Good evening from Hells-a-roarin! I was looking for different picture when I came across this one of a colt that I raised many years ago. I had a great bay roan stud horse. Additionally, I had a black mare that I bought from Kathryn Johnson . My Dad had bred her ancestor . Lonesome Dove had just aired a few years before and there lots of horses named Blue Duck, Call, Gus and this black mare named “The Hell Bitch!” She was rank and I’m not sure where I thought she had the ability to raise me a saddle horse. I’ve written about this colt before but many of my new readers and friends, followers might like to hear it.
He was born about this time of year. Me and my late nephew Brent Ryder found him and got him to a dry place. Man, even at 20 minutes, he stood tall leggy roan strip in his face intelligent eyes sharp ears missing nothing. I went to rub him a little as I wanted him to remember me as I knew at some point he would be my saddle horse. I walked up to him and I don’t think he was 30 minutes old and he lifted his head a little higher and reached up with a front foot and struck me in the belt area. Brent and I looked at each other in shock. He stood his ground and was ready to do it again. I knew I had my hands full . Time went on and I brought him in to break him at three. I usually waited till four, but I knew he needed special attention. Well I put some ground work on him and it was rodeo time and Dick Lyman wanted him. So I’m not sure how the trade worked but Rod Lyman pro steer wrestler gave me a bald faced red mule for him . I’d just been kicked real bad by a young mare protecting her colt. Killed the colt and wounded me for a month. I thought for sure I was paralyzed on my right side but came out of it so it was a good time to trade ol’ Dollar the colt. I heard rumors all over the state about him bucking with Dick and maybe bucking him off . If a horse got Dick on the ground it was a damn sure bronc.
There is no man I have more respect for than Dick Lyman. Shane Moran said he rode him on big circles for 60 days! Not exact, but I know he was a handful. Shane was a hand as I think he broke 43 colts for me in 01 02 00. Well he was one of the most talked about horses I’d ever raised. He stood over 17 hands and was all horse. Well, I was sitting in camp one day (and this is true–I just told Jerry Metcalf the story on him) when I heard a horse nicker in the corral and I looked out and there was Wendy leading ol’ Dollar into camp with a note from Sue. Dick called and sold me Dollar back for $3500 and said “you can thank me when you get out”
I’m pretty certain her and Dick must’ve planned on splitting the life insurance she upped on me when I got kicked 😉! I cannot tell you the times he bucked me off in the dark snowbanks. One time I was chasing a big old bull elk from Crevice to monument ridge and we were in a hell hole and he blew up and I got him rode. I wanted to shout and fan him with my scotch cap. When you walked up to bridle him his head stood 19 hands and I saw him unbutton more than a few guys shirts with that right front foot . He was the meanest, most dangerous horse I ever owned or raised. But when on him, and all was well, there was not a finer mount. I never had to worry about anyone borrowing him. Hoped you enjoyed this.
Respectfully,
Warren