Lincoln Rogers Neighborhood

Quotes for the Horse

2008-02-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

It's me again! Like Paul Simon once (kind of) sang, time keeps "slip-sliding away" from me. Before I start offering excuses as to why my blog posting has been fitful, at best, I thought you might like to read a few of my favorite quotes regarding the horse.

"A man that don't love a horse, there is something the matter with him.” ~ Will Rogers

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." ~ Winston Churchill

"When you're young and you fall off a horse, you may break something. When you're my age, you splatter." ~ Roy Rogers

"You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people." ~ Will Rogers

You can find more by trying to scan a bunch of websites or you can find a BUNCH in Steve Price's book - "1001 Best Things Ever Said About Horses" It seems like his book has them all.

Don't let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Equestrian Ain't So Bad...

2007-08-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Pards,

I've been watching/photographing/writing about a lot of equestrian events lately. I know they're not "western" in nature, but they involve horses and that's good enough for me. I just appreciate the power and grace of a horse soaring over big jumps in a Grand Prix or showjumping event.

The riders have been great to interview as well. From my experience so far, horse lovers are pretty much the same, no matter what the breed or discipline.

I guess I mean to say - I like horses and horse people.

What about you?

Lincoln

Don't let your horse come home without ya!

Humorous Equine Definitions

2007-08-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Pards,

It's been waaaaaaay too long since I last posted, and for that I do apologize. To make up for it, I thought I would bring a smile along with me today. I found a website containing some horse "definitions" I thought were kinda funny (most of 'em, anyway). They include definitions like:

Barn Sour: An affliction common to horse people in northern climates during the winter months. Trudging through deep snow, pushing wheelbarrows through snow and beating out frozen water buckets tend to bring on this condition rapidly.

Endurance Ride: The end result when your horse spooks and runs away with you in the woods.

Feed: Expensive substance utilized in the manufacture of large quantities of manure.

You can find the rest here. I hope you enjoy!

Lincoln

"Don't let your horse come home without ya!"

Time Does Stand Still!

2007-05-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers.
All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog are the property of Lincoln Rogers
and may not be copied and/or disseminatedwithout written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

The old saying says, "Time stands still for no man." I guess I beg to differ. At the age of 64 years old, a rodeo Hall of Fame steer wrestler placed first in the last round of his career. I don't know about you, but I'll be happy to just get on a horse when I'm 64, let alone wrestle a steer in 5.0 seconds.

Don't let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

--------------------

The following information is courtesy of the PRCA.

Steer wrestling icon Roy Duvall, the three-time world champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer, ran the last steer of his career April 29. He went out on top, splitting first place in the round to cap off a record career.
Duvall, 64, entered the 40-and-over steer wrestling category at the Duvall Jackpot, a steer wrestling jackpot he began hosting in 1978. He decided his last run of the day would be the last run of his career, and he made it count, turfing the steer in 5.0 seconds.
“The first rodeo I ever entered was a junior rodeo and I placed at it, and then my last steer I ever ran, I placed on him, so that was a pretty good way to go out,” Duvall said.
Duvall holds PRCA records for the most National Finals Rodeo qualifications (24) in steer wrestling, the most consecutive qualifications (21), and was a member of the inaugural class of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He won world titles in 1967, 1969 and 1972.
Some of Duvall’s family was there to witness his final run. His brother, Bill, hazed for his runs, and Roy’s nephews, Sam and Spud, were watching close by. When Sam heard Roy had decided to make the run his final one, Spud said he took the announcer’s microphone and told the crowd of 600-800 people about Roy and his accomplishments.
“As he rode in, everybody was standing up,” Spud Duvall said. “And it was just like he used to be when he was in his prime – he got a good start and slammed one down and tied for first place in the round. The crowd went wild.”

Springtime!

2007-05-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers.

All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog are the property of Lincoln Rogers

and may not be copied and/or disseminatedwithout written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

Hey Pards!

It's that time of year again. Yep... the time of year when it's finally all right to get outside and start enjoying all the things you love to do. In honor of the spring season, I'm posting a poem I wrote a while back about springtime in the West.

Hope you enjoy, and don't let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Unbound
By Lincoln Rogers, © May 2003

It’s good to view the greening,
Bursting forth from soil and tree.
The scene does something for my soul,
Akin to setting this man free.

Could be the colors in my sight,
Or the smells that ride the breeze.
That stirs the surging in my veins,
And brings a weakness to my knees.

It gets my senses heeding nature,
The scent of sage and yucca flower.
Or the keening of a hawk,
High on his Ponderosa tower.

Surrounding me are rolling hills,
Cut deep with clefts throughout the land.
Just like the Good Lord put them there,
With but a finger of His hand.

Calves and foals dot field and meadow,
Hanging close beside their mothers.
A spark of life set in their eyes,
Reflecting in a thousand others.

Laden clouds teem like big Longhorn,
Wandering through a trail of sky.
When they drop their crystal liquid,
The sight can make this grown man cry.

Running noise of streams of water,
Echo from their swollen beds.
They’ve awakened from the winter,
Shaking sleep from babbling heads.

Rays of sunlight fill the valleys,
Staying later every day.
Telling deer to drop their fawn,
Inviting antelope to play.

Now I’m just a simple cowboy,
With a tongue most often tied.
But in the Spring of God’s creation,

My heart can’t keep this all inside.

Sacred

2007-04-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers.
All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog are the property of Lincoln Rogers and may not be copied and/or disseminated
without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

It was Easter yesterday. Although I missed posting before that sacred Holiday, I guess I can make up for it today.

