RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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JimT
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RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by JimT »

It was just breaking daylight when I pulled out of the corral. I had gotten up in the dark, caught the mare and screwed the saddle down on her as she was finishing her breakfast. I tossed a few things in the saddlebags and hung the rifle scabbard on the rigging, cinched down my spurs and climbed aboard. As we came up over the south ridge the sun was just breaking over the mountains to the east and it looked to be a beautiful day.

We rimmed out the high peak about a mile from the house and I stopped to let her blow. Setting there on an early morning with the chill still in the high thin air, looking out across God's Creation for 70 to 100 miles... it just took your breath away. Movement down below caught my eye and there, about a half mile below me was a herd of deer feeding across a clearing. Man it just felt good to be alive!

I worked my way across the ridges and down the slopes, heading back into the hills. The place I had in mind was an old windmill and stock tank, hidden up a sand wash deep in the mountains. The well was a good one, producing good water even in dry times. The stock tank was a metal one hauled in years before by some unknown cowhand. There was a "road" into it down on the other side of the mountains. However I was coming in from the back side, from up the mountain above the tank. This way was only accessible on foot or horseback. Since folks rarely came through this part of the country you were able to see a lot of game. Sometimes the critters were not spooked by the horse and you could ride up fairly close. Sometimes. Not always.

Those of us who rode these hills kept an eye on the tank. Ever since the advent of 4-Wheelers there had been a lot more traffic in the mountains. Those little things could get in and out of places no jeep could go, and the "road", such as it was, got used quite a bit. The people that rode them were not always back-country folks. One day coming into the area I was passed by 4 people on some of them. When I got to the stock tank it had been freshly shot full of holes. Since cattle, deer, coyotes and many of the other critters watered at this spot I considered what had been done criminal. If I could have caught the ones who did this I would have.

I reported it to the rancher who ran cows in there and then went out with him and helped plug all the holes. Several years later it was still holding, but we kept a pretty constant eye on it. Just to make sure nothing like that happened again.. or hopefully we could catch whoever tried it.

The cowboys who rode this back country always went armed. All of us did. The armament varied quite a bit. The ranch Foreman carried a bolt-action Remington in .222 in his scabbard. One of the Mexican hands had an old H&R .22 revolver on his belt. Model 94 Winchester's were seen a lot. The .30-30 is a back-country rifle. If I had a rifle along it was usually the Model 1894CL Marlin in .32-20. Loaded with the Speer 100 gr. JHP at 1900 fps it worked pretty well on anything I used it on.

This day I had the Marlin tucked into the scabbard, carrying it in a modified NW style. The rifle was on the left side of the horse, butt forward, barrel under the stirrup skirt. I had the butt elevated so the rifle rode at about a 45 degree angle to the ground. This carry works well in all but thick timber. You can lean over and pull the rifle out easily whether setting in the saddle or standing on the ground. It rides back far enough the horse can swing it's head freely around to the side without hitting the stock.

I have seen people carry them on the right side, level with the ground, butt to the rear. It works OK if you tie the gun in. If you don't tie it in, the first little ditch you jump the rifle will hit the dirt. I found a nice Model 94 .30-30 laying by a ditch one day. I picked it up, laid it across the saddle and rode on down the trail. In about a half hour I came up on several horsemen. One was the local Baptist preacher. I noticed his rifle scabbard was empty. We set there and talked a bit and finally I said, "Look at this nice .30-30 the Lord gave me." He said, "How exactly did He accomplish that?" and I said, "Well, about a half hour ago I was riding along and there it was, laying on the ground. I knew God had left it for me." Of course he checked his scabbard and I was set straight about who left what for whom right quick!

Anyhow, I had the Marlin tied on board with me this particular morning and as I came up across a small hill I saw movement in the canyon below. I figured it was a coyote and decided to call him up. I got off the horse and tied her to a tree. Then I slipped the rifle out of it's nest and made my way down the hill for a little ways. Standing next to a juniper tree I began to blow the call. After a bit here came the prettiest little fox you ever saw, just running up the wash below me. I stopped calling and when it was about 20 yards from me I smacked it through the shoulders with the .32-20. That was all it needed. The exit wound on the offside was about the size of a quarter. I took the fox back and tucked it in the saddlebags so I could take it home.

The next hour went by quickly. Making my way across the mountain using deer trails and cattle trails I worked my way toward the tank. I saw probably 30 deer that morning. The first herd was Mule Deer. As I got deeper and higher into the hills it was Coues Whitetail. The little deer are thick in that part of Arizona. They are usually wary even of a man on horseback, though I have killed several while sitting in the saddle. I also saw several herds of Javelina. Sometimes these spook seemingly at nothing. I have killed some while horseback, but it is much easier to get up close to them on foot. If a person takes their time you can often get within 15 or 20 feet of them. This morning I did not interfere with any of them. It was just fun watching.

