"Always Saddle Your Own Horse"

One of our little cowgirls.

In my travels today via Google, I decided to find some cowboy wisdom to share with you. The title of my blog is a direct quote from a Connie Douglas Reeves, who was a cowgirl. I think that she was about 102 when she passed away.

I promise that I will write more about her in a later blog.

When you saddle your own horse, you are more in charge of what may or may not happen during your ride. You are able to make sure that the horse is groomed properly and that there aren't any sores on their back or on their belly where you cinch the girth.

Most importantly, a person will not be caught by surprise of a burr under the saddle or a cinch coming loose or separating from the saddle.

I had the pleasure of my saddle cinch breaking away from the saddle. The horse went one way and the saddle and I landed in the opposite direction.

I think that this is what has happened to our government on our watch. We "assumed" that they had our best interests at heart. In fact, they were far more interested in lining their own pockets than promoting the greater good.

Our Dad was a cowboy. From an early age, he taught us all about horses and riding. We also were expected to saddle our own horses and take care of them too.

Here are a few Cowboy Proverbs from those who have lived by the Cowboy Code, Think about how we could cut the deficit by following these simple rules:

(1). "A decent cowboy does not take what is not his and if he does he deserves to be strung up and left for the flies and coyotes." (Judge Roy Bean)

(2). "Broke is what happens when a cowboy lets his yearnin's get ahead of his earnings."

(3). "Poor is having the sell the horse to buy the saddle."

(4). "The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put in back into your pocket."

(5). "Keep away from the outlaws who ride Owl Hoot Trail. Folks that travel there tend to do so under the cover of darkness."

(6). "Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Cowboys are quite shrewd about the failings of the common man.

(1). "There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading . The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence." (Will Rogers)

(2). "When a cowboy's too old to set a bad example, he hands out good advice."

(3). "It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."

(4). "If you get to thinking that you're a person of influence, try ordering someone else's dog around." (Will Rogers)

Lastly, for this blog, here is some advice from old cowboys long gone:

(1). "Worry is like a rocking horse. Its something that don't get you nowhere."

(2). "Conflict follows wrongdoing as surely as flies follow the herd." (Doc Holiday)

(3). "Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering' you none." (Judge Roy Bean)

(4). "Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly."

(5). "Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction."

(6). "Never miss a chance to shut up." (Judge Roy Bean).

The business of living has become complicated only because, we began to think that someone else was capable of saddling our horses for us.

None of us have all of the answers, but we do have something that is more valuable than gold. We still live in the most blessed nation in the world. We are free to write and say what we want. We are free to travel from state to state. We are free to choose our occupations, our friends and companions.

A cowboy travels light. His horse and saddle are his most valuable possessions. The wide open sky with the stars is his GPS. The sound of the crickets and cows lull him to sleep. Life is good when you can keep it simple.