Caint & Able, The Gatherin'... part 1

This story is a bit of whimsy that for me, at least, boils horsemanship down to it's basic and essential elements. I hope you enjoy the story, I hope you grin and maybe chuckle. I really hope that the lessons don't get lost in the dialog... Enjoy!

Since morning's light til dark of night, he fought me on every cause.
Til we rode on up to Rocky Point where I took an unplanned pause.
He rung his tail and broke in half and bucked long, mean and bold. **
**Then we had no fight for a while or two... he knocked me out stone cold.

I could hear em comin' from near a mile off. There was cussin' and gritchin' and hollerin' to raise the roof. When they first came into view, I could see that it was Caint and Ol' Dan, his best sorrel gelding. Well, that used to be the horse's name, but lately Caint's been referrin' to Ol' Dan by another name that I promised Mama I would never say. As they passed me by, I noticed that Dan was a wreck. He was dancin', snortin', soaked in sweat and the look in his eye told a story of sure, pure frazzlation. Caint looked 'bout as bad with a white knuckled grip on "guitar string" tight reins. Through tight lips he was a mutterin' more of what Mama warned me about. Everything about their look told a right clear tale of one long "temper bendin'" day.

Just about then, I heard the sound of hoofs and turned to see Able comin' down the same path on his good gelding, Pal. I noticed that things was a mite different as they passed by. Pal was walking quiet and steady on a loose rein with the look of pure peaceful ease in everything he did. Able seemed to be hummin' the theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" as he reached down and patted Pal's neck.

I found myself a nice sittin' rock in the shade and pondered for a spell. I went to figurin' on what had just passed before my peepers. I reckoned that every ride has certain things in common. Since horses are generally honest and sure enough predictable, I reasoned that the powerful difference between the two horses had everything to do with Caint and Able and almost nothin' to do with Ol' Dan and Pal.

Both these boys are plum good hands and sure enough know how to sit a horse. But, sure as Caint was "mad dog" angry and Able weren't, there was a difference here that called for a head-scratchin', squinty-eyed look. The questions rose to the top of my mind and were right quizacle. What is it I wondered, that Able understands and Caint can't? I figured, this I gotta know. So, I'm gonna do a little vestigatin' and study this problem clean through. I'll learn all there is to know 'bout their ride from catchin' to puttin' away. Maybe I'll discover the secret that made all the difference, and maybe I won't.

... Next

Tweet

Notice: You must be logged in to leave a comment.