09 Dad, Back In The Saddle Again


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August 29th 2009
Published: August 31st 2009
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Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)

The little one is Paco as a colt, the darker one is Harriet and the other one is the mom, Replica.
I decided I needed to make it a priority to provide my Dad riding opportunities this fall. He isn't as strong as he used to be. He doesn't have the strength to saddle his horse or get it ready to ride, but if someone saddles it then he can ride until he is tired.

Now for those that don't know Dad and his horses let me give you some background. Years ago Dad wanted to get a horse, he was raised with them and was somewhat of a horse trader when he was in high school. He is well versed on horses I have not met anyone that is a better rider. After he retired he would go up to my sisters and ride their horses, then he decided he would get one of his own. He decided to get a Peruvian Paso. If you have seen them they have a fancy trot, legs wide step and this gate makes an extremely smooth ride. The Pasos back does not jump or bounce, it just floats above all the movement going on with those hoofs flying around. The second thing to remember about a PP is that it is customary to
Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)

Thats Rep looking for a treat.
not use a bit in the bridle. Now anyone that rides knows that horses can be stubborn, the bit causes some pain that gives the rider an advantage in a battle of wills, when there is disagreement between the rider and horse on direction of travel. When the rider doesn't have the 'bit' advantage than it is a battle of muscle and will. So dad searches for a PP and find one he likes "Replica", a beauty. The problem is she has an older colt "Harriet". The owner doesn't want to split them up, so Dad becomes the proud owner of 2 PPs. Neither were broken for saddleback riding. Replica we all soon learn is a very calm horse. So calm that when they broke her all they really had to do was saddle her and climb on board. She is the equivalent of a lovable lap dog. Harriet was broken a year or 2 later. A bit more feisty, but not an obnoxious horse, she isn't known to be a biter or kicker. I have never seen her attempt either. She is more likely to walk on your feet if you aren't careful. I think it was 2005 that
Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)Dad and his herd (2005)

Big nose Harriet
Replica had the second colt, Paco (spanish for Warrior). Paco is the typical 12 year old ADHD boy on a perpetual sugar high. Into everything, breaks whatever is left out and its high speed, low drag, buzzing 24 hours a day. Independent little SOB he is quick to start flicking those rear hoofs at you and is known to bite or do about any other nasty thing to you if he thinks he can get away with it. He has a quick bad temper. No one is safe, Mom and Dad will only walk the pasture with a whip or board to fend Paco off should he decide to 'play' with them. The three horses are close. Lord forbid that they should be out of each others site, or that they be separated by a fence. These minor occurrences will cause great commotion. Nickering, kicking and running its just amazing the anxiety that is immediately displayed.

I had asked him 3 weeks ago if he wanted to ride, he said he did but it was too hot. On cue God has provided us an unusually cool August, so last week I went down and was trying to remember how
Paco in 2005Paco in 2005Paco in 2005

Back when he was cute and sweet.
to saddle a horse (it had been over 30 years since I had done it) while doing it. At the exact time that I needed help God sent me Betts. A friend of my Moms that works with these horses sometimes with her granddaughter. In short order we had Harriet saddled and Dad was aboard. Mom had showed up by now so there are the four us out there.

We have dad up and in the saddle. The route normally taken is 8 times around the pasture. He rode this for years. And frequently it became a battle of wills as whichever horse he was on wanted to stop. He is now on Harriet that hasn't been ridden in a year, free to do as she pleases she is not too happy about her curent circumstance or being away from the others as they are in the coral. None of us 3 women are going to ride this horse, we have made it clear. We will tack it up but none of us ride, today, tomorrow or anytime. Harriet and Dad start off and he makes around once then the battle of wills step to a higher level. Mom and Betts decided to release the other 2 horses and maybe Harriet would settle down. She had been bucking and dancing, we are all nervous that Dad might end up on the ground, but he stays in the saddle and isn't giving up. We know that he has got to be tired but he knows he can not give in or she will totally take advantage next time. Harriet can not win this battle. As soon as the other two are loose they start running. Paco is racing/charging back and forth between Dad & Harriet and Mom & Betts (who are out in the pasture), kicking at both pairs. I am staying in the coral with the gate closed. Harriet is still being difficult. Betts goes out with a lead rope hooks up Paco and hope that if she leads Paco, Harriet will follow. Nope. So then Mom goes out with a stick and taps Harriet on the rump, no help she just starts dancing and getting skittish. So with Paco under control I head out with a lead rope and hook up Harriet to lead her. Now our procession is Betts with Paco, followed by me leading Harriet with
Dad and HarrietDad and HarrietDad and Harriet

At the Garnett North Lake, this was a warm up lap before taking off to go round the lake.
Dad on board and Mom at the rear tapping away to keep her moving. Cars are slowing down to watch our little parade, I am sure we were quite a sight. We complete the round and Dad says its okay to quit. All of us are pooped.

We talk later and I suggest that next time we load Harriet up and take her somewhere else. Get her away from the barn and the other 2 horses. Both Mom and Dad agree that she would behave much better away from the pasture and the other 2 horses that she is much better on trail rides. I suggest the north lake as it has the main road but also trails going around the lake. It would be a pretty ride. So with the promise to watch the weather and shoot for next Friday if possible we are planning the next ride.

