One common question we get is "Why 'All the King's Horses'?" Selecting a farm name is a big decision and involved a great deal of thought as to the purpose and values of our farm that we wanted to communicate.
To understand the basis of our AKH brand we have to go back a couple of decades to my prior obsession- cattle farming. My sister and I purchased our first bred Shorthorn heifer in the fall of 2002 and this was the start of a purebred herd that we maintained for nearly two decades. When our first calf arrived we needed a farm prefix for her registration documents. We wanted to select a name that would reflect our faith as well as what the business was about. We turned to Psalm 50:10 which says 'The Lord speaks... every animal of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills' as inspiration for Thousand Hills Cattle Company. I still remember running it past my dad for the first time- he was supportive of the concept but thought the name was a bit of a mouthful. At that point, though, I had already worked up the business cards so 'Thousand Hills' we remained!
What we never could have foreseen when brainstorming the name for a cattle business run by two Christian kids who had no idea what they were getting into was just how influential a name can be. Or, more importantly, the concept behind the name. It is a constant reminder of the fact that we are not so much owners as stewards of what has been given to us. The reminder that these are the Lord's cattle has been a comfort in the inevitable losses that accompany farm life as well as an encouragement to work hard and trust God when it felt like we were in over our heads.
Fast forward 15 years and while the cattle remained my focus was shifting to horses. When I made the decision to breed my Gypsy mare for the first time I knew that it was time for a brand update. Thousand Hills Horse Farm just didn't quite work! Although I brainstormed a lot of names- many with a more traditional farm feel, such as Misty Meadows- I kept coming back to the fact that a name can be so much more than just a fancy script on the logo. All the King's Horses was an idea that popped up along the way and although a bit unconventional it embodies a similar concept as our Thousand Hills brand.
Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that farming can be hard both physically and emotionally and something as simple as a name has the power to ground what may feel like an overwhelming problem or disappointment in a much bigger picture. We work hard and seek to care for our herd in the very best way we can but ultimately we trust that the One who created them and entrusted them to us cares for all his creatures. On the good days, on the bad days, regardless of our skills or knowledge to address the current need these are the King's horses and his plans for them (and us) will prevail.
