The old guy.........a story

[Tripledeuce]

I wanted to start the new board with a "new" story...........

So,While we are doing things in a "new way"...I want to dedicate this story to :

Big John,,,,,,my insperation,,,my mentor,,,my friend.

Little "I "( aka "Sugarfoot")....a certlet,,,certified trainer,in training,,,,,destined,I think,,,,to being one of the "great ones".............

He was an old,non-descript looking horse. It was hard to tell what color he was,,,,the dried dirt and mud seemed to coat his hide.

Speaking of which,,,,,,,there didn't seem to be a square inch that wasn't covered with scars,,or brands.

Two brands on his left front,,,,a "blotched" two,or three on his left flank,,,,,,,one on his right sholder,and another two on his right flank.....

He was so skinny,,you could not only count every rib,from 50',,,but every "knuckle" in his spine.

He had spur scars on both front sholders,,,and spur scars on his belly,,,,,,,,when he was washed,and groomed,,,he had more " healed" saddle and cinch sores than hide.

His eyes screamed......"please".....to this day,,I'm not sure he was asking for help,,,or to be put out of his misery...........

My friend "Ronnie" (Veronica") had called,,,and asked for my,and Jans help.

"Where the H#@@ did you find that????? I asked.

I was at the auction,last night,,and couldn't bear to see him go to the "Killers"........

Nobody bid,,,after I bid $50............Said Ronnie.

Now,,the "auction" we used to attend was an interesting one....It was located in Corona,Calif,,,and they had "rejects" from three race tracks. 50-150 horses ,every Saturday night.

Four or five "killer" buyers,every time........ The interesting thing,,,,if even one person was interested in a horse,,they would not bid....

I asked one,once about that......He said that ther were "more" than enough,to go to slauter,,,if anybody was interested,,,,,,they just didn't bid,,,even if that horse went for several hundred less than it should have.

To me,he looked achient.....25 going on dead...

How old is he,I asked.

His papers say he's 20.

He actually has papers???????

Yes,,,he's a regestered quarter,out of Idaho.

I knew....with all those brands on him..that he was from "out of state".....Calif had no "brand inspection".

So,,what do you want us to do? i asked.

I need help "rehablitating" him.....What should I feed him????? how much?????How often?????

What has he been getting,asked Jan.

The story I got was ,,,,the old man who owned him died,,,and the guys daughter didn't know anything about horses,,so she went out ,,every "few" days,,,and threw him One flake of hay........

Do you have some of the old hay?

No.

Was it grass,or alfalfa?

They didn't know.

Ok,,,give him a i/2 flake of alfalfa,and a 1/2 flake of grass,,,and wait and see how he reacts.

So ,,she did,as we watched.....and the old boy took a couple of bites of the grass,,,and quit.

Has he been drinking?

Yea,,he went through a hole water bucket,when we got home.

He may just be full of water,said Jan...lets try a little senior,soaked in water.

So,we soaked 1/2 pound of grain in a quart of water,,,and he gobbled the whole thing,in seconds........

Don't give him any more for at least 3 or 4 hours,and we'll see how he does.

Do you think we can save him,asked Ronnie........

Theres always hope,,I responded.

Ronnie got a funny little half smile,,,and said ,OK............

I'll tell you,now,,that as the weeks went by,the old guy florished,,,,and started to look pretty good............Funny color,though,,,,,,,not a cremello,,,not a palimino,,,,,,,,,,kind of a "dirty cream"............. Almost a dry dirt color.

Next installment.......rehabilitating and re-training the old guy.

Terry

[BEARCAT]

Oh no, I'll have to wait til monday for the rest!!!
Why oh why must you torture us so...? :D

[Tripledeuce]

I don't rember extactly how long it was,,,,,,,,,three or four months,,,,,,,,,,maybe more....we got another call from Ronnie.................


I need help.

Whats going on?

The old guy is starting to "charge" the people feeding him......... And he is VERY aggressive.............

Ok.we'll be over this afternoon. Don't feed him,,,,,or anything,until we get there. Just make sure he has water.

So,,a little after noon,we arrived at Ronnies...............

Ronnie has the biggest heart I know of,She was alwasy "rescuing" animals...................Dogs,caats,,,,once ,even a "pet" python...............

