Read about it here at  Thankful Thursday February 26, 2009

Be sure to spend some time thinking about what you have to be thankful for.  It is so healing.   More Thankful Thursday’s may be found at Akal Ranch and Tire Dog Ranch.  There are many Thankful Thursday’s out there and if you google them, you may find something that speaks to your very own intimate heart.

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Today I ran across a very interesting saddle tree while looking for 1800′s horse life.  Visit this site to learn more.

Saddle from the Plains; late 1800s
Wood, sinew, rawhide, brass buttons, buckskin, steel, leather, deer antlers
31 cm (H) x 43.5 cm (L) x 27 cm (W)
Glenbow Museum Collection, Calgary, Canada
AF 5127

I question the horn. If the horn was designed for holding cattle, what use did the Blackfoot put it to?  One thing becomes clear you can strap anything onto a tree and end up with a saddle.  The idea that a saddle has to have layers of leather on it is a very new one and more for esthetics’s than for service.  Having visited with a number of folks who have ridden either McClellan or minimalist saddles, I am finding that if the tree is made correctly and the fit for horse and rider is there very little leather is needed for comfort.

Here is a Frederick Remington version of the Vaquero Hope style saddle.  What really stands out to me is where the stirrups are placed.  Remington must  have been very astute as the vaqueros feet are directly under where the slots would be in the tree which  were placed specifically to place the rider over the center of gravity.  I guess what I am getting at is balanced riding is not new to western riding styles.  We forget sometimes that western riding does not necessarily mean sitting on a horse in the chair seat manner.

Even this cowhand from the PK Ranch Rodeo 1900′s is balanced directly over the horses center of gravity.  Go to Trails End State Historic Site for some fascinating reading and a journey into the way of life around the Kendrick Family.

And then I thought I would add this early 1800′s – 1900′s drawing of a Mexican rider in a western style or vaquero saddle also riding in a balanced seat.  I love the horse! 

This is it for today’s Sunday’s Historathon – 1800′s.

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Yes I finally am getting my Thankful Thursday posted.  Life got in the way today, but I still made it under the wire!

 Enjoy the journey here.

For more Thankful Thursdays try out these blogs.

Akal Ranch

Tired Dog Ranch - Wow guys I thought I was behind the game here??

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Has been added here.

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Okay its Monday… So I’m a day behind.  Yet I fee compelled to get this historathon on its way.  From here on out every Sunday look for a new photo and new information referencing horse life in the 1800′s

We begin this fun pictorial journey through the 1800′s as seen by horseman and horses.  My purpose for this weekly Sunday post is to share some of the research I am doing on the era in regards to riding Paisano in authentic 1800′s equipment.  In preparation for the Arizona Trail ride and for other equine exhibitions I thought it would be fun to hold a Sunday Historathon.  If others choose to pick up the idea and run with their own Sunday Historathon on any era or subject, that would be fun to follow as well.  I got this idea from our Thankful Thursdays, this blog “Old Photo of the Day“  where the author holds Saturday Mystery Photos contest and readers guess who are in them, and Macro Monday, check out Simrat’s entries here.

So here is my first Sunday Historathon – 1800′s entry:

Set of 8 pamphlets written by Professor Jesse Beery These were mail order books designed to help teach folks how to train their own horses and were actually self published in 1908.  By that time Professor Beery was a well established horse trainer who gathered his information from having lived and trained horses through the  1800′s period.

Prof. Jesse Beery was a probably the most famous horse trainer of his time. He used very interesting equipment, techniques, and theory to accomplish his goals with horses he trained.  I use to have this set of books and like a dummy I sold them.  Bad idea.  The books cover everything from horse temperaments and conformation to stopping run-a-way horses, from trick training to performance training. You may find the information within these books here at Horse Training Book.com.

A little on Professor Jesse Beery can be found here at Miami County, Ohio  Geneological Society.