I hope you had a great Easter and spent quality time with family and God.

Don't let your horse come home without ya!

Poem - Morning Reflection

2007-03-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hey Pards,

Thought I'd post another cowboy poem on this here blog. I hope you enjoy.

Don't let that horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Morning Reflection
By Lincoln Rogers

Hello to you my friend, Big Red,
Nice to see you once again.
But I recall a Fall in Denver,
I thought our lives were at an end.

Howdy Slick, it’s been some time,
Since riding drag in dawn’s first light.
It was Montana ’74,
We both survived that dad-gummed fight.

Hats off to you, good steady Jim,
Sure seems like you’ve been gone awhile.
Despite that night in Abilene,
Our escapades still bring a smile.

It ain’t a pleasure, old Black Jack,
I reckon your presence will have to do.
Those frozen thoughts come of Salina,
Whenever I’m forced to think of you.

Rocky, I can’t believe you’re here,
I’d plumb forgotten your stature tall.
I don’t get back to Cheyenne much,
That Summer with you I done seen it all.

I swear I can’t compare, Buddy Boy,
The year we spent in San Antone’.
But the hour you took your leave of me,
I’ve never felt so all alone.

Sweet Rose, I’ve not forgotten you,
Or our slice of life in Kansas West.
Though a time or three we disagreed,
It’s worth admittin’ you were the best.

A silent crowd in mute attendance,
Ignored my voice in the early sun.
They spoke no answer to my face,
Merely held my attention one by one.

No folks assembled in the room,
And for my tongue there was no hearer.
Just a Cowboy recollecting ponies,

While examining scars in a full-length mirror.

Rodeo Poem - Following the Fire

2007-03-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers.

All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog are the property of Lincoln Rogers and may not be copied and/or disseminated

without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

Following the Fire
By Lincoln Rogers, © February, 2003

My diesel stopped its progress,
When I finally made Cheyenne.
I’d come to conquer buckin’ bulls,
Not be some average also ran.

But time has ways of passin’,
Leavin’ lines upon a face.
And a star that once rose fast,
Can fade away without a trace.

Now I’ve seen my share of bad wrecks,
Been “freight trained” and “kissed the bull”.
But there ain’t no rush to match,
When that eight seconds reaches full.

It’s like ridin’ on the thunder,
While the world around you shakes.
There’s flashin’ horns and lightnin’ hooves,
And the ground below you quakes.

A raging beast spins like a cyclone,
Bringing fury straight from Hell.
If you don’t bear down that honker,
He’ll throw you right into the well.

You just might maybe draw a dink,
Or get yourself an honest bucker.
But when one swaps ends or sets you up,
A man can look just like a sucker.

Just then that hard Wyoming wind,
It jerked me from my reverie.
And faded Wranglers made the trek,
To where I’d pay my entry fee.

It’s a fire that’s deep inside me,
Burning high for each go-round.
The day that sees me stop competin’,
You’ll have to plant me in the ground.

I don’t expect much understanding,
Since it’s true I’m past my prime.
But if those young guns take me lightly,
I just may grab the purse this time.

Poem - Ain't About Me

2007-03-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog

are the property of Lincoln Rogers and may not be copied

and/or disseminated without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

Hey Pards,

I figure it's about time for another poem. This one is entitled "Ain't About Me", and was written in 2003 by yours truly. I hope you enjoy.

Ain’t About Me
By Lincoln Rogers, © 2003

Reckon I figured it out,
while my soul was at rest,
a truth from the quiet,
planted deep in my chest.

It came as I walked,
in the midst of the land,
as my proud sight surveyed,
what I’d worked with my hands.

Then I heard a hawk’s call,
watched an Elk leap my fence,
and in sharing that moment,
realized I was dense.

Down the hill horses ran,
cattle grazed far away,
I smelled the sweetness of earth,
and felt the sun of the day.

It ain’t about wire that’s straight,
or hay and crops that I’ve grown.
Nor a large house and barn,
or how much livestock I own.

It’s about what’s inside,
who the Good Lord made me to be.
You see, the ground where I stood...
wasn’t put there by me.

There Is A Difference (even with bees)...

2007-02-28T23:32:00.000-08:00

Hey Pards,

I got to thinking about my last post (about the honeybees dying off mysteriously) and wanted to post what I think is a big difference between the attitudes of "independent spirited" types like many in the American West, and those of others in this great country.

My post pointed out the problem and noted there was not an explanation as of yet. End of story. What I have noticed in a number of other stories I've read about the honeybee problem is the authors of those columns/stories think the government should hold hearings on the issue and throw money at the problem in order to solve it. That's a big departure from my way of looking at things.

As an independent sort of guy, I believe people can solve most of their own problems with the proper motivation. I also believe not everything is a "crisis" and not everyone is a "victim". After many years out here in Colorado, I've come to believe my thinking is pretty typical for someone who has that "independent spirit" of the West.

The kind of thinking that wants government to jump in, take over, and/or throw money at a problem to solve it is more of that "victim" mentality, in my opinion. I understand there will be exceptions when government can help out, like the ranchers in southeastern Colorado who had their cattle herds wiped out due to the huge snowstorms in December and January.

In the case of the honeybees, however, I think the beekeepers will figure out a way to keep their colonies going until the mystery can be solved through research that is currently taking place. Time will tell, however, since I don't have all the answers (I just like to think I do, sometimes).

Like I said, I was cogitating on the issue and thought I'd share some of my conclusions. If nothing else, this post was probably a good cure for insomnia.

