July 2017 6 I REMEMBER IT Like it Was Yesterday By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Dude” Little Ben sat on the porch watching the train come into view. He had never seen such a strange train as this was. Funny looking different colored box cars. As it got closer he could make out strange animals in open sided cars, with bars on the sides. No, Ben had never seen a Circus train before, and he wanted a closer look. Like a shot he was off the porch and running down the lane from Grandpa’s cabin. He didn’t hear his dad hollering or him to come back. Out of breath standing beside the Spring fed creek, Ben stood still as the Cowboy in the big white hat rode up on his beautiful horse. He could only nod his head up and down when the Cowboy pulled up, looked down and said, “Howdy little partner would you like to go see the animals go get a drink of water?” Ben reached up to the hand that came down to him, and in one smooth move he was sitting in the saddle in front of the Cowboy with the big white hat. These animals Ben had never seen before, Zebras, Giraffes, Lions, and Elephants. But he had seen an Elephant before. When the Cowboy with the big white hat brought Ben back to where his dad waited for him at the end of their lane, the Cowboy said as he handed him down, “Don’t be hard on the boy mister, he just wanted to see the animals.” A few days later Ben’s dad asked him if he wanted to go see the Circus? Well of course they got there plenty early, so they a front row seat. It was a great show, and Ben finally found out who the Cowboy in the big white hat was. Because at the end of the show, Tom Mix rode his horse Tony over in front of where Ben and his Dad sat, both did a bow, Tom pointed right a Ben tipped his hat and said, “This ones for you little partner.” Ben told me this recently in Tombstone, AZ. Said he remembered it like it was yesterday. But, Ben is 81 now and he will never forget the day he sat on a horse named Tony with Tom Mix, on a warm spring day in 1937, near Watertown, Tennessee. You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. Have you ever met someone who has such a deep knowledge base that regardless of the problem or situation he sees the solution? That’s Buddy Uldrikson when it comes to the horses. He has rode with the best Horsemen around and has instilled the knowledge. Buddy has worked on big Horse and cattle opperations for 20 years he’s perfected his quiet yet clear leadership. The society today we live in it is becoming increasingly difficult to decipher what is actually real and genuine. I believe that our souls longs for authenticity, and the beauty of being with horses is they demand it of us. They can see right into the depths of who we are, and what we have to offer, and respond accordingly. For it’s not the gear or the well bred horse we ride, we use to force a horse into submission that creates harmony with our horses. Ultimately, the harmony, the perfect ride, that so much of us seek, comes from us looking inside ourselves. In examining what we offer our horses, we learn so much about what we offer the world. I have a passion to help people overcome fear and anxiety by getting them to notice what happens, just prior to, what the body is feeling and wanting to do, I enjoy teaching people to be better riders with timing and balance.learning to not brace against the saddle and develop a feel to go with your horse. Teaching the riders how to position their body, to the horses body position to make smooth maneuvers the Barrel Racer, Trail, Roper etc. Buddy has a gifted way in drawing out all your potential, by supplying you with the mechanics and confidence in helping you connect with your horse. You will experienced it first hand the first time when you ride with him. The change you experience with your horse is undeniable. However, as amazing as that change is, it’s the process of the horsemanship that creates the real change in your life. When you ride with Buddy you will learn something new about yourself, and that transfers over to a better connection with our horses and with the people we are in contact with. The horsemanship itself has become a way of life, and the beauty in it is you’ll always be learning, growing, and developing. Not only has riding with Buddy developed us and our horses, but the foundation laid has kept us safe in many situations with our horses. I’m always amazed at how well our horses handle difficult situations, and take such pride in the way they respond. If the only reason you were to ride and develop yourself with this horsemanship was for the safety of yourself and your horse, it would be well worth the investment. Buddy Uldrikson Training at Rancho Rio Bonita Visit our web site www.buddyuldriksonhorsemanship.com Buddy Uldrikson AN UNCOMMON HORSEMAN