Old Cowboys

Driving across the plains of Texas, you will see many herds of different livestock; cattle, horses, deer, antelope, just to name a few. In every cattle herd, there is probably a bull; maybe a yearling, maybe a young bull or it could be a grizzled veteran of many battles. Seeing this familiar sight recently brought to mind some experiences and stories I heard as I grew up.

A neighbor named Gaddy Freeman, (no kiddin', his real name) bought the old Cagle place some miles from where we lived north and west of Abilene, Texas. Being a couple of hours ride from us, he became our next door neighbor. And what a neighbor. As I look back on him today, I realize he was about Dad's age. The two of them got along well together, swapping work so both could accomplish tasks that one man could not do alone. They were good friends, sharing a love for livestock, all kinds of livestock. Cattle, horses, dogs, you name it, they loved them all.

Gaddy went to an auction sale over in Cross Plains early one spring and became enamored of a four year old, handsome, shiny black gelding standing about 16 hands tall. He was told that even though the horse was tall, he had been ridden by children and was considered something of a pet. Gaddy looked him over well, liked what he saw and decided to take a chance on him. Since money was a little tight with Gaddy, he wanted to be sure that he was not being taken. He knew that very few ranchers wanted a kid's pet horse, but one that could earn his keep by working cattle and dealing with rough stock on a daily basis.

Gaddy circulated among the crowd asking questions about the horse that he figured would lessen the interest in this fine fellow and then Gaddy could step in late in the bidding and steal a treasure. He planted more confusion by saying he really liked the horse and wanted him for breeding. (heads up, Topekans, geldings are not known as good breeding stock)

As a result of the rumors he started, bidders began losing interest in the horse and started thinking how funny it would be for Gaddy to get back home with a gelding he bought for breeding.

But Gaddy had the last laugh of the day, buying the horse for a mere $130 which was serious coin in the 1950's, but much less than he would have paid had he not cast aspersions on this fine animal. He was most pleased with his purchase and named the horse Sealum. I don't know the origin of this name.

Gaddy took the gelding home, fed and watered him, and spent lots of time brushing his coat. Next morning, he rode over to our place to see what Dad thought about his new purchase. He told Dad the horse neck reined to the slightest touch and had an easy ground eating lope that was smooth as a rocking chair. Some tall horses have a rough, side to side motion in their gait that becomes very uncomfortable on a long ride. Old Tony was such a horse, but his story (and mine) is for another day.

Gaddy wanted to try out the new horse by moving a few head of cattle around, so Dad saddled up one of our horses and they rode out to look over the new spring crop of calves. They stopped a ways out from several of these little guys to watch them play. Gaddy pushed his hat back on his head, pulled his leg up out of the stirrup, and crossed it over the saddle horn. In this comfortable position, he took out his makin's and was building a smoke, when the calves started running toward the horses. Gaddy was about to learn something about Sealum's skills as a cow pony extraordinaire!

When one little calf ran close to Sealum's left side, the horse suddenly leaped sideways to block him. Gaddy lost his balance and was about to take a header when Sealum leaped again to intercept the calf which had now been turned back to the right. That did it. Gaddy was on the ground, cigarette papers flying one way and his sack of Bull Durham flying the other way. Sealum was in auto pilot mode, making sure no calf passed by him; doin' what he was trained to do.

Dad figured Gaddy had bought himself a bona fide cutting horse that may not have been up to standard competition quality on the circuit, but nevertheless was a very nice animal for ranch work. Gaddy was still very pleased with his horse, but had to change his life long habit of hooking his leg over the saddle horn when he was riding Sealum. What he didn't know at this point was that Sealum would be a good roping horse as well as a bull fighter!

Way across the prairie, Old Man Mose had bought himself a rank rodeo bull named Pedro. This bull was mean eyed, cantankerous, and more than a handful for old Mr. Mose, who was not a young cowpoke. Mr. Mose planned to breed Pedro to some of his wild cows and sell the calves to the various rodeo companies that were always looking for new sources of rough stock. Pedro was big and fast, a very dangerous animal that carried with him an aura of just plain evil.

One day, Gaddy rode over to ask Dad's help in getting some of his cattle gathered up from the Mose ranch where they had strayed and bring them back towards his place. They packed some lunch, filled their canteens, and made sure they had plenty of tobacco. This would no doubt be a long day. Little did they know.

Dad selected a little buckskin mare that was really good with cattle and had lots of endurance. Best of all, when the work was done, Dad knew he could point her west and she would head for the house, allowing him to cat nap on the slow and easy ride back home.

They found Gaddy's cattle bunched up in one of the small canyons that was on the far side of Old Man Mose's property. They circled the herd of about twenty head and with the two horses working together like a good team, they soon had the escapees headed sedately back to Gaddy's place.

As they passed the Mose ranch house, Pedro became irritated at this trespass into his private territory and took umbrage. Bellowing and snorting, he crashed through the corral fence and headed straight for Gaddy's cattle. Needless to say, they scattered like leaves in the wind. Tails high in the air they ran off in all directions, especially the yearling bulls as they were the prime targets of Pedro.

Dad and Gaddy tried to get the cattle together and headed away from the mad bull. This did not work. Pedro charged the cattle, hooking those closest to him. He even took off after the two horses! Did I mention he was a mean sumbitch? I should have.