Don't let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Bee Very Afraid...

2007-02-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. All images on Lincoln Rogers' Blog are the property of Lincoln Rogers and may not be copied and/or disseminated without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live." ~ Albert Einstein

Hey Pards,

Bees may not seem like a western type of subject, but it is amazing to think of how much we all depend on these little critters. And these little critters are having a hard time lately...

It appears honeybee colonies are dying off at an alarming rate. What is more alarming is the experts don't seem to know why. While the die-offs are not a new problem to beekeepers (see this 1996 "Time" article) what makes 2007 a crisis is the nationwide scope of the colony losses. Honeybees are essential for pollinating crops, and a large-scale wipeout of honeybee colonies would imperil crops from coast-to-coast.

"Why is it worrisome when bees die by the thousands? Three words: global food supply. The lowly honey bee is required for the pollination of a wide range of plants, affecting everything from clover (think cows) to fruits to vegetable seeds. Honey bee-pollinated crops represent more than $15 billion annually to the economy. That does not even take into consideration indirectly affected items, such as beef, milk, cheese, wild animals, or birds."

Just to give an idea of how widespread this can be: Some crops REQUIRING pollination are - apples, avocados, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, melons, oranges, grapefruit, pumpkins, squash, sunflowers, tangerines, and watermelon. On the ranching side of things, forage plants for cattle (like clover and alfalfa) need pollination as well.

I know I was surprised to hear about how much we depend upon those little fella's. Let's hope the "experts" discover the source of the die-offs and come up with a solution. I'd hate to have to live without food.

Don't let that horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

The Horse in Modern America

2007-02-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hey Pards,

It used to be the wild horse epitomized the American West. The imagery of a herd thundering across expanses of open land or cowboys working on horseback sparks the imagination of almost anyone who loves the history of the USA. While the horse still allows us to touch the untamed spirit of the West, it is becoming rare for the contact to occur in a wild setting.

Though hooves and saddles helped domesticate our entire land, the equine’s ability to thrive in our modern culture depends upon facilities large enough to tame a wild demand for equestrian shows and events. Large horse venues all do their part to meet the exploding need. Those types of facilities are making it a priority to house larger and more horse shows than ever before, creating a win-win situation for the locations and horse associations alike.

“One of our goals is to infuse horse activity into the Denver scene,” commented Brad Ettleman (Horse Show Manager for the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado). Ettleman also revealed the National Western website receives forty million hits a year, displaying the popularity of the facility and its calendar of 40 weekends of horse shows a year. “People pay attention to what is going on at the National Western complex. We’ve seen an increase over time in telephone calls from the general public (and) we try and guide them to the right kind of horse show.”

“The community likes seeing horses around,” said Bill Miller, General Manager for the large Norris-Penrose Events Center located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. “It always surprises me to see a grandpa with three grandkids who come in and want to see the horses. I get a kick out of that. They will spend an hour or so just walking around and looking at horses. They want that lifestyle preserved.”

Modern America's kinship with the horse takes place now in facilities designed to accomodate the experience. It's a good thing. Without those equestrian facilities, the way of the horse may have died out altogether in this land of ours.

Have a good one.

Lincoln

A good name above great riches...

2007-02-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

Hey Pards,

PRCA Commissioner Troy Ellerman submitted a letter of resignation today, according to a press release from the PRCA.

"Troy Ellerman resigns as PRCA commissioner
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On February 19, Troy Ellerman resigned as PRCA commissioner. In a letter of resignation addressed to the PRCA Board of Directors, Ellerman stated, “Due to the fact that I have entered a plea of guilty in the BALCO case, I believe it is in the best interest of the PRCA to resign from my position as commissioner. My resignation will be effective immediately. It has been an honor to serve the PRCA. The PRCA is well served by a strong Board of Directors, and I am confident it will continue to move forward under its direction.”

The PRCA Board accepted Ellerman’s resignation with deep appreciation for his efforts in returning the PRCA to financial health."

While I'm glad to see the resignation, it would have been nice to see it while the press was swirling around the story of Ellerman's guilty pleas to multiple felonies related to the BALCO case. It makes me wonder now whether the resignation will get much coverage, since rodeo isn't exactly on most mainstream sports pages. If he had resigned immediately, the PRCA would have a better chance of being viewed as an organization of integrity. Instead, the initial response from the PRCA Board was, "The BALCO investigation is not related to PRCA business..."

Ellerman should have been gone immediately. Now it's five days later, and you wonder if anyone in the mainstream sports media will notice, or even care. While Ellerman may have helped the PRCA commit a financial turnaround, the devastation he just wreaked may not have been worth it.

I'm reminded of the well-known proverb from the Holy Bible (Proverbs 22:1a): "A good name is to be desired above great riches." I'll bet the PRCA would gladly exchange a little of that "financial health" Ellerman brought for some stain remover on its reputation.

Have a good one.

Lincoln

Poem - Breath of God

2007-02-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Pards,

Thought I'd leave ya with a poem of mine today. It's not the usual meter of a cowboy poem, but I hope you enjoy.

Lincoln
---------------------------------------

Breath of God
By Lincoln Rogers, 2005

A breeze rides through the West,
Like God cupped his hands,
Pursed His lips,
To blow the dust off of our souls.

The Prairie offers up its best,
Meadowlark singing,
Coyote call,
As high clouds build and thunder rolls.

Wild nature of the Pronghorn,
Roaming grass ocean,
To mountain shore,
Reaching the sands of evergreen.

Spirit within man is born,
Forged of rugged land,
High sun’s fire,
The will of a Maker unseen.

