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Over 300 channels, zero bills. That's TiBo Plus. Live news, reality, movies, and more. No credit card, no signups. Available on smart TVs powered by Tibo.
Grab the remote, press play, and start watching. Teebo Plus. Free, binge-worthy, always on. Learn more at Teebo.com. This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories and we tell stories about everything here on this show, from the arts to sports and from business to history and everything in between, including your story, send them.
to ouramericanstories.com.
some of our favorites. And in the end, America is the star of this show. And so are the American people. Up next, we're going to hear from a regular contributor, Bill Brake. about this simple but important task Of grooming.
Your own horse. Two weeks ago, I went to the Cheshire Horse in Swansea, New Hampshire to purchase riding boots, breeches, and other paraphernalia. No spurs. I see no reason to spur a horse and Dorothy Crosby, my instructor, a practical woman, agrees with me. Breeches have leather patches on the inner thigh, the saddle sides of the leg, that help one post.
Rise in the saddle at the trot. to manage the horse. The breeches are a mixture of cotton and unnatural fibers that stretch. Unlike the old army riding breeches of khaki twill that belled at the thighs and hips, they cling. My wife claims she finds them, shall we say, interesting.
Yeah. Having spent some time in my early life trying to have the municipal building at One Center Street in Manhattan rezoned for natural fibers, I reserve judgment. Riding boots also helped control the horse while being much easier to place in or remove from the stirrups than my rubber Wellingtons had been.
So today when I went to find Julio, the horse I've been riding at Ms. Crosby's stable in Stoddard, New Hampshire, I arrived in the kind of polished high boots one might expect from, say, George S. Patton in 1939. I then plunged through three inches of mud to get and bring him in for grooming. With Julio, there's always some physical comedy before I get him to the staple because there are other things he would rather do right then.
then go with me and so he will walk about. Horses, unlike most humans, Always live in the moment.
Sooner or later though, I catch Julio and lead him in. A rider should groom the horse before riding to ensure comfort for both parties. Cleaning his back, Where the saddle will lie is only a part of it. Julio loves to roll in the field. At this time of year, from late March through early May, New Hampshire has mud season.
So when I finally get him into the stable, he's pretty dirty. Even with some degree of efficiency the use of several brushes, combs, picks, and other devices takes about half an hour. That too may have an element of physical comedy, particularly if, like Julio, the horse doesn't think much about where he places his hooves. Half a ton of horse can make his presence known. as I learned earlier to day when he placed his hoof on my right foot.
Thankfully, I was no longer wearing my rubber wellingtons, which might not have taken this quite as well as my Irish-made riding boots. When Julio put his foot down, I took a deep breath and exhaled. refraining from using a few consonant clusters that leapt into mind. It was my fault. I should have turned him while leading from the front, instead of remaining at his side.
Having cleaned the horse, one saddles and bridles him, leads him out to the mounting block, climbs into the saddle and rides. I'm slowly absorbing the discipline of riding at the trot. which requires one to rise in rhythm with a horse. It's working certain muscles that I may not use as often as I should. I'm vaguely reminded of an admission Graham Greene once made to Anthony Powell, that he had not truly known physical love until he had known a horsewoman.
due to the development of the muscles in the loins. Anyway. Having done all that and returned to the stable, what happens next? First, I groom Julio again. going through the entire process.
He's allowed me to ride him. The least I can do is clean him up so he can relax. It's simply a matter of quid pro quo. At this time of year, he's shedding his winter coat. I removed nearly as much hair from him during the second grooming as I did during the first.
Once I'm done, I place a waterproof sheet over him, an exercise in straps and velcro, lead him from the stable, remove his bridle and release him. Then back in the barn I'd clean the hair and other detritus that fell from him during his grooming, including any manure, and sweep or shovel it out the door. The other day, by power of association, I recalled the French cavalryman and politician who, opposing the adoption of tanks during the mid-1930s, thundered during a debate in the Chamber of Deputies, What would you have? the stench of gasoline, or the noble scent of manure. That was after an obscure colonel, Charles de Gaulle.
had published the classic argument for the use of tanks in modern warfare. The Army of the Future. The book was ignored by France, but a bestseller in Germany. General Heinz Guderian, whose armored cavalry smashed through the French lines at Sedan in 1940, particularly admired it. And you've been listening to Bill Bright, his story about horse life.
And particularly Well, the joy of grooming your horse and the joy of just getting to know your horse and getting closer to a horse. My daughter It loves horses. We own a horse. His name is Lovato. and, let's just say, he can make his presence known too.
and quite a character and a joy of our life owning a horse if you have one. If you have barns, if you ride, you know what I'm talking about and what it does for young people. My goodness, the lessons you'll learn about personal responsibility, about Well control. about risk-taking. About courage.
At certain points, too. And if you have stories of your own, horse stories particularly, uh send them to OwlAmericanStories.com. It's such a fundamental part of so many people's lives in this country. especially in the rural areas of this country. And the excerpts?
Again, send your horse stories to ouramericanstories.com. The beauty of the beast. The beauty of this animal, it's been a fascination for Americans.
Well, for as long as we've been Americans. Bill Break's story. His horse riding story, in the end his horse grooming story, And it's a love story in the end. Here. on our American stories.
Folks, if you love the great American stories we tell and love America like we do, or asking you to become a part of the Our American Stories family. If you agree that America is a good and great country, please. Make a donation. A monthly gift of $17.76 is fast becoming a favorite option for supporters. Go to ouramericanstories.com now and go to the donate button and help us keep the great American stories coming.
That's OurAmerican Stories. Mm-hmm. Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra durable LG X Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go.
Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's be real, your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG X Boom. And for a limited time, save 25% at lg.com with code FALL25. Bring the bowl. X boom.
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That's TiVo Plus. Live news, reality, movies, and more. No credit card, no signups. Available on smart TVs powered by TiVo. Grab the remote, press play, and start watching.
TiVo Plus. Free, binge-worthy, always on. Learn more at Tibo.com. Hey, what's up, it's Marla Lopez? Back to schools, an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming, and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit.
Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect. Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions. Stay connected.
Blue Campaign is a national awareness initiative that provides resources to help recognize suspected instances of human trafficking. Learn the signs and how to report at dhs.gov/slash blue campaign. We finally switched to T-Mobile because with them, we can be connected here and there. Dad, the cousins in Mexico have a surprise for you. Stop standing.
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Visit a store at T-Mobile.com or call 1-800-T-Mobile, 1-800-T-Mobile. See details at tmobile.com. This is an iHeart podcast.
