Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Man From Snowy River Poem


The Man From Snowy River
There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from old Regret had got away,And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound,So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight,For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.
There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,The old man with his hair as white as snow;But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up He would go wherever horse and man could go.And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,No better horseman ever held the reins;For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.
And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast;He was something like a racehorse undersized,With a touch of Timor pony—three parts thoroughbred at least And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.He was hard and tough and wiry—just the sort that won't say die There was courage in his quick impatient tread;And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.
But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,And the old man said, "That horse will never do For a long and tiring gallop—lad, you'd better stop away,Those hills are far too rough for such as you."So he waited, sad and wistful—only Clancy stood his friend"I think we ought to let him come," he said;"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,For both his horse and he are mountain bred.
"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough;Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,The man that holds his own is good enough.And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,Where the river runs those giant hills between;I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."
So he went; they found the horses by the big mimosa clump,They raced away towards the mountain's brow,And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump,No use to try for fancy riding now.And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,If once they gain the shelter of those hills."
So Clancy rode to wheel them—he was racing on the wing Where the best and boldest riders take their place,And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,And off into the mountain scrub they flew.
Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black Resounded to the thunder of their tread,And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day, no man can hold them down the other side."
When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull It well might make the boldest hold their breath;The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,While the others stood and watched in very fear.
He sent the flint-stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,At the bottom of that terrible descent.
He was right among the horses as they climbed the farther hill,And the watchers on the mountain, standing mute,Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely; he was right among them still,As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.They lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met In the ranges—but a final glimpse reveals On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,With the man from Snowy River at their heels.
And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam;He followed like a bloodhound on their track,Till they halted cowed and beaten; then he turned their heads for home,And alone and unassisted brought them back.But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,For never yet was mountain horse a cur.
And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise Their torn and rugged battlements on high,Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,And where around the Overflow the reed-beds sweep and sway To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,The Man from Snowy River is a household word today,And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.
Sorry for the long read, but this has to be a favorite! If for some reason you haven't seen this film "Man From Snowy River" you are missing out! Great riding, great horses and great scenery! I would love to have a Australian mountain horse like this! I watched this so many times and as the years have passed I have bought an Australian saddle, a bull whip like the one in here. I thought I wanted to be able to crack a whip on horseback!!! Ha Ha! I have cracked my ear, face, arm in the process and that wasn't even on horseback!! Takes some skill that I don't have! lol :)

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Scripture Sunday


The Lord is my Saddle Partner.
My forty years gatherings are a saddle and horse,
spurs and a bedroll,
and catch rope of course.

I dont make much wages,
so the things that I own,
are sure enough mine,
cuz I cant get a loan.

Now folks might believe I'd be lonesome out there,
in those juniper breaks,
where there's no one to share.

The things that I hope
and the things that I see
but I've got a way more
than those folks would believe.

Cuz the Lord is my saddle partner
and we are never apart.
Whenever I want,
we can talk heart to heart.

And the Lord's also there
for each one of you
of you've got a problem,
He knows what to do.

Just let him take charge
of all that we own.
With the Lord for our saddle partner
We're never alone


Jon Bowerman

Friday, March 13, 2009

As Ray Hunt would put it!


Heart
I talked to a friend just the other day
who’s got lots of opinions and plenty to say.
We discussed what we both like to see in a horse
His requirements and mine were different of course…
He likes a clean throatlatch and a long skinny neck,
and prefers that their hocks are set close to the deck.
Short backs and hard feet and clean slopin’ shoulder,
and a gaskin that looks like it swallered a boulder.
He likes a short face and a big ol’soft eye,
and says these are the horses he’s likely to buy.
And when he’d completed his lengthy discourse,
on all of the attributes of the quality horse.
He asked my opinion, and where do I start?
And I said that I….just want horses with heart.
I said I want heart above all the other.
I don’t care if he’s Smart Little Lena’s full brother.
Or just how much money that his grandmother won,
or whether he’s roan, palomino or dun.
But give me a horse with some grit and some try,
and some heart and some guts and that’s one that I’ll buy.
And I’ve found it’s the same with a woman or man….
the good ones won’t quit you when the shit hits the fan

by Monte Baker

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Goodbye Ol' Paint




Well finally did it. I sold my Max a couple of weeks ago. It has taken me a long time to come to terms that I should sell him to someone that will ride him more than I could. I loved this horse! I raised him in California and moved him out to New Mexico about 3 years ago. When he was about 18 months I decided to take some classes at the Junior college with a friend and these class were all about training horses. They had 3 levels you could take along with some cow clinics in between. I tell you I had the best time taking my paint there. What an experience for him. Taught him so much, especially how to stand tied (for along time) hobbled. Class was from 6:00-10:00pm and about 1 hour or so was lecture. Those horses sometimes stood in the rain at the trailer. I took all levels with him and took them over as well. I just should of rode him more in between and after. He is still a great horse.


A lady came by to buy some hay and she saw him and just loved him. She came back the next day and rode him and took him to her place in Carlsbad, NM. I was very happy were he was going. I could tell she was going to really take care of him and love him just as much as I did. :) I told here all his bad habits which weren't many at all. He is hard to bridle and he will spook at times out in the fields. She asked me if he bucks!!! I could honestly tell her NO! I told her this horse will not buck you off. He just doesn't have it in him. Unlike the lady in Santa Fe when I went to go look at her horse. She told me right off that he has NO BUCK in him!!! Yeah, the first thing he did was about buck her off!!! lol




Well Congrats to Gerri Amos on the purchase of Max. I did here word that they just love him to pieces!!!! I miss him and my little Roany misses him but he got over it in about 1 day. I guess he just figured it out that his pal wasn't coming back.

Now this little mare Dixie, is my dad's and he bought her about 2 years ago. She is a sweet girl and has an awesome stop. We just haven't ridden her much. Too many horses around this place. When we got her, about a month into her, we found out she was pregnant! The guy that sold her had no idea!!!! :) So she had a cute filly that looked just like her. Sold the filly and we have ridden Dixie here and there. Took her on a cattle drive and she did pretty good! I think I will take her in and maybe ride her some more. I think she will be having a colt this year (late).

Oh and I found out that I am having another baby.....so......I wont be riding too much! :( I havent been posting due to me being so sick!!!! I wasnt sick with my first one but man this one I have felt horrible! I hope it passes soon! :)

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Excellent Movies






This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time!!!! I love his grey horse (dapple gray) in this flim. I dream of a horse like this for me one day!!!! I have been on the couch this weekend so I have been watching allot of TV. Pale Rider came on tonight. I loved again and again.



I also ended up watching "The Lord of the Rings", all of them. Missed a few parts but these movies and can just watch and watch. My hubby gets so irritated.



Scipture Sunday

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JOHN.3:16