HORSES, HORSES, HORSES
Feb 13, 2025 by Tempe Javitz
HORSES, HORSES, HORSES
Many of Jessamine Spear Johnson’s photographs
include horses, and why not? She and her husband
Will spent most of their married years on at least
five different ranches. You can’t punch cows
without your faithful steed. Jessamine and Will
also raised horses at their X4 Ranch in Kirby,
Montana from 1919 to 1933, and then further at
the Rosebud Mountain Ranch until 1945. I thought
it would be fun to show some of my favorite horse
photos that were not in my book. Remember, just
riding out into the prairie or up into the hills
to checkon the cattle is an uplifting experience.
Here’s my poem to begin.
H ealing to ride with the wind,
O pen to new thoughts and sounds.
R iding my horse uphill or down,
S urrendering to the physical moment,
E nergy revives, clarity is restored,
S oul restored, I gallop back home.
A young colt tied to a post is learning the
hard way not to pull back when tied.
Speaking of youngsters, here is a fun photo of my Uncle
Vic in April of 1931 with two of the X4 ponies, Rocky
Mountain and Tarbaby. You gotta love the hat he’s
wearing, and the baggy jeans with the pants rolled up.
For sure he’s wearing a jean jacket also. Not sure
when they came into style. Obviously, Jessamine had her
camera ready while they were out checking on the cattle.
She grabbed the opportunity to get Vic to pose with their
favorite mounts.
Vic Johnson with Rocky Mountain and Tarbaby.
Here is a photo of Art Brown with Sir Stewart. I bet he
had a pedigree! The photo is at the X4 ranch. I’m
supposing that Art had sold Sir Stewart to Will to breed
beautiful horses. I believe that Art's ranch was in Birney,
Montana.
Art Brown with "Sir Stewart"
Of course, I had to find and share another photo of
Jessamine with a horse.
Jessamine with Big Bob
With all the work, the most fun had to be bringing in the
mares and colts. The sooner you start gentling a young
horse with basic training, accepting a halter, training to
lead, etc., the easier the task and the more reliable the pony.
Mares and colts. Yes, there are some paint ponies too.
The world would be very different without horses. They have been
invaluable for riding, transporting goods, for sporting events,
entertaining and ceremonial purposes, and also wars!
The next time you are working with horses, give that horse a hug.
Cowboy Jargon:
Horse breaker: Hopefully a professional horse trainer, not a
rough handler.
Horsehocky: Horse manure, just don’t step in it.
Horsehair rope: A braided rope, best made from mane hair.
Horse Opera: A Western movie, and by implication, a grade B
movie.
Horse restaurant: In California a livery stable. (That tickles
my funny bone.)
Horse Sense: Good, practical sense like a cowpony is known for.
*Thanks again to Win Blevins “Dictionary of the American West.”
While you are waiting for more tales about Jessamine and her family,
and more photos, I invite you to read my prior blogs or my book.
My website has all my prior blogs: https://tempejavitz.com/
Here's the link for my book:
https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bighorn-visions
Many of Jessamine Spear Johnson’s photographs
include horses, and why not? She and her husband
Will spent most of their married years on at least
five different ranches. You can’t punch cows
without your faithful steed. Jessamine and Will
also raised horses at their X4 Ranch in Kirby,
Montana from 1919 to 1933, and then further at
the Rosebud Mountain Ranch until 1945. I thought
it would be fun to show some of my favorite horse
photos that were not in my book. Remember, just
riding out into the prairie or up into the hills
to checkon the cattle is an uplifting experience.
Here’s my poem to begin.
H ealing to ride with the wind,
O pen to new thoughts and sounds.
R iding my horse uphill or down,
S urrendering to the physical moment,
E nergy revives, clarity is restored,
S oul restored, I gallop back home.
A young colt tied to a post is learning the
hard way not to pull back when tied.
Speaking of youngsters, here is a fun photo of my Uncle
Vic in April of 1931 with two of the X4 ponies, Rocky
Mountain and Tarbaby. You gotta love the hat he’s
wearing, and the baggy jeans with the pants rolled up.
For sure he’s wearing a jean jacket also. Not sure
when they came into style. Obviously, Jessamine had her
camera ready while they were out checking on the cattle.
She grabbed the opportunity to get Vic to pose with their
favorite mounts.
Vic Johnson with Rocky Mountain and Tarbaby.
Here is a photo of Art Brown with Sir Stewart. I bet he
had a pedigree! The photo is at the X4 ranch. I’m
supposing that Art had sold Sir Stewart to Will to breed
beautiful horses. I believe that Art's ranch was in Birney,
Montana.
Art Brown with "Sir Stewart"
Of course, I had to find and share another photo of
Jessamine with a horse.
Jessamine with Big Bob
With all the work, the most fun had to be bringing in the
mares and colts. The sooner you start gentling a young
horse with basic training, accepting a halter, training to
lead, etc., the easier the task and the more reliable the pony.
Mares and colts. Yes, there are some paint ponies too.
The world would be very different without horses. They have been
invaluable for riding, transporting goods, for sporting events,
entertaining and ceremonial purposes, and also wars!
The next time you are working with horses, give that horse a hug.
Cowboy Jargon:
Horse breaker: Hopefully a professional horse trainer, not a
rough handler.
Horsehocky: Horse manure, just don’t step in it.
Horsehair rope: A braided rope, best made from mane hair.
Horse Opera: A Western movie, and by implication, a grade B
movie.
Horse restaurant: In California a livery stable. (That tickles
my funny bone.)
Horse Sense: Good, practical sense like a cowpony is known for.
*Thanks again to Win Blevins “Dictionary of the American West.”
While you are waiting for more tales about Jessamine and her family,
and more photos, I invite you to read my prior blogs or my book.
My website has all my prior blogs: https://tempejavitz.com/
Here's the link for my book:
https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bighorn-visions
