Cowgirls on Horseback

If you remember, my sister Mattie Rae organized a horseback riding lesson for me for my birthday. Thursday was the day. I dressed in my new cowgirl outfit for the occasion and met my Mom, Mattie Rae and my niece Madison (Shan'l couldn't come so Madison took her place). We went to the farm where we got the harnesses and some grain. Mom was in charge of carrying the grain bucket. She asked our "teacher" who was actually her neighbor Brother Murdock what it was. He said "grain". She sticks her hand in there and stirs it around and feels it. (This is very typical of my Mother. She likes to experience everything with all her senses. She has to touch and taste everything new. I am the complete opposite. I'm content with just looking. I have no desire to touch or taste anything I'm not familiar with. I am always giving her a hard time about this.) Teasingly, I asked her if she was going to taste it, too. She said "Yeah." But not believing her, I turned away. When I glance back at her she's spitting out the hull and says "Wheat". Alarmed, I said "Mom, what if it is medicated?" She replies "Well, it wouldn't be the first time I've had animal medicine. You know Absorbine?" My mom was raised on a dairy farm and consequently her dad used some of the same medications for his family. Absorbine is an antiseptic used on animals and they later made another version called Absorbine Jr. that I remember getting treated with as a child as well. Doesn't mean I'm going to eat horse food.

So then we go out to the pasture to catch our horses. Brother Murdock puts leading harnesses on the ones we will use and hands us each a horse. The one he handed to me was white with black speckles named Bonnie. I noticed that Bonnie only had one eye and asked him about it out of curiosity. He said that she got her eye poked by a wire on a fence and they had to remove her eye. I am very intimidated by horses and so was extra nervous knowing my horse might be more skittish because of her vision impairment. But he assured me she was a good horse and hadn't ever done anything wrong. And she did prove to be a wonderful horse. Just in case you are curious, I've included a photo to satisfy your curiosity. It's not every day you see a one-eye'd horse. And now we know why we have glass eyes. It's kind of unnerving to see an empty eye socket.

We loaded them up in the trailer and took them to another field where we would saddle them and ride them. First, he had us brush them down. He said that if their back is dirty where the saddle goes it can cause irritation. I think it also helps the horse and rider get to know each other a bit better. I know it helped me feel more comfortable.

Then he put saddles on them and had me lead Bonnie around a bit with her saddle on. Then we got on our horses and went out into the field. Brother Murdock rode with us at first and answered any questions we had and then went back when we felt comfortable. We rode round for probably another 1/2 hour. It was a lot of fun. It was fun to see my Mom in that setting. She was so comfortable. Madison did great, too. I was terrified of horses at her age but she loves animals and has had some riding lessons and was giving us some pointers as we went. Our horses pretty much liked to stay together so if one started running, unless we protested, the rest would start running, too. Bro. Murdock also has a herd of cattle that graze up Hobble Creek. These horses have been used for cattle round ups for years and years. The horse my Mom rode was also used in a rodeo years ago. They are ridden several times a week and they were the best behaved horses I've ever been around. It sure made the riding experience a pleasant one.






When we were finished we brought them back and Bro. Murdock took the saddles off. We brushed them again and put the horses away. Bro. Murdock gets out his lasso and a bucket and shows us how to rope the bucket. Then he gives Madison a try and she does a great job. She's a natural. Then Mom goes and has trouble and ends up lassoing herself a few times. She gives up and Mattie Rae gives it a go. She had the same trouble as Mom and I start to get nervous thinking it's harder than it looks. Bro Murdock demonstrates again and then it's my turn. See video below.

Yee Haw! I'm a cowgirl! I'm one step closer to my goal of riding in a cattle round-up someday!