Round one to the Wonder Horse
One of my favorite things was to saddle up early on a Saturday morning and ride out alone in the chilly, clear, sweet smelling hills around the Mark Twain National Forest, which butts against Fort Leonard Wood. Leaving the stables, westward, the road started down a curving grade until it comes to the valley of the Rubidoux creek...the boundary which marks the beginning of the Forest. It is a beautiful ride, quiet, and peaceful. It took about an hour to get to the creek at a slow walk. The way back was quicker. Ginger wasn't barn-sour but she hated to walk uphill. She would gradually increase her walking pace until she finally broke into a trot. If you didn't rein her back she would quickly break into a run...she loved to dash uphill. I think that Sioux Chief was named for a horse a lot like Ginger.
One Saturday after we had reached the creek, I was on the ground just looking around when a jet black German Shepherd puppy came blasting out of the tall grass near the creek. He barrelled straight at me like we were the oldest friends just reunited. He rolled over and slobbered and licked and whimpered and did all those things puppies do when they are ecstatic. He was beautiful. He was no more than three month old, all ears, paws and tail. He was so happy to see anyone. I looked around for an owner, sometimes people let their dogs run loose when they are fishing the creek. I looked up and down the bank, even called out...nothing. The whole time the pup ran around my feet and rubbed up on me. I came to realize..or at least suspect...that he had been dumped. So...I figured he was mine. The decision made, I saw no reason to delay...I wanted to get him home and clean him up, get him some shots and register him...I was excited...a new puppy !
There was one little problem. We were several miles from the car. My first thought was to handle him the same way the cowboys used to handle a wayward calf. Throw him over the saddle and head out. Not so good. I don't know how those cowboys did it, but a wiggly puppy and a horse who hates dogs made for an amusing 15 minutes or so...if you were watching from some nearby hill...not so much if you are a participant. I finally gave up. But since we were getting along so well, I thought..."Well...maybe he'll just follow along". Bullet always ran alongside Trigger, didn't he? So I mounted up. The puppy looked disappointed. I pointed out to him that he could have joined me...but nooooo. So I headed out at a slow walk...puppy sat and watched as we moved toward the hill. Then I saw a light go on in his pretty, dark eyes. He jumped up and ran after us. We had a great time. He ran in circles and leaped around and cavorted...I smiled and encouraged him...Ginger laid her ears back and snorted at him. We had just reached the point when Ginger wanted to break into a trot. Puppy would have to straighten out and work a little to keep up now. He was a game little guy, tho, and was loping along beside us. Then Ginger popped her left rear leg out and kicked the pup amidships, launching him about 15 feet into the air. He hit the ground yelping and running...out of sight in seconds. I spent the rest of the morning combing the area, calling my lost pup. Never found a trace of him.
Ginger liked Saturday morning walk outs...she liked cats...she loved watermelon...she like running up the hill...but she did not like German Shepherds.