http://www.deadbrokecoltcompany.com/

Dead Broke Colt Company, Morton, IL (2026)

04/11/2026

Some of them are graceful and sophisticated. Some of them are… this.

Don’t worry, we still love ya, Jack.

04/10/2026

There’s usually a few different reactions when people hear “Dead Broke.”

Horse owners give a knowing smile… thinking about a horse so broke you could ride it through a Fourth of July parade without a second thought. Some, usually the ones who know what it takes to get a horse to that point, will laugh… because they understand the blood, sweat, and tears that go into a horse like that. And of course, others, who only know the term as a financial reference to an empty bank account… might wince a little.

And sure… that’s all part of it.

Out here, we want horses that are trustworthy, solid, and sure. And yeah, sometimes the wallet might feel a little slim too. But more importantly… out here at Dead Broke Ranch, it means something deeper than that.

Dead Broke isn’t just a horse term, it’s not just a money term. It’s a life term.

Dead Broke means you’ve been knocked down. Not once, not twice, but more times than you’d ever put in a highlight reel. It means you’ve had plans fall apart. It means you’ve worked jobs that wore your body down but didn’t break your spirit. It means you’ve gotten back on, even when you had every reason to walk away.

You’ve felt the kind of tired that sleep doesn’t fix. You’ve held onto hope so small you had to cup it in your hands to keep it from blowing away. And you kept going anyway.

Dead Broke is the horse that started out scared, rank, and unsure… and became the one you’d trust with your grandchild. It’s the person who thought life had knocked them too far down to come back… standing at a fence rail, petting a horse, and realizing they still have something to give.

Dead Broke doesn’t mean perfect, and it doesn’t mean polished. It means tested. Seasoned. Built out of scars, grace, and second chances. And somehow… better for it. Out here, hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s a choice.

We don’t wake up every day because it’s easy. We wake up because we believe in building something that lasts. Something that matters.

A place where broken dreams find a new trail. Where nervous riders find their footing. Where people who feel too worn down, too far gone, or too out of place realize… they still belong.

Dead Broke isn’t just for horses that have been brought along right. It’s for people who have been through it… and still have enough grit left to saddle up and ride anyway. We’re not just riding horses out here. We’re riding out storms. We’re riding out setbacks. We’re riding out all the reasons we could’ve quit, and finding new ones to stay.

Because being Dead Broke doesn’t mean you’re finished… It only means you’re ready for something real.

https://deadbrokecoltcompany.com/blog/why-dead-broke-isnt-just-about-horses

03/27/2026

Is anyone else THIS excited it’s Friday or is it just us?

Kicking up dirt, airing out the attitude, and ready for the day… If this doesn’t sum up the end-of-week mood, I don’t know what does.

If you’re not at least a LITTLE this excited…. We can’t relate.

03/10/2026

Every now and then somebody says they want “total freedom.”

No schedule, no responsibility, but just doing whatever they feel like whenever they feel like it.

And every time I hear that, I think about the horses that show up to the barn with absolutely zero structure. No boundaries, no expectations, and nobody that ever told them “no.”

And let me tell you… those horses are not free.

They’re anxious, they’re reactive, they’re confused about their job, and most of the time they’re about one correction away from attempting to launch someone into earth’s orbit.

Funny thing is, the horses that actually look the most relaxed… are the ones with the most structure. They know the rules, they understand their job, and they trust the system.

Discipline isn’t the opposite of freedom, it’s the thing that creates it. It’s the same for horses as it is for people.

**tCompany

03/05/2026

Hey Darlin’,

There’s a certain kind of tired that feels different. Not the kind that comes from spinning your wheels or wasting your days doing something that drains the life out of you, or the tired that sits heavy in your chest because you know you’re walking a road that isn’t meant for you.

I’m talking about the good tired. It’s the kind that settles into your bones after a long day of doing exactly what you know you were built to do... The kind where your hands are sore, your back aches a little, and when you finally sit down at the end of the day, you can sit in the satisfaction of knowing you gave it everything you had, and then some.

