Under the Wire

My Kingdom For A Horse. I think I remember that a King was suppose to have said this a long time ago, obviously thinking walking wasn’t too great a sport. More recently, just about every horse owner I know has uttered a version of that famous quote.

Along about this time of year, rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, whether they’re haulin’ for the big time or making a few weekend rodeos, start to imitate the famous King. Most have spent all winter training on their trusty barrel, team or calf roping horses, getting them ready for the summer run-of-fun. The summer actually started off pretty well. The tuneup on old Dobbin paid off and the proud owners found themselves “in the standing.” Yep, they’d won a few bucks, got their name in the paper and were well on their way to the best season ever. Things got serious and they had their trusty steed in a trailer going somewhere every free minute.

Herein lies the problem. The careful training program that had paid off early converted into no training, replaced by go, go, go. Gradually the winning got rarer, the checks fewer and the wonderful start began to crumble. Suddenly, lots of cowboys and cowgirls find themselves in need of a fresh, well trained horse. That’s when they begin to sound like the afore mentioned King. “My Kingdom For A Horse.” Actually, it sounds more like “Man, I wish I could find a new doggin’ horse” or my own personal favorite “I’d give everything I’ve got for a better calf horse.” The truth is ”everything I’ve got” doesn’t amount to much, thanks to the old horses I’ve had up til now, who pretty much left me broke. I just know, however, that there’s a horse out there that would change my life and my luck!

You don’t have to be a rodeo cowboy to use the quote we’ve been talking about. Even backyard pet, first time horse owners get in on the act. Faced with first time ever vet and shoeing bills, feed costs, a new pickup and trailer to haul the horse somewhere, not to mention riding lessons for the kids and insurance on the neighbors’ kids you can’t keep away anymore, the saying takes on real meaning for them, too.

My “Kingdom for a horse” refers to just what it is going to cost to keep the suckers around … your whole Kingdom! Actually, I have a friend with one of those big honking pulling tractors. He needs a new motor for his prize possessions. Another’s passion is water skiing. His boat has a hole in it. On and on goes the list of fishermen who can’t find their prey and golfers who just don’t have the balls to go on. Life can be tough.

Just cowboy up and remember the immortal words spoken years ago by our four year old Granddaughter Hannah, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” Any questions?