No JC, nothing provocative, it is more along the lines of jumping off a horse to take a quick shot at a moose. With this particular horse, I knew if I didn’t tie him, I’d never catch him; but time was of the essence, this three year old moose was about to disappear in the poplars.

Rather than walking home, the horse watched me field dress the moose for an hour just to tease me. I tried to catch him when I was done, but he stayed thirty feet in front of me, knowing I couldn’t do anything to catch him; actually he stayed thirty feet in front of me for miles.

Upon walking into the barnyard, I was greeted by ranch hands and visitors who thought it was hilarious that I, a supposedly accomplished and respected horseman, walked home behind my horse. After 45 years, I still get a ration of humiliation about that afternoon.

Jumping off without securing a green horse, often results in the animal becoming scared and running home, especially after one or more shots from a sporting rifle. (Firing from a horse’s back isn’t practical, the horse’s breathing will throw your aim off and it is ruinous to their hearing. There is no doubt that he can feel your trigger squeeze and will wheel just as you are ready to make your shot. Horseback marksmanship is like a contradiction of terms.) A horse’s sense of hearing must be at least 10 times more acute than ours and I will put their sense of smell up against any hunting dog. That green horse scenario happened several times, yet at home, they had enough respect for my horsemanship and survival instinct to realize I would invariably come home in a day or two, depending on the weather. I was not the type of guy you worried about having a horse accident in the bush. But following a horse home was too funny and before long, people who couldn’t lead a stick horse to water would enjoy using that story to make fun of me. I take teasing in a good natured way, especially concerning horses, because when it comes to taming wild horses within minutes, I am considered a fairly good hand.

Mineral oil, that’s for animals as far as I am concerned, gives me the willies.

I am trying to work that story into a political analogy, but so far, I’ve been firing blanks.

Oh! some people like to consider horses to be stupid, especially when you give them an human IQ test, but if you live with them in the bush for a extended period of time, you will realize that if we take the equine IQ test, we will appear rather stupid and inept.

Kind of a long winded response, JC. G-d Speed, catch you on the flip side. Skook

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“Loose Horse”. Does the story have something to do with mineral oil?

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Thanks for dropping in Lotus. My name as you may well know is a native name that refers to something that is heavy duty. I was raised in the Omineca Peace District with a concentration of native and Metis people. The area is big on nick names and I was awarded the name Skookum or Skook for my willingness to lift more than my share. Actually, as a lad I was working for a wealthy native during the construction of a log house. We had to mix our concrete and in unloading the sacks of premix I would carry one sack on each shoulder. The old Indian said I was Skookum and proposed that I should marry his two very young and beautiful daughters and work the farm and be in line for inheritance. I talked it over with my father and he advised me against the move, so I Lost the farm; but the name stuck. I am to this day also called Loose Horse for another funny little story.

The only other man in BC that I have heard of with the name was Skook Davidson, a packer and hunting guide, and World War II veteran. He was much more of a colorful character than me.

Good Luck with your book, I will try to read it one of these days.

G-d Speed… Skook

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I am reacting to your name. My novel, Skookum Man, is on Amazon Kindle.
More info on http://www.matooskie.com

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PV, that’s nice to hear. I remember back when I first came aboard this cyber spaceship, I suggested to you that you might finish your education to become a teacher in high school or college as a later career in life. Sometimes I can say the most outlandish and dumbest things. I sit back and watch you guys eviscerate these Progressive Marxists like I field dress a moose and I am impressed. I’d like to join in, but I couldn’t carry your tack. Geeze Louise. None the less, my intentions were pure and well meaning.

In any case, if numb nuts doesn’t destroy the economy and the country, I think we will have some great trips in the future. To know the North you need to see each season. Spring is my least favorite because the rivers are so dangerous; and just because you can cross one, that doesn’t mean you will be able to get back across tomorrow or for a week.

I so look forward to the future, when this country returns to the country we once had and the world is a safer more secure place. Don’t despair, these people in the US are children and grandchildren of the men who went east and west to defeat evil on two fronts during WWII and we have some of the best legal immigrants the world has to offer, this country will find its true bearings and we will enjoy our retirement and watch our children and grandchildren grow into prosperous and true citizens.

G-d Speed PV, when I am away from the keyboard, that’s good, because it means I am working, keep the faith, catch you on the flipside.

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@ Skooks

Sitting around a campfire is the the exact feeling I get when I read your posts. I find myself reading them a couple of times a day, just to go someplace else.

Thank you for this feeling.

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Yes Jeff, I love sitting next to a campfire listening to a good story. Especially after a nice meal. The Great Ditherer seems to be digging his hole deeper and deeper while he tries to figure out how to climb out of it.

I have many stories that have no relevance to ol’ fart, stumble, and fall, and his Marxist crew in Washington, so stick with me while I dabble in this political commentary business and we all do what we can to save our country. I have a feeling we are making a difference and the tide will turn.

Hope to hear of your adventures some day soon.

G-d speed Jeff. Skook.

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Thank you or those kind words Barbs, yes I intend on writing a book or books of life in the North with all the characters, wildlife, mountains, weather, and rivers that I love so much. In the mean time I can see what type of stories people like and get to hang out with some really intelligent people here on the blog in the mean time.

Slow down when you read and try to ignore my typos. I was thinking of a story with romance today while I was at work. It will be for you and Missy, look for a bear next to the headline. Everyone likes a good bear story.

G-d speed Barbs.

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Skookum,

There’s a Tom Petty song that says, “I can still see us sitting on a bed in some hotel, Listening to the stories we could tell.” Rather a roaring campfire than a hotel room, I could see swapping stories of adventure with you and smiling a “this is where I belong to be” kinda smile. From my distant campfire to yours: I raise my coffee cup to you, sir…hoping that the ditherer has someone that’ll grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him (but not holding my breath). Thanks again for a well-told story and spot-on analogy. Keep ‘em coming, my friend.

Jeff

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Skookum

Your stories have me reading faster and faster to see what happens. I enjoy them very much. As an above poster said you should write a book. You have the gift of story telling.

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