Janice's Ramblin'
Woodrow is a real horse! By
Janice O'Neil
Everyone at the Ranch is getting into the
act helping Mike write the Ramblin'. This time we hear from Janice
O'Neil, Mike's wife and the Ranch Trail Boss and Livestock Manager.
Mikecalls her the "Barn Goddess." -- Boss Lady
He stands about 16 hands at the withers, and weighs close to 1200
pounds. He is the Trail Boss's favorite ride.
Woodrow's ears prick up as he reaches the crest of the mountain
and looks down over the other side. He comes to a stop. The divide
is steep, but Woodrow is not tired. He is a big horse and his ride
is light. He turns sideways in the path to ensure that all the dude
horses behind him come to a stop. He stands there watching. He is
waiting for the signal to turn and go down. With a light touch of
the rein, he turns toward the bottom of the hill, going down on
his haunches and bringing the string along with him safe and sound.
At the bottom of the hill, Token, a long legged Appaloosa decides
that he wants to make a bid for the lead. Stretching his legs, he
tries to pass Woodrow, but Woodrow seeing him, sidesteps to the left
in front of the Appy, cutting him off safely. With a look from his
eyes and a flick of his ears he sends the Appy back into position.
That is horse talk for, "You had better get behind me, partner."
Reaching the Ranch all in one piece, as usual, the horses head for
the arena to move the cows around. Woodrow sides up to the gate so
the Trail Boss can open it for him and let the string in. As he closes
the gate, he turns around and looks, and there are all the cows at
the wrong end. Woodrow pins his ears, and goes to work. Swinging sideways
and backwards across the arena he herds up the cows and drives them
down to the opposite end. Then, his job done, he turns and goes back
to the guests.
He will make each pass that the guests makes
ensuring their safety from the top to the bottom, stopping the horse
that wants to go too fast, walking off the one that may want to
swing too wide, and ponying the one that may want to go too slow.
He makes sure that everybody has a good time. Although Woodrow will
make three times the trips, as a regular dude horse will in this
arena event, it is easy for this big strong horse. Two years ago,
he was bought at the NFR bucking horse sale. There he was used to
pull big ornery bulls from the arena, so this is a piece of cake
for him.
At the end of the team penning, Woodrow leads everyone out of the
arena and back to the hitching rail. He stands quietly as the Trail
Boss jumps off his back and runs over to help the guests dismount.
When the wranglers unsaddle the dude horses, she will come back
to take care of Woodrow.
He has had a long day. Up since 8:30 that morning
under saddle, it is now 8:30 at night. With the saddle off and his
back rubbed down, she scratches his forehead just right and whispers
in his ear what a good boy he was today. Slowly she leads him back
to his pen. Once inside he drops his head for her to take the halter
off. The pat on his neck tells him it is time for him to turn in for
the evening. Fresh water, good hay, and a nice place to roll, that
is Woodrow's pay. The next morning you can bet he will be standing
at the gate with his ears up, looking for the Trail Boss because he
knows he is her favorite ride.
May you always ride a good horse.
P.S. Woodrow is also roped off by the Ranch
Manager, and the Trail Boss shoots her single action colt .45 off
him. Whatever it may be, it is okay with Woodrow.
He is just an all around typical American
Quarter Horse.
The End
The
Ramblin' is SVR's newsletter about current and past events.
To
view past Ramblin's please choose one of the following links:
