The Round Corral
The weather for last month’s team penning was prime for being outdoors; however, riders were once again stuck under the roof. That’s because last month’s competition was held, for the first time, at Wild Horse Hollow. While some, myself included, were disappointed at being outdoors there were little to no complaints to be had about the facility itself. The arena was beautiful, if a little dusty, with plenty of wait space for all the horses and riders. In addition, rows of bleachers were available for our spectators and the Angus burgers at the concession stand were delicious. As for the cattle…well they certainly provided a challenge.
The locale was not the only thing that was new at last month’s penning. There were also several new members at the event, who were able to take away quite a bit of prize money. To them we’d like to say welcome and congratulations! Kudos also goes out to all of our winning teams. Great job guys! Hope to see you all back at Buckhorn on the 19th, where, if weather permits, we’ll all be soaking up the sun in the outdoor arena.
The 2nd penning team numbers are as follows,
Number of teams from 4/21/07
#16 - 32 Teams - 7 Incentive
Sorting - 43 Teams - 19 Incentive
#11 - 36 Teams
#9 - 44 Teams
#5 - 34 Teams
The Cowboy Philosopher
Good Bye, Old Man by Baxter Black
Somewhere deep in the old man's eyes a mem'ry took a'hold.
It fought the ageless undertow that drains and mocks the old.
I wiped a dribble off his chin, "Pop, tell me what you see?"
"It's all the boys I rode with, I think they've come for me."
Unconsciously I checked the door. "It's nothin' but the wind.
You better try and git some rest, tomorrow we'll go in."
"Is that you, Bob? I can't quite see. Yer mounted mighty well.
You never rode a horse that good when we were raisin' hell."
"Lie down, old man. There's no one here." "No wait, that looks like Clyde. He helped me put ol' Blue to sleep. Why, hell, he even cried. Now don't forget to check the salt, them cows'll drift back down. Well, I'll be damned, there's Augustine, he worked here on the Brown.
"When I hired on to buckaroo...But that's been fifty years."
The old man squinched his rheumy eyes, I dabed away the tears.
The boss had told me he was old, had seen a lot of springs.
I bet ya if you peeled his bark, you'd count near eighty rings.
We'd rode the last three summers here together on the rim.
Just he and I, for puncher's pay. I'd learned a lot from him.
But now I'm settin' by his bed, uncertain what to do.
I ain't no good at nursin' coots. I'm only twenty-two.
"I reckon that I'm ready now. My friends are set to go.
They've got an extra mount cut out that's just for me, I know."
"You've got to stop this foolish talk! You shouldn't overdo!
Pop, all you need's a good night's sleep. You'll be as good as new."
"Don't make it complicated, kid, cut a pal some slack.
The saddle on that extra horse...that's my ol' weathered kak.
I'm comin' Bob, I'll be right there." He winked a misty eye
And tried to reach up for his hat, then died without a sigh.
I'll tellya, man, it freaked me out! I dang near came in two!
I'd never watched a person die, especially one I knew.
I tried to say a little prayer but all I knew was grace.
So I just said, "Good Bye, Old Man," and covered up his face.
I poured myself the bitter dregs and stood out on the step.
Alone I listened to the night, as still as death, except,
I thought I heard above the coffee sloshin' in my cop,
The far off, easy, pleasured sound of old friends catchin' up.
