cutter123's Journal

Houston in July is like a steam bath. I'm not sure how people stand it. I certainly don't know why July is the month my family picked for a reunion! When I touched down at Hobby I called Bob Hunter and told him I was in town again and would love to come on out to see him. He said, perfect timing, there is a show on Friday in Yoakum, and he had a horse I could show if I wanted to go.

Well why not?

5 am Friday morning I set out from Clear Lake City and got on the Sam...

cutter123

As usual, excellent showman that he is, Bob won a check in his class and I was happy to see I had not failed him in warming up his pony. Later he told me that was the horse I would ride in my class. Chet, a red roan gelding by Smart Little Riccochet out of a full sister to Cash Quixote Rio; he was a mover and a shaker!

First I rode the two year old I had caught earlier that day. He was a sorrel Chula Dual gelding with a thin crooked stripe down a slightly roman nose, with a kind but...

cutter123

When the temperature gets in the 100's I like to take a drive with the top down and feel the oven heat at 55 mph. There are fires a lot here, but not like this year. This year is extreme and unique. When it hit 105 I lowered the top in my Pontiac and set out through the foothills. The sky was brown and I could look directly at the sun without squinting. I cranked up the radio and felt the superheated air flow over my face, over my arms. Around me the grass was yellow and the oak trees looked dry....

cutter123

I drove up to the sale with hope, hoping someone would come along and find what I had found in this horse, and be willing to work hard enough to bring it out in him so he could have a good life. The sale was smaller and of lower quality than it has been in years past, when I have been there with good horses. The economy has changed and this is a sign of the times. There were a few ok horses but nothing great, and there were a few barrel racers and ropers who could ride ok but also some real yay...

cutter123

Where do I start? Well at the beginning I guess. My friend Krista is a barrel racer. 9 years ago she got a horse, and when it was three, she had a cowboy start him. The cowboy probably rode him 10 times, and then sent him home. Anyway, after that, she rode this horse a few times. Enough times for him to buck her off, run off with her, and do the same to a few other people. He is a big, tough, hard headed paint gelding.

Anyway, Krista hurt her back. She couldn't ride for almost 6 years,...

cutter123