*just back from an Horse adventure! I made new friends with someone bigger, stronger and taller than me<G> a horse named "Ace#1" Out of the entire herd of cowponies I drew #1 saddle. Ace lives back in the foothills of the Cascades among the alder maple threes that are turning colors against the cedar and fir that don't. He's a tall shaggy mix of brown and white hair, *like me<G> Josh drew "Paco" and Cdr.Jen drew "Wildfire" and after some brief instruction we mounted up and headed up into the Oregon hills.. Above circled a Hawk riding the morning thermals, we passed a pond of wood ducks and the herd of longhorn cows that keeps the burgers in the bellies of the Butte Creek ranchhands<G> We headed up a jeep road to the ridge line and walked a trail along a clear-cut logging area. The trail was full of hazards, brush and mud, and it was amazing to be there and pass over logs and slash from the debris pile. Ace took it all in stride, stumbling and still going on... At the top we crossed the ridge into the next valley and went down into the dark Oregon forest, where spinning maple leaves drooped like snow, and the sun filtered through in beams of light. Ace broke a sweat and we rested in a clearing. The clouds passed and one brought a cool wind that got me into my new capote blanket coat. I snuggled up the sheep skin collar, and tugged down my 'old Resistol felt with a Montana peak<G> I was "Cowboy up" and happy to be there<G> *I learned something too- We've lost something in our modern culture that was second nature to man when he depended on the horse for gett'n one place to another. What I learned was that there is a pesky relationship of give and take between you and yur steed. Your horse is willing to take instruction, but not from a fool<G> and he is a fair judge of Character! On the other hand, being polite to a horse may not work as well as a kick in the ribs and the "touch" of the latigo! Your horse awaits a commanding voice and sure decisions from the rider. You carry the reigns in your hand to signal your mastery, your desires over those of Ace! *Yet when the going get's tough you work together- Ace powers up the steep hill and you stand in the stirrups and let him loose... and always encourage his heroism! I did that and at noon, Ace#1 pushed his nose in my gut and rubbed his big face over my belly<G> *I gave him a carrot<G> Ace and me took a little nap out in the hills in a green meadow, by a small creek for lunch. I laid down and Ace remained standing with his back foot cocked just so... After checking the cinch... and water'n a tree<G> we headed accross a shallow river. Ace didn't jump from rock to rock he just put his foot down and got going<G> Horses can walk where I sure I can't, and I was amazed at his work! The saddle I rode was old and broken in.. and the tooling faded. But with a up-hill it pounded me, and lifted me up.. on a down hill the shoulders of the western saddle held me back as I looked out over a mt.side as Ace went down the slope! The sun was heading over the top to sundown when from a distance we spoted the barn! We still had a long decent down the the valley to go, and Ace was ready but not pushing to get there. What a great day! Thanks ACE! -=A=- _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://rangernet.org/subscribe.htm and fill out the form. "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
