Trail Saddle Stars
Ace
Ace and I run a line of twelve guests rode to Pelican Valley on a clear day in Yellowstone, a day of air crystal. The water sparkles in Pelican Creek. Sandhill Cranes ride the length of the sky, their dinghies as primitive as the place. Scattered throughout the valley small groups of buffalo graze tall, yellow grass, the grass barely moves in the midday calm.
Our trail follows the edge between grassland and forest. Grass on both sides of the track is almost as high as the trunk of ACE. It is a territory familiar to him and he walks comfortably, knowing we come to camp with a good pasture before many more miles have passed. The three mules behind us - Buck, SiS, and Festus - are as much to house. All horses are. I look at the forest for the movement - a grizzly bear, a wolf, a deer. Twice in the past, when a deer appeared from nowhere as we drove through the forest, Ace high and bolted, reacting to the sudden appearance of a creature erupting in his vision. Twice I dropped the rope for the mules that I can rotate freely and calm himself and recover his place in line. The cable is dropped not ideal, because mules can go astray, but it beats get the rope wrapped around something - Ace leg or my arm or any number of other things - in the mercurial movements of the horse and my own attention focused on getting the situation resolved.
These moments aside, Ace is a horse good advance. He is strong and agile and he knows the trails of Yellowstone as intimately as I know parts of my house. But the horses are "beasts of prey. In their genes, they are still cautious. Unforeseen things can frighten them. So I learned to look at these things, see them first, before Ace did.
That's how it is in my mind - until this trip. A grizzly appears near the track and I'm not the first to see. I suspect not even his presence until Ace simply stops in its tracks, ears up, forward, his whole body alert, like a dog on this point. Fifty yards ahead, a row of grass moves as a wave of grass to the runway. A two-year-old grizzly emerges, through Road and continues towards the forest. It crosses the road without looking at us as if we were not on his shopping in the morning. For a moment I can see his back as he moves through the grass. I think it could yet return to the track. I think there may be a mama bear some share that will follow him through the tall grass and across the road. The bears usually stay with their mothers for two years before setting out on their own. When Ace and I stopped holding my hand, the riders behind me out the binoculars and cameras, but the bear disappeared into the grass, so all each of us can see is a line of grass moving until a wind comes up, and all movements of grass meadows. I have not seen entering the forest, but without sowing appears, and it does not reappear within a reasonable time, we go on, although I suggested to the outfitter that perhaps he would go driving for a while.
I am sorry that quickly in a short time my base cowardice, because I love it when Ace and I lead. I like the feeling that only two of us - and, of course, my mules -- These, we are in a wilderness on our own and that between us we can face anything. The size of Ace offers me me gives courage. As if the two of us could do anything. All the paths of good horses offer. (Other horses do too, but I have no experience with hunters and jumpers and other horses or more civilized.) This companionship with the horse is why a travel pack hinterland is so special for anyone who gets as involved with the horse he or she as the landscape. You share an adventure. Sharing experience - felt in the endorsement the same way the horse feels every movement of the riders body, every emotion, every thought in mind the riders, each puff of air and when the sun - seems more profound than words shared. The horse may or may not understand the word whoa, but it will certainly react how you sit. Words used to translate an experience go hand experience, a superficial manifestation. But if superficial things are between you and your horse at least one of you is struggling. The beauty of a journey on horseback, is that whatever sometimes one of you happens to you both.
And it is just what happens. What happens is always in the present moment. The miracle of relationship with a horse a dog, an animal is the need to be present at this time. (The same thing with a person, but it is more difficult to do. People like to self-same words. Animals attend to what exists.) What action of ACE and I was part of every moment we share. Wildflower meadows and Sunday noon during fresh water on a hot day, cold, wet and long hikes; waterspouts; dawn, and forty-five billions of stars in all forty-five trillion universe. We negotiated rapid and high streams and relaxed mules safely around places tight. We were all tired, grateful for the end of trail. We shared apples and time and many miles. I know how his muscles and his strength and his conscience to feel with or without saddle. He knows how I ride and what I expect and how I love him. He knows that there are places that scare me and it does scare me. I know he can handle the places that scare me. He knows that I can manage. We work well together.
Copyright © 2006 Ruth Rudner
The above is an excerpt from the book Ask the Beasts
by Ruth Rudner
Published by Marlowe & Company, May 2006; $ 14.95US; 978-1-56924-388-6
Copyright © 2006 Ruth Rudner
Author
Ruth Rudner wrote about the American West for many years for "Recreation The Wall Street Journal & Arts" page. His other books include Partings; Greetings from Wisdom, Montana, and a chorus of Buffalo. With her husband, photographer David Muench, she is also the author of Windstone and our national parks. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, USA Weekend, Field & Stream Vogue, Self, and many other publications. She travels frequently about American and wrote the national parks and wildlife that inhabits them. She lives with her husband in Corrales, New Mexico.
