God and I shared a couple beers last night. Every now and then, you need to enjoy time with your best friend. Although my God loves me, I'm probably not His "best" friend. I think King David holds that role. But, He is mine.

I have charge of this horse who loves me when I have a bucket of feed. Other than feed time, Velvet can be almost mean. So, I feed her to catch her. Thank goodness she's always hungry! Sometimes I'll spend too much time detangling her mane and tail, or brushing her back and sides. And I know that I appreciate this time more than she does. 

I know God is busy doing God things. But, I get a lot of satisfaction from laying my life on a line with Him. (Ever see a movie called Bruce Almighty? Bruce likes the power, but goes nuts trying to sort out all the prayers. One day, everybody wins the lottery. No one gets a lot of money, but everyone wins. Bruce might go nuts, but God hears all and wants to hear us more often.) When I can take time to pull out tangles, or hold the cat, or sit on the porch and have a long talk with God, I feel much better.

So, where is all this leading? Time is so short. And life pulls us so many directions. Most times, I spend my time helping a lot of others. As do you. You know, if you think about how many people depend on you for just little things that are so critical to their lives, you would either get a "big head" or just drown in frustration. But, you don't. You feed animals and children and husbands. You pay that mortgage payment and go without lunch. You give that $5.00 bill to the charity raffle. You wash underwear and towels when you just need to sit and rest. You carry a meal to a family who lost a loved one. Time together is often when you're washing and rinsing dishes. You try to take a hot shower to get some time for yourself, and in pops a little head with a desperate 3 year old question that could not wait. 

So, how do you stay sane? Sometimes you just need a late night beer with God. He listens to your rantings, and you know He loves you because you get that warm fuzzy feeling. You feel closer to Him afterward. Likewise, don't you feel closer to His creation when you are with those horses? Even the stubborn ones teach you something about yourself. You can ride away your frustrations. You feel important because there is an equine that both carries you and needs you. 

Pulling a mane is more than detangling. It is therapeutic. Riding down a wooded trail, or through a field of grasses, or sliding to a stop in an arena, are all therapeutic.  God knows we need a time to release, and just do something for ourselves. So, when this time comes, don't waste it. 

You deserve, and we are offering better lines of horse equipment than most websites. We often evaluate saddles and bridles purchased elsewhere by our customers. They bring them by the store or email a lot of pics. Most of the bargain saddles have pressed paper linings in the skirts. Now, what is this going to do when it gets wet? (For goodness sakes, there is Cordura!) Cheap hook & loop for hobble straps. (Let's get our kids hung up and drug from sloppy stirrup nylons.) Metal that they know will rust out when salty sweat hits it. Etc.   

We see chrome plated bits with edges that put lots of little cuts on your horse's tongue. We see bridles and reins that are made of stretchy belly leathers. Last week, a new bullrider with a weight of over 190 lbs was looking for the best price on a rope. Had he bought what he thought he wanted, he would have been hurt. He might still, but at least it will not be because of too light of equipment. And on it goes...

Cultured Cowboy deeply discounts products so people can have the best. We have payment plans and layaway. Even if we are the best price, we do not want our friends shopping at the mercy of price. Did you know, the cheaper the stuff, the more profit the seller makes? The more pricey, the less markup? It's a fact of life. We have hundreds of calls each week because our prices were less than somebody else. And we understand that. But, somebody can always build something cheaper. We will continue to work hard, & smart, to keep prices fair and quality high. 

Cultured Cowboy wants you to have the right equipment so you can be safe and confident, and make the most of your time for you. If you do not take this time for you, you just can't keep it together for the others that need you. And if you don't have the right equipment, your time with God and horse becomes another frustration. 

God Bless, & be safe! 

C Taylor, Jr
05/02/2008