When I was above the canyon that contained the stock tank I stopped again and let the horse blow. I did not want to just barge down into the canyon and scare off anything that needed water. The nearest watering hole of any consequence was 5 miles on the down the valley. When I was assured there was nothing in the canyon I rode on it. I took the saddle off the mare and then let her water. She wanted to roll a bit in the sandy wash and I watched as she enjoyed loosening up and getting the kinks out of her back after hauling me all the way across those hills.

I picketed her where there was a little grass, put out some oats for her and then went and checked the well. Everything looked good so I went back down into the wash, laid down on the saddle blanket and took a nap. It sure was peaceful out there.. no cars, houses, phones etc. within 10 miles.

When I woke up the horse looked like she was ready to leave this place so we packed up and headed out. I decided to go back by the "road". This road was an old mining trail put in years before. Washed out, ungraded, unkept, it was a challenge to the 4WD buffs around Tucson. Every once in awhile someone would show up at our place after having waked 10 or 15 miles out of the hills. Since our place was the first one as you were coming out we got to hear lots of neat stories about "almost making it" through such-and-so canyon. But on foot or horseback it was much easier to get out on the road than go over the mountains the way I had come in.

And you never knew what you were going to run into on it. Everything used it. I came around a narrow spot one day - with a 100 foot drop off on the left side and a cliff up the right side - and there blocking the road was a bull that made two of my horse. I watched him for a minute and saw that the old boy was so sore-footed he could hardly walk. I eased my way alongside him and he was nice enough not to bump us off into the canyon. Another time I came down into a nice leafy bottom where there was quite a bit of shade and there, standing in the shadows was a man holding a Llama by a lead rope. (The critter, not the pistol.) I rode up and said "Howdy" and we talked a bit. My horse was curious about the Llama and eased up to it, sniffing it. The Llama stood this for a minute then rared back and spit in my horses eye! I about got pitched off as she threw a fit at that, much to the amusement of the guy holding the lead rope of the llama.

Coming out of the hills on this road one evening after dark, we were riding by starlight. No moon. The horses could see where they were going just fine and we let them have their head. I was riding in the lead and all of a sudden my horse pulled up and stopped. I tried urging her on but she just turned her head and did not want to go on. I got the idea that she might be trying to tell me there was something in the road. Looking as intently as I could I saw something, so I pulled out my pistol and lit it off. Literally. I was carrying the Freedom Arms .454 with full-power loads. The first shot in the dark blinded me. I fired 2 more, moving the gun just a bit to one side. And quickly found what the horse was balking at. A family of skunks. Seems some of the family was reduced to their basic elements by gravel and high velocity shrapnel. Other of the family showed their displeasure. It was kind of unpleasant around there for a while.

This day the trip back was uneventful. Just a nice ride in the hills. We made it home in good time. At the corral I unsaddled the mare, rubbed her down and grained her. She showed her appreciation by giving me a little nip when I got too close to her food. My wife had supper nearly ready when I came in. It has been years since I made that little all-day trip. I still remember the smells and the sights. It was New Year's Day 1986. It was a great day.... one I miss ... one I still cherish.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by .45colt »

Thanks Jim. Great Read. Happy New Year. :)
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Great story Jim. I haven’t been able to get out like that in many years. But the memories still linger. I occasionally get out my old saddle gun and it always rekindles those memories.
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JimT
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Scott Tschirhart wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 10:26 am Great story Jim. I haven’t been able to get out like that in many years. But the memories still linger.
The same for me Scott.
I am grateful for the memories.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

This is “Goliath” and he was the best mountain horse I’ve ever ridden. He was big but he was careful with his feet.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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I don’t think this little horse ever had a name, but it did have a wonderful walking gait that would put you to sleep. I chased some bad hombres one night on this horse.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by JimT »

Dang! Ole Goliath is a huge horse.

Best hunting horse I had was the appaloosa Hud.
In bad country he would put his head down and look where he was putting his feet.
I got to where I trusted him completely and he never let me down. I rode him down mountains that I was afraid to walk down.
And he loved to hunt.
I would ride up on a ridge to glass a canyon and he would start looking. If his ears went up there was something where he was looking, whether I could see it or not. He proved that to me many times.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Best all-around horse was my mare "Gal" ... "Shay's Gal" in the Quarter Horse registry. She had lots of bottom ... did not get worn down riding the mountains.
me_and_gal.jpg
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by gamekeeper »

Nice post Jim, you have a way of painting pictures with words, I can visualize the sights and sounds you describe so easily... 8)

I may be on the wrong side of the pond but I learnt to ride Western on Quarter Horses in the New Forest, Hampshire, not sat in the saddle for way too long, last time was a Navajo pony in Monument Valley, that was a childhood dream come true for me.
If more men loved and cherished their wives as much as I love bacon the world would be a much better place.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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gamekeeper wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:13 pm ... a Navajo pony in Monument Valley, that was a childhood dream come true for me.
That's excellent! Nothing like realizing a dream!
Sometimes here people make the mistake of getting a horse for a pet.
They are not pets.
They are a way of life.
If your life cannot be focused around and on the horses it's best not to have them.