About the Author
Visit www.ruthrudner.com
BROKEN TRAIL STARS SADDLE UP
 |
 New 18 Premium Brown Synthetic Horse Show Trail Saddle Alligator Print Pad Tack US $220.00 |
 12 Med Oil Western Barrel Racing Kids Trail Saddle Set  US $192.00
|
 10 Dark Brown Leather Saddle Rough out Pony Mini Western Saddle Horse Trail US $224.99
|
 10 Tan Leather Saddle Kid Pony Mini Western Saddle Horse Trail Brown Seat US $224.99
|
 Western Pleasure Trail Reiner Star Show Saddle 16 MedO US $294.00
|
 Western Pleasure Trail Ranch Horse Saddle 16 Endurance US $200.00
|
 Western Trail Horse Lt Oil Tooled Wave Browband Headstall Reins Free Ship US $39.99
|
 Western Trail Horse Lt Oil 2 Tone Weave Browband Headstall Reins Free Ship US $39.99
|
 Western Horse Trail Lt Oil Tooled Wave HeadstallReins BCSet Free Ship US $74.99
|
 16 Green Bling Leather Western Show Barrel Saddle Bridle Breastplate Reins US $255.98
|
 HILASON WESTERN WOOL SADDLE PAD BLANKET NEW ZEALAND LB161 US $59.26
|
 Genuine Roma Quilted English All Purpose Saddle Pad White Aqua Horse Pony Tack US $5.00
|
 HILASON HAND TOOLED LEATHER PAINTED INLAY WESTERN HEAVY PULLING BREAST COLLAR US $78.00
|
 HILASON NEW WESTERN HAND TOOLED LEATHER PAINTED INLAY HEADSTALL TAN A339 US $59.00
|
 Double Fleece English Saddle Pad Off White Horse Pony Tack Equestrian Riding US $5.00
|
 Canterbury Double Fleece English Saddle Pad Off WhiteHorse or Pony Riding Tack US $13.00
|
 LIGHT OIL TOOLED AMERICAN COWHIDE LEATHER WESTERN HEAVY PULLING BREAST COLLAR US $78.09
|
 WESTERN SHOW TRAIL RIDING PLEASURE SADDLE SET 16 ZS108 US $444.00
|
 HILASON TACK NEW HAND MADE WESTERN SHOW RIDING BREAST COLLAR CRYSTAL 906CN029 US $59.60
|
 HILASON WESTERN WOOL SADDLE PAD BLANKET NEW ZEALAND LB146 US $59.11
|
 Bull Riding Smooth Leather Rodeo Western Chaps CH744 US $189.00
|
 155 New Leather Western Rawhide Pleasure Trail Saddle New US $38.77
|
 WESTERN TREELESS SADDLE PAD MEMORY FOAM AND ANTI SLIP TA123 US $59.00
|
 Bull Riding Smooth Leather Rodeo Western Chaps CH831 US $189.00
|
 Western Star 16 Roping Trail Pleasure Saddle Basket Stamp US $290.00
|
 NEW Red White Blue American Flag Saddle Blanket US $9.99
|
 SPURS English Western Slip On NEW Horse Show Tack Adjustable Lady Youth 4H US $3.99
|
 PREMIUM AUSSIE Leather Non slip Tail Crupper Hav Brown US $15.99
|
 15 WESTERN LEATHER BARREL SHOW TRAIL SADDLE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR SET PURPLE US $499.99
|
 14 WESTERN CORDURA TRAIL BARREL PLEASURE SADDLE BLUE STAR ALL TACK COMBO DEAL US $299.99
|
 Tan Basket Floral WesternTrail and Pleasure Horse saddle with LoneTexas star 16 US $275.00
|
 10 Natural SHOW Saddle Kid Pony Mini Western Saddle Horse Trail Pink Seat US $150.98
|
 New Lady Youth Riding Gloves Size SMALL English Western Horse Tack BLUE US $.99
|
 20 Horse Size Halter Double Ply Nylon New western Tack Assorted Colors ALL NEW US $52.99
|
 10 Eyelets Lag Screw Eye Bolt Barn Stall Hardware 3 Ring Horse Tack Room US $3.99
|
 2 Used Horse Size HALTERS Heavy Duty Well Made Western Saddle Tack US $12.99
|
 WESTERN PLEASURE SADDLE PKG FLORAL TOOLED CARVED TAN 17 BLACK SEAT NEW US $269.99
|
 Used Western Horse Bit Unique Straight Mouth Saddle bridle Tack US $4.98
|
 6 1 2 Foot SPLIT LEATHER REINS New Western Horse saddle bridle tack BLACK US $6.99
|
 New Show Horse Saddle BRIDLE SET Star w Rawhide Brow Horse Hair Tassles Cross US $23.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
 |
Mongoose Tech 4 Men's Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels) List Price: $479.99 Sale Price: $293.28  |
|
The Mongoose Tech 4 men's dual-suspension mountain bike is designed for smooth, efficient riding, helping you hit the trail with confidence. The Tech 4 is equipped with a four-bar link suspension frame and a Rock Shox front fork, which work together to absorb bumps and increase control... |