Can’t leave it unconfessed,
His creative power,
A majesty,
This wide-open vista extols.

A breeze rode through the West,
Like God cupped his hands,
Pursed His lips,
And blew the dust off of our souls.

Lovelorn in Rural America?

2007-02-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

A dating service dedicated to rural and country singles interested in the farming/ranching/country/western way of life?!

I admit I had no idea (since I'm a happily married guy with the best wife in the world), but I found out today there's a dating service dedicated "100% for farmers, ranchers, and those who can relate to the rural and country lifestyle."

According to the website, it seems most "city slickers" don't have a clue about the interests and passions of those in rural America, so this dating service was started by people who understand. It's called FarmersOnly.com and it all started because, as they put it, "City folks just don't get it!"

Founder, Jerry Miller, writes on the websites introduction page: "Instead of asking what your astrological sign is, at FarmersOnly.com I ask if you raise or breed alpacas, horses, cattle, chickens, dogs, goats, rabbits, sheep, grow crops, or if you're an organic farmer, student farmer, cowboy, cowgirl, or just a farmer wanna be! How many singles sites do that?"

After reading this, it sounds like there's at least one. It also sounds like it's about time.

Lincoln

PRCA Makes Initial Statement Regarding Ellerman

2007-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

I just received an initial press release from the PRCA today.

"Statement from The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors
15 February 2007

- For Immediate Release -

Troy Ellerman Enters Plea in BALCO Case

Thursday, February 15, 2007. Today in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Calif., Troy Ellerman entered a guilty plea to one count of filing a false declaration, one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of contempt relating to the BALCO matter. The BALCO investigation is not related to PRCA business. Mr. Ellerman currently serves as Commissioner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in Colorado Springs, Colo.

PRCA Chairman Keith Martin said, “The PRCA is financially strong and, as always, our board remains focused on continued strength, stability and progress within the organization. The PRCA is the No. 1 rodeo sanctioning body in the world, and the board is working hard on a daily basis to continue to promote and grow this great sport.”

Mr. Ellerman will not make any further comments regarding this case until the Court issues its sentence."

Well... I'm not exactly blown over by any "cowboy up" mentality in the release, but it is the early stages after all, and this is the time when everyone typically dances around an issue, looking for the right thing to say and/or not say. Time will tell.

One thing that is of concern to me, however, is the sentence, "The BALCO investigation is not related to PRCA business." I find that to be a disingenuous statement, at best. If your Commissioner is pleading guilty to FELONIES, then it darn well better be related to PRCA business. The organization should stand up and make the issue its business. It's time to cowboy up, and not worry about the media fallout. Do what's right, regardless of the circumstances, then let the chips fall where they may. That is the cowboy way, isn't it? Seems to me the PRCA could generate HUGE goodwill by taking a stand that most others in this world don't or won't.

Once again, good luck to the good folks at the PRCA who are trying to straighten out this whole mess. I have faith they will eventually do it in a fashion that best represents the western way of life.

Best to ya!

Lincoln

PRCA Gets Bucked By Ellerman

2007-02-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be away for so long, Pards, but personal stuff can sure get in the way of this great writing and photography life.

That said, it sure was sad to read of Troy Ellerman's (Commissioner of the PRCA) admission that he leaked grand jury testimony about the BALCO case to reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle. News stories say he could receive up to two years of jail time as a result.

"In court papers filed Wednesday (February 14th) in U.S. District Court, attorney Troy Ellerman said he allowed reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada to view transcripts of the grand jury testimony of baseball stars Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and sprinter Tim Montgomery."

Shoot! I didn't even realize Ellerman was involved in that steroid fiasco in any way whatsoever. My sympathies go out to the PRCA, a great organization that will now have to figure out how to put the pieces back together and keep its tradition of integrity intact.

One thing us people in the West do a good job of, however, is to "cowboy up", take responsibility, and face challenges head on. I'm sure the PRCA will do just that.

Good luck to 'em! Since I'm a rodeo fan myself, I'll be watching with interest.

Lincoln

New story on Thursday, Feb. 15th - CBS Sportsline

Happy New Year!!!

2006-12-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd wish everyone a very Happy New Year. To commemorate the event, here's a Cowboy "Toast" I came up with this year. I hope you enjoy it. You can also find it at www.cowboypoetry.com on New Year's Day, 2007.

Cowboy Toast - By Lincoln Rogers, 2006

May a Stetson lie close to your favorite boots,
May a saddle be where you sit.
May you always remember your Western roots,
Full of try and empty of quit.

New Years Resolutions

2006-12-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. Time to come up with resolutions we're all gonna break by mid-January! I came up with a poem about New Year's resolutions, and thought I'd share it with ya! Best to ya, and Happy New Years! Lincoln

No Resolutions

Lincoln Rogers, 2006

Nature makes no resolutions,
Not as far as I can see.
It doesn’t worry ‘bout the future,
And seems content to let things be.

I don’t suppose a Bull Elk wonders,
How to lose a few more pounds.
I’ll bet a Grizzly never states,
“I’d better put this honey down.”

You think a mare with newborn foal,
Is stressed about her “baby weight”?
Or a wolf takes time to count,
The grams of carbs in what it ate?

Instead of moaning about some shortfalls,
And making lists of things to change.
Instead, birds soar on wings of freedom,
While wildlife roams the open range.

There’s a lesson there to mimic,
Apply it to our daily lives.
It just might make us better people,
Better parents – husbands – wives.

Treat each morning we awaken,
Like a gift for all to see,
‘Cuz nature makes no resolutions,

It’s just the way it’s meant to be.

