And the Competition Begins…

It was a long, hot summer... but one I will never forget. Weekends went by and Team Penning was fading out at RHO.  Tom delved into Team Sorting.  I wasn’t sure what that was about.  Sue encouraged me the most.  “You will love it… it’s much easier than penning and a slower pace.

I spent most of my time learning how to perfect this art of sorting. She was right.  The first day in the arena was exhilarating!  Sorting is easier and much better for a cutting horse to handle.  Penning is really about chasing cows.  That goes against the horse’s mindset. With sorting, the horse has to cut the correct number cow out of the heard and push it back over the line.  So, in all essence, it was cutting at a different level.  This came easy to Chill.  She was a cutter… and a good one... and she was the one who taught me how to play this game!  I loved it... and we were getting good at it, too. 

  RHO Horse and Cattle Company took our troops on the road.  I wasn’t sure how Chill would perform outside of our home arena.  Our first trip was to a local Equestrian Center, a beautiful, upscale English barn with wide aisles and black wrought iron grating on the stalls. Those English folk damn sure didn’t know what hit ‘em when we plowed into their grounds!  In a cloud of dust… cows mooing, horses neighing and hat-bearing, spur-wearing cowpokes arrived! Well, ain’t this somethin’.  

 I still find it funny to see massive warmbloods with riders in tall black boots and black velvet riding helmets turn and face a herd of cattle! Many of our friends board there.  The Equestrian Center owners were warm, kind people who enjoyed the festivities when our barn arrived.  There was food, drink and friends and lots of laughs in between.

It was there we met Gail and Norm. I knew Gail and was pleased to see her again.  She is a talented makeup artist who frequently painted my daughter at times of prom, weddings and special occasions.  Long ago we spoke about riding and our horses.  Gail always tried to convince me to go on a trail ride someday with her.  Not being a “trail” person, I always avoided the subject.  I told her where my barn was and all about Tom Riley. She shared her story about Arlo, her giant mammoth of a rescue quarter horse who had all types of behavioral issues.  This particular sorting day at the Equestrian Center, Gail and I reconnected.  She watched and learned and was bitten by the sorting bug instantly.

This day was fun.  It was our first time sorting away from home.  Our barn did awesome and of course, Karl took home the trophy! I was proud to be a part of RHO and everyone knew we were definitely strong riders…we just confirmed that fact!

A Part of the Team

Chill and I were making our spot on the RHO team.  My riding improvement was due to Tom and Courtney and my awesome horse, but I do have to say that if it wasn’t for my husband Richard, none of this would have happened.  His undying patience and desire for me to ride no matter what the cost outweighed his own love of the sport.  He sacrificed his own needs and wants when it came to his riding.

 Nothing was lost, though.  Richard seemed to find a horse he wanted, too.  We both outgrew our horses as all the RHO family did. Dakota was happy being a field horse.  Tom’s gorgeous black and white stud, “Turkey” was the answer to her prayers.  Tom and I decided to breed them and the hopes of a black and white Tobiano baby was in the works.

Dexter was another story.  He took advantage of Richard any time he could.  Richard was not a strong rider, but was willing to learn and try.  A mare captured his heart… “Tangles” another great paint horse cutting prospect. A deal was made, Dexter was sold and Richard was on his way to cutting horse fame, but still had to wait for her to be “ready”.

Trouble was beginning to brew while penning with Chill.  She knew my hesitation and was beginning to get frustrated with me.  She would have little hissy fits about going into the arena… or staying put when she had to, but we worked through it every time.  She got my number for sure.  Even though my riding was better, my fear was still there and she knew it.  She did, however, only give me as much as I was ready for. 

The BWBs were doing great.  With Sue on Peaches and Donna on Summer they tore up the arena. RHO cowgirls were sure a force to be reckoned with! Why not? We had the best trainer and the best horses.  

 Sharon was in love with her Sonita.  Sonita Little Cutter, as she was known, was a finely tuned cutting horse that would drop down on a cow if given the opportunity or perhaps… if not!!  Sharon wasn’t ready for penning, cutting or sorting and Sonita knew it.  They both were just as happy to grab cows out of the field and bring them back after we were all done with the games.  The best part of our days were spent leisurely riding around our big fields of clover laughing and relaxing.

 Our dear friends, Karl and Carvey also had horses at the barn.  They were two of the top riders and they were a joy to watch. Being with them was always an adventure and always guaranteed a good time… most times; we knew something crazy would happen. This day, after long, hot dusty hours of penning, the boys had a great idea!! We had a great running pond/stream on our property.  The horse loved it and was just deep enough to cool them off after a hard day of riding.

Carvey’s bright idea…. “Let’s go down to the stream.”  Yea, really?  Have you just met me?  Water???

“Come on, girl.  Come down to the water.  It’s fun. I’ll be with you and you’ll be fine” Carvey was always so reassuring and quite the confidence builder I needed.