Ronnie met us at the gate,and we went "out back" to where she had the goats,and chickens,and sheep,and the old Guy............

The Old Guy was looking pretty good,,,he had put on a lot of weight,,and almost didn't look like the same horse.............The tel-tale,,,,,,,,,,,all the scars,and brands,on his body.

He's had his breakfast,befor I talked to you,said Ronnie,,,,,,,,,but he hasen't had his grain,yet.

Ok........bring out his grain,and show me how you feed him.


So,Ronnie went into her feed room,and came out with a pan of "slop",,,,,,,,,,soaked grain and pellets...........

The Old Guy was on the oppisite side of the corrall,,,,,,,,,,an picked his head up when the gate opened.

Ronnie went in,,Placed the pan on the ground,and started to leave.............

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yelled,,,,,,and ran into the pen.............

As Ronnie turned away,the old Guy pinned his ears,and started to "charge"......... He stopped when I entered the pen.

i picked up the pan,and said to Ronnie,,,,,,,,You think you are being nice,to give him grain,,,,,,,,,,,,,He thinks He is driving you off his food when you turn to leave,but befor he gets to the food.

Where did you learn that?

A "new" trainer we found,hes helping me with that mustang I adopted....His name is John Lyons.....................

So,what do you want me to do?, asked Ronnie.

Just stand,and hold the pan.Don't put it down,or turn away until he has eaten a couple of bites,and his ears are up,and not pinned back.

so.we stood there ,and the old guy started to "sneak" up on us.............A lot like a wild horse..............

One bite,two.....and I reached up my hand to pet him........He shyed away like my hand was a red hot branding iron.

He won't let us touch him,said Ronnie.

So,he sneaked back,again,,,and after the second bite,I put the pan down,and let him eat.

Well,I said,,,,,,,,,,,I'm going to need my rp..........This was quite a few years ago,,,and I didn't know that "round penning" is a state of mind,not a place.....

Feed him like this,from now on,and WE'll dissassemble our rp and bring it over next weekend.

As we walked back to the car,I asked Ronnie if she had found out anything of the old guy's history.

Yes,She said..quite excited.............

He was born on a ranch,,and was broken by one of the ranch cowboys as a 4 yr old................ The cowboy and the old guy made quite a pair,,,,,,,,both with short temmpers,,,and the horse was pretty much a "one man" horse.............No-one else could ride him.

What happened,I asked??????

The cowboy killed hinself,in a drunken car crash,,,,,,,and no one could ride him.....He got quite a reputation,with the locall cowboys,,,,and did a lot of local rodeo's...............

After that,the owners sold him to a rodeo stock company,,,,,,and he was a bucking bronc,,,,,,,,for over 10 years..............

Then, one of the old rodeo cowboys retired,,,,and they let the old guy retire,with him...............

He lived in comftorable retirment,,,for a number of years,,,,,and then the old cowboy died............

You know the story,from there,she said.

Do you think you can help him?????Ronnie asked.

There is always hope,,I said.

And Ronnie smilled that smile again.

We brought our rp over,,the next weekend,,,,,,,and "herded" him into it......

Go right.............no,he wanted to go left,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,go right,,,,,,,,,,,no,he still wanted to go left...................

It took him a while to figgur out what I wanted,,and that I wouldn't quit till I got it.

Outside turns,for the aggressive horse,,,,,,,,then inside turns,,,,,,,,,then approach and retrete,,until he would let me pet him,,,,,,,,,,,,,and then we "broke" for lunch.

I made sure he had shade,water and food,,,,,,,and wasn't so hot he would "tie -up" from the water,,,,,,,,and went to sit down.........

[banat]

Terry! A new story :D Thank you, Thank you! So happy to see you!
Jesse

[Appy Trails]

Can't wait for more. Wasn't a member very long before the change but glad you didn't leave Terry.

[Tripledeuce]

Yes,,,,,I'm back...................to additctied to the board to quit...............

i beggged real hard,,,,,,,,,,,and Chris let me come "home"..............LOL....

Terry

PS...I'll finish the old guy's story later tonight,,,,,,,,,just worked two horses,and its past my nap time..............LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T

[RavenToy]

Terry, this place wouldn't be the same without you. I'm glad you stayed.

