|
Post by toshtego on May 21, 2020 11:44:36 GMT -5
Dewayne will enjoy this post, I hope.
This morning whilst upon an ATV putting along on my irrigation system rounds, I got to thinking. Always dangerous. Anyway, this job in my area began in 1851 when the first irrigation canal/ditches were hand dug by an army of New Mexicans. It grew to about ten miles from the headgate on the Rio Costilla to way out in the arid llano. The superintendent of irrigation, (Dat's me, Boss), was called the "Ditch Rider". That was because he completed his rounds mounted on horseback. Mostly, he used a rifle scabbard on his saddle in which was carried a shovel and a pitch fork. He would ride along the ditch banks and clear debris while opening and closing the various farm water diversion gates. Sometime in the 1920s, the Ditch Rider switched to a car, probably a Model T. Years went by and pick-ups, GI surplus jeeps and such were used. Then came the ATV. I used to drive a Toyota Landcruiser but switched to the ATV which is easier to get around in an cheaper to run. As I putt along with the thump thump of the single cylinder engine, I can see how well a horse would do this job. A horse would be quieter, more peaceful with the land and animals, more maneuverable into tight spots. If I were not so old and heavy and still jointed, I would think about completing the circle and going back to a horse for the job.
|
|
|
Post by bigwoolie on May 21, 2020 12:08:10 GMT -5
Dewayne will enjoy this post, I hope. This morning whilst upon an ATV putting along on my irrigation system rounds, I got to thinking. Always dangerous. Anyway, this job in my area began in 1851 when the first irrigation canal/ditches were hand dug by an army of New Mexicans. It grew to about ten miles from the headgate on the Rio Costilla to way out in the arid llano. The superintendent of irrigation, (Dat's me, Boss), was called the "Ditch Rider". That was because he completed his rounds mounted on horseback. Mostly, he used a rifle scabbard on his saddle in which was carried a shovel and a pitch fork. He would ride along the ditch banks and clear debris while opening and closing the various farm water diversion gates. Sometime in the 1920s, the Ditch Rider switched to a car, probably a Model T. Years went by and pick-ups, GI surplus jeeps and such were used. Then came the ATV. I used to drive a Toyota Landcruiser but switched to the ATV which is easier to get around in an cheaper to run. As I putt along with the thump thump of the single cylinder engine, I can see how well a horse would do this job. A horse would be quieter, more peaceful with the land and animals, more maneuverable into tight spots. If I were not so old and heavy and still jointed, I would think about completing the circle and going back to a horse for the job. Years ago, I was cowboying for a ranch out of Cody, WY. We were east, toward Yellowstone, in the Absaroka mountains, so we grazed cattle in the high country. For several weeks that spring, I would go to the barn early every morning, catch and saddle my horse, load a coil of wire, staples and fencing pliers on my saddle and ride out. I would ride the high country alone, fixing fence where the elk had come through the winter before. Come lunch time, I'd find a little secluded spot, usually in the sun under a pine tree, and pull a can of Campbell's soup, a spoon, a pack of crackers and my pipe out of my saddle bags. Id build a tiny fire, open the lid on the soup and heat it right on the fire, then scoop it out of the can and eat it with some crackers right there. Then lean back in the sun under that tree and light up a pipe, relax and contemplate all the vagaries of life. After a while, knock the dottle out of the pipe, put out the remnants of my fire with what was left in my canteen, clean everything up and put it away in the saddle bags, tighten the cinch, step up and head across the next ridgeline to check that fence. Id get back to the barn about dark. That was in '93. I was 26 years old. The horse was a long, tall black horse named "Slim", and we were buddies. It set the tone for the rest of my life, and my philosophies on life, in a lot of ways. So yes, Sir. You are speaking a language I understand on a very deep level. Thank you for the story.
|
|
|
Post by oldcajun123 on May 21, 2020 12:08:57 GMT -5
We had something like that in S Louisiana, Louisiana Land Company bought right of ways and built irrigation canals to flood rice fields, Grandpaw didn’t sell but gave them usefruct to build a canal,over 1200 ft on his land, fast forward to the 50s, La Land Corp goes bust, big pipeline comes over the 1200 ft, Never contacted my Grandfather, but he watched as they built it. Finishing it, Grandpaw got a lawyer, Oil Company thought it was La Land Company, but the clause was no rice the land went back to him. They tried to fight it, but Gramps got a lawyer running for DistrictvAttorney, he won 100,000$ in the fifties that was a lot of money. Down the road I’ll tell you when he went to the sale barn and wanted a big brahama Bull and Stockyard owner saw his old clothes and tried to steer him to a cheaper bull.
|
|
|
Post by trailboss on May 21, 2020 20:29:34 GMT -5
I certainly get it.
The ATV is not a living thing, but there is something special when man and animal click, and especially when sharing the mundane duties of life.
|
|
|
Post by puffy on May 21, 2020 21:39:20 GMT -5
When I was a lot younger than I am these days I tried to ride a horse bare back..Slid off on rear parts pretty quick.
|
|
|
Post by Ronv69 on May 21, 2020 23:09:09 GMT -5
I've ridden, (well tried to ride) a bunch of horses. I'll take a KLR 650 m
|
|
|
Post by toshtego on May 22, 2020 0:14:40 GMT -5
When I was a lot younger than I am these days I tried to ride a horse bare back..Slid off on rear parts pretty quick. That is part of the fun for a kid. In my 50s I rode my Percheron Draft Horse bareback because I could not find a saddle to fit him. Fortunately, he was an easy ride. To mount, I would have to park him net to a fence or use a step ladder.
|
|