I love taking photos of mustangs around our ranch. I love to capture them grazing, interacting with one another, and running wild and free, their silky manes whipping in the cold, cold breeze.
But I also love the shots where the mustangs are looking straight at me, this human, standing in their space. They’re such skittish creatures, the mustangs—so cautious that they don’t even like to be fed in a valley surrounded by trees because then they can’t keep an eye out for potential threats. They want a clear view so they can see forever.
I, simply by virtue of being human, am considered by the mustangs to be a potential threat. And when I’m standing out in the middle of their turf, they like to keep an eye on me.
I don’t mind it, though. It’s a moment of connection between me and the horses.
No matter how deathly terrified of me they are.
This one made me chuckle. She stood there, frozen, staring me down…
Then I took one step forward…and she decided to head over toward the herd.
It was just a tiny step I took. But she wasn’t havin’ it.
Then she stopped and checked me out again.
I’m scary that way.
This one let me get pretty close…but she didn’t take an eye off of me for a second.
And please. Have you ever seen such gorgeous hair?
Eat your heart out, Kate Gosselin!
Heh heh. Just a little pop culture humor for you on a Monday morning.
Well, THIS horse thought it was funny!
Even if no one else did.
Yep—everywhere I turn, there’s a mustang staring at me.
“I always feel like…”
“…Somebody’s WATchin’ me…”
It’s a little unsettling, actually. It kicks in a dormant sense of being watched and makes me feel like I have to go to the bathroom.
I’m just being honest here. I want you to experience what this feels like, so I want to provide you with all the necessary information.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
