Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Go Fast Then Slow

“It’s a whole lot easier to speed them up than slow one down.”

Real cowboys have insisted that forever about horses seeming lazy until they learn to move out.

Not true of all but for many once they’ve found out they can run, it’s really fun.

Now, that’s probably not true for the majority of human populations, as most prefer a relaxed attitude.

Again, there are exceptions. A co-op manager friend used to get up at 4 o’clock and run 10 miles before work. As he matured, getup times the same, but Bobby “only” walks seven-and-a-half miles.

That takes about an hour-and-a-half, and he heads for the office to get a head start on staff. The fellow only gets six hours of sleep a night. “Can’t sleep any more than that,” he claims.

Obviously, the ambitious guy is fit, ordering and eating half what everybody else had for dinner when we got together. Yep, he’s hard to get slowed down like many horses once given liberty to go for it.

Some all-around performance horses will gas up, run their heart out and then come back down calm and collected. Percentage-wise that’s not a great number.

Many riders of pleasure horses, those competing walk, jog, lope in the arena, would never let their mounts run. They’re afraid the horses will like it better than the easy going life. It extends so far as not entering classes with any extensive maneuvers where advance speed is expected.

Most trail riders those going out for leisure Sunday afternoon walks in the park are the same way.

The big palomino gelding Cody loves to run, and he’s fast. But, it’s impossible to get him collected and stay that way. Riding in several pleasure rail classes this season, Cody always got judges’ attention and bystanders, too. He was high, prancing handsome; no slowness for him.

Maggie’s expected job four years was go level and slow around the pen. Then when the rider got new knees, Cody’s fast acceleration felt kind of hazardous for a time.

So, the pretty buckskin pleasure mare who didn’t know speed patterns or even how to run was called into action. She learned “fast.” The problem’s getting her slowed down again.

Reminded of Second Kings 4:24: “Saddle up, go fast, but slow down when I tell you.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

XII–36–9-2-18

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