon when I ran a load of shavings. I took the advice of my Natural dad when I was a Kid. "turn that dam music down and pay attention." I didn't use my MP3 player or turn on the radio in the barn. No. I  just went out and worked and learned a lot. I was able to hear the sounds of birds churping, horses eating. I saw the sun bounce off the pastures, noticed the sounds of horses walking. I stayed off the internet and the ph rang a whole 3 times this weekend and none on Sunday.

O, I was able to watch some N.F.L pre season football and enjoy some pizza rolls as well. So, not matter where your home is. Here's to it.

Terry

What happends when your heros grow old, when they no longer can put in the big days, or when you get the call that they are I.C.U. It flat scares the hell out of you. You never really want to wrap your hands around the fact they might need to slow down. You ignore it. Why? Because you are selfesh and still think you need them.

Terry has been like a father figure to me for the last eight years and at we have driven each other nuts at times. But Terry has always been honest with me and although I might not always agree with him, I respect what he has to say. We have spent a lot of time on the deck talking horses and life.

I have learned a lifetime from him.

So when I found out that he was ill and will be in the hostpitale for a couple of days it rattled me pretty good this morning. But I had a job to do this morning and I new that he would want me to take care of it. So I focused on getting the truck and trailer loaded and we took off for the Farmers Market in Holland for the Critter Barn. I spent the morning with kids and animales and new Terry would be proud. When you spend your days and nights taking care of animales, you get this false feeling that there is nothing you can't do. You feed them, take care of there shelter and medicate them. You have eagle eye and a good ear. You make a livelyhood out of reconizing danger.

So the only thing I can do is take care of what I can take care of. Pray for what I can't take care of. Make sure everyone has food, water and bedding and thank the good Lord for the days that lie ahead.

Out Here


This is the continuous story of a kid whose parents would buy him cowboy hats and chaps to play in and who’s first car was a pickup. The son of a horseman, former bull rider and one of the sweetest girls that ever came out of Belmont MI, his parents would name him after a city in Wyoming while vacationing two summers before he was born. After six years the marriage wouldn’t see Kody’s first Birthday.

His Dad would stay in the farm house in Alto MI and settling in with Kody’s step Mom, giving Kody a half Sister and a Step Brother. Kody would get out to Alto when he could and he loved the rolling fields behind the farm house and the century old barn that kept a few back yard horses. That is where Kody got his first taste horses and barn life.

Kody’s Mom would remarry shortly after the divorce to a great guy who took Kody in as his own, giving Kody a half sister and half brother. The family would eventually end up in Holland MI. Kody and his siblings had a great time. They lived in town with a in ground pool in the back yard and ball parks within walking distance and a family dog named Copper that went everywhere with them.

Horses and farm life were always close to Kody’s heart and when he got the chance to move onto Pine Manor Arabians in the spring of 2002 to work with Terry Brink and Kris Lamb he jumped at it. Kody says “I have learned a lot about horses from working with Terry and Kris, when I moved onto Pine Manor I new enough about horses to keep from getting killed and Terry and Kris have taught me so much.”

When the chance to go fulltime into animal care/barn work by taking the job as barn manager for the Critter Barn and Working with Marry and Wally in the spring of 2010. Kody made a life decision to pursue happiness and sweat over money and comfort. That is what “Out Here” is about.

“Out Here” is about smiling at the rain and cursing the sun. It is about learning something new and remembering something old. “Out Here” will take you along on the journey of two different barns trying like crazy to make it, through the sun, rain, snow and through the laughter, tears, blood and sweat. All through the eyes of good o’l boy who in a way is still that little blue eyed, blond haired kid with a oversized cowboy hat.

“A special thanks to Pine Manor Arabian, The Critter Barn and T&T shavings for giving me a chance to do this. My family and friends for putting up with my late arrivals to functions or missing them all together and for not complaining about the barn debrie when I do show up. Hang on this is going to be one hell of a ride, if it hasn’t been already.” Kody, summer 2010