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Stampede Strings
by Connie Rossignol |
I'm ashamed to admit but I always thought that
They were,
well, kinda silly -- them strings on yer hat.
Almost none of us rides all that hard nowdays
"Ceptin' maybe the ones
what still rides for their pay.
Besides, if a hat fits ya, it shouldn't come off.
It should take a twister to launch
it aloft.
I saw stampede strings as a small affectation
Used mostly for looks to maintain reputation.
So I never
wore 'em, me bein' a cynic,
Then one day while ridin' a mulemanship clinic.
Somethin' just happened that turned me around
A friend of mine's hat left his head and flew down.
Til it lit 'neath the nose of a big molly mule. She snorted, set back
and quite proptly left school.
Her ears went to twitchen her eyes rolled around
When she bowed up her back all four
feet left the ground.
Right down the arena she bucked and crow hopped
On into the chutes where she finally got stopped.
But
not before leavin' my friend in the dirt
Where his pride and backside was both quite rightly hurt.
That set me to thinkin',
and I figured out that
I might not bet my neck on the fit of my hat!
And I guess I got company cause next thing I seen
Was
most a my friends sportin' new stampede strings.
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(unknown title)
by Mary S. Corning |
Sitting tall in his wade
He rides the proud
mule
Showing refinement and grace
With balance and softness
He sets the example
Of all that can take place
When
patience meets wisdom
And feel replaces force
Partnership becomes the tool
Unity becomes the course
Like a master
he teaches
This disciplined art
Of learning to learn
Of listening with heart
Of giving to get
That light response
And
not settling for less
Not even once
When the man rides away
At the end of the day
There's a spirit that's left
behind
For the lessons he's taught
Will forever remain Evolving within our minds
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Trainers
by Connie Rossignol |
There's quite an assortment of trainers out there
With
all kinds of methods and knowledge to share.
They'll train all your equines, your spouse and your kids. They'll train minis
and mammoths and zebra hy-brids!
They make tapes and write books! They do clinics in person!
Some shout out their message
and some are whisperin'.
There's them toutin' "savy" and talking in rhymes,
There's high-tech, new fangled, and just
like old times.
Some show by example and some are good teachers. While some are soft spoken, some sound more like preachers.
They
reason from roundpens, they claim no resistance, They reach out and TTouch or join up from a distance.
There's young whipper
snappers and seasoned old timers, There's mom an' pop outfits and corporate climbers.
Whatever you think about all this
collection,
You have to admit that there's quite a selection.
So learn all about 'em, then sort out the hype,
And
you'll find at least one that is just the right type
To give you the skills and the knowledge you need.
But one word
of caution before you proceed--
There's one more instructor that can't be discounted,
And that's the "professor" on
which you are mounted!
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Slicker Break a Bronco
(Author Unknown) |
When you’re bustin’ out a bronco,
Better
get him slicker broke.
For you’ll have to do it sometime,
When it isn’t any joke.
When the wind
begins to howl and it snaps his mane and tail,
And a big dark cloud is comin’ full of lightning, rain, and hail.
You
know if you step off him he will quickly pull away,
So you try it in the saddle and you’re hopin’ that you
stay.
Now your horse goes to buckin’ when you get it halfway on,
Then your arms and sleeves are tangled and he
throws you and he’s gone.
Now your slicker’s tore and busted and the wind has took your hat,
And you
see your horse and saddle go driftin’ down the flat.
About that time you get an idea, and you don’t forget
it pal,
Better slicker break your bronco in a mighty good corral!
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