Okay, You Guys, This Was An Eyeopener

I've just had the darnedest wake up call of all time. This one totally blew my mind. I still can't believe it!

As you may recall, my wife had a bit of an accident a few weeks ago that really messed her up when she took a headfirst spill over the ears of her horse.

Fast forward, I take the pony away from her because I can see right off that she cannot handle this horse. She just has not been around enough horses and doesn't have the experience. These animals are not toys and they can hurt you if ya don't know what you're doin'.

Didn't work; she bought another. And has been patiently waiting for the owners to deliver this new mare.

So, Friday afternoon, in the yard they pull with this big, long, very slick tonner/trailer combo that I'm still totally droolin' over, but that is another story entirely. :>)

Prior owner tells the wife that under no circumstances should she ever ride this horse without first lunging her out. She is just too full of vinegar and she is a warm-blood; she's a full sister to the cutter and ya know how he is. Work her out first. Get the kinks outta ‘er.

"Oh Baloney!", says I. "I'll show you how to handle this horse. She's a piece of cake; I can tell by lookin' at 'er." "Any derned fool can ride this mare". :>)

Now Guys, I've been swingin' up on barebacks since I was three years old. Grab that mane and swing yourself up. Nothing to it. Been doin' it all my life. You don't need a saddle, ya darned sure don't need a bridle and ya sure as heck don't need a halter, right? Ya use that mane and your knees. Heck, everybody and anybody who lives 50 feet outside the city limits knows that!

Fellas, I tried three times to swing onto that silly mare. I can't do it anymore! The old bones just don't have the bounce that they used to. :>(

Yep, hate to admit it, but guess I'm old and I'll just bet that mare is still out there snickerin' to herself. Friday was a very humiliating day!

I'm goin' back to tinker on my old tractors. :>(

Allan

Any idea how hard it is to look in a sap bucket from the back of a horse? Whatever width the trail was, she went precisely down the centre of it. And you think she'd learn after the first dozen or so drops that there is a bottom under the ice of a puddle and she isn't going to drown. But no, every time a piece of ice cracked this shiver of panic would go from nose to tail, a long way on a 2000 pound pony.

Ah, they were dear old critters, my dad's Belgians, at their best as moving wallpaper in our picture window, but pretty handy for skidding logs and hauling Volkswagens out of ditches.

Never, ever again leave your saddles hangin' in a barn for darned near 30 years! What a mess! :>(

Allan

Keith

Wife has been after me for over a year to get those old things dug out of the quonset down at the farm.

10 minutes ago, all of a sudden, she came up missing. Found her out in the garage. Yep, I've got it made 'round here. :>)

Allan

Bought this one over in Cheyenne for my daughter back when she was in high school. Thought I could keep her mind off the boys. Yeah, right.

After it was all said and done, I ended up feeding 17 head of horses and being a grandpa anyway. :>(

Yep, this one is headed for the shop on Saturday as well. Darned stiching around the horn has given up the ghost.

Allan

Keith

I just bought her a brand new one fer her birthday just before she took the dive into the dirt.

She just wants me to be out there with her. I keep tellin' her that I hate the silly nags, but I don't think she believes me. :>)

Anyway, I like that old 15 incher. Fits me like a glove..... . 'Er, used to. :>)

Allan

Oh, and sorry about the trouble gettin' on the horse (LOL)

JohnDeereGreen

Mahalo,
doogdoog

Tim

Aside from being stepped on, that's about the only mishap I've ever had other than the occasional mouthful of dirt. One took a whole rack of ribs out of me one time.

I think that's the reason I'm just not too wild about the ponies; if they land you just right, you could get to go see Jesus too.

Oh well, I just called Tom down on the home place and am headed down there now to retrieve my old saddles. Guess my studly showin’ off days are over. :>(

Allan

We have one young stud, who I took a liking too, worked with him a bit and he's a bit playful, but "we came to an understanding" and although I've helped him learn some manners, I decided I'd best stay off, for health reasons of course ! There's always one in the barn that becomes a pal, but boy did he take some time to get used to, especially being away from them for so many years.

All through the years I can recall at shows we used to run and all the others I've been at, where EMT's/ambulance are on standby. The occasional spill, some of which were really scary, like when someone gets dumped after a horse quits at a fence, getting tossed backwards, + all the others, mom got her leg crushed by one that fell on it, it sure is an "eye opener" but like anything you do, risk is always present, at least they wear helmets, to provide some protection. I just love watching the old guy ride, that just amazes me to no end.

I jus look at dem horses and mind my own business.

Rex

• Poke here to listen

PS think I have you beat by couple years

Keith

Old Bill

Watched my grandpa wringin' 'em out at the age of 74. Just hope he was busy with other things and wasn't watchin' down on me Friday.

That was totally traumatic! :>)

Allan

KraigWY

She probably would have planted me in the dirt right then and there! :>)

Allan

I'm tellin' ya. You can't tell about these things. Stuff changes, the older ya get.

I don't trust anything anymore. Well, other than the fact that the expenses keep going up. :>)

Allan

Now I beg to disagree as a kid still 2 weeks shy of 40.....

I always wondered why Dad opened a gate, when i just climed over and jumped down...

Now I open the gate walk through and close it..

Rob

Do you have any cattle crossings down there....
I keep hearing they don't work well here in snow country... Might be worth a try though

Rob