Horses, Mules, Donkeys, Trail Riding, And Stuff Like That

One old fella had a poem about a mule called “Lightning” but before he recited it he related a story he told a city lady about how to tell the difference between a horse and a mule.
Paraphrased, he said that if ya load a horse into a horse trailer and then at some time get into a fender bender, the horse will remember that trailer and never want to get back into it.
Now, if ya load a mule into a trailer and get into a fender bender, the mule will remember the trailer but most of all the mule will remember who put him into there to begin with.

A mule holding a grudge had me laughing and I have to admit that thus far, the other old timers I have listened to have given me a much needed good time.
I know I could look up the entire gathering and watch everything at one time but it’s fun to wait for each day’s entry on my page.

 

Denim and Western Decline
by Faye Fox 09/25/2021 0535 hours PST

That big W embroidered on the pockets on the rear
No longer says American as you wrestle down that steer
The west that was once based on beef, God, whiskey, and hope
Is now given way to no responsibility, disrespect, tofu, and dope

Cowgirls once wearing no back pocket jeans called bareback
Graced rodeos as they brushed their horses and got out their tack
Most cowboys controlled their manners, their language, and drama
Reason being, they respected, honored, and deeply feared their mama

They knew their mama brought them into the world and she could take them out
Such revelation kept them focused ------- when they went to the barn to pout
No smart denim donned cowboy ever called his mama an unspeakable name
Changed since biblical times, the rod was now a whip, a quirt, and not a cane

Those days have disappeared, ended, and fled
Except for a few living and several of the dead
You see when denim changed no longer USA made jeans
Many branding irons went cold and pots emptied of beans

Rodeo became a big-time sport not a special ranch holiday
With sponsors promoting commie made jeans just for the pay
Jeans made in China by workers living in poverty and squalor
Gives me rise to step upon my saddle soapbox ---- and holler

 

My goodness!! Syncronicity is at it again.
Just a few minutes ago hubby was talking about his daddys horse Thunder plowing the fields. You come up with a horse named Lightning.

 

I had a mini Shetland named Thunder. I used to load him and/or two others onto my pick up and take them to town for birthday parties or events. Great pony. Right now I have 2 sheep named Thunder and Lightning, named by two four year old rough and tumble twins.

 

Maey it must be contagious,this syncrinicity thing.
I love goats had one as a kid 'Nita' and she followed me everywhere,she evne chased the car if I was in it.

 

Well, time to, and we did, put away our straw cowboy hats and got out our black felt ones. Have a hat/coat rack by our living room and that's where they go. Long-sleeve western shirts/blouses will come out of spare bedroom closet and go into master bedroom closet, while short-sleeve western shirts/blouses will go into spare closet.

 

I have always loved watching trick riding but I was never brave enough to try it. It just occurred to me that I could, in my old age, be a trick rider. With my balance issues, just staying on a moving horse would be a trick.

 

Went to a rodeo in Cheyenne once and hated it. Then again, I am not into any of that stuff. Much as I find horses delightful animals, I will not ride one. Did it once or twice and disliked it intensely. I do enjoy watching the Lipinzzaners perform, however.

 

So, Lois, you aren't into farming/ranching? Just remember, if you are a meat-eater, where that meat comes from.......farms/ranches. Rodeo, both professional and not, has been around for years upon years. I was never into it until around 1985, after I went to my first rodeo. I loved it and decided I wanted to be a part of it. Some rodeo events do come from ranching and a movie The Great American Cowboy shows that.

But, if a person doesn't like rodeo, or livestock in general, they don't.

 

I love watching the Lipinzzaners and performing Spanish horses. I saw a show about Chile and their cattle horses that can walk sideways at a 45-degree angle to work cattle in corrals. It was really interesting. I was never horse crazy like some people and never really enjoyed recreational riding, but did enjoy remote range roundup with a good cattle working horse. You might enjoy this video.

 

Thanks for the clip. It takes a long time to train those horses. That one move where the horse kicks out (capriole?), as with a lot of advance dressage, was for war--to hurt following enemies.
I had a walking horse that could canter pirouette- canter super slow in a circle with hind feet staying in about a three foot space. I liked the slow canter so much, after he taught it to me, I taught it to my little arab. My horses taught me a lot more than I ever taught them. I miss them.
Faye, I think you and I could do the same trick riding at this age.

 

We miss our horse and donkey too. I use to go out at night and lay down with my donkey and look at the moon and new moon falling stars. Horse would lay beside us.

 

Yes, we could @Mary Stetler . I call nibs on the shoulder stand and you can do the tail drag. We would be quite the team, but sadly get split up having to take separate ambulances to the ER after trying to mount the horse.