It's all About the Gear, One.

Mike's view from the saddle.

Mike was becoming quite annoyed with his horse. She would not stop trying to slow down and eat grass as he rode to school. His father had warned him, "Don't let her stop to eat while you are riding to school!"

It was a day of firsts. It was Mike’s first day beginning the second grade. It was also his first day ever riding their white with gray coloured horse “Doll” to school. For the whole year of grade one, James, Mike’s dad had always driven him to school so this was a big change. Mike was on his way to the communities schoolhouse, which, if you went by the gravel roads would be two and a half miles away. Mike would make the ride shorter by using the neighbours fields. It was what his dad called "riding as the crow flies." 

When Mike jerked on the reins Doll would bring her head up with a protesting snort. He’d cluck, punch his heels into her sides, shake the reins and she’d begin to move forward again. For a little way that is, and then, she’d slow down and stretch out her neck, sniffing and checking if she'd be allowed to stop and try to eat again. Possibly sneaking a bite before Mike would realise it and jerk the reins again. After a while Mike just got tired of the work of jerking her head up and let her eat every once in a while. For only a little while only, of course.

Make’s dad had gone to a lot of trouble to get him ready for riding to school. He’d taken care to purchase a horse quiet and tame enough for his son, who was seven going on to eight years old. He had purchased the horse during Mike's first year, so he could get used to riding. 

Mike had ridden Doll to get the cattle in the morning for milking. and other odd jobs but this would be Mike’s longest ride. It would be his very first ride all alone for the two and a half mile journey to school. He would be very much alone going through unfamiliar territory for such a young fellow.

James had also purchased a saddle for Mike to use. The they had never owned a saddle before. In fact, not much of any riding had ever been done. Things change when you have children and James was finding that out. He had found an old army saddle for a great price. It would help stabilise Mike on the horse, plus keep him clean for school. 

When his dad had boosted him up into the saddle that memorial first morning of school, Mike had felt very special. He'd never sat in a saddle and he felt like a real cowboy. His father took his time carefully adjusting the stirrups to fit mikes leg length. The final touch was his dad tying his lunch pail to one of the leather straps at back of the saddle. 

Mike could not wait to get started on his way to school. He had trouble concentrating on his fathers final instructions. He was looking forward to the freedom, being out there all alone on the wide empty prairie, riding his horse. His imagination picturing a cowboy wearing a huge cowboy hat herding his cattle to pasture. Meanwhile, his dad was still talking, explaining something about bales of hay he'd left at the school for his horse. 

Then, just before he let go of the bridal, his father stopped, looked up at Mike and repeated the one thing he was concerned about. “Mike,” he said seriously looking up into his eyes, “never let the horse eat while you are riding. It will only get you into trouble, so be careful, do not let her eat grass along the way.” Mike said he would not let her eat, and then, finally, his dad let go of the bridle. He was free to go. He leaned forward, clucked softly wiggling the reins and Doll moved towards the driveway.

His horse went into a trot and he stood and sat in time as his father had taught him. It felt like the saddle actually made him higher on the horse. He loved this so much better than walking, he could see all around for a long distance. 

He was watching the horse's ears swing back and forth when he noticed it. It changed everything. He could not believe he had not noticed this before. He yelled "whoooo" and yanking on the reins. His horse came to a standstill. He leaned over to the right, standing in the stirrup to get a good look. His horse was wearing a "harness bridle!" 

He'd been so excited about getting to school and showing off to his friends. This was to be his statement of high accomplishment, riding alone to school, with a saddle even. But to have his horse wear gear meant for a "work-horse" was just too much. This was absolutely embarrassing. No cowboy's horse ever had "blinders" on! He sat hunched over his saddle horn, so disappointed. It was bad enough that his horse was half Clydesdale, but this was just too much.

As he began to turn the problem over in his mind, he did not notice his horse was calmly grazing, moving along having a meal. 

What was he to do? He had an idea...

"In you, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame."    
Psalms 71:1

(Autobiographical fiction)

Winnipeg's "English Garden"

June 2013

Photograph by Cliff Derksen