Merry Christmas, Pards!

2006-12-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Pards & Pardettes!

I hope your season is a safe and happy one.

Lincoln

Christmas Cowboy Poem

2006-12-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

It's winter time for the animals, and Christmas time for all us Pards and Pardettes. I thought I'd share a Christmas poem I wrote.

God bless and I hope you enjoy.

December’s Trail Home
By Lincoln Rogers, 2003

I hear tell this week it’s Christmas,
At least the Trail Boss says it’s so.
But it’s hard to catch the spirit,
This far from kin and falling snow.

I’ve been ridin’ drag so long,
My sense of smell has been displaced.
From San Antone’ up through the Plains,
Dust and hide is all I taste.

Tin cup of coffee in my grip,
It’s ‘bout the only thing that’s hot.
Out in the grasp of ice-cold wind,
Can’t help but think of where I’m not.

Ma and Pa off in Nebraska,
On their farm of corn and wheat.
They proved up ground with soil so rich,
Like it’d been trod by God’s own feet.

But bustin’ sod was not my calling,
Behind a plow I couldn’t stay.
My folks knew horses ran my veins,
And watched me ride off West one day.

These eyes bear witness to vast prairies,
Running Longhorn o’er the trail.
A saddle and a string of ponies,
Through bright sun, rain, wind or hail.

But this winter campfire has me thinking,
Reckoning what I’m all about.
If some Angel’s came a calling,
Would I even hear their joyous shout?

Would I be like those old shepherds,
In the book of Holy Writ?
Scruffy Pards in charge of stock,
Hearing, “The Christ is born, now git!”

My small fire spitting in its ring,
Its flames undaunted by the night,
Convinces me to make a choice,
My heart affirms that it is right.

“Slim, wake up ya confound varmint,
I’ve got a piece of news to tell.
You know it’s years since I seen kin,
It might be time I rest a spell.

‘Cuz it’s a week ‘til Christmas Day,
And with Nebraska not too far.
If I saddle up old Gunner,
Maybe we’ll find our yonder star.”

I may not be in Isra-El,
And I sure weren’t no wise Magi,
But cantering east away from Slim,
The sting of moisture hits my eyes.

I know my Pards will understand,
‘Cuz I’m a Cowboy through and through.
I’ll join them next month in Salina,
Bearing a soul as good as new.

In the meantime I’ll see family,
That’s what this Season’s all about.
And like those Angels way back when,
The night will hear my joy ring out.

“Ya Gunner, git your hooves a runnin’,
Let’s cross the miles which block our way.
And Merry Christmas to ya boy,
For we’ll be home that Holy day.”

For those aspiring writers...

2006-11-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

For the aspiring writer who just might be reading this blog... there is so much good information on the web to help hone your writing craft. If you enjoy writing and want to learn more information, here are some excellent websites. A lot of these will be Christian oriented, since that is where I'm coming from in my life, but don't let it run you off. You will find info there as relevant as any other place on the planet. I hope these may help:

The Writing Life Blog

Faith in Fiction Blog

Christian Author, Randy Ingermanson

Writing-World.com Website

Those are jsut a few links to help guide you on your way. I hope you will use them as a springboard to uncover more sites and help along your writing journey. After all, I have a name for writers who are unwilling to put in a tremendous amount of time researching their craft and markets - "Unpublished Authors."

Have a good one!

This Great Country...

2006-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or reproduced

without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

While I'm not particularly thrilled with the results this time around, I am proud of the opportunity we get every couple of years to show the planet how the best democracy in the world works. I hope you voted too.

Singing In The Rein...

2006-11-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

Image copyright Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.

Yeah Pards, I know. You think "rein" is spelled wrong in the title of this post. Ordinarily, you'd be right, but I'm talking about another type of rein... the western variety.

One of the great things about living near a big western city like Denver, Colorado is the amount of western-oriented events that take place throughout the year. One of them this year was the Western International. A big part of the Western International was a big-deal Reining competition. Now Reining is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports in the world, and there's a big reason why. Some of the smartest and most athletic horses on the planet are involved in the sport of reining, and it takes every bit of those smarts and athleticism to perform the intricate manuevers dictated by the sport. Fast spins and crowd pleasing slides are just a part of what makes a reining show a good one.

One of my favorites is the "freestyle reining" portion of a competition. That's where the riders wear a "costume" of their choice, often dressing up their horses as well, and then performing required manuevers however they'd like to music of their choosing. It's a rollicking good time, and the Western Invitation Freestyle Reining competition was no different... except for all the frights.

You see, since it was held in October, most of the contestants brought a Halloween flair to their routines. There was everything from Frankentstein, a zombie, a scarecrow (my favorite), to regular cowboys. It was good fun and another chance to see some of the best horses on the planet in action.

Check out a reaining competition sometime. Especially the freestyle program. I think you'll like it.

Have a good one.

Lincoln

My Aching Head...

2006-11-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hey there, Pards-

I know it's been awhile since I've posted, and there are some pretty good reasons, but that is what makes life, I reckon. I figured I better get back up on the horse and give you something to read from my neck of the woods. Thanks for stopping by, as always.

This poem seems applicable today, what with all of the narcissism evident from the last few months of hearing politicians of all stripes talking about how great they are and how voting for them (and only them) will somehow make this here world a better place...

Ain't About Me

By Lincoln Rogers, 2002

I reckon I figured it out while my soul was at rest.
A truth from the quiet, planted deep in my chest.

