Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Maturity Changes Romantic Passions

“Been there, done that and no real desire to do it again.”

While philosophy has long been that people never change, they actually can and do in some ways.

What was formerly a “romance,” although some folks don’t understand that terminology, preferably describing such a “passion,” can become unimportant.

That is not completely irrelevant yet certainly unnecessary and unessential for a happy life.

There can be endeavors with such heartfelt attachment one feels they can’t or wouldn’t really want to live without.

Yet in reality “this too shall pass” as “time changes everything.”

Forever desiring to be a cowboy in every positive definition of such, certain characteristics just automatically become part of it.

After getting that first horse, a mare, not atypical to many, she was mated and raised a foal. Over four decades that meager beginning developed into a major horse breeding program. Never raising 40 colts a year, the operation approached that level to become known with demand for the production. It was a “romance.”

Merchandising so many horses soon required an annual auction sale on a set date attracting buyers from afar.  The day became a somewhat prominent equine attraction for 25 years. It was a “romance.”

A livestock judging field day promoted as the state’s largest with valuable winner awards was predecessor to the sale. With only slight changes those activities became incorporated into one even fuller second Saturday of October continuing 30 years. It was a “romance.”

Those first home raised foals must be trained and the way to do that was to get on and ride.   Before long others were asking for their horses to be trained, and the word spread. The sideline profession grew to nearly 1,000 horses trained in 40 years. It was a “romance.”

Even with a scheduled annual horse sale, somebody always wondered “where can I buy a horse?” Demand for riding horses developed into “horse trading or swapping business” with sometimes several dozen transactions annually. It was a “romance.”

Not coincidentally, yet another horse endeavor was judging shows. With five association certifications, horses were adjudicated in 22 states and 56 Kansas counties. It was a “romance.”

Those romances have been outgrown with maturity. Passion remains for riding and showing horses, writing stories and helping others.

Reminded of Psalm 40:11: “Don’t hold back your passion.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

XIII–33–8-11-18

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