Dad and Gaddy rode off a ways and decided they would have to deal with Pedro before they could recover Gaddy's cattle. They planned to rope Pedro and drag him back to the Mose ranch and deposit him in one of the stalls in the barn. This calls for two ropes being pulled in opposite directions so the horses could control him and he would be unable to charge.

So began the great chase. Back and forth they rode, getting close enough to rope Pedro, only to see the rope slide off his back or miss his big head completely. Finally Dad made a good cast and watched the loop settle gracefully over the bull's massive head and onto his neck. The fun really began when Gaddy missed his throw. Without the leverage of two ropes pulling in opposite directions, Pedro charged the little buckskin mare and Dad had to let the rope go to save her and himself. Pedro was off like a shot, Dad's rope trailing behind. Gaddy then tried to get a rope on the bull's heels but wasn't quite up to the task.

Time goes by, it's hot, everybody's tired, Gaddy's still trying unsuccessfully to get his rope on the bull, and all the animals are getting worn out. Pedro heads for a water hole and the trailing rope gets tangled in the thick shinnery slowing him down enough for Gaddy to get his rope on the bull, neatly snagging one hind leg. The bull is tired and foaming at the mouth, little eyes red with rage as he struggles to free his leg. This gives Dad a chance to reach down and grab his rope, taking a couple of dallies around the saddle horn to complete the capture. Now Pedro is immobilized; being pulled in opposite directions and unable to move; forward or backward. The guys pull on their respective ropes while trying to figure out what to do next.

They decide to drag Pedro over to a crevice in some rocks and snub him down. They look at the horses that are near exhaustion and realize they can't drag this 2200 pound bull all the way back to the barn. Gaddy's horse weighs about 1200 pounds while Dad's little mare weighs only about 800 pounds and both of them are just about worn out. Gaddy looks in his saddle bag and comes out with a nose ring and some tools.

With Pedro's head securely restrained in the crevice and the heeler rope tied to the saddle horn of Gaddy's horse, they have a nearly helpless bull that is still madder than hell, but held virtually motionless. So...taking off his hat and handing it to Dad, Gaddy opens the nose ring, depositing the little screws in his hat for safe keeping.

Using his pocket knife, he punches through the tough, gristly cartilage of the bull's nasal septum. He then inserts the ring through this opening while Dad holds the hat under the nose to catch the screws if they are dropped. Gaddy then proceeds to "ring" this bull. Now things are coming together.

With the nose ring in place, the bull can now literally be led around by the nose. Well, normally this would be the case, but old Pedro is not some dairy bull, but a veteran of many fights and judging from his looks and attitude, he probably won most of them! This fight ain't over yet. It takes mere minutes for these seasoned cowpunchers to realize this won't work either. So, with Pedro immobilized once again, they eat a quick lunch. Dad suddenly has a great idea.

Ready to travel once more, the end of one rope is secured to the ring in Pedro's nose. The rope then passes down between his front legs, along his underbelly, and on toward his back legs where it encircles the bull's scrotum. (for politicians in Topeka, Kansas, this means his bag)

Looping the rope around this appendage, and then running it back up to the nose ring, the bull now is much easier to manage. In fact, he has a real dilemma. If he pulls his head up, he will yank his scrotum forward, causing a great deal of discomfort. His only choice is to delicately take little steps, being very careful not to pull on his sensitive nose or apply unwanted torque on his tender appendage.

After allowing the horses to water, they prepare for the long ride back to the Mose ranch. Yes, even Pedro, damned nuisance that he is, was allowed to drink and seems resigned to his fate. Almost docile. Almost, but not quite. The guys won't trust him again.

With all ropes on Pedro secured to the saddle horns, they make a strange sight crossing the open range with Pedro being in the middle with the two horses way out on either side. Slowly they proceed toward the Mose barn. Pedro is virtually walking on tiptoe, making high pitched plaintive sounds with nearly every step. He is in a bad way, totally helpless and he knows it. Makes him even madder!

It's late in the afternoon when they arrive at Mose's place. The old man dodders out and opens the gate to one of the holding stalls. Once inside and freed from the ropes, Pedro bellows and paws the dirt floor, charging into the heavy timbers that make up this stall. The old man is really sorry about all this, but the damage is done. It's been a long day and they still have to gather and drive Gaddy's cattle back to his place. Then of course Dad has the long ride ahead of him to get back home from Gaddy's.

The horses get a break here also. The saddles are taken off, their backs are wiped dry and brushed. They take this chance to have a good roll, then they get fed with a little mixed grain along with more water and then the saddles go back on.

They find Gaddy's little herd not far from where they left them. Fortunately while they were fighting with Pedro, the cattle gathered themselves up and are now ready for the trip home.

The ride home is uneventful and they arrive at Gaddy's without further problems. Dad then heads the little buckskin home and she does the rest. He gets home late that evening and is purty near worn out. I remember taking the exhausted little mare out to the barn and making her comfortable for the night.

I hurried back to the house to hear about Dad's day as he ate a late supper. In the years to come, I would hear this story frequently along with many others as well, but this one was everybody's favorite.

As I look back on this event now, I realize that there is a lesson to be taken away from how these two men dealt with a number of problems in a pragmatic and effective manner. There was no concern about political correctness or looking to a third party to solve the problems as they occurred. We get into trouble when we make other folks responsible for our well being.

They saw what was needed, responded to it, and went on about their business. This is one of freedom's cornerstone principles on which this country was founded.

Sorry I missed it.

PB