It came as I walked in the midst of the land,
while my proud sight surveyed what I’d worked with my hands.

Then I heard a hawk’s call - watched an Elk leap my fence,
and in sharing that moment - realized I was dense.

Down the hill horses ran, cattle grazed far away.
I smelled the sweetness of earth and felt the sun of the day.

It ain’t about wire that’s straight or hay and crops that I’ve grown.
Nor a large house and barn or how much livestock I own.

It’s about what’s inside- who the Good Lord made me to be.

You see, the ground where I stood... wasn’t put there by me.

Somebody should tell those people in all the commercials...

2006-09-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

(Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission by Lincoln Rogers)

In memory of September 11, 2001. May we never forget.

The Most of It
By Lincoln Rogers - September, 2002

It was that hour of morning,
Time to feed all our horses.
Didn’t matter the date,
Or how fate chose its courses.

They knew nothing of loss,
Or of the many that died.
In that morning last year,
When our whole nation cried.

They just knew they were hungry,
And their bellies craved hay.
There weren’t frets for the future,
Only thoughts of today.

I watched them roll in the pasture,
Run and kick their legs high.
Stop and eat some alfalfa,
Find some shade from the sky.

And knew that was the answer,
Like a bolt from above.
Spend some time each day playing,
With the ones that you love.

That could mean there’s some laughter,
Or just quiet to share.
But take a cue from our horses,
And make the most of what’s there.

Take care out there. Lincoln

Single Action Shooting Society

2006-08-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

(Period-correct boots and spurs worn by a SASS End of Trail. Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers)

I guess you could say I like people who like the Old West. As a result, I really like the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). The good folks who join this organization love everything about the Old West, and try to be as period-correct as possible with their clothing, accessories, and guns. It seems to be working, since the organization is growing by leaps and bounds. According to organization estimates, an average of seven hundred new members a month has enrolled over the last five years.

“If we were a company, you’d want to invest in us,” stated Ken Amorosano about SASS’s sixty-six thousand plus membership figures. Amorosano is the Marketing Director for SASS.

SASS holds a shooting championship and Old West festival every year, called End of Trail. The festival is drawing folks from around the world to compete in a friendly environment with those who love the Old West. The festival is growing as well, and it's not hard to understand why.

“In the 1870’s, even if you came from back East, you could be a cowboy,” said “Tex,” one of SASS's founders. “Once you crossed west of the Mississippi, you could come up with a moniker like “Wild Bill” and you could become anything you wanted to be. We’ve always done that in SASS as well. Ninety-eight percent (of SASS members) don’t know each other’s real names,” he continued through laughter about the requirement of going by an alias in the group. “It has become a great leveler. It doesn’t matter (in this organization) if you have a million dollars or not.”

The rest of the membership embraces the requirement, believing it adds a priority of fun and camaraderie to competitions. Though a competitive nature may help some shooters win a contest or two, it appears to be an unwritten rule to check one’s ego at the door.

“We don’t give out prize money for winning competitions,” added “Tex” regarding SASS’s social emphasis on having fun and making friends. “It’s for bragging rights (only). We reward people for playing the game. Folks can play Cowboys and Indians just like they did when they were kids,” continued the wearer of SASS badge #4. “They can go back to their childhood. That one facet has allowed folks to have a camaraderie (at shooting competitions).”

“I think people are tired of the government telling them what they can and can’t do,” offered “Judge Roy Bean” (another SASS founder) as a possible reason for SASS’s and End of Trail’s surging popularity. “They’re tired of having to protect themselves from lawyer’s and lawsuits. They want to go back to a time of honesty; to a time when a handshake was better than a contract.”

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Have a good one.

Lincoln

www.lincolnrogers.com

Feeling A Draft

2006-08-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

(Images copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

You could say Draft Horses made the world go 'round in the Old West. They were the work horses, pulling plows, carriages, wagons, freight, etc. A safe comparison to modern days would be deisel rigs and big tractors.

You can still see Draft Horses at work now, but you usually have to go to attend a draft horse show or some type of competition. I'm here to tell you it is well worth the time. These horses are called "gentle giants" by quite a few people, and there is good reason why. Their sheer size and bulk are impressive, but their dispositions are so nice.

Look up a draft horse event in your area, and take time to see the power and strength of a horse that helped settle the Old West. Heck, they helped settle the entire land.

Have a good one.

Lincoln

www.lincolnrogers.com

Rodeo Doing Well in 2006

2006-08-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

(Calf roper Cory Zion at the Evergreen Rodeo. Photo copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

The sport of rodeo seems to be going strong this year. Another cowboy made it big, pushing past the $2,000,000 mark in career earnings. The following Press Release came courtesy of the PRCA:

Ohl becomes eighth cowboy to cross $2 million

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following the Dodge City Roundup in Dodge City, Kan., Cody Ohl was less than $900 away from the $2 million mark in career earnings. The thought of being the eighth cowboy to join the illustrious $2 million club was in the back of his mind as he threw the loop on his first calf on Aug. 8 at the Sikeston (Mo.) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

That loop pushed him over the $2 million mark as he finished the run in 8.3 seconds to share the first-round victory and pocketed $1,872.

“It feels great, and there is no other feeling like it,” said Ohl of the $2 million milestone. “It hasn’t been very long ago that there was a big deal made about Roy (Cooper) being the first one and now I am there. To be just the eighth is a great thing and to be part of a group with such greatness is a true honor.”

Seeing such a milestone inspired me to post one of my rodeo poems.

Made This Way
By Lincoln Rogers, 2006

Stubble, scars, and toughness,
Shape the surface of his face –
A roadmap charting victory and spill.

