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Did you know: The first tobiano in North America may have been brought over in 1519 by the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes. According to historians, he brought 16 warhorses to carry him and his men. One was a sorrel and white horse with spots. That spotted horse bred with American mustangs and laid the foundation for today’s Paint Horse. Source: The American Paint Horse Association.

I remember the time I decided I would join in on a trail ride with some friends.  It was sponsered by Upmier’s Stables near Solon, Iowa, owned and operated by Verne Upmier.  There were approximately 40 riders and most of them seemed as though they’d been down this trail before; at least everyone but me.

I had grown up riding on my dad’s tree farm in LeClaire, Iowa.  For entertainment, my horse and I would run through the pasture jumping holes left by the trees that had been sold.  My friends and I would ride our horses, racing down gravel roads and black tops playing a sort of Cowboys and Indians type game, trying to knock each other off.  Those were the days….

After high school, I sold my horse “Zeb” and was off to college. I graduated from College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and I started really missing my horse-riding days and began to get the desire to ride again.  I purchased my horse”Trapper”, a Tobiano Paint from a nearby town.  He was 1 of 2 horses this gal had, and she was scared to death of him.  He had pulled all kinds of tricks on her, so she decided it was time for him to go.  When I first saw him, he was muddy and unruly, and the owner didn’t even want to go near him.  I asked if I could ride him, and she hesitated as she said, “I don’t know?….” But what she really meant to say was “Ok, but ride him at your own risk!”

Image from: APHA Americian Paint Horse Association

It was about 2 years later that he and I managed to iron out all his bad antics; however, we had never been on a trail ride together before, we were just used to gravel roads and ditches.  Trapper was 11 years old at the time, and a little high strung.  He was a leader for sure, and determined no to be a follower, “if you know what I mean.”  Taking him on our first trail ride was kind of like a “box of chocolates” you never know what you’re gonna get”.

If God had intended man to walk, he would have given him four legs. Instead, he gave him two-one to put on either side of a horse. ~Montana Rancher

When we set out on the trail that day,  I was a little nervous but not Trapper.  He spent his time on the trail showing all the other horses who was boss.  He reveled in racing the other riders and their horses up and down the hills.  The time went by so quickly that before I knew it , the sun was going down and we hadn’t even reached the point in our trail ride where we would be turning around and heading for home.  About that same time , we started into the woods, which made visibility nearly impossible.  I struggled with whether to stay with the group and continue on the trail, or turn around and start heading for home; but there was something about Trapper’s extreme confidence and unbridled enthusiasm that eased my fears.  The trail guide yelled “loose rocks and low lying branches!”  I immediately began feeling nervous again, so I just closed my eyes and put my head down along his neck and gave Trapper the reins.  I was so scared!!!! I worried about Trapper, or someone else’s horse, losing they’re footing and rolling down the hill.

Before I knew it , Trapper had led me out of the dark trail and back home.  I was so grateful and proud of his ability to take control.  He never wavered in his confidence.  It was as though he’d had enough of this dog and pony show and it was time to go home. I was surprised when I realized that he knew the way home, even when I wasn’t sure how to get there.  Trapper has since passed on and I truly miss that horse.  I loved Trapper he was the kind of horse that had a mind of his own and knew when and where to use it!

In Loving Memory of Trapper