February 2022
For this month of Valentine’s, the cowboy poets were asked to reminisce on a special love–the bond between cowboy and critter–by reflecting on their favorite animal. As poets, they tell tales and impart wisdom learned from animals, whose day-to-day animal kingdom logic marks their own cowboy logic. Out of a lifetime of experience coexisting with other creatures, one or two are bound to stand out. Their bunch of beloveds, not surprisingly, includes staunch cowboy companions and even an unexpected, endearing house pet.
Maybe their answers will inspire you to show a little love to your favorite four-legged (or six-legged, or eight-legged… or no-legged) critter. Or, maybe, like us, it’ll inspire you to show a little love to your favorite two-legged critter. Thanks to our sage cowboy poets, for going above and beyond to share with us, and with you, every month! They call in, mail in, email in, even compose their answers in text messages to send once they get in from feeding the cows. Got a question, any question, for the cowboy poets? Submit your question and we’ll put it up to the pros. Submissions can be made on our Facebook, Instagram, or by email to media@westernfolklife.org.
“
What is the favorite animal you ever came across?
— I Love My Turtle
Waddie Mitchell:
Wow, I've come across a lot of animals in my many years, some interesting, some cute, some awe inspiring, some frightening, but all fascinating. The question was "favorite" animal I ever came across. The horse was the first to come to my mind. I built my vocation around the horse. They endear, give their all, amaze and inspire me. Then into my mind appeared the dog. Since infancy I've had dogs in my life. I have laughed at their antics, cried with their passing and marveled at their abilities. A closer friend and confidant cannot be found. I guess I would have to say it's a toss up between the horse and the dog. I really don't have it in me to pick one. They both have played a huge part in my life.
Bill Lowman:
Trinket. A little horse colt my dad gave to me when I was five years old. My older siblings each got their own colt by then so it was my turn. When he was born my dad said, "How would you like that little Trinket for your own?" And so it was.
I tied him in the horse stall at morning and evening chores and laid on him while he ate his oats as a yearling. When he was two and me seven, I rode him bareback almost every day all summer and three miles up through the ranch's west range to school spring and fall. My dad showed me how to teach him to say yes and no by shaking his head up and down or sideways when I'd ask him a question. My school mates thought he was pretty smart. We bonded for twenty some years.
Yvonne Hollenbeck:
My forever favorite animal was a cat named “Clyde Earl.” I have always liked all kinds of animals, however, I was raised in a home where my mother never allowed indoor pets, therefore that followed through with me. We have always had all sorts of pets here on the ranch, but they were outside pets, such as cow dogs, barn cats, goats, sheep, and all types of horses. It was on a cold, wintery day, when my ten-year-old grandson (who spent every weekend possible here at the ranch) and my husband came into the house with a darling tiny black and white kitten. They had found it in some weeds, abandoned, starving and cold. The grandson was certain his mother would love having a cat inasmuch as she hated mice and occasionally had one as an unwanted houseguest. I was informed that they had already named the little guy, Clyde Earl.
We nursed the tiny kitten back to life, fixed it a cozy little box, and the proud grandson and Clyde Earl went to town at the end of the weekend. The following Friday, when we went to town to pick up our little helper, he got in our vehicle with his suitcase and Clyde Earl. His parents would not let him keep Clyde, stating that their housedog hated him and would probably kill the little guy. So back to my house came the kitten. What would you do? It was wintertime and Clyde would not survive on his own outside, we were already getting attached, and he immediately began using a litter box, so there was little fuss with him, so I succumbed to having a house cat. As soon as he was old enough, my husband made an appointment to have Clyde neutered and declawed. One small problem, rather than getting neutered, Clyde was spayed. I learned that you never trust a cattleman to sex a cat.
In any event, Clyde and I became fast friends. I never dreamt I could get so attached to an animal, especially a cat. I could go on forever telling about her fear of thunderstorms and how she would warn us of an approaching storm before going into hiding; how snotty she was for a while when we returned home after leaving her alone; how she had a certain bowl she ate from and would not touch the same food in any other receptacle; how she didn’t like company and no one but my husband, grandson and I really liked her; etc. I had my special companion for about eight years, when she suddenly got sick and died (of apparent heart failure) on the way to the vet. It has been several years now and I miss her still.
P.S., “Yes,” I received many snarky remarks from our children, such as “How come you never let us have a house cat?”
Dick Gibford:
My favorite animal that I ever came across is the one that I threw a leg across at the tender age of five. Yes, my dear readers, the noble horse holds first place with me, and all the other animals pale in comparison! I think many other cowboys and cowgirls all over the West would feel the same way.
