Cowboy up

Being politically correct today I became a cowhand. I always wanted to be a cowboy not cowgirl as they were like Dale Evans ugh! Then of course I'm not a boy so in today's world I'm a cowhand. Yeehaw.

Tracy introduced me to cowhand 101 today.. horse care ..a come up from horse 'babysitting ' today I groomed learned some new things about horses and went riding. Not too easy with chronic hip and joint disease but with a little help I managed to get on Tuff today rode around for about an hour and got off without disaster. Tuff and I bonded and he trusts me and I trust him so we made good progress. After riding I groomed him we chatted and shared some apples before I got my lesson on the correct way to "put up a horse" (my case put him in his pen.) I felt real great about the whole experience and am looking forward to more.

Now, Tuff is  a bay Quarter Horse and barrel racer (retired) Tracy acquired him because he didn't like barrel racing and his owner needed a horse who did. He's very quick when he has to be and will corner a tree or post quite close as I found today while I was trying to convince him I wasn't a barrel racer rider. After I groomed him Tracy saddled him up but we didn't put his bridle on, just halter and rope and I was very surprised that I had no trouble getting him to mind, even without a bit. He must have been happy about that as I know he has a tender mount...see Tracy I believe you mentioned that to me.over 2 years ago...some things I do not forget.

This really isn't my first experience on horseback as during my younger age and up till age 25 or so I had the chance to ride whenever I wanted at my Uncle Roy's and Aunt Joyce's house. They owned a riding stable plus boarding facility. My cousin Joy would hand over her own horse to me when I visited and I would ride him. He was an Irish Thoroughbred and his name was Irish. Irish was a beautiful chestnut with I believe 3 white stockings and I loved him dearly as he was very much a good tempered horse like Tuff. I was never an expert for sure but enjoyed that freedom and feeling you get as you feel as ..one with your horse.

Jim and I also got married on horseback and two years ago I had the chance to go on a trail ride in the Yellowstone area with my son David and his family. That is the limit of my riding so it really has been about 30 years plus... really horseback riding. This should prove to be interesting.
Ye haw.


We did have a great time today and discussed fixing up the trails and adding more between our properties and doing some work on our "South forty" as Jim and I call it, plus putting in a riding ring at Tracy's. While we were doing some checking on the area T (her significant other) must have figured what we were about as he took the tractor and cleared some of the area......this might become reality after all.

Since we have to clear and flatten some stuff here we also discussed renting a backhoe/ditch digger type thigee and doing a share job at both places. After that we need to fence the ranch as you never know when a few horses might just visit.

So Cowboy up.......or in this case Cowhand ( less the cows) but who knows what the future brings.