A great comment on Horse/Wife relationship.

[James Hunt]

If you are from the North West or North Central States you are probably familiar with the AGRI News, a weekly news publication by and for ranchers and farmers of the west. In it there is a long running article called Bill's Warbag. It's contents were written years ago by one Bill Huntington, a guy who cowboyed in the late 19th century on the Montana and Wyoming border and in his later years put it all down in two books, "Good Men and Salty Cusses" and "Both Feet In the Stirrups" - both outstanding reads in some very colorful language and I think still available thru the newspaper. Anyway in both books he is very kind to his wife of many years, which made the following comments in "Bill's Warbag" all the more funny.

" I can remember back in my early years when there was no cars and not too many trains. The country wasn't all cut up with highways, county roads, and wire fences. At that time, a good horse was counted man's best friend, especially when your life depended on the horse you were riding. Your wife was your most prized possession, but sometimes not so dependable as your horse."

This was found in the Dec 23, 2005 Agri News. The story goes on to talk about his horse Hornet who saved his life in a ferry wreck while crossing the Red River with a bunch of horses. Any male who possesses both wife and horse will understand his comment.

Now I could not limit this post to male viewers only so I think I'll head out to the barn for a bit since I as most cowboys fear only two things, lightening and a good women.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Jim,
My wife Pat was born and raised on a farm, and her famiily still runs a 400 acre dairy farm in Shelby county just this side of Shelbyville Indiana. To Pat and I'm sure her four brothers as well, a horse is a pet, no different then a dog or cat. Ernie, pat's dad kept several just to have around, to feed sugar cubes and pat on the head once in a while.
I don't think they were ever ridden by any of her family until we got married and I came into the picture. To be honest I've never been real attached to any of the horses I've owned and there have been many, and as you probably know you don't really own a horse because they all have this complex about humans and most of them just want to eat and sleep.

Now, after saying that, I do have this one horse in particular that I have grown rather fond of and I think it's because he has the same disposition that I do and just about the same temperment, thats the one I've added to my avatar. McGregor is a Wyoming mustang I bought from the BLM when he was just over two years old, he's almost eight now. He doesn't like other horses, he's not agressive towards them, he just doesn't like them. If you are out in the pasture doing chores he will follow you around until you climb on his back and spend some time with him, while the other horses head in the opposite direction, he thinks he is human.......

Good horse, real smart as horses go, a lot smarter then most humans and dogs I know.......

Bill

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[James Hunt]

Bill: a great picture of you and McGregor and a very unusual story. Many think that the horse/rider relationship is like Roy and Trigger, seldom occurs. Below is a poor picture of Vegas and myself at a recent shoot. She is a 14.1 hand pony that is the boss of our "herd" of three. All attitude she pushes around the other two who have 450 lbs and nearly 8 inches of height on her. Like most horses if she knows she has to work, she starts walking to the far end of the pasture. Having said that, she is 21 y.o., runs like the devil, and believes she can whip anything on four legs. Fortunately she learned respect for two leg critters.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Jim,
Yea, I like those little horses too. McGregor stands about 14,3 and you can really see that Spanish Barb influence in his profile......great little horse (I've got some mounted competition photos, I'll look around this afternoon see if I've got a better photo), and the photo don't show it, but he is almost a black charcoal.

Most folks that do the CAS thing and mounted shooting either don't realize or don't know that most of the horses used by the cowboy and Indian of the era were small ponies taken from the western wild herds, even the cavalry mounts. It was a rare sight to see a thorough bred or Quarter horse during that time. You could though see a few Morgans, Daniel Morgans fine little horse......

Bill

[James Hunt]

Indeed so true Bill. I think most horses look bigger in period photos cause most riders were 5'8'' and 150 lbs., those were tough little horses. My pony is of questionable parentage, probably morgan and arab cross with who knows what else thrown in. consequently probably has great genetics, never seems to get sick, feet a farrier loves, tough old girl. she probably weighs 750 lbs. and carries my 180 lbs with a 40 lb saddle around like nothing. She also does double the work during a CMS match since my duaghter and I both use her. Would love to see some photos of you and Mcgregor in action, would probably pay to see a photo of you shooting a shotgun off of her with the reins dropped, as I think you told me once your horse would run a straight line with leg pressure alone! Maybe the Marshall could start a CMS board.

[Cuts Crooked]

I've been fortunate to have two truely wonderful horses in my life! Both of them Appaloosa!

...never could teach either of them to cook though!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Jim,
That's a great photo, you need to get yourself a slick fork with Sam Stagg rigging and a five or six inch straight up shovel cantle with about a 1 1/2 dish to complete the picture.. she's real pretty....

Cuts,
I've owned a couple of Apps, and one in particular was a Ranger Bred double registered leopard named Cody I wish I had kept....real good disposition and anybody could ride him. This little mustang I own now is short in body and makes turns real quick so you've got to be able to sit him properly to stay on.....fun horse to ride.

Bill

[James Hunt]

Bill: I would like an old time saddle but don't have the $$$ at the moment. The saddle I'm riding is patterned after a circa 1900 - 1920 saddle. The stirrup leathers are on the outside of the fender and it is fairly highbacked, 5 1/2 inch I believe. I think the swell fork helps me stick in the seat on some of those quick turns and unexpected moves, as you say those short body horses don't exactly give a Lincoln Town Car ride and you have to be fairly adept at balancing on them. I'm not sure how I'd do in a slick fork although I have an old 1904 McClellan that I have used on my duaghters thoroughbred without much problem except rear end pain with the sitting trot. Here's another picture showing what a little horse can do, look at her stretch out!!!



I know we are off of the original message of the relationship of wives and horses, probably an astute move.