He leans against the chute,
Like he was born into this place –
Formed to tame the thunder with his will.

The beast below him quivers,
Showing patience in its rage –
A hurricane enclosed behind a gate.

The stadium grows silent,
Arena sand becomes a stage –
The hardest part of rodeo is the wait.

His hand of calloused texture,
Grips the cool of iron rail –
The nod to start the battle will be his.

Time again to ride the lightning,
And he prays that he won’t fail –
It’s all he’s known… it’s just the way he is.

Have a good one.

Lincoln Rogers
www.lincolnrogers.com

Horse Pulls

2006-08-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

(Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

I went to a county fair the other day and covered a Horse Pull event for a regional magazine. It was a great experience. The people were friendly and the horses were outstanding.

The competition consisted of a pair of draft horses hooking up to a “sled” filled with weight (they used 70 lb. bags of sand and started with 2,100 lbs.) and pulled the weight over a dirt track for twenty feet to make a successful run. When every team was finished taking a turn, those who succeeded got a chance to pull again after more weight was added, until one team had out-pulled all the others. The winning team in the Heavyweight Class pulled 12,500 pounds to take the county fair title.

“They're like professional football players,” said Scott Beaman, a successful competitor from LaSalle, Colorado, on the topic of good pulling horses. “They’re not farm animals. They are bred to do this. I think the best ones come out of Amish country.”

While the best draft horses for pulling competitions may come from Amish country, it sounded like the breed most suited for the task is the Belgian.

“They are stouter for the most part,” shared local competitor, Pat Kelly, about what makes Belgians a natural fit for the contests. “They call them ’gentle giants’, and they really are.”

It was great to be up close and personal with the nine teams of horses and their handlers. I like being around horse people. They're good folks.

Thanks for checking in. Stop on by again real soon.

Lincoln

www.lincolnrogers.com

Cowboy Poetry

2006-08-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

(Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. may not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers)

I sure do like good cowboy poetry. Every now and then, I try my hand at writing some, and with a fair amount of success, but there is some excellent cowboy poetry out there just waiting to be discovered by those interested in sharing history, tall tales, and downright belly laughs.

Good cowboy poetry does more than just rhyme. Heck, just about anybody can make a rhyme. What makes an excellent cowboy poem is the images it conveys and the meter of the piece. A well-written poem flows like the words and phrases were made to be formed just that way. You know it when you read it.

The best cowboy poetry on the planet can be found at CowboyPoetry.com. It is a fantastic website that boasts "the world's largest collection of cowboy poetry". Take a peek at it, you won't be disappointed.

Now, I'm not the be-all-end-all of cowboy poetry experts - I'll leave that to the good folks over at CowboyPoetry.com - but I do have a few favorites who I enjoy reading. Pat Richardson has got to be one of the most talented poets ever at creating unbelievably funny images and tales within the constraints of a cowboy poem. You'll laugh the Stetson right off your head, I guarantee it.

Though we've never met personally, I consider Rod Nichols a Pard, and he has a God-given talent for taking words and crafting them in just the right way, and with just the right sentiment. Whether it is humor, sentimental, patriotic, religious, etc., Rod Nichols nails it each and every time. You can read his, and other poets, fine work in action on Rod's cowboy poetry board. While you are there, make sure you read some of Bruce Satta's lyrical wordsmithing and Glen Enloe's fine work. You won't be disappointed.

That brings me to another favorite of mine. Mr. Hal "Nevada" Swift. Hal has a gift for taking a small slice of life and creating a poem that will make you smile... every single time. His talent for finding the perfect rhythm and meter for each of his poems is downright mind-boggling. If you like to be entertained by whimsical slices of cowboy and western-related life, Hal is your man. I have the privilege of calling him my Pard as well.

I know I'm leaving out the names of some mighty fine cowboy poets, but I don't have the space to list them all. Why don't you chime in and let us know the names of some of your current favorites? I'd love to hear from ya!

Lincoln

www.lincolnrogers.com

http://lincolnrogers.blogspot.com

http://best-of-the-west.blogspot.com

A Horse, of course...

2006-08-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

(Images copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

This is a blog of the west, and there is nothing quite so "western" as the horse. Without the horse, the American West would not have been tamed. Without the horse, the image and legend of the cowboy would never have existed.

I tend to agree with the late, great Will Rogers, who penned: "A man who don't love a horse, there's something the matter with him."

For me, riding tall in a western saddle with boots and cowboy hat is just shy of heaven (especially if the missus is riding along with), but l enjoy the sight of a horse no matter the circumstances. Whether it is cowboys riding - equestrian events - horse showjumping competitions - draft horses and carriages - or ponies and children, I'll pull up a chair and be happy to watch.

Have a good one, and enjoy a horse today.

Lincoln
www.lincolnrogers.com

It's County Fair Time...

2006-08-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

(Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

It's that time of year all right. Time for county and state fairs to be held across the nation.

I love it.

If you haven't visited a county fair lately, make sure you take the time. There's just something about the 4-H barns, the sounds of the midway, and the smell of warm pretzels, funnel cakes, or elephant ears. Some fairs can be like walking through a time-warp these days, presenting an opportunity to rediscover a little of what made youth so precious.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a poem I wrote about a child visiting the local county fair.

First Fair
By Lincoln Rogers, 2002

I recollect when I was younger,
I first visited the county fair.
The air smelled sweet, the night was warm,
The noise of rides engulfed the air.

First came the barn of livestock,
Full of cows and goats and sheep.
My feet skipped up and down the aisles,
While my heart wanted to leap.

