Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Time To Recognize Fathers Know Best

Dad was the best man we have ever known.

Certainly, he was a top horseman as well.

Therefore, Dad was the Best Man at our wedding.


Already 40 years old when we were born, Dad was the one we looked to for assistance or advice on anything we went to do.

He was talented whether riding a horse, fixing farm machinery, as a grocery store butcher or building kitchen cabinets. This was all with one hand, too, because he had lost his left one in a 5-foot Allis combine accident years before.

People who knew him earlier claim that when a tough horse needed ridden, Dad was who they’d call. Spirited horses were always his choice. One of his favorites was Bar, who Dad trained to rear straight up when he snapped his finger. We like hyper horses too.

Sale bill for Dad’s farm auction, after losing his hand, featured many horses he’d trained, ridden and worked. His saddle, bridle and spurs were kept and hung on our garage rafter until we were 11-years-old, and we put them into use on our first horse.

His cowboy ability showed through one morning after a runaway Shetland escaped three misaimed lariats, and one-handed Dad caught it with the first throw. We missed.

When we were procrastinating about getting on a young horse, Dad always advised: “If you can’t ride that colt, why do you think you can ride a bucker at the rodeo (that we always wanted to enter that night)?” We remember his comment every time we crawl on.

Never call a farrier if the horse goes lame. “You can shoe him just as well as anybody else.” If a nail wouldn’t come out, or we had another problem, Dad would take the hammer in his one hand and show us how. We shoe ‘em today, like he taught us.

As talented as he was, we did see Dad get bucked off once, followed by the saddle and bridle. As quick as possible, he caught the mare, saddled and bridled her and was on her back. He insisted: “You always have to get right back on when you fall off.” We do.

Proverbs17:27 contends: “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” That was our dad, Clarence Buchman, gone for over 25 years, and we miss him every day. Wish our children and grandson could have had his guidance too.

“Honor your father and your mother,” demands the Fourth Commandment, and we do. Father’s Dad is Sunday, June 17, and most children will recognize their fathers one way or another. We will place flowers on Dad’s grave and reminisce all that he did for us.

+++ALLELUIA+++

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