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Sixteen Horses
The
source of power on the ranch
Used to be the mighty horse.
Belgian, Shire, or Clydesdale
Did the heavy work of course.
Adorned with hames and harness
Hitched to the doubletree
They spared the backs and muscle
Of men like you and me.
You'd hook 'em to the cycle bar
To mow the new grown hay.
They'd work from dawn to dusk
Give their all, each and every day.
They'd pull the rake and push the sweep,
Push the plunger up the slide,
Pull the wagon out to feed
With harness straining at their hide.
They asked little of the rancher,
Their needs weren't really very much,
A little feed and water
Treat 'em right and use a gentle touch.
We'd put 'em out on Horse Creek,
That was their summer range.
They'd know that it was hayin' time
When the weather took a change.
They'd show up at South Pasture
How they knew we didn't know.
We never had to worry none
'Cause we knew that they would show.
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We'd
drive on down to let 'em in,
We never had to wait.
Sixteen faithful, needed horses
Were a standin' at the gate.
Well, things have changed this year,
Now that Buddy runs the place.
He thinks the horses way too slow.
I never know'd that we was in a race.
New swathers, rakes and balers,
Bud says that they're the latest things.
His dad is feelin' mighty poorly,
Bud says, "It's to the past he clings."
I went out to swath the hay
I was thinkin' this is great.
Then I saw the Sixteen Horses
A standin' at the gate.
They was lookin' kinda dazed,
Seemed to wonder what was goin' on.
They'd been there to go to work
Since way before the daylight's dawn.
I swear they looked dejected,
Hurt, and with some broken pride.
Somethin' broke inside of me.
I hurt and I just cried.
I'll not forget that sullen day
Nor will I forget the date
When sixteen horses, feelin' useless
Was left a standin' at the gate.
© 2005, Van A. Criddle
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In case you're curious about the
inspiration for "Sixteen
Horses"......
VAN CRIDDLE said this.... |
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In the late 60's I
worked on the Cross Box Ranch in
Pinedale, WY. Carl Jorgenson owned
and operated the ranch. His son
Buddy had graduated from the
University of Wyoming, I believe,
with a couple of AG Business
degrees. He worked the ranch with
his dad. His dad decided to retire
and turn the operation over to Bud.
Bud knew that they needed to
modernize to improve the ranch
profitability. It just about killed
Carl when the new equipment arrived
and the horses were left out of the
operation. Carl and Mrs. Jorgenson
packed up a truck and camper and
left for a month 'cause he couldn't
stand not seeing the horses doing
the haying. I now feel greatly
blessed to have been one of the few
of my generation who have worked
behind a two-up, four-up or 6-up
team. They were magnificent animals
who really did give their all. |
I
Van
has a brother, Monte Criddle, who is also a
Cowboy Poet. They are working on a book that
they hope will come out this fall......
"Brothers in Rhyme". Currently, he
has a CD with the featured poem presented on
it. The CD includes 14 tracks of original
poetry including "Sixteen Horses" The CD is
available for $12 postpaid (check or money
order) to-
Van Criddle; Rafter C
Productions; 2034 Laurelhurst Dr., Eugene, OR
97402.
Van Criddle has had a love for
the cowboy way and all things western all of
his life. In his words, "When other kids
were wearin' tennis shoes and Beta Boots I
wore cowboy boots." His years on a working
ranch, rodeoing and horse training have
influenced him in a way that few other
things in his life have. In the same way
that Russell wrote poems with his paintings,
Van Criddle paints pictures with his poems;
and his word paintings make you feel that
you are right there living them. He touches
your heart. And in many of his poems, he
touches your funny bone. But the best
sense of who the man Van Criddle is, can
best be gleaned from his own words. Here's
what he went on to say:
Since those ranching
days I've been a contractor,
motivational speaker,
managed a feedlot and small
farming operation and fed a
few cattle. I rodeoed in
rough stock events as a
weekend warrior until I
realized that I was spending
more time and money
recovering from the weekends
than I was making so we hung
up the spurs, bucking rigs
and bull rope. We still
continue to love rodeo. In
1988 Kathy and I produced a
PRCA rodeo in Odessa, MO. We
moved to Montana right after
that but the community kept
it going for 17 years after
we left so I guess it was a
success.
Life took me in a
different direction and for
the last 23 years, instead
of cattle and horses, I've
herded and tended a fleet of
school and transit buses as
the General Manager for
Southern Oregon Operations
for Laidlaw Education
Services. To me my most
important jobs have been
that of husband to a
marvelous women, father to 4
wonderful sons and
daughter-in-laws, grandpa to
9 perfect grandchildren and
a son to 2 loving parents
and 2 very special in-laws.
I started
performing Cowboy Poetry in
Sept. of 2005 in Baker City,
OR. The very talented AK
Moss was kind enough to take
a chance on an unknown poet
and give me some time at her
Gathering. AK, Smoke Wade,
Dallas McCord, Tony Reed,
Howard Norskog and Charlie
and Cathy Camden have taken
me under their wings and
have guided and mentored me
since that time. Their
unselfishness has blessed my
life in ways that I never
expected. Since then I've
had the opportunity to
participate in Gatherings
and events in Rupert and
Lewiston, ID, Eugene and
Creswell, OR, Colfax and
Kennewick, WA and Brigham
City, UT. In Brigham City I
was honored to receive 2nd
place in the Sons of Utah
Pioneers Cowboy Poetry
Contest for "Sixteen
Horses". Collen Sweeten took
first place. I was honored
to even be mentioned with
that great Cowboy Poet! With
a helping hand from Dallas
McCord I've had the
opportunity to become a
regular at the Emerald
Valley Opry in Eugene, OR.
and at the Creswell Opry in
Creswell, OR. I took the
opportunity to do Open
sessions at Elko this year
and was invited to perform
in the evenings at the
Dunkin Little Creek Gallery.
It has been a wild and
exhilarating ride for this
old cowboy and one that has
been full of enjoyment. I
never envisioned anything
like this happening in my
life.
I also need to
acknowledge some other folks
who gave me great
opportunities to develop my
style and encouraged me to
take the step to performing.
Of course my wife, Kathy,
what a great support she is.
Rod Nichols, Hal Swift and
the other Pards at the
Rockin' R Cowboy Poetry
Board have been a major
influence and source of
inspiration. Margo and the
crew at cowboypoetry.com
have been very supportive
and offered great
encouragement. Bette Wolf
Duncan who has kindly
show-cased my poem Sixteen
Horses on this great
website. It's the people
that you meet in life that
make life worth living and
all of these folks have
added great value to mine.
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You can read more of his poetry
at:
http://www.cowboypoetry.com/vancriddle.htm
 Van_Criddle@lpsg.com
Under copyright protection. The poem on this
web page may not be excerpted, copied, or
reproduced, used or performed in any form
(graphic, electronic or mechanical) without
the express written permission of the
author.
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