We headed off on our mini trail ride.  It was like the great beyond for me…outside of the safety of the high walls of the arena! Ok... one by one we trampled down a little hill to the rocky clear bottom of the pond. Sharon was already in the water… Sonita joyfully splashing... and Sharon’s laughter echoed.  Karl behind me… I attempted to make the plunge.  Yea... no... I didn’t want to go. What seemed like the hill from The Man from Snowy River to me... was a tiny drop… but Chill wouldn’t go... she knew I was scared because of the rocks and the slip into the water.  Chill was injured long ago.  Sometimes she was stiff up front but always worked through it.  She was steadfast and honest.  Today. On those rocks, I was afraid she would get hurt… I can still hear Sharon laughing.  Donna yelling... get in here and Sue saying...take your time… you’re fine... it’s ok…

Karl, on the other hand, wasn’t so kind.   “Git yer ass in there... just go she’s fine”

Nope.  OH HELL NO…. No... I don’t want to go…. Carvey was sympathetic to my plight and said… ”come here… lets go in this way... it’s flatter and there’s no rocks” Karl on one side, Carvey on the other… we began our descent… but who the hell knew that this was a pure bog of mud? Bad idea boys….. As Chill and I attempted to step down… she sank up to her knees in mud... Struggling to get up… I kind of freaked out and did a flying dismount into the mud and weeds.  It was so hot and the rocks in my back took my breath away.  Still Sharon’s laughter was all I heard.  It hurt… Karl was looking down at me in disbelief…Girl, what the hell did you do that for? I dunno, Karl, she was sinking... I said …with mud in my teeth  and my boots…

Carvey was the only sympathetic soul in the creek…. You jumped... you thought she would get hurt didn’t you?  …

Yea, I was afraid her legs would give out… She was stumbling in the mud…I jumped off…

 I remember Chills face looking down at me …she stopped dead in the mud tracks and stared at me like I was a complete bumbling idiot… What the hell?

Attempting to catch my breath, I sat down on this rickety old table standing on 3 legs… I just needed a bit… OH GOD GIRL... Karl looked in disbelief…don’t sit on that… that’s gonna do you in….

All but avoiding a splinter in my ass, I gathered up my reins and walked...on foot… back to the arena.  Why you ask?  Because I still can’t get on my horse without the mounting block.  There were no mounting blocks in the wild and great beyond.... ... Tom... no where in sight...Thank God!!  I had my chance to scurry back to the arena, get back on and get back to the creek before I was within eyesight….. 

 

Yea… um…. No.  There he was… in all his glory, just gazing off at me from the barn while I climbed on my trusty mount.  Lord, this was going to be a hard explanation… …. He stood in the doorway… 150 yards away.... hands on his   hips… just looking across the vast field…. A stare that would turn a soul to stone….

 I heard him in my head…. What the hell did you do now,  idiot?

And Sharon…. Still laughing.

Smart Lil Chill

Harrisburg was fun.  We loved being together and actually learned a lot.  We paid particular notice to Craig Cameron’s challenges and patterns using safety cones. So, when we came home, we discovered we needed some of our own to play with. Richard and his checkbook generously contributed to our Expo frenzy and purchased 10 huge lime green cones! Tom just shook his head.

About that phone call….I had painstakingly kept my mouth shut during the Expo about Chill.  I didn’t want to share this news until I spoke to Tom and found out all the details.

It was true. Tom said she was mine if I wanted her.  She was a little more money than my steamboat Roxy, but well worth it.  Actually, this decision was a lot harder to make than I thought it would be.  Giving up Roxy, to me, meant that I would never be able to ride her...like I gave up too soon.  She was beautiful and would have turned out to be a spectacular cutting horse and I really wanted to succeed with her.

It was during this time when Ms. Courtney Riley and I became friends. Courtney is strong willed, extremely funny and a naturally gifted, talented rider.  Of course she would be… being Tom’s wife and the salt of RHO! We had many conversations over my decision to take Chill.  To Courtney, the decision was a “no brainer” She actually was the one responsible to talk Tom into selling her.  Deep down, Tom knew that Chill was for me, it just took him some time and effort on Courtney’s part to get there!

So, I let the news out to my BWBs. I can still see the look on Sue’s face when she found out Chill was for sale… to me! They all knew Roxy was a handful and saw how good Chill and I were for each other. Sharon, on the other hand…knew that this would happen. 

“Michele, you can’t handle Roxy… Might I remind you of the time Donna, Sue and I were riding in the field and Roxy chased us all over… at a full gallop... charging us?? It wasn’t fun.  Ummmmm…. get rid of her”

The only thing I purchased at the Expo for Roxy was a lime green and purple monogrammed halter and lead rope. Strangely enough, I never asked for her papers nor did I get a stall plaque.  Those two things were almost just as important to me as the horse herself!

