More about horses

After my experience of falling off the horse during my first horse-back ride, I was apprehensive about future horse back rides.  My father must have been aware of my fear for he was continuously telling me of the fun he had riding horses when he was young.  In fact, my father purchased a horse for me.  Can you believe the excitement I should have had.  I owned my very own horse.  My experience with horses should now become a pleasure.  But, once again, I faced disappointment.

I soon started to ride my horse with two friends in the neighborhood that also had a horse of their own.  My two friends had horses that were quick walkers.  My new horse was a slow plodder.  Whenever we rode our horses together they quickly left me behind.  I was forced to shift my horse into a trot gear to keep up.  My horse was not only slow but it had the most uncomfortable trot ever felt by man..  My friends were gliding smoothly along on their fast walking horses.  I followed behind on a trotting, spine jarring, nag that I soon learned to despise. Eventually I stopped riding it altogether.  I think my father was very disappointed in me and eventually sold the horse.

On to the next horse riding event.  I came from a huge family of aunts, uncles and cousins.  We frequently held family get-to-gathers.  One such event was held at an uncles home who was a farmer and also owned several riding horses. Several members of the family had also ridden their horses to the family event.  So this party turned into a mini-family horse back ride.  My uncle was evidently aware of my horse phobia and assured me that he had a perfect horse for me and I could safely join the family ride.  The horse he referred to was named  Old Calico.  He assured me that to ride old Calico was like sitting on an over-stuffed couch. at home.

So off we went down the road like a well organized cavalry unit.  About a mile from the starting point something happened that I will never forget.  The saddle turned on Old Calico..  One moment I was sitting on top of the horse and the next moment I was dangling underneath the horse.  Of course the horse was frightened and started to run. I couldn't let go and drop to the ground because the rear hooves would have trampled on me. The front hooves of the horse were coming within one inch of my head.  I was terrified..  The other members of our cavalry unit didn't know what to do.  They said they were hesitant about chasing after Old Calico for fear that would make her just run faster and further.  So they just sat with their mouths hanging open.  I can't say I prayed.  It all happened too fast.  But within a few seconds, Old Calico stopped  and I was saved.  After cursing the unknown person who had failed to tighten the cinch, I saddled up and finished the ride.  But I vowed to myself never to mount a horse again.

Now for the final horse story.  I was about eighteen years old and had been dating Joan (my future wife) on a regular basis.  One Saturday she suggested we travel into the Uintah Mountains and visit her brothers who were running sheep on their summer range.  Anything Joan suggested was okay with me.  Once there, Joan suggested we go fishing.  She knew of some small creeks that were well stocked with fish. Her brothers furnished us with fishing poles and we mounted the horses to ride to the fishing holes. I must admit I was a little hesitant, but who could resist anything Joan suggested.  So off we went. We hadn't gone more the 25 yards from the camp when my horse started bucking.  I started yelling, "Whoe, you blankey-blank, whoe".  In between her hilarious laughter  Joan yelled, "The horse is not bucking, it's just being bitten by a horse fly.  It certainly felt like bucking to me and I jumped off and told Joan that I would walk and she could fish.  Joan,and now her brothers, were all laughing hilariously.  I was so mad I almost divorced Joan before we were even married.  One of the brothers told me later that I should investigate becoming a rodeo clown.

Well, that's the end of horse stories.  You'll hear no more from me about horses.