Red Rocket (Part 2)

 

Red Rocket was a fast horse. I think he was a racehorse in a former life. He had two speeds: stop and very fast! Once he started running, he would stop for nothing and would never turn. There was no track to follow, so he would continue going straight until a barrier of some kind would stop him. It always made for a difficult day when I drew Red Rocket as my partner for the day. and since most of the cowboys had their own horses, and we had very few stellar horses of our own, I was almost always the one on Red. 

That day, we were at the Hinkson headquarters. I was using Earl's old saddle. It was a custom affair with a high pommel and a suede seat. The seat was cushioned and was not unlike sitting in a lazyboy recliner. I kept it well-oiled with linseed oil and used saddle soap on it regularly to keep it in good condition. I prided myself in keeping that saddle looking good. Unfortunately, I missed a very important detail. 

We saddled up and started out on a ride. Shane, our foreman, had seen some cattle in the section trap that needed to come out. We were about a half mile into the trees when Red Rocket was spooked by a large jackrabbit bounding out of a cedar tree. As was his nature, he jolted forward in one swift bound as I heard a snap from somewhere beneath me. Red Rocket launched ahead, stripping the reins from my hands, and speeding on in a full run. I was left sitting in my saddle, feet in the stirrups in mid-air, feeling a bit like Wiley Coyote when the Roadrunner gets his way!

The ground was made slightly softer by the comfortable saddle, but the gales of laughter didn't help my pride. The horse was gone and I was left carrying my saddle and saddle blankets back to the Hinkson house. The walk was tiring, but I didn't have to ride! There is always that silver lining in all situations. I dropped the saddle and the broken cinch strap, a dry, cracked, overlooked strip of leather, into the truck bed. I spent the rest of the afternoon napping in a comfortable metal chair under the eaves of the old Hinkson house.

Yet another reason I don't ride horses!