Ranch Horses

I have bought many horses over the years and still love going to a horse sale. Bidding always reminds me of my Dad who was very experienced at it. I lived on the same farm with him for 50 years so I probably went to horse sales with him for 40 of those years. He bought some great horses.

My Dad had several work horses that I remember, but these would be his “honourable mentions”. Chubb and Kate, two very big draft crosses. Chubb was white and Kate was black. It was amazing what they could pull. Festus, Grayboy and Brownie, an “all rounder” who shared as much time under the saddle as in the harness are my next picks. Those three were lighter built draft crosses but also had a powerful pull. Dad used them all for haying (hay sweep and rake), hauling feed with a rack, hauling manure all winter out of the barn, pulling out stuck vehicles, and the last three were broke to ride.

Dad had many good saddle horses too. I would choose 3 “honourable mentions” starting with Pat. I’m not sure when Dad bought Pat but we have a picture of Dad in his army uniform and Pat from 1947. Pat was a good-looking red roan gelding with a blaze face and white socks who stood about 15.3 hands. Dad not only used him for ranching, but being a single young man, he also rode him to the local towns for dances and social events. One time in the wee hours of the morning, the two were making their way home when Dad dozed off and slid off the saddle onto the ground. Even though Pat knew the way home, he just stood there waiting. When Dad woke up, a patch of grass had been eaten all around him. Yes, Pat was quite content, an old faithful friend. Dad had Pat a long time, he still had him when he and Mom got married and when my oldest brother and myself were very young.

#2 pick would be Sunset, a very beautiful palomino mare Dad bought in about 1960from Parkers who raised palomino’s just south of Marwayne. Dad could ride her all day in the river hills and she was still raring to go. She was a big powerful mare and could stand her ground against the wildest critter on the end of a rope. Her body color was stunning. She looked like the sun on fire; gorgeous gold with strands of ginger and red with mane and tail to match. Neither myself nor my siblings were old enough or strong enough to ride this beauty.

My #3 pick, is a handsome paint gelding he called Tramp that he bought from his nephew, Alvin. Tramp spent over 20 years on the ranch, he had no special breeding, but he was cow sauvy, had a high gear accented by a bit of sass, which he did not attempt on Dad but every other rider was tested. Dad only had to speak to him and he stood at attention and behaved exceptionally. Dad even broke him to drive. You’ve probably gathered by now he was a “one-man” horse. Even though we knew this, some of my siblings and I tried riding him at some point. He tolerated us but he was a handful! He was very smart and could read people. This handsome fella’s palomino and white uniform spotting pattern was emphasized with his white mane and tail. Dad would call, “Come Tramp” and he would come running ears up, tail flying! If he saw us kids coming with a halter, he would (of course) run the other direction! Dad had many offers to buy his horse but he was a permanent fixture on our ranch. Tramp was Dad’s last saddle horse. What a great horse to end his cowboy years with!

Like my Dad, I am always looking for good horses. Now you can buy and sell them online from the comfort of your home. I still prefer the excitement of sitting in the stands at a horse sale. Might see you there!