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Once upon a time a very tired girl all snuggled up tight in her warm comfy blankets forced herself out into the cold to feed her horses long before the sun came up… 

Okay okay I’m not going to write a story.  But our weekend was storybook wonderful!  With all the right doses of trials to conquests, relaxation with tons of laughs, a perfect amount of leisure and hard work.  I have to say I have the finest traveling partner in Paisano that one could ever desire.  Not one sound out of him, only one moment of pawing and that was after a half an hour of stop and start traffic in Tucson trying to get to the bed and breakfast. ”Enough already he was saying.”   That after having been on the road for 2 hours already.  He was couped up in a small older trailer with not the best suspension and feeling very cramped, yet he was a perfect boy all the way.

When we arrived we met with Gabriele Mortiz my Spanish Mustanger friend who is on vacation riding Arizona trails for the month of February with a group of lady friends who were here from all over the country. One or two from Colorado, one from New Mexico and one from Kentucky. With me that made six of us.  After greeting everyone, I took Pai to the arena and let him run off some pent up energy.  Remember Pai has not been able to run free since December.  He took full advantage of it too.  Gabriele being my kind of gal wanted to let Paisano and her Spanish Mustang gelding Vee-Da-Woo (pronounced Vee Da ‘V’oo)  run together to play.  Vee-Da-Woo is a relatively young horse coming five this spring and is pretty seasoned but green for such a long trip and was beginning to show signs of frustration so this was a perfect outlet for him.  So Pai and Vee-Da-Woo went about making horse buddies.

Then they both took turns taking the jumps in the arena while  showing off their moves.

 And finally they both hung out together a bit being all buddy buddy.  Not without a few nips and squeals and rears for good measure of course.  After they had played themselves out we saddled up Vee-Da-Woo and I rode him a wee bit.  Gabriele wanted to see if he had gait in him as he walks with a bit of an amble and he is bred to gait.  I believe with proper balance he may be gaited, but I don’t see him being quick footed in gait.  He wasn’t too sure about this stranger up there asking him to do something he’d never been asked to do before, but he was a Saint and went with it.  Then we put him away and brought Paisano back out and saddle him up.  Gabriele rode Pai and was all excited to get the opportunity.  We both cantered Paisano and he was a Saint also taking it all in stride.  I rode him over one of the little jumps at the trot.  Then we put both boys away with Pai being in his large round pen enjoyed a night of mobility. 

 While we were playing with our two Spanish Mustangs, the other gals were out on a nice ride in the Saguaro State Park.  When they returned and after feeding horses, showering and eating dinner we all sat down to view Gabriele’s video of the Cayuse.  “Spanish Mustangs: Impressions from Oshoto“.  It was great, we both educated the other gals all about the Spanish Mustangs and the Spanish Mustang Registry, Neil, Kitty, Emmett and Josie.  It was a lot of fun and turned out to be a great evening. One of the gals use to have Paso Finos so she and I got on well talking shop about that breed.  Another gal had Arabs and we got on well talking shop about Arab’s as well. I have owned, bred, and trained both breeds in my past.  It was a lot of fun chit chatting about it all.  Of the gals three were competitive trail riders, one was a competitive endurance rider, one was a friend who joined for the festivities and that left us Spanish Mustanger’s Gabriele and I.  The horses were of course Spanish Mustangs,  and then Arabs, Missouri Fox Trotters and a Paint.

The next morning (that would be this morning Sunday 15, 2009), we all got up had our coffee and breakfast.  Horses were fed early as a ride was planned for 9am.  Eventually off we all went in our separate directions to groom and prepare for the ride.  Mr. Pai was a trooper for the whole event. He stood quietly waiting  for everyone to get finished which took quite awhile, not one peep out of that boy.  I’d check in on him every once in awhile in between getting my own stuff ready and he hadn’t moved.  Just stood there all quiet and patient.  He got tons lovin’s and hugs.  He’d nibble on me and look me directly in the eye with his opinions.  I have to say he made quite the impression with everyone.

 Gabriele and Vee-Da-Woo getting ready for this mornings ride.

