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AOWHA Special Feature
Three Strikes and You're Out?
By Willis Lamm
This is the story of a little sorrel mustang named Buddy. This is a story about heart, endurance, the unique mustang spirit and living proof that some politicians in Washington, DC don't have a clue as to what they are talking about... even though they can't stop talking.I first met Buddy outside of Jerry Lee's Saloon on US-50 in Silver Springs, NV on a cold, drizzling Thanksgiving Day in 2004. Buddy and the rest of Gene Glasscock's string were standing next to a lamp post in the parking lot. The horses weren't tied to the post. They just stood there ground tied.
Seventy year old Gene Glasscock was in a nearby gas station / mini mart getting a cup of coffee. Gene was in Silver Springs on his world record 20,000 mile trek to visit all 48 continental state capitols in a fundraising ride for the Phillips Foundation Scholarship Fund. I was there to give Gene a ride to Stagecoach for Thanksgiving dinner (and to return him the next day to Jerry Lee's to continue on his ride.)
Buddy was your ordinary sorrel mustang, not very big or lovely to look at but durably built and possessive of that unique "mustang" horsonality. Gene has two BLM mustangs in his string. One was Tosi, an adopted horse that had been used for a while then turned out to pasture. The second was Buddy, known in the BLM system as a "frequent flyer," having been presented at several adoptions but never taken home.
Fortunately someone at BLM saw something in this ordinary sorrel horse and sent him to the inmate horse training program at Canon City, CO. He was merely greenbroke when he joined Gene's string however he quickly learned the ropes and within days became an absolutely trustworthy and sure footed mount, whether packing Gene or being led in the string wearing a pack saddle.
Back at the parking lot in front of Jerry Lee's Saloon, I had opened the door to my trailer. Gene led Frank, one of his Tennessee Walkers, and the two mustangs passed each other a glance and followed Gene to the trailer, lead ropes dragging.
Thus began a relationship with an incredible human being and a string of wonderful horses, not the least of which was Buddy.