It’s a funny thing, we spend so much of our lives trying to avoid being tired. We chase convenience, shortcuts, comfort, and easier ways to do things. And there’s nothing wrong with rest, Lord knows rest matters… That’s why He did it Himself on the seventh day.

But there is something sacred about being tired in a calling you chose. When the work is yours, and the burden is one you willingly picked up. When the long days and late nights aren’t forced upon you, but rather accepted with a quiet understanding that this is the road you’re meant to walk.

That kind of tired doesn’t break you, it builds you. It’s the tired of dirt under your nails and sweat on your forehead. The tired of showing up again and again, even when things don’t go the way you hoped. The tired that says, I’m in this for the long haul.

And the truth is, darlin’, a lot of people will never understand that kind of tired. They’ll see the early mornings and wonder why you bother. They’ll see the calluses, the stress, the sacrifices, and think you’re crazy for choosing it.

But they don’t feel what you feel when the work is done. They don’t understand the quiet satisfaction of knowing you’re building something real. Something that didn’t exist before you decided to build it.

So if you’re tired today…. bone tired, the good kind… don’t resent it, wear it like a badge. Not everyone gets the privilege of being worn out by something they love. And if the road you’re on leaves you tired but proud… Well darlin’, that usually means you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

https://deadbrokecoltcompany.com/blog/gfp5tmeqbawf8yvufzp7gltqcwux2c

02/25/2026

Chores are done, coffee’s hot, heater’s working overtime under the desk like it’s on payroll... Most people see the riding, not the admin work that keeps it all moving. Sitting at a desk that my grandpa sat at, my dad sat at… and now I sit at. Hard work and hard decisions passed on and making more history.

Three beverages because apparently I don’t know how to commit, Ritz crackers for premium ranch fuel, Book Like a Boss open (because I’m reworking the website to handle what’s coming next😉), a completely blank yellow legal pad waiting for my brain dumps throughout the day….

We’re not playing ranch anymore…. We’re building one.

02/23/2026

Oh, Wickers… Unbothered, unimpressed, and mildly offended by inflatable enthusiasm.

Dead Broke Ranch… Where even the dancing balloon man (who, by the way, is named Mort), is no match to this stone-cold, dead-broke, hunka-hunka burning palomino.

02/17/2026

Valentine’s Day looked a little different for us this year. No fancy plans, no big night out… just a fire at the ranch, tired muscles, cold air, and a quiet moment to slow down for a second.

I meant to share this on the actual day, but time has a way of getting away from me lately. Honestly though, this feels more like us anyway. Just enjoying a simple night and good company rather than rushing to post it. Sometimes the best kind of love is just being able to sit still inside of all the chaos and realize you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

02/14/2026

Cruise fell asleep on my lap today… lip all scrunched up and completely knocked out.

Hard to have a bad day when one trusts you enough to take a nap on you… Not even gonna lie, I stayed put for wayyyy longer than I needed to because when a horse decides you’re a safe place to nap, you just accept your fate and lose feeling in your legs for the cause.

Gotta love this mare… She’s a good one.

02/02/2026

Be Worth Your Salt

They used to pay Roman soldiers in salt. If you were doing your job, pulling your weight, or standing your ground you earned your paycheck. That’s where the phrase “worth your salt” comes from. Salt was valuable because salt was needed… it nourished and preserved then and it still does today.

We don’t use salt as currency anymore, but the principle still holds. You either show up with something real to offer, something to build up those around you, to support the greater good, or you don’t.

And in a world that’s obsessed with self over others, image over integrity, noise over wisdom, and comfort over character… it’s getting harder and harder to find folks who are truly worth their salt.

Being worth your salt means doing the work even when it’s thankless. Showing up when no one’s watching, fixing what you broke, admitting when you were wrong, speaking truth when it’s not popular opinion, keeping your word, and living each day with intention and seeking moments that you can lift others up.

