We have encouraged horseback riding since birth, on the Law Family Homestead. While we can't claim any of our boys were born a-horseback, daddy did make sure they got there soon after.

Each of our sons have spent time riding with daddy in the saddle, and then advanced to being ponied alongside on their own horse. Our oldest son started working cows in the corral on his own horse at age 4 on the old Montana homestead.

Though our younger sons do not remember this earlier cattle-filled environment, we still like to expose them to the elements of cattle culture whenever possible.

We do have pictures of them on horses,

And on daddy's lap while working cows.

The oldest now enjoys going and gathering the cows when they escape from their pasture or, just for fun, bringing them up for milking.

The last year or so our oldest sons have come a long ways in their comfort levels sitting a horse. When I downloaded the camera the other day these images were on it.

And higher -

Higher, but still not sure!

Up and confident!

Thankfully Old King is a wonderful babysitter and allows for most anything. He has been with us longer than we have had children. The boys have grown up learning to ride on King. When we moved from Montana we brought King and Scout, another sorrel horse that looked as though he would have the same temperament as King.

So today the boys decided they needed more riding animals for all of them to enjoy at once. They have undertaken the task of breaking their oxen steers to also be riding steers.

They have raised these calves on bottles since day one, and they are fairly gentle. So while they did raise their "eyebrows," if you will, at the boys, they seemed to take it all in stride.