On our way back home from spending the day in Albuquerque, we decided to stop off in the canyon to pick up some dinner from Subway. After getting my kidlets loaded back in my vehicle I prepared to back up out of my parking space. I looked into my rear view mirror and was startled to see a horse and rider staring back at me!
I immediately set my brakes and rolled my window down to say hello. I recognized the fella and his horse from a stop off at a gas station last summer when my neighbor friend and I were driving back in the evening, after doing some letterboxing up in the Santa Fe area. I couldn’t forget them, because he had parked his horse in front of the gas station so he could go inside and get something to drink. He left his horse ground tied in a parking space beside other cars in the crowded parking lot next to the local bar and restaurant, too.
I was impressed that his horse just stood there calm, quiet and relaxed as vehicles drove in and out of the gas station parking lot and noise wafted out of the bar. I wasn’t able to get a photo of the duo then because my batteries had died, but I did get to meet and talk with them for a few minutes.
So I had to laugh this time when I asked if he remembered me and he said he did and asked if my batteries were charged in my camera this time. I’m guessing that I’m not the only dweeb who has asked to takes photos of him and his horse, though. He was sure to put his sunglasses on, straighten his hat and get himself all gussied up before I took the photo.
Right after I took this photo he and his horse crossed the busy intersection, even with a huge noisy truck driving right behind them. That’s I-40 that travels over that bridge in the background. This horse is a rock solid mount. I can’t imagine anything spooking or freaking him out. I was also impressed that he rode him bitless in a nifty hackamore, too. And I like how untraditional this guy is, too, riding in a cowboy hat, work boots, English stirrups and an Aussie hornless saddle.
He rides all around the mountains and usually right along the roadways. I bid him farewell and said I hoped I’d see him and his horse again someday soon.
