The Family,

What is the parallel between the bloodline of horses and humans? In 2009 I got aquanted with a couple while shooting the series "Fishing the Pacific Northwest" that was known for their success with horses. Horses was their life. They had won many races in flat track and cutter racing. They had a renowned cousin (Blane) that had trained many winning horses at Los Alamidos track in California. Where did it all start? It all started with Boyd's Dad Les. He farmed until he had to take an 8 hour job to support his family. On the side he raised and traded horses. You might call him a horse whisper. He had the touch. He could take a horse and make it a better horse. Les's wife died (Boyd's mother) when Boyd was two years old. As Boyd grew up he helped his dad with the horses as well as learned about them. He also had a way with the animals. You could say that he was a horse whisper also. As time passed he married and had two children, A boy and a girl. The boy, Bret liked horses but not the same as his sister Brenda. Brenda loved horses. Then in time she married Donny Ekstrom, also a person with the love for horses and they had two children Lyndsie and then Zack. They grew up with horses. With the bloodline going back to great Grandpa how could they be any different.

Brenda at an early age decided she wanted to follow in the footsteps. She worked with a horse that Les and Boyd used to work the race horses at the track with. This was no high priced horse, just one that needed love and some different training. It would have been easy to come home from school and watch TV, but "her" horse needed attention. With time she made it into a successful barrel horse. With a little more work and a lot of teachng from her parents she taught herself and learned to be a rodeo Queen. Brenda graduated from Idaho University in Pocatello, Idaho

We won't leave Bret out. Bret would sit with the announcer at the chariot races and watch and learned the art of public speaking. Soon at a very young age of 10 they would turn the mike over to Bret. This led him to the political field in public speaking. But, the horse blood was also in Bret when at the early age of 14 Bret and his dad Boyd, teamed up together and put together a chariot team of 2 year olds that Bret drove and was very successful with. Bret graduated from Idaho State University.

In 1991 Brenda married Donny Ekstrom. They had two children Lyndsie and Zack. The story continues: Both children were raised on horses. They had a choice but up to now they have put their heart and soul into their passion. Family life is the most important part of their lives. Both parents work along with Zack and Lyndsie. House work and chores are shared by all. It takes lot of time and money to maintain a life of a rodeo family. Zack works with his grandfather (Boyd) and his Dad (Donny) in taking care of the stock , cutting and bailing hay. Cleaning the horse stalls the trailer or the house, Lyndsie works right along side the rest of the family.

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