It worked out that I could stay that following Friday night in Garnett so our plan expanded to if he was up to it on Friday and Saturday then he could ride both days. I went down Friday to get dad back on his horse. The weather was again
Dad and HarrietDad and HarrietDad and Harriet

The picture quality is poor because I am using max telephoto, I am across the street and then another 50 ft or so.
ideal for Dad to ride. The first task was to get the trailer hooked up and air the tires. It had been a couple years since it had been moved. In short order the trailer was hooked up and tires were aired up. They had the horses in the coral so all we had to do was get Harriet on a lead rope and get her out. Horses are smart. They knew something was up when we started working with the trailer. I think they all three wanted to go. But instincts also tell them to not get caught, so they can't see the lead rope or you are not going to get in hand reach of them. With me using treats and Mom at the other side feeding grain, we get Harriet hooked up and out of the coral pretty easy. I was nervous about loading her but Dad said she would load easy if we just let her do it at her speed. And sure enough I lead her to the trailer door and just waited. In a couple minutes she just walked in. Dad says that she just needs to think about it for minute. We pull out of the pasture and mom stays to let the other 2 out of the coral after we get out.

Its a short ride to the north lake, maybe 4 miles. I get the horse out of the trailer and get her saddled and bridled about the time Mom shows up. She helps with the last of it and then Dad saddles up and we send them off. Harriet was especially calm during all this. Now I had been impressed how well Dad had done staying on Harriet the week before so we were not going to follow him. I had only requested that his oxygen bottle be hooked to him and not to the saddle, so if he did get separated he at least had air.

I am scared of the horses, I don't act like it, but I don't like working with them. We had ponys when I was young, and I learned to ride, but was never into horses like my sister. Anyway Harriet this day is just a dream. She I think, is actually looking forward to the ride. She has been very patient and just stood there. Not giving anyone any grief.

We are getting updates from the pedestrians as they walk by where we are setting. He is fine..... and he is having the time of his life Mom assures me. Well it gets past time even Dad should have been around the lake. So we go in search, under the guise that I wanted to take pictures, which I did anyway. We find him sitting on a guard rail, with poor Harriet dancing around with the saddle hanging off her side. Dad has a set of steps that he uses to mount so there was no way he is getting back on Harriet. I get the tack off her and go get the trailer to load her up. Dad says he’s not hurt. The cops are looking for us (mom and I) and a couple other groups had stopped and helped him, but he was alone when we got there. So I know that the side saddle is my fault, the girth was not tight enough. I want to cry because I could have killed him. Within a couple hours we are all laughing though. Dad said that she was skittish about crossing the little bridge we found him at. But he had been persistent. It all turned south when the bridle broke. in the tugging match a rivet failed and he lost any rein control. Then she got spooked or something and jumped. When she jumped the saddle slid and Dad was headed toward the ground. He said that he got off rather than falling off, but ended up on the ground, so he just laid there. He knew someone would be along. So there is my Dad laying in the road with his horse Harriet off to the side of the road with the bridle hanging from her head, saddle on her side, probably contently grazing. I asked him if Rockers (the guy that first stopped) thought he was dead. He chuckled and said yes he did. Dad said he probably could have gotten up on his own but knew someone would be along. Rockers helped him up and sat him on the guard rail, while the local cop got Harriet and tied her off to the guard rail. When he did that she could no longer shoo the horse fly off that was bothering her so she was dancing around trying to get it off her butt when we drove up. Its kind of funny these horses can not use their tail to sweep flies off their rumps. Their tail hair doesn't go that high on their hind quarter when they swish their tail. Its definately long enough, it just won't go high enough. I don't know if its a PP thing or just a DNA thing with his horses. Dad all the time is sitting on the rail right next to where she is dancing. Dad assured us he was okay and thought he was fine until he got up to get in the truck. Then he realized he couldn't walk. We got him home and got him down the stairs inside the house. The original plan was to ride Friday then again on Saturday if he was up to it. So all night he is trying all kinds of things, soaking, salves ect to get his foot to feel better, because he really wants to ride on Saturday. Saturday we get up to a swollen foot and a trip to the emergency room.

Anyway my dad suffered a bruised heel, we found out that nothing was broke, so now he on a walker (still can't put weight on his foot). My mom has blisters across all her finger tips as she tried slowing Harriet down when we were unloading her back at the pasture and soon found that Harriet was a wee bit stronger. I walk away unscathed from the weekend, but Mom and Dad will require time to heal before our next ride. I promised to go down on this next Thursday night and if possible we will ride again on Friday, but will probably end up fixing the trailer lights that didn't work when we got it out. That is how I spent most of the day on Saturday, trying to fix the lights that did not work. 2 days later I know more about trailer wiring than I thought I would ever need to know. I changed out one of the taillights because it was all corroded only to find that wasn't the problem. Dad joined me outside and we finally found the problem was with the trucks wiring to the plug. We didn't fix it because it was late but it shouldn't take long next time. Well that is a whole different blog. 😊

How did Effie fit into all this??? Well of course I rode down there. 140 mile round trip and some great views.


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31st August 2009

How Nice!
Thanks for sharing. Riding horses has been recognized as great therapy. Also, I'm sure Dad appreciates his time with you.....and you with him is good for you too!
31st August 2009

Great daughter
Thanks for sharing. We have an older quarter horse that my little girl rides. Her and Becky (the horse) spend all day together.
1st October 2009

Nice story
My daughter had a PP for a while. Vaquero had been used as a "teaser" and otherwise abused, and no one at the barn could ride him. My daughter, Sami, started loving on him while she was helping the trainer. Next thing you know, she had permission to take him out for walks, then rides. It broke her heart when the owner moved away and took Vaquero. M/C content - Sami is now riding a V-Star 650 while in college, and begging for my Sporty since we just bought a Heritage Softail Classic. I have enjoyed your posts on the Sportster boards, Cindy. Buck Hiltebeitel '04 XL883 "Piglet" '08 FLSTC "Jett" (bought during the Texas State HOG Rally, with Joan Jett as the concert headliner, and it's black!)

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