[Tripledeuce]

After lunch,we went back out,,,,and I tried to see how much the old guy had retained....

Everything!!!! He stood like a gentleman,as I walked up,,and first just touched him,then gently brushed him.

He'd let me wrap my arms around his neck,,but wanted nothing to do with halters...........

When we could really get "next" to him,,,the old scars made it quite clear his nose had been broken,,several times....probably from a chain.

So,I tried a thing my grandfather had done,,,,I tied a piece of rope,on his neck,at the poll,basicly,,,and we went for a walk...........

He never left my side,,and never even took the slack out of the rope............

Then I had Ronnie,,and her "helpers" come in,,,and each of them did the same.

He was fine with everybody but the only other male there.......

This guy thought he knew everything about horses,,so after he had tied the rope on the old guy,,he tried to "slip a loop" around the old guys nose,,a "rope" halter............

The old guy stomped on the fellows right foot,,and broke three toes,,,and then just quietly stood there,,as Ronnie rushed up,and "lead" him away..........

The "cowboy" was cussing up a blue streak,,,and threatining to "shoot the horse"....and I looked at him and told him he was a fool.........

The cowboy couldn't even do as he was told......tie a rope around the neck,and lead the horse,,,,NOT put a loop over a very tender nose.....

The cowboy stood up,,,and headed for his truck,,,,and i quietly asked him where he thought he was going.

I'm, going to get my gun,and shoot that outlaw!!!

You'll have to go through me,,,,,,,I said,,,as I casually and slowley moved my right hand,,,and cleared my shirt from the butt of my .45 auto...........

You woulden't!!!!!

Try me............

The cowboy got in his truck,,,,,and left.......he never came back.......

Now,,,some people don't believe in guns....and I respect thier right not to like them,,or want to owne one....all I ask,is you respect my right to owne one.

I spent 20 + years in "the gun business" and only had to draw my gun once...and never had to fire it in anger...I hope I never do........But,,,,,,If I had to...................

Ronnie came back,and asked where the "cowboy" had gone.......Away I said.......Thank God,she said............

I've been trying to get rid of him for a long time,,he just wouldn't listen...

I think he got the message,,,,,

So..by this time it was getting late....and we decided to put off any more work with the old guy untill the following month.

John was startring his first symposium,the next weekend,in Santa Barbara,,then in Pomona,then in Bonsill.....near San Diego.

So.Jan and I were going to be busy for a while!!!

I'v already described the first symposium so I won't do it here,,,,I'm sur Jan saved it,,and will add it to the board later,so uou can all read it...

The "First horse" was a beautiful pinto mare,,we found out later she was from Cotton Roosters bucking string.......and a full sister to the previous years "bucking horse of the year"....

And I learned a lot about "trigger" points,,,and things that would come in handy,,,working with the old guy........

The second horse was a white Arabian mare,,that had already had some rpr work done,,,,,,,that she wasn't supposed to have.

As long as it took John to get on the first horse,,he had to streatch it out,the second horse was so easy...........

He taught the horse to spook in place,,,and while he was on the horse,,,,,he had me "snapping" the saddle blanket,,all around the horse.......Walk,snap,,,,walk,snap............

Finally,,I was running around the norse,snapping the blanket,and yelling like a mad man,,,,,the horse stoodin the center,,and pivioted around her front feet to watch me............

Finally,,completly tired out,,,I quit running,,,and the horse slowley approached,and put her nose on the blanket..........

The crowd gave us a thunderous round of applause!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She stood there ,as only an arab can.....head high,,,,,,,as if to say,,,Yes,,I AM that pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I staggered to a bench,and sat down.

Now,,our daughter,Jeri,was @7 or 8,at this time,,and was playing in the dirt,with a little boy....... I had given her some money,,and she had bought a "pony" from one of the venders....... Jan's friend hKathy had come with us.....and she sat down next to me,laughing,and said.

Guess what Jeri did?

What?

She asked me for money to buy a "pony"....

I already gave her some.

I know..so I said she had to ask you.........

Good.

Then Kathy burst out in laughter,and said,,but it's what Jeri said next,that got my attention..

