“The first ride is the most important one.”
Such philosophy is profound among those who’ve worked with young horses. That initial mount is often reflected in later life whether positive or undesirable. Horses are very smart creatures, much more so than most handlers it seems.
Horses typically don’t forget the good; yet likewise typically remember anything bad that might have happened. Recall can sometimes even come years afterwards.
The doctor ordered for six months: no driving motor vehicle; no horseback riding; no bath.
Come to find out it’s against state law to drive, considering possibility for personal injury and safety of others.
Evidently there’s risk of drowning while bathing although showering hazards would seem as great? Always one to bath more often than Saturday night, that doctor’s directive was soon ignored.
It’d been 55 days. There just wasn’t anything that could control or stop the urge to get back on and ride, defying physician’s warning.
Blame has to be on the group president who a couple days earlier had asked, “Have you been riding?”
The “no” answer was embarrassing setting stage to do what a cowboy is supposed to do: “ride his horse.”
As related earlier Cody the palomino ranch raised speed demon patterned race horse was sent back to college. The cowgirl riding him is collecting ample cash prizes at much faster speeds than the cowboy ever did or could.
The beautiful ornery buckskin mare Maggie was taken out of barn luxury to rough it in Cody’s corral. Hard ground and Mother Nature crippled her for a time, but the cowboy’s daily treats pacified that hurt.
Having mounted a thousand or so young horses the first time, got on likely a hundred purchase prospects; this was different.
Look in Maggie’s eye became confused when gate opened and bridle slid on before the afternoon treat. Longtime routine soon took hold as saddle went on, reins through the martingale and tied around the horn.
Old timer wimpy cautious the frisky mare was turned loose to move around the indoor arena taking off any extra edge. Slowly getting into the saddle, the mount was seemingly concerned about her rider.
Ride was only at a walk for maybe 10 minutes yet how great the feeling.
Reminded of Esther 5:9: “He went out that day rejoicing and feeling good.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XIV–10–3-8-2020