Chewin The Cud - June 16, 2021

Rodriquez changed to the cowboy life. “I had Arabians, rode several 50-mile endurance rides, but then got into stock horses,” he said. Wednesday afternoon, they were riding a 14-year-old sorrel Quarter Horse called Peppy and an 11-year-old buckskin stock horse named Dust. A 17-year- old gray gelding, half-Arabian and half American Saddlebred, called Uno was serving as their pack horse. “All three horses are broke to ride and to pack, so we trade off every day,” Ro - driquez said. “Each of us will ride a different horse and the third horse will be used for packing our gear.” All three horses are owned by Rodriquez who shares them with his friend For- rest. “I have eight horses at my place near Nevada. They’re all broke to ride. Children as well as adults including senior citizens come out to enjoy riding them.” The men have become interested in team roping. “We’ve only been roping about a year, so we’re not into competition, but it’s a lot of fun,” Rodriquez ad- mitted. Actually the senior rider is an all-around horseman. “I like everything there is to do with horses. I’ve had the opportunity to judge extreme cowboy races in several states,” he said. Horses graze roadsides, pastures and even lawns along the route and throughout the night. “We make sure they get enough salt, and sometimes stop in a town and buy them grain,” Rodriquez said. “We water the horses in creeks, ponds and waterholes as we ride,” Rodriquez said. “We have a bucket if we need to carry them water.”

On the hot humid days, the riders are most conscientious to keep their horses hydrated watering about every hour. “We have our own canteens and carry extra drinking water for ourselves on the pack horse,” Drury noted. Packing the horses is no small task. “We’ve had to learn how to make ad- justments with our gear so it’s balanced on the horses. There’s about 30 to 35 pounds on each side,” Rodriquez said. For their own nourishment, the trail riders carry jerky and trail mixes. “We sometimes stop at a café or a quick shop and get something to eat,” Drury said. “Several families have invited us in for

supper and even provided breakfast before we start the next morning.” With bedrolls, the horsemen typically sleep on the ground under the stars. “However, sometimes people have welcomed us to stay in their barns, even