I looked at her.what?

Jeri,all 8 years old,,said," Therin lies the problem....".....LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

Pancho is tlling me I'm late with his grain,,,,,back later.

[barngirl]

YAY!!!!! Another story. I was worried, I'm glad to see your still here and giving us stories!!!!!! :) :) :)

[spotteddrafter]

Terry -- thank you so much for coming back. I have never told you how much your "stories" touch my heart and give me the encouragement I need in all parts of my life. I'm sorry that it's been this long for me to say it.

Thank you.

Jill

[denise]

What, did I miss something? Terry wouldn't think about leaving us, would he?
Terry, I just love your stories! Corona auctions sound a lot like their swap meets, poor animals for sale everywhere and not a one looking fit! :(

[Treasure Walk]

New board, new story. Just the way it should be!!!
Thanks Terry :D

Sheral

[joanne15853]

Great story Terry! Thank you. Thank you for staying here. Thank you for doing what you do.
Just, Thank you!

JoAnne

[vsolubo]

I love your stories! :)

[Tripledeuce]

I'm sorry I was gone yesterday,,,,,,and couldn't finish........

I'll try to finish,rite now!!!!!!LOL!!

So,after three weekends of watching John..........Jan and I went over to Ronnies,and started worling with the old guy...............

Ronnie had been working with him every day............and now all she had to do to "lead" him was tie a piece of baling twine around his neck,she didn't even have to hold the string...............

We again went to the rp,,,,,and we did spook in place,,,and de-spooking exercises.............he didn't have any trouble with those.

Then I went to saddle him..........................

Talk about "trigger points"...................

All you needed to do was barley "touch" one the old spur scars,,,,,or his nose,,,,,,,and we had a rodeo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not just nose down,and kick,,,,,,,,,,,,he was rearing,,,,,,,falling his front legs,,,,,,,,,kicking,and "sunfishing"...............Twisting sideways,and bucking at the same time...............

Man,could that old horse MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 10 or 15 nseconds,he would quit,,and wallk back to me............

This went on for 10 or 15 min......then Jan and I looked at each other,,,,,,and a light bulb came on in our heads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 or 15 seconds....................a rodeo "ride" is 8 seconds.......................The old boy learned his lessons well...........Do his job (buck) for long enough to "finnish" the ride,and quit...............

So,we changed "tack",in marine parlience,,,,,,,,,,we took a different direction.................

We just stood in the rp,,,and brushed him.............

Just brushed him.....until

[Tripledeuce]

Sorry about that,,,my daughter called,,,,,,,,,,,and my computer was going to "sleep".and I had to hit post,or lose it.

Anyway,,,,,,,we used a very soft brush,,and just brushed him,,,,,,,,none of the "trigger" points,just brushed him until he was almost asleep......then a quick "brush" over just a "part" of a trigger point......

The brush went by so quick,with him almost asleep,that he never had a chance to react.................

By the time his head came up,and he was paying attention,we were long gone......

Now,,,,,,,,no one,even John,is going to change the pattern of 10 years in the rodeo,in one session......It took months,actually...............

And so it went,,,,,,,,John wasn't teaching "the calm down cue"...we were uing "replacment" behavior,,,,,,,,,,,you know,,give the horse a job.............

And everything was going well.................

After a long time,he would accept a saddle,,,but his head was still sensitive,,,,,,,,,,although we were now able to at least halter him,,,,,,,,,,with a very soft halter,with a special extra wide and soft nose band...............

And,,he would tolerate being poneyed,and someone abov him on another horse................

Ronnie always aske dif "we" would be able to ride him,on day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and I always said,,,,,,sure,there is always hope,and she always smiled her little smile...........

But,I wasn't comftorable,with "just" the halter.... I thought you needed a bit to control the horse..............So I kept working on trying to get the old guy to accept a bit.................

Until one day,Jan and I went over tpo Ronnies,and she said ,wait...

And she sent her three little girls pout to "play" while the grown ups talked.......

11,9,and 8 ,I think they were..and Ronnei,Jan and I stood in the Kitchen,and looke out the window...as the three little girls ran out to the old guy.............