It’s not cute, or curated… It’s real. And real is rare these days. Maybe that’s why society seems crazy… it’s lacking the salt it needs to keep it functioning properly.

That’s something the ranch will teach you right quick… salt isn’t just poetic. It’s practical.

Walk through any barn of mine and you’ll see it: plain white salt blocks, loose minerals, salt tubs tucked into corners, salt rocks tied in stalls. Not because it looks good or because it’s trendy. But because without it, horses can’t function right.

They can have the best hay money can buy… Fancy grain… Perfect pasture... Pinterest worthy stalls. But if they’re missing salt and minerals? They falter.

Low energy, poor hydration, tight muscles, cranky attitudes, slow recovery. Nothing catastrophic at first… just quiet decline. Little deficiencies that add up.

Salt regulates everything… hydration, nerves, muscle function, appetite. It keeps the system balanced. It keeps the body working the way it was designed to. It’s simple. It’s basic. But it’s essential. And isn’t that just like character?

The flashy stuff gets attention. The supplements, the shiny tack, the highlight reels. But it’s the plain, unglamorous, foundational things that actually keep a life healthy. Integrity. Discipline. Faithfulness. Showing up. The “salt” stuff. Not exciting but absolutely necessary.

And here’s the twist, darlin’… this isn’t just about horses or being a solid human.

Jesus had something to say about salt too:

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”
(Matthew 5:13–14)

He wasn’t talking about seasoning your fries or looking good on social media. He was talking about purpose. About presence. About being the kind of person that keeps things from rotting.

Salt preserves. Salt hydrates. Salt strengthens. Salt keeps living things from breaking down. Light chases out the dark. And you were called to do both… in the dark, when no one’s watching or posting about it. You don’t need a platform. You don’t need a spotlight… you ARE the light and your presence chases away the darkness.

You just need to show up and live like the Kingdom is real… because it is. Live like the love of Christ actually changed something in you, because it did.

Be the steady one… The honest one... The dependable one... The one people and horses alike feel safe around. The kind of person who brings balance back into the room instead of chaos.

That’s what makes you salty in the best way. That’s what makes you shine. So, if no one’s told you lately: you’re not here to blend in. You’re here to stand out. To season the situation not with pride, but with purpose.

You were made to carry weight. To flavor the world with something eternal. To preserve what’s good. To point toward what’s holy. To be worth your salt.

And if you’re not quite there yet? That’s alright. Start becoming her. There’s grace for the process… but don’t mistake grace for passivity. Yes you have time but you need to work at it.

God doesn’t call the perfect. He calls the willing. So be willing. Be real. Be steady. Be salty.

The world, and everything depending on you, needs it.

https://deadbrokecoltcompany.com/blog/be-worth-your-salt

12/08/2025

PRAY A LITTLE LOUDER THAN YOU CUSS

There are two kinds of people in this world:

Those who gracefully handle chaos like saints.

Those who scream “OH COME ON” while trying to catch a horse that’s been turned loose for five seconds and is already three counties over…. Guess which group I’m in.

Out here, you’re gonna cuss.

You can try to act holy if you want to, but the first time you lose a boot in ankle-deep mud while your horse side-eyes you like it’s your fault, it’s coming out.

You know the word…. Well S H * T. My great-grandpa always said if you have a mouthful, sometimes you just gotta spit it out… He was a wise man.

Maybe quietly under your breath. Maybe loud enough for the cows to start praying too. It’s fine. (Sh)it happens.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

When you feel the frustration bubbling up and you’re one hoof stomp away from committing minor property damage, you gotta pray louder than you cuss.

Pray when the feed bill hits harder than expected. Pray when the trailer decides today is the day it’s going to pop a tire on the highway. Pray when the “dead broke” gelding decides he’s actually an untamed spirit of the wild just as the guests pull up. Pray. Loudly.

