Ponying a Youngster
at the Historic Reesor Ranch
(by Joel Martens)
“Happiness consists more in small conveniences or
pleasures that occur every day,
than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in
the course
of his life.” Benjamin Franklin
Ponying is a great way to school a young horse about the
world beyond the barn.
Scott Reesor, owner/operator of the Reesor Ranch near Walsh Alberta has
just
such a young project in mind as I arrive at the main barn of the Reesor
Ranch. A
two year old filly, previously sacked out and saddled, ready and willing
to pony
along and join us for the day’s ride through the incredibly scenic
ranch country of
the West block of the Cypress Hills. Scott has provided me with an older,
recently
purchased gelding named Joe. Scott’s mount is also broadly built
with a good
disposition for ponying the young filly. We ride out onto the vast sloping
range,
as we pass through our first gate the filly pulls and bucks a few times
but Scott is
able to hold him in as his mount takes the tugging and pulling well also.
As we
ride, we discuss our individual dreams and aspirations. Eventually Scott
pauses
and waxes poetic (as cowboy poets are often apt to do) and shares a poem
of
following one’s dreams. Not having the gift of quick poetic memory,
I can only
tell you of a truth gleaned from his words. Follow your dreams and hang
on tight.
The Reesor ranch lies at the edge of the West Block of the
Cypress Hills. The
home itself is also located about one kilometer on the Saskatchewan side
of the
border and approximately 33 KM South of the Number 1 Highway of the
Saskatchewan/Alberta border town of Walsh. All ages will enjoy the ranch’s
sleeping quarters. The old barn has been nicely redesigned to handle people
complete with a main kitchen for cooking. This transition has come along
with
lots of character with each room individually chronicling the lives of
a pioneering
family from the region. The ranch offers various adventure packages or
you can
just bring your own horses and enjoy. To trailer a few horses in and to
stay at this
ranch awhile would be an absolute pleasure. Rise early and ride out with
the early
morning sun and wildlife or... sleep late and lollygag around the main
barn till you
feel up to an afternoon ride. If you are passionate about unencumbered
freedom
and living in the moment, this may well be the place for you.
As our ride continues into the early afternoon, we move
a cow around a bit. Scott
points out how the ponying filly is less apprehensive when there is work
to do and
how tracking the cow keeps the filly interested. There is a lot of ground
to cover
on this ranch, hills and valleys, rock outcroppings and fantastic scenery
keep you
wanting more. A Red Tailed Hawk screams overhead as we momentarily lose
our
black cow in a clump of trees and brush. This is truly a unique riding
region.
Sometimes you feel you are in the wide open expanses of the prairies,
moments
later you are scaling a deep ravine, following fence line through spruce
trees or
riding on a shaded trail. Very diverse riding with lot’s of eye
candy everywhere
from up close flowers to broad, far reaching views spattered with bright
yellow
canola or mustard fields.
By late afternoon we arrive back at the main ranch house.
Our little filly has done
well and Scott decides to test our progress with her. As I dally her up
to Joe, Scott
tests the saddle and the filly’s reaction to the saddle’s
movement. After legging up
on both sides, Scott climbs aboard and rewards her with a few neck scratches
as
she stands quietly. When both Scott and his filly are ready, Joe and I
take a step
or two forward and the filly comes along nicely. Before long, Scott is
able to
move her around in all directions without the dally.
We dismount, unsaddle and brush down our mounts. One last
look at the miles of
open space before driving down the long sloping road toward the # 1 Highway
and
then... home.
For information on the ranch, check out www.reesorranch.com
or just call Scott or
Theresa at 306 662 3498.
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Joel Martens Training Co & TLC Stables
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