Horsing Around
Jan 01, 2026 by Tempe Javitz
Horsing Around
If you like to have fun and you are a boisterous or
silly kid you get accused of “horsing around.” When
you grow up on a working ranch with lots of horses
you will remember seeing the horses playing at times,
chasing each other, or letting off steam as you turn
them loose after a long ride. My grandmother Jessamine,
always quick with her camera, was able to often catch
her own children “horsing around,” or goofing off playing
instead of working.
Example one: Annabelle and Eileen, the eldest girls,
were caught leapfrogging at the log school house. They
look to be at least fifth or sixth grade level. They
had recess just like anyone else in a town school, but
made up their own games. There were no playground
structures in their country school. Annabelle is
leapfrogging Eileen in 1921.
Winter games are always fun, what with snow on the
ground, and you can do snow ball fights, make snowmen,
and go sledding.
In this photo from 1924 Bill is holding the reins, Torrey
is standing next to Eileen, Norman and Vernon. We don’t
have the youngster with the glasses name.
In the summertime, how do you avoid those endless chores?
You disappear and go climb a tree. No one can find you,
except your mother with a camera!
Photo of Eileen up a tree September 11, 1927
Youngsters no matter how young always find ways to get into
trouble. Here is a younger Eileen with Torrey in 1919
found in the rain barrel. Being silly is fun.
As to horsing around, there were always horses and ponies
on a ranch. Sometimes you could get away with being goofy
with your pony.
Torrey is somersaulting from his pony. February 1, 1930. There
has to be a snowbank to land in.
So, it’s nearly time for a new year. Go out and be lively,
boisterous, and fool around a bit while you take a few days
off around the holidays.
But dear reader, don’t shirk your job. Read more of my
blogs at: https://tempejavitz.com/
Or order my book if you haven’t done so already!
https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bighorn-visions
If you like to have fun and you are a boisterous or
silly kid you get accused of “horsing around.” When
you grow up on a working ranch with lots of horses
you will remember seeing the horses playing at times,
chasing each other, or letting off steam as you turn
them loose after a long ride. My grandmother Jessamine,
always quick with her camera, was able to often catch
her own children “horsing around,” or goofing off playing
instead of working.
Example one: Annabelle and Eileen, the eldest girls,
were caught leapfrogging at the log school house. They
look to be at least fifth or sixth grade level. They
had recess just like anyone else in a town school, but
made up their own games. There were no playground
structures in their country school. Annabelle is
leapfrogging Eileen in 1921.
Winter games are always fun, what with snow on the
ground, and you can do snow ball fights, make snowmen,
and go sledding.
In this photo from 1924 Bill is holding the reins, Torrey
is standing next to Eileen, Norman and Vernon. We don’t
have the youngster with the glasses name.
In the summertime, how do you avoid those endless chores?
You disappear and go climb a tree. No one can find you,
except your mother with a camera!
Photo of Eileen up a tree September 11, 1927
Youngsters no matter how young always find ways to get into
trouble. Here is a younger Eileen with Torrey in 1919
found in the rain barrel. Being silly is fun.
As to horsing around, there were always horses and ponies
on a ranch. Sometimes you could get away with being goofy
with your pony.
Torrey is somersaulting from his pony. February 1, 1930. There
has to be a snowbank to land in.
So, it’s nearly time for a new year. Go out and be lively,
boisterous, and fool around a bit while you take a few days
off around the holidays.
But dear reader, don’t shirk your job. Read more of my
blogs at: https://tempejavitz.com/
Or order my book if you haven’t done so already!
https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bighorn-visions