 We went a short ways with the group when it became apparent to me that not only would the rocky terrain be  too much for Paisano’s feet, but also it was over his head in terms of difficulty.  So Gabriele and I turned back to do a little tamer riding toward home, we did some road riding, and again Simrat has done a fabulous job getting Pai prepared for this kind of ride as we ran into hikers, bikers (the motor kind), and cars with no fuss at all. He was a champ!

Then once back home we turned them back out for some good old fashion rough housing and buddying around together.  They really paled up good, and road wonderfully together. It didn’t matter who was in front or behind or if they were side by side.  Our biggest issues were keeping them from playing.

Paisano and I had some wonderful communication moments on this trip and even some nickers of greeting here and there.  He definitely is my horse now.  When it was time to come home he jumped into the trailer like it was his best friend. When we returned home though, I think he was disappointed to not see Vee-Da-Woo, but was happy to go up and greet the kids, Pro and Theory before returning to his little pen. When I put him in his pen, he nickered to me again. I kinda thought he wanted to go back.  I think he will be looking for his bud, Vee-Da-Woo for awhile.  Gabriele and I plan to get together up in Colorado for some riding so it will be fun to bring the two boys together again this summer for another romp.

All-in-all I think Paisano really enjoyed this trip and will be looking forward to another one soon.

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Jobless Girl Rides West For Work

This girl is living my dream. It may be hard and she may be desperate. But she is living!  You go Donna!

update: Something I wanted to add here last night but was just too excited about my flight news below to be mindful enough to express is this.  When you read the news article about Donna you can’t help but notice the warmth and outpouring that Donna’s determination and hope and struggle has brought to light.  What I noticed was the holding out of helping hands and powerful support for another person regardless of that persons pre-life.  This is what we all need!  To hold out our hands to one another, to lay stepping stones before the ones who struggle just a wee bit more than we are struggling.  For those who struggle just wee bit less or differently than us to lay just one stepping stone for us and if we all do this we will prevail and come out of this difficult time enlightened and strong!   Donna carries the Torch for all of us. She is showing us how its done and it has been done since the beginning of man. How it was done to create our country.  She is a pioneer…

And for more fun stuff!  This is really cool stuff now!  One of our Spanish Mustangers has secured my ticket to the SMR meeting in Oregon to arrive Thursday night at 8:15 and leave Monday afternoon at 3:15.

I’m coming to the meeting guys!  Where’s my big smiley face when I need ‘em?

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A situation has come up for Theory and so she is no longer for sale.  Also in light of this new situation I will be keeping Prophecy so he is no longer for sale as well.  Thanks for your interest and inquiries.

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Today’s Thankful Thursday is up and ready…
What are you thankful for today?  Please feel free to join us in our gratitude every Thursday and please link back to these blogs.

THE PONY EXPRESSION

Akal Ranch

Tired Dog Ranch

Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch

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That is where Paisano and I will be this weekend. You may see Paisano’s weekend home here at the Rocking M Bed and Breakfast.   The round pen will be all for Pai Saturday night coming up.  He gets the big pen because he may still be a bit feisty to be stalled directly across a fence from strange horses.  I like the idea of him being off aways from the other horses, who have been traveling all over the state, because he won’t be as apt to bring something home to my babies.

You can see a bit of the Saguaro National Park – West behind the round pen.  The fact that they have an arena is nice as Pai’s feet will still be soaked from standing in the mud left over from the rains we’ve had.  As a result his feet will be too soft for any real distance riding on the park ‘s rocky trails.  We may try to go out a little ways and see if there is a wash nearby to ride in, otherwise I can do some arena work which will be just as good for us both.

I am so looking forward to the visit with my friend. We both have asperations to build some networking  and this will give us a great opportunity to visit in a relaxed easy manner while enjoying our horses and way of life. It won’t be roughing it like we originally were going to do in Patagonia  (I was busy getting all of my camping gear ready), but it will be a really great get-a-way visit!

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