We had 3 and sometimes 4. And at times I would borrow one or two if we were taking a group of people into the mountains. We rode as a family and it the little mountain community we lived in, on saturdays there was a family oriented gathering of horses and people at the rodeo grounds. So our life was built around them.

The two horses I rode became good friends. We learned to understand and communicate with each other. They taught me a lot.

I miss the life but those days are gone.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Last one I had was a paint gelding. Tried hunting from him. Sometimes a 12ga wouldn't phase him. Next time a 22 would launch him like a rocket!!!!!
Ever since I've been convinced, paints are pretty much crazy. :)
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Thanks, Jim. That reminds me an awful lot of one particular Rick O'Shay cartoon strip in the sunday paper. It was Christmas time and durn near the whole town had gone to church, all but one. That one was the town gun slinger called Hipshot Percussion. What he did was he got on his horse and rode up into the snow covered hills and stopped on top of the highest one and just sat there for a bit looking around, then said "Thank you, Lord"!
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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I have had some very intimate moments with Papa God when out in the hills with no one else around.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Out in nature and no other humans for miles, you sure can see what it is like to be alone with your maker.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by M. M. Wright »

Thanks Jim. Made me remember some times that were good.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by shasta_steve »

Great story there. My grandfather was a cowboy in about every since of the word. Some of my earliest memories of him were riding on the horse with him and whenever I would get too cold he would pull a whiskey bottle, full of diesel, out of his saddlebag and set a wood rat nest on fire. I miss those times too.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by AJMD429 »

You write so well JimT... 😎

Cool stuff.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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JimT wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:34 pm I have had some very intimate moments with Papa God when out in the hills with no one else around.
Jim,

I think it would be nice for you to reproduce your essay on "light" here. It is so timely and relevant.

Best regards,

Scott Tschirhart
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Scott Tschirhart wrote: Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:20 am Jim,
I think it would be nice for you to reproduce your essay on "light" here. It is so timely and relevant.
Best regards,
Scott Tschirhart
If you have it handy Scott, please go ahead and post it.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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I'm afraid that I am technologically challenged. I just figured out how to post a photo!
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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Enjoyed your recount.
Thanks.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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JimT wrote: Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:34 pm I have had some very intimate moments with Papa God when out in the hills with no one else around.
I went back and read this again tonight. I could not add anything to the sentence above.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

Post by JDL »

I so enjoy your stories Jim! Takes me to a better place.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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.

It is sad so many people miss out on that kind of life experience. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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I was blessed to be around some of the real old-time cowboys who graciously helped me. We were standing around the corrals talking one day and this real old-timer - he was in his 70's - was saying how life was much more peaceful before women got washing machines. Since they got washing machines they have more time to mess with stuff they used to leave alone. I asked, "Do you guys talk this way around your wives?" and immediately got told "Boy! There is a way to talk when around women and there's a way to talk when around men!"

We doctored our own horses and cattle. There was always someone who knew what to do. For instance, riding one day my mare stepped into a Spanish Dagger and the needle went into her knee and broke off below the skin. I got her back to corral and called a friend. He listened and said "I'm sending a guy over." Pretty soon this Mexican Vaquero drove up .. an old guy. He looked at the horse and then got some black gooey stuff out of his truck and put a gob of it in a rag. He said, "Tie this around her knee. Make sure it stays on for 3 days. Take it off on the 4th day and the needle will be out." I did as he said and when I pulled it off on the 4th day the needle was laying in the rag.

We learned to sew up cuts. We would clean the wound and then hold ice on the wound to deaden the feeling. Just before we stitched it we would put some Preparation H in the wound to keep it from swelling. Seemed to work.

I met some old gunmen .. one in particular was 81 when I met him. Looking in his eyes he looked young. I can't describe it any other way. And looking in his eyes, I could tell he had no qualms about pulling a trigger on someone. He had been arrested in connection with several shooting in the Aravaipa Canyon area but charges were dropped each time.

They taught me how to trim horses feet and fit shoes. One of them and I started a horse-shoeing business. We shod horses for a lot of the ranchers around the area for a few years.

It was a great time to be alive!
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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That black gooey stuff was some type of drawing salve. Some of them work really well. B
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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One of the old cowboys that I hung around was Jo Flieger. There's a book about him on Amazon .. DREAMS COME TRUE FOR COWBOYS TOO.
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Re: RIDIN' IN THE NEW YEAR

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There are remedies which are not approved by the FDA because there is no patent and no way for the millions of dollars that the FDA charges to approve a medicine to pay for those fees. The best thing for congestion went off the market because it was too old for a patent approval and the generics could not pay the fees. That old Hispanic Cowboy had found something that was natural and totally effective, but it is unlikely that his recipe ever got beyond friends and family.
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