My Sweetie

My sweetie before I gave him his new hair cut awhile back. It is growing so fast, I guess older horse's hair grows faster, or at least my horse. Ive noticed as horses age they get hairier. Is hairier a word? I do not think so. Anyhow, you know what I mean. When winter rolls around the old guy looks like an overgrown shetland. His mane requires a serious pulling and taming in a spot or two. Scooters face does not yet have the telltale white/gray hair,or anywhere else on his body either. He is still the deep, rich Bay he has been all of his life. But in the last 2 years, Ive notice his eyes arent as clear, he is getting a cataract in his left eye but seems to see quite well despite the affliction. Our vet said it wasnt too bad yet, meaning it is in the beginning stages. His hearing is still quick and he does not stumble like older horses sometimes do. Scooter's arthritis is managable, with the feed and supplements that we have available these days, he is rarely sore or noticably lame. I do not ride him hard, but keep him excerised. I know his limits better than he does, he will keep on going without tiring. He can still pivet, rollback, slide to a stop on his hindquarters, and break out of the gate at a leap like horses 1/4 his age. He is still extremely fast and full of cowsense. He is the second fastest horse Ive owned ( I owned a son of Go Man Go who was fast, I mean extremely FAST), and Scooter ranks 4th on the fastest horse Ive ever rode list. While waiting our turn in the gate, he'll stand half dozing, or looking aloof and relaxed, the only anticipation seen is his mouth working the bit at a steady pace. Once inside the box, he backs in, works the bit quicker, while settling down on his hindquarters with all four hooves on the ground for the leap out of the gate when the steer or calf is turned out of the chute. He doesnt rear or throw his head or dance around like some bad mannered roping horses, but he does quiver all over his entire body, and as his rider I can feel every muscle just humming. Its a pretty cool feeling to have that power and speed underneath you. When out of the box, he is watching the steer/calf as closely as I am. I am not a great roper or even a good roper, so not having to mind my horse allows me to be half way accurate when throwing a loop. He makes me look good. Once that loop is thrown and hits its mark, he slides to a standstill stop to keep the rope tight, never a slack rope with the old guy. He is the only horse I can dismount at a sliding stop, maybe because he is so close to the ground or he is so smooth.

He is 14.3 and as you can see, built like a tank. I snapped this picture last nite while he was standing in his 'corner' seperated from the other horses waiting for his feed. Scooter and I have a connection. In the world of horses and humans, he is my soul mate. Once in a lifetime does a horse and owner develop a relationship like he and I have. The only people who can understand this are the one's who have experienced it for themselves. My husband laughs and says that we can read eachother's minds, maybe...It is nice to be greeted with a whinny everytime he sees me or to be able to catch him anywhere in any possible situation imaginable. He gives me unconditional love, companionship, peace, and simple happiness. In turn, I take care of him as well as one of my own children, give him unconditional love, and make sure he is as safe, healthy, and happy as I can make it for him. Who said dogs were man's best friend?

My old guy is grandson to TWOEYEDJACK and great-grandson of Sugar Bars. If you are familiar with those 2 important AQHA horses, then you know my horse is well-bred. His sire is Baron Bell and his dam is Jack's Magnolia. Scooter was bred by the well-known AHQA member Howard Pitzer of PitzerRanch Nebraska fame. I could ramble on in a whole book about my horse so I'll save some for another day. Lucky you guys!
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Last nite, hubby got hung up at a lease having problems with some machinery or such, I am not mechanically inclined, all that stuff is foreign to me. He happened to stop and check it because it was on his way home from Tulsa. Anyhow, he called me and asked me and wee one to drive out to where he was working and bring him his dinner. I figured I had better if I wanted to spend some time in the daylight with him. So Toddler Terror and I packed a small picinic basket with cajun chicken breasts, sweet corn, spray on butter, and fresh green beans with a half gallon of homemade sweet tea. The we drove out to the G. Lease then onto wellhead #8.



I took this picture while out delivering dinner. These are not hubby's but Ive always been partial to the Red, White, and Blue. There is an American Flag proudly displayed at thier tank battery.

Hubby gave wee one and I his fishing pole to catch a few fish while he was eating but when we reached the pond, I saw 2 baby cottonmouths and another BIG snake (unknown because it was half in the weeds) so I decided against THAT idea. I can live without a snake bite!