One hand held cotton candy,
While the other held my dad.
I’d get it all on my good shirt,
But that night it wasn’t bad.

Dad brought me through the midway,
Full of sound and neon light.
From my perch atop his head,
A world of wonder enthralled my sight.

I remember happy weariness,
As he tucked me into bed.
“How ‘bout the fair tomorrow?”
Were the best words he ever said.

Have a good one, Pards. And visit a county fair this year. You won't be sorry.

Lincoln
www.lincolnrogers.com

New article on the web this week...

2006-08-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

May not be used or copied without

written permission from Lincoln Rogers.)

This is kind of a semi-full blog piece today. I wanted to post a link to a new article of mine on the web this week (July 31), published in The Fence Post magazine. It is about a long-running small-town rodeo in the Colorado mountains. The Evergreen Rodeo.

You can find the story and accompanying photos at the following link: Evergreen Rodeo Story on the Fence Post website

Have a good one.

Lincoln
www.lincolnrogers.com

The "Daddy of 'em All" finishes strong in 2006

2006-07-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Photo ~ 6-time World Champion Saddle Bronc rider, Dan Mortensen, makes a successful ride during the 2005 Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. Mortensen won the 2006 Saddle Bronc title in Cheyenne, earning over $18,000.

(Image copyright Lincoln Rogers. May not be copied or used without written permission)

(Blog uses excerpts from a previously published article by Lincoln Rogers. The Fence Post Magazine. August 2005)

The 2006 Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) rodeo, nicknamed the "Daddy of 'em All," chalked up another successful run for the historic Wyoming event. Since the first 6-hour performance before about 4,000 spectators in 1897, cowboys have circled Cheyenne on their calendars with bold strokes. The list of past and present competitors is impressive, and includes legends such as 16-time world champion, Jim Shoulders. Shoulders won more buckles than anyone else at the historic Wyoming rodeo, and he remembers it well.

“Its history didn’t make as much difference to me as the money,” said the candid Oklahoman. “As a rodeo cowboy trying to make a living, it was always the money. Those major rodeos, they were the key.”

When not focused on earning a living, Shoulders did notice how much CFD meant, socially and economically, to the surrounding community.

“Of course, Cheyenne used to be a happening,” recalled the ProRodeo Hall of Famer in a 2005 interview, speaking by telephone from the comfort of his home. “It was one-of-a-kind when I got there (in the 1940’s). The town was strictly rodeo."

Though much has changed in over 100 years, enthusiasm for this annual cowboy slice of July remains unchanged, and it draws more than a half-million visitors throughout ten days of rodeo action and 11 days of western-style amusements.

“It is remarkable that a town of this size supports such a large event with the volunteers they have,” observed Harry Vold, an 11-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year and producer of the world-famous rodeo for over 30 years. “This one is in a class by itself.”

Vold may well have been reading the thoughts of a Sun Ledger newspaper reporter from 1897, who wrote of the very first Frontier Days celebration: “… the greatest and most successful occasion ever celebrated in the West… thousands of visitors from all over… could not have possibly expected a more perfect day in every respect… it was good fun and good money.”

In 2006, 109 years later, it was good fun, good money… and good history.

The following cowboys and cowgirls ended up on the winning side of the 2006 ledger.

(Information provided courtesy of the PRCA)

2006 Cheyenne Frontier Days Tour, Average Champions

Bareback Riding

T: J.D. Garrett Jr. (Grandview, Texas), 86 points

A: Forest Bramwell (Pagosa Springs, Colo.), 250 points on three head, $15,880

Steer Wrestling

T: Glen Clark (Streetman, Texas), 7.3 seconds

A: Linn Churchill (Valentine, Neb.), 22.0 seconds on three head, $23,446

Team Roping

T: Garrett Tonozzi (Fruita, Colo.)/York Gill (Memphis, Tenn.), 8.8 seconds

A: Colter Todd (Marana, Ariz.)/Cesar de la Cruz (Tucson, Ariz.), 25.0 seconds on three head, $14,804 each

Saddle Bronc Riding

T: (tie) Dan Mortensen (Billings, Mont.) and Cody Wright (Milford, Utah), 83 points

A: Mortensen, 251 points on two head, $18,843

Tie-Down Roping

T: Cody Ohl (Hico, Texas), 11.1 seconds

A: Clint Robinson (Spanish Fork, Utah), 37.1 seconds on three head, $19,597

Barrel Racing

T: Kelly Maben (Spur, Texas), 17.34 seconds

A: Maben, 52.38 seconds on three runs, $15,054

Bull Riding

T: Dustin Elliott (North Platte, Neb.), 91 points

A: Elliott, 256 points on two head, $19,962

Steer Roping

A: Neal Wood (Guy, Texas), 53.8 points on three head, $10,773

Welcome to my neighborhood

2006-07-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

The American West holds a fascination for me. I am drawn to it's rugged spirit, spectacular beauty, and fierce independence found in those people not living in urban/suburban areas. That spirit and independence permeated me shortly after arriving in the mid-80's, or maybe I should say it tapped into what was already latent.

There's nothing like seeing the stunning vistas of the Colorado Rocky Mountains each and every day, or beholding the power and grace of a running horse.

If those kind of things resonate with you, pull up a chair on a frequent basis and stay awhile. I will try, with this blog, to share some of what is happening in my neighborhood called the American West. I look forward to it, and hope you do as well.

Thanks for stopping by today, and ride by again real soon, will ya?

Lincoln Rogers
www.lincolnrogers.com