Hello Will James. A number of years ago, after going through some difficult times in my life, an old cowboy friend named Bob suggested I go horseback riding with him. One day he said I should take off the saddle and try riding bareback to improve my balance. So I did.
Tootin was quite high and I wasn’t so tall, so I’d stand on a big bucket and climb atop the horse... if he would stand still for me. After a few weeks I felt confident riding bareback around the pasture. While Bob and his good wife Judy were away for a week, I had the responsibility to look after Tootin and another horse named Shorty. Bob said if I wanted to go for a ride down the back roads I would have to take both Tootin and Shorty. Well, one day I made up my mind it was time to venture beyond the pasture. I got both horses ready and stood on the bucket, holding the reins on Tootin and a rope tied to Shorty’s halter. It worked, and away we went.
A couple miles down the road, Shorty decided to stop and within two seconds I knew I had to either let go of the rope before I got pulled off Tootin or I would have to jump off and hopefully keep both horses together. Well, I jumped off and as I did Tootin decided to keep going while I tried to get Shorty to move. Eventually I got both horses together again and I had to climb on a shaky old barbed-wire fence to get back on Tootin.
We continued along the road and then headed to the top of a big coulee. The view was beautiful. Then, as I guided the horses back down the hill – remember, no saddle or stirrups – I suddenly realized that as it got steeper, no matter how much I tried to lean back, I was moving towards Tootin’s neck. I clung on to his belly with my legs for dear life and prayed a silent prayer that I wouldn’t fly over Tootin’s head and get trampled by both horses! Well, I survived and we all made it back to the pasture without incident.
Sometimes life has its ups and downs and sometimes there are others who we know or don’t know who step into our life and help when we least expect it. I am so grateful for the insight of an old cowboy, who found a way to help me through a difficult time. So I wrote some lines* about my old cowboy friend Bob, and thought I’d share them with you. * see "Bob" below
Will James, I know you appreciate the good things in life and stories like this.
Happy trails.
David
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