The deal was made sitting on the back of Tom’s truck.  We discussed the future with Chill and how he was really proud of how well we were doing together.

“You know how many people wanted this mare?  I could have sold her ten times over for double this price. Her breeding out a' Smart Lil Lena tells it all. Chill’s your mare.  Believe me when I tell ya”

I believed that.  I also knew that Tom Riley had a plan all along for me…from the second I rode Peaches, he knew.  He changed my life. He gave me back my love of riding, my sense of belonging and purpose and the closest horse to Satin that I could ever imagine.  For this, I will always love and respect Tom Riley.  He is the true meaning of what a horseman is and someone I call friend. He is far above all those fancy gimmick trainers and show people out there… Tom Riley is the ultimate, no frills, down to earth, most HONEST trainer in the business.  Believe me when I tell ya.

Harrisburg, PA Horse Expo: 2012

So here we were.  The night proved interesting.  Our sleeping arrangements were perfect...well, for Sharon and me anyway.  Sue and Donna… another story!

Everyone snores.  It’s part of human nature and a natural occurrence.  Everyone occasionally “passes wind” in their sleep as well. It’s a part of human nature and a natural occurrence. 

Just not in public

In bed

With your best friend.

I forewarned Sharon that I hoped I didn’t toss and turn and accidentley … well… “pass wind” or snore.  If I did, please wake me up because I didn’t want to bother anyone. Plus, if I did, I was sure to jet propel Sharon into the next room with my accidental explosions. I hit the bed and was out like a light in my little fluff cocoon…Donna snores.  It’s ok.  Who cares… well, no one did, but Sue…a light sleeper.  The beds were really comfortable.  The blankets were fluffy, down, clean spreads of cloud-like material that made for a peaceful and solid slumber. When we woke in the morning, Sharon and I were both well-rested and fresh.  “You didn’t move at all” she said.  “I didn’t even know you were there”

 “Yea but Sharon… did I… you know… did I snore or …..fart?”  Because, If I did… I didn’t mean to…

Not a peep out of both of us all night!! Sharon and I were like little Angels sleeping on cumulous tufts of cotton… The other girls, however, were a completely different story….our comic relief.   Sue yammering about Donna snoring, Donna laughing and yammering how she can’t help it...

“What do you want me to do??? Sleep in the bathroom?  I’ll get a cot”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s fine. I just tried to wake you and you got angry”

“I can’t help it”

As for me, I heard nothing all night.  Snoring and the like doesn’t bother me… I said…”Donna, sleep with me… I don’t care, I can sleep through anything” She declined. It all turned out fine… but the comical banter continued throughout the trip.  It’s what makes Sue and Donna….Sue and Donna.

And the day begins.

I think we hit every clothing concession there was… plus every tack shop and trainer stand.  Straight to Craig Cameron…and Tommy Turvey… and everyone in between!

Oh my I found a hat at Tommy Turvey’s booth… It was adorned with just enough crystals and didn’t look half bad.  Sharon picked hers out too… we both wanted the same one... and both knew it would never be worn together, at the same place, at the same time… or... if it be worn at all!! I am big on autographs. I don’t care who it is… or what; if you made it, sign it.  So good ole “Tommy” signed our hats… and off we went.

Donna and Sue are addicted to vests.  We hit every clothing stand there was and they got new vests in every color, on sale, on clearance and even full price.  I love vests.  They complete every cowgirl’s outfit and everyone should have one or twelve. 

The evening show was outstanding.  It was great to see all these trainers in one place... doing what they do best.  The parade of breeds still confirmed my desire to own a Fresian horse... someday!

 

Amidst the excitement, I received a phone call from Tom Riley. “How’s that trip goin?”  I told him about the trainers and how he should really be out here doing the same stuff that these guys are… he’s way better, and so far they haven’t taught us anything we didn’t already learn from him.

“Well, when you get back, I got a surprise for ya.  It’s well worth it, we’ll talk” 

Jeeze…. Don’t do this to me….you know I hate that… what is it??

After much coercion, he simply stated… The Chill mare.  She’s yours if you want her.  Think about that.  We’ll talk.”

GASP!!

The look on my face must have been something… Sue turned… What’s wrong?  You ok?

All I could muster up was a “yea, um, fine”

Countless times Sue must have told me that Tom would never sell the Chill mare. Her breeding was outstanding and she was one of his best horses.   I often spoke about Chill to them.  Wondering if I should dare ask Tom if Chill was for sale, Sue reminded me to forget it. 

Chill and I were a pair I don’t know how it happened, but I fell in love with her instantly from the first ride, and Chill, well she loved the attention, too.   My hope was to get my locomotive train of a horse to be like Chill. “Stinka” or Roxy as she was newly named was a great horse but so full of power that I didn’t think I would ever ride her.

 To me, the Chill mare was just a dream.