Archive for September, 2005
Wednesday, September 28th, 2005Tommy
Tommy is a 20 year old Red Roan Appaloosa. He works at Triple Creek Ranch Inc. in the Youth and Christian Horsemanship Classes.
Wednesday, September 28th, 2005Catching Horses
Riding horses is not just about riding horses. I learned that the other day when I arrived at the Ranch. Tommy, our very large and spirited Appaloosa, was out in the pasture. A week before, I had screwed up my courage and mounted him for the first time.
“You need to ride a horse that actually moves,” Carla had said.
Up to that point, I would choose a horse based on how calm they appeared. Walking around the arena on the back of a horse seemed challenge enough.
“You want me to ride him?” I asked, watching Tommy toss his giant head and stomp the ground.
Yes, she did. And I did. And it worked out okay.
So on this day, I arrived at the Ranch prepared to ride the white prince again and found him turned out in the pasture.
“Um, how do I get him?” I asked Dwayne.
Dwayne tipped back his cowboy hat and grinned. “Go catch him.”
“Catch him?”
“Yup.”
I gathered up a halter and lead rope, drew back my shoulders, and strode out to the herd hoping I looked more confident than I felt. The horses munched on their hay and lifted their heads to watch my approach. A gentle, warm breeze tossed their manes. It looked very idyllic.
Mama, the herd Queen, was the first to break the mood. She whinnyed, threw her head into the wind, and galloped away. Tommy imitated her and in seconds the herd scattered. Great, I thought, how do I catch a galloping horse?
I stood, halter and lead rope hidden behind my back, and waited until the thundering hooves quieted. Then I scooped up a handful of hay and began to croon to the horses.
“Look what I have. Yummy hay, Tommy. Hey Mama, don’t you want to eat this?”
The horses looked at me like I was crazy. But, eventually I worked my way to within a few feet of the herd. I held out my hand and stood still. Tommy walked toward me, stretching his long neck to sniff the hay.
“That’s right,” I whispered.
He blew air through his nose, and took a step closer. I reached up to hook my arm around his neck and … he lifted his head, threw up his feet, whinnyed and was gone, leaving me coated in dust and feeling like a fool. I glanced back toward the barn and Dwayne waved at me.
For the next twenty minutes, the scene replayed itself three more times. Finally, in frustration, sweat dribbling down my face, I stomped back to the barn.
“How are you gonna ride if you can’t catch a horse?” Dwayne asked. His eyes twinkled. “They know when you’re mad. It’s all about patience.”
“Mama was stirring them all up.”
“Yup. She’s the problem out there. If you get her, you’ve got him.”
Dwayne sauntered out to the pasture and in minutes the herd were galloping toward the paddock area. “Whoa, Mama,” Dwayne said slipping a halter around her head and securing her to an oak tree. Tommy sidled up to Mama and looked balefully at me over her back. Dwayne slung an arm around his neck and slipped a halter over his nose.
It looked easy.
Maybe next time it will be.