So I was Wrong about Horses!

Horses and I have never been able to get accustomed to each other.

I once rode a horse over a narrow trail through the Sierra Maestra Mountains of eastern Cuba. This was during the time that Fidel Castro was a rebel living in the jungles and threatening the dictator Fulgencio Batista . The Naval Operating Base at Guantanamo, or GITMO, was used for underway training for U. S. ships fresh from overhaul stateside, and we crew members looked for amusement during the scant hours we had between heavy drills at sea. There was a riding stable there, and one day four of us rented horses and set out to explore.

My mount would stand still and then run to catch up with the others, which was rather disconcerting since we were often on narrow trails and
alongside thousand foot drop offs. His gait was uneven and ragged. When he would stop, he would try to bite me, and if I dismounted he would step on me.

There was a reason for this.

My father, while a soldier in France in 1917, on occasion had to dine on horse meat, and I am certain that my mount could sense this. The Bible says that the sins of the fathers shall be inflicted on the sons… So I was being inflicted. Never argue with the Scriptures, except the Book of Nicodemus.

You may have noticed that I own a statue of an elephant. The statue is six feet long and four feet high, and made of resin. He has been featured in parades here in Jackson County, and politicians far and wide know him by name and have posed with him, including one who has since left the Republican Party. Because of this statue I have taken it on myself to learn about these fine animals. I know that they take twenty three months to gestate, and that their tusks are similar to teeth and are valuable. Their trunks are prehensile. When they run they always have one foot on the ground, which is basically the way I run. And elephants are said to have a tremendous memory, and that they never forget.

But they have nothing on equines. Horses that I get near remember that my father had char-grilled flank horsemeat steaks, with Worcestershire Sauce, during his Army days ninety years ago. They step on me, and bite me, and try to throw me down mountainsides. So I have avoided them.

But Saturday that changed.

My grandson Stuart and I went over to the Ag Center on U. S. 90 Saturday to see an antique car show. The autos did not appear, but we noticed activity in the arena, and went up to check it out.

And there were horses, beautiful, well-behaved ones, ridden by beautiful, well-behaved ladies. And they were riding in time to music and parading around in formation. And it was worth our sitting down and watching.

Then at break time we found out that we were in the midst of a rehearsal of the American Dreams Mounted Drill Team and Show Squad. We met Kidnight Color Design, who, when he goes out on Saturday night, is known to her admirers as “Sparrow”. Sparrow immediately attracted me, because she is blond and blue-eyed and reminds me of my true love Doris Day.

Next horse to sashay up to the fence for our inspection was Don’t Look at Me Mr., but we did look, and admire, and we learned to pet a horse on the side of his neck, because that is where the teeth are not.

There were other mounts; all sleek and good looking, and they all seemed to know what to do. The riders were pretty sharp, also. We learned that anyone with a horse and the desire can try out for one of the teams, and learn the formations that are a part of this sport. The Boss Lady, called the Drillmaster, in charge is Tammy Dobek, and she almost sold me on taking up the sport. From Tammy we learned that beginners are welcome as long as they have a horse and a helmet and are willing to learn.

We found out that the American Dreams teams are well known, and that they perform often at horse shows and other events. They are headquartered in Marianna, and you can learn all about them on their Website. I am going to be watching out for one of their shows, for I understand that they sometimes use flags, lances, swords, fireworks and “more”. I may really not want to know what “more’ is. Lances, swords and fireworks will be enough for me.

When I went on their Website I found that the description of the abilities of a Drill Team horse pretty well matches what most men look for in a mate: “A good Drill Team horse has many abilities: looks, style, and must be in overall good health. They must have a good disposition, and at least have a ’forward’ gear.”

And if I am going to be around them, I would add “and a forgiving nature”.

Visit thier website at http://www.americandreamsmounteddrillteam.com/