Observations!

I rode Mijo up west to move some cows and he wasn’t paying as much attention to my signals as I thought he should. Chance used to ride quite a few colts and when he had one acting like this, he would step off and “double” the colt, which means to send them off at about a 45 degree angle from you and then pull them back with the get down on the hackamore or snaffle. They soon learn to pay attention to the signals being sent down that piece of horsehair rope called a mecate. (mah ka teh)

Evidently when I did it, I must have used a just a wee bit more energy as Mijo jumped to the end of the mecate and whipped around and started running backwards. I don’t know why he seemed scared? Maybe because there was an old, fat man in boots, spurs and floppy chinks running at him while trying desperatly, to hang onto aforementioned mecate?

Bottom line, he went home alone, while I did also, only I had a slight limp in my left leg coming from pain in the left knee which I evidently had twisted in the fall when he jerked free from me. While walking home I came up with some sage words of wisdom and advice and observations.

When walking afoot, I notice I have lots and lots of grass.

Leather soled riding boots, spurs and leather chinks are great for riding, but not much help when walking afoot.

Old fat men who riding young semi-untrained horses should refrain from using training methods such as they have seen younger people do, unless they have emergency help along in case of emergency.

Walking afoot with leather soled riding boots, leather chinks and spurs is good exercise. But probably not as good of exercise as riding the young horses in aforementioned garb.

Walking back takes much longer than riding out.

I sure have a lot of grass this year.

Walking in leather soled riding boots, heavy leather chinks and way too heavy of spurs makes you sweat!

Cussing the young horse while walking back to the house just uses up precious oxygen that old, fat men need to power the body.

One advantage to walking is that as a pedestrian you don’t need to use gates in fences and can just climb over or thru a barbed wire fence. Thus you can follow line of sight rather than the trail the young horse took on his way home.

Bovine are much more intimidating when they beller and moo and show to be protective of their calves when you are afoot as compared to when you are horseback.

When you are riding you will see many sticks large enough to defend yourself from cows, bears or any other violent attack. When afoot, you will see none!

Did I mention I have a lot of grass this year?

As you walk your brain will devise many methods to subdue and train on the simple beast that put you in this position. But when you have at last grabbed a hold of said beast, you are too tired and decide that making him walk home was punishment enough.

Setting and trying to remember all that you thought of while walking home is much more difficult than when you first thought of it and words flowed like water in a river, in your mind.

Did I mention I sure have a lot of grass this year?

Walking with a sore knee is not fun and not to be recommended to anyone over the age of oh, I don’t know, say, 35 or 36 years of age?

After walking home in heavy leather chinks , heavy leather soled boots, way too heavy spurs, I have sweated and even tho’ I took a shower this morning, I suspect I will have to take another one tonight!

Riding the young horse the rest of the way home pains the sore knee and makes it advisable to go soak knee in hot water while drinking a medicinal drink with ice, water and preferably bourbon whisky.

After such hard exercise, I would think it is best for the old, fat man to relax and take a break for the rest of the day. While smiling at the thought of all the grass he has this year.