Bob McKay grew up on a farm in Minnesota where Belgian draft horses were used to pull farm equipment and has dealt with horses of various breeds most of his life. At times there were up to 40 Belgians on the family farm, and he claims he learned to drive a team shortly after he learned to walk. He has worked at truck driving and other jobs at various points in his life, between stints as a rodeo cowboy. Excelling at calf roping, team roping and penning, he earned numerous prize buckles and quite a few fractures.

"I have been kicked, dragged, thrown off, stomped and beat on," McKay says of his horse training and rodeo experiences. "I don't think I have a bone that hasn't been broken at least twice." Still, he can't think of another job he'd rather do.

McKay enjoys the challenge of training a difficult horse. "I'll hardly take one that won't chase me out of the corral the first time," he says with a hint of a smile on his serious face. He finds special satisfaction in transforming an irrepressible or misbehaving horse into a cooperative companion.
Training a horse to pull a cart or wagon involves a number of factors, including gradual desensitization to the noise, weight and movement of a rig, as well as getting used to the unfamiliar feel of the harness.

"When I think a horse is almost ready, I hitch him up to the cart," he says. "Sometimes it works fine, and sometimes I get a wild ride."

For the 10 years prior to their move to Catheys Valley, McKay worked as a trainer at a horse ranch in the foothill community of Lakeview Terrace, a semi-rural area within the boundaries of Los Angeles. While working there, he met Miller, who came to the ranch almost three years ago pursuing her childhood dream of having her own horse.

At the time she did not expect that the experience would completely change her life. McKay not only found Dakota, a perfect Bay gelding quarter horse, for her, but also became a friend, and soon formed a working partnership. In addition to training horses, McKay teaches people of all ages to ride and drive. Some students have their own horses and saddles or rigs, but the ranch provides equipment and even horses for those wanting to learn before making such an investment.

Candy Miller, Bob's wife and partner, at this time, is only handling the office end of the business. She hopes to do more as she becomes more comfortable around the horses.