The oldest grabbed a piece of bailing twine from the garbage can they were thrown in,and as the three girls ran up to him,the old guy lowered his head,and let the oldest tie the string around his neck,,,and then they all trooped over to the fence,and as the three girls climed the fence,the old guy sidepassed as close to the fence as he could get........I think he was actually touching the fence.............and then all three girls hopped on his back,,,,,,,,,,smallest in front,then oldest,then middle,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and the oldest took hold of the string,,,,,,,,,,and the old guy started to walk aroung the yard.....................Right turn,,,,,,neck rein,left turn figgure eights,,back up,,,,and finally,when the girls had had enough,,,,,,,,,,he sidepassed back to the fence,so they coould get off................

My jaw had been on the floor,,the whole time,and Ronnie had had to grab me by the arm,when I saw them going to the fence,I was going to run out,and stop them.

How long has this been going on,I asked.

I only found out two weeks ago,and the girls don't know I know...........said Ronnie......

Well........I guess sombody can ride him,I said,,,,,,but I don't think I will.................

And,so we agreed,the three "adults"..............to keep the secret of the three girls,,and the old guy..................

But,,,,while this would be a good place to end the story,,,it isn't quit all................

A few years after this happened,Jan and I moved to Colorado,,and we only got to see Ronnie,and her children when we went to Calif.

It was on a visit,about 10 years ago,that we got a call from Ronnie............The old guy had died,and she didn't know what to do.. So ,I called a friend,who was in construction,and had a backhoe,,,,,,,and had him meet us at Ronnies.............

And we buried the old guy there,where he had at last been happy,,,and we all cried............

And as we were packing up to go,,,I asked Ronnie," you know,I don't think I ever knew the old guy's name."

Hope,she said.

And I looked at her,,,,and she had that same small smile,and tears running down her cheeks,and she said," His name was Hope."................................

Terry

[Dellawear]

What a wonderful story...

[banat]

awww, my eyes are watering :o

[joanne15853]

What a beautiful story :)

JoAnne

[barngirl]

that was a good story Terry, it even had a happy ending :p Thanks!!!

[BEARCAT]

No fair making me tear up at work!

What a great story!

[Navi]

What a wonderful story and the ending made me cry. Beautiful! :)

[Angie]

No fair making me tear up at work!

What a great story!

EXACTLY what I was going to post, Bearcat !!
My employees are trying to figure out who made a bad enough error on a financial statement to make me CRY ! :o

[Cassie1]

ARGH!!!!Crying!!!! What a touching wonderful story! Wish there didn't have to be horses like that tho - ones who had such a horrible "before" life.....but there are millions like him only most will never have the change he did......

wonderful.... :)
Ginger

[Cassie1]

I meant "chance"... :D

[Val]

Sniffle, kleenex to mascara, blows nose.
Val

[denise]

Sniff, Sniff!

[mtnmollie]

Hope.

That's what John Lyons gives us with horses that are over our head.

Laurie and somebody else needs some hope.

Good story Terry. :)

[jamoore]

Terry that was an awesome story. Course now my eyeliner is smeared. Oh well.

[Tripledeuce]

I thank you, all.

Miss Mollie, sometimes, my faith in John is all that kept me going.

I know John is just a man,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but to me,,,,,,,,,,he's a mans man.


Terry

[Rebazgrl]

Terry, thank you for the story. It was beautiful and I always love a happy ending. It's too bad we have to have "bad part" to have a happy ending:(. Your friend, Ronnie, sounds like a very special lady. gale

[rodger60]

Terry,

Thank you another for another great story.

[Deb]

Terry,

Thank you another for another great story.

Same from me.
Great Story, Thanks.

[Stubby]

Great story. You and Ned help to keep Kleenex in business.;)

[mtnmollie]

.

Miss Mollie, sometimes, my faith in John is all that kept me going.


Terry

Yep, me too. :)

[mtnmollie]

Bumpity - bump - bump- ;)

[setterlover]

Glad this was bumped up; I never read it....and glad nobody else is in my office. sniff/sob/cough.....good ol' horse.....good ol' forgiving horse...and they say horses aren't capable of loving....or being taught new tricks...good ol' forgiving, hopeful horse.....ok, openly weeping now.....:o