There he was, that dumb old horse, the words my daughter used , when she told me he was for sale.
Walking around in the pasture, big brown blotches, over white, from his head, to his tail.
About 15 hands, I guessed, built like appaloosas, are, but I saw a sureness in his gait,
that belied what I'd been told;
Pow Wow, is a good old horse, but he's not trained, very well, and, he's getting old.
I'd met the lady that owned the farm, thru the 4-H club, at the school, our girls went to.
We walked out to get Pow Wow, as she told me, what he could ,and couldn't do.
Chris, I said, I think from what I've seen so far, it's more, would, than, could,
he's just being lazy, and fooling, all of you.
She, patiently tried to catch, him, as he side stepped, and inched, himself, outa reach
All the while staring me down, giving out "don't mess with me" looks, and showing,
me his teeth.
You're not a carnivore, I said, as I quickly grabbed his mane, Chris, backed up, expecting him
to, rear, and stomp, but I held fast, and he just stood there, as I hooked my fingers thru the halter
and led him towards the barn, as it began, to softly rain.
The rain and the cool summer day, relaxed him, as it did me,
I decided, not to put a bit in his mouth
or a saddle on his back, but took my chances riding, bareback, steering and stopping,
with, just, a hack.
I walked him around, still on the ground, for what seemed quite a while, whispering in his ear
that I knew he was pretending, and it would do him no good, and he should just do, what, we both, knew,
that, he could.
He stalled somewhat and shook a bit, as I slid up on his back, I felt him beginning to rear,
when I grabbed his ear and bit it gently, whispering a soft, but firm threat,
and locking my legs around his waist, but not, letting him, take a step.
We sat, like that for a little bit, as he relaxed and, I began to softly, sing,
Chris just stood there, getting wet, she didn't want to miss a thing.
I told her to put the carrot, she was holding, out front, so he could see,
and slowly he walked towards, her, getting no cues, from me.
I let him nibble ,for a while ,and told her to talk to him, as if I weren't there
she laughed and said Oh I can tell, he knows you're on his back, but he doesn't,
seem to care.
You said you wanted $350.00, for Pow, as he doesn't know a thing,
are you going to change the price, if I show you he's been foolin you all this time,
as I cue him with my legs and he turns, and cuts,
on a dime.
I think you have a cutting horse, you said from Colorado, he came
He's worked for his oats all his life, and now he just wants to graze,
so he's playting the: "I'm, a dumb, old horse, leave me alone", game.
She said the price would be the same, either way, but, Art, you better hold on, tight,
I think it's you, he's foolin, today.
I gently took, the reins, and pulled him round, to face the field, then squeezed my legs, fairly tight
and clicked my lips, as a command, we took off like a bullet, as I cued him, left, then right.
We went around the old barrel, that her daughter used, to pratice, with me barely, keeping my seat,
he changed direction so quickly, with just, nuance, cues, from my legs, and my feet.
His lope was like sitting in a rocking chair, no smoother ride had I ever, known,
and when I gave him his head, and we were running full-out, it was like a stong wind blowin, .
I knew then I had to have him, and that we both would benefit, greatly, and be each others best fan.
proving there's nothing quite like, the age old, friendship, that sometinmes occurs,
between a horse and a man.
He was already 16 years old, but he never showed his age, we rode together, for 6 long years
He never let me down, and I never lost a race, whether a sprint, or an obsticale course,
Cause that ole boy, was, a wonderful, never say die, Kingly, kinda, animal, who knew just how;
to keep his talents in ,cognito,
my, very special, friend, my, Wonder-Horse,
POW!
ROCK-Salt 06 07
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Yes they can be very sneaky....and play stupid if they are too lazy to work!!
Love Tinka