New Guy in Town
by
Jackie Moranty
copyright 11-30-2001
Age Rating: 1 to 127
This is another tough read, so I'm going to throw a few definitions in here, just so that everyone knows what I'm talking about.
Remuda: Horse herd, usually set up at cattle ranches and moved from place to place, but in this case, it's just his herd.
Cayuse: A horse.
Crop out paint: A horse that's registered with the Paint Registry, but carries no color. His parents carried color, but he was just a bay horse. He could not be registered with the American Quarter Horse Association because his parents were paints.
Throws color at every stand: He claimed that every mare he bred this stud to had a paint colt to show for it. He still carried the paint genes even if he didn't show color.
Hot shot: Like a hand-held cattle prod. Push a button and it gives the animal a shot of electricity that gets them to move. It only hurts for a minute.
Caught his eye: I never laid a hand on this horse, other than giving him a little shot of electricity. I got his attention and kept it from outside the stall door. My grandfather was a Commanche Indian, he taught me this.
This is one of the stories that I get asked to tell quite often. This is the first time it's been put in rhyme, though.
I have Julie to thank for that, she asked me to dust this one off for telling at the Christmas gathering up at the ranch so her son could hear it. Suddenly, it became a poem instead of that same tired story that I've been telling for a few years. She's inspired quite a few of my poems, along with her husband, Jerry.
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Hi, Ellen, I've been around horses all my life, also. They're a very important part of what I do for a living, so I've always got a couple of good ones around. Jackie
Bob, Thank you so much for your input. I agree with you. I don't want my readership, here or anywhere else, to think that I'm talking down to them. When I send a poem off for publication, I don't use the definitions, they're only put here, on MLM, to help these folks understand. I know that a lot of people on this site come from other countries, or other lifestyles where people don't talk this way, and I was hoping that through the definitions, they could better understand the poem. It's really just time for me to bite the bullet and pull out the dictionsary. LOL Thanks again, Bob, Jackie
Do you mind if I add my two-cent's about explanations? Personally, I tend to shy away from them. The biggest reason is that readers (at least, THIS reader) don't like to be talked down to. When you give explanations, you run that risk, no matter how innocent or unintentional. In your case, it's a little different because you don't attempt to pre-condition the reader for what you want him/her to take from the passage. As a general rule, however, I let the reader tell me if he needs explanations. Chances are, if he does, perhaps I'd best submit the piece to a publication with a readership that will be more abreast of the terminology. Again, submitting here is a little different, because of the varied backgrounds of our readers, but as a general rule, I tend to err on the side of not doing it. Just my opinion...
Thank you, Paulette. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Some of them are a pretty tough read. I write like I think like I talk so you can imagine what a conversation is like when I'm in 'cowboy mode'. LOL Jackie
boy, what a read, went over it again, just to make sure I got the gist...it did make me laugh...I could just picture this scene unfolding...you sure have a talent...superb
Paulette
Bob and John, Thanks both for your kind comments. I don't know that he would have wanted me for anything more than to look at those horses, Bob. His wife was almost as scary as that stud. I probably won't write too much about the way I train a horse, can't give away all my trade secrets. John, I'm so glad you liked this one. It's a great story with or without the rhyme. I'm always debating on whether to put definitions in or not. I somehow think that they're going to take away from the story, but on the other hand, if I don't, people won't have a clue what I'm talking about, so for now, they stay. The only thing that I can tell you about wishing that you had more excitement in your life is be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. Jackie
If I did not read the start I would of said, "What the hell is a hot shot" LOL. I LOVED this one Jackie, it was a great tale and poem.
You have had and are having an exciting life, I wish more excitement was in mine like this.
Armed with that hot-shot, no one would confuse you for a horse whisperer, would they? (Hey, that makes me wonder why you haven't written us a story about that!)
Judging from the character depicted, if you'd been by yourself, he'd probably have tried to get you to 'take a look at his etchings'. Beware of Aussies bearing gifts? Excellent job, Jackie, I enjoyed it.
Thank you both for your kind comments. I think it would have been interesting to know what went on after we left, too. All Julie said to me was, "You sure know how to make a first impression." Jackie
LOL, Thank you, David! The man from Down Under didn't stay here very long, maybe a year. Last I heard, he was in Colorado somewhere. Yes, this does work on people and you've probably done it a million times without knowing it. I'll be anxious to hear their reply! Jackie
Thanks, Robert and Betty. I've had some great teachers, both horse and human, to show me what I can get away with and what I can't. I had this horse's number from the time he tried to bite Julie. That hot shot drove him back and no one had ever bothered to let him no that you just don't go around biting people. Robert, we joust horses like that quite a bit, but we use a lunge whip to do it, that way, we're well out of the way if they kick up. I'll look out for my safety long before I'll try to wrangle with a horse (can't tell it by the shape I'm in now, huh? LOL). Jackie
I love it! I LOVE IT! I really love this story! I laughed so hard. Darn good thing you had that hot shot on your side. Sounded like one nasty stud, reduced to peanuts from your "way" and your hot shot. This was very well written and I loved the message at the end! Bull... watch out! ~~laughing~~
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