Or you’re gonna be explaining some very creative language to a very confused group of 8-year-olds.

What does that sound like? Sometimes it’s: “Lord, give me the strength not to set this fence on fire.”

Sometimes it’s: “Jesus, take the reins, because I’m about to take them and the bridle and walk straight off.”

And sometimes it’s just a deep breath, a muttered “Help.” Because that’s enough too. Look, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about surviving ranch life (and life-life) without becoming the villain in your own story.

It’s about remembering that while the horses might be acting like toddlers on a sugar high, God’s still in the barn. Still in the mud.

Still in the busted water lines, the crooked gate hinges, the stuck trailers, and the saddle that decided to slip at exactly the wrong moment.

So yeah, you’ll cuss some days. You’ll pray some days. Most days, if you’re doing it right, you’ll do both… But let the praying win. Because ranch life will knock you down. Faith is what helps you laugh while you’re still laying there in the mud.

Dead Broke.

Dead Tired.

Still Blessed.

And still hollering, “Lord, don’t let me throat-punch anybody today.”

https://deadbrokecoltcompany.com/blog/pray-a-little-louder-than-you-cuss

12/01/2025

The Ranch Aches and Pains User Manual

(Or: Why You Wake Up Every Day Feeling Like You Got Hit By a Truck You Drove Yourself)

Welcome to ranch life. Where horses stay sound longer than humans, and ibuprofen is basically it’s own food group.

If you’re new here, don’t worry… your official Aches and Pains User Manual is below. This will help you decode what each pain means and how to respond (spoiler alert: the answer is usually “ignore it and keep working”).

Stage 1: The Morning Shuffle
Symptom: Waking up and walking like a rusty wind-up toy.
Diagnosis: Slept wrong, or maybe just slept… with absolutely no movement for the entirety of your unconsciousness.
Treatment: Hot coffee, hot shower, hot attitude. Prognosis: Eventually works itself out around noon.

Stage 2: The Midday Mystery Pain
Symptom: Sudden sharp pain in your back/hip/shoulder/foot for literally no reason.
Diagnosis: Unknown. Could be from unloading hay or sneezing wrong.
Treatment: Grunt, groan or grumble loudly, rub it for 4 seconds, carry on.
Prognosis: May last a few days but you’ll survive.

Stage 3: The Fence Climb Reminder
Symptom: Bruise on shin that you forgot about until now.
Diagnosis: You tried to gracefully climb the fence yesterday.
Treatment: Accept your fate. Will change colors and entertain you for a week.
Prognosis: You’ll survive (and with less irritation from everyone asking what’d ya’ do to your leg if you wear jeans until it’s gone)

Stage 4: The “Horse Stepped on Me in October” Ache
Symptom: Dull ache in a foot/toe/ankle that never quite healed.
Diagnosis: It lives here now.
Treatment: Mentally file under “part of me now” and ignore.
Prognosis: you may limp but you’ll be fine.

Stage 5: The End-of-Day Full Body Betrayal
Symptom: Everything hurts. Muscles, joints, eyelids.
Diagnosis: Existed.
Treatment: Sit down for 3 minutes. Accidentally fall asleep. Wake up confused.
Prognosis: you’ll live… get used to it… it’s part of life.

Bonus Stage: The Weather Forecaster
Symptom: Old injury starts hurting.
Diagnosis: It’s about to rain.
Treatment: Put on your jacket. You are officially more accurate than the news now.

At Dead Broke, we don’t complain.
We laugh, limp, slap some vet wrap on it (kidding… kind of), and keep going.

Because the horses need fed, the gates need fixed, and frankly, nobody’s got time to be delicate out here.

You’re not broken.
You’re just seasoned.

Dead Broke C**t Company
Where we train horses and collect minor injuries for fun.

https://deadbrokecoltcompany.com/blog/the-ranch-aches-and-pains-user-manual

**tCompany

Dead Broke Colt Company

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