“We have all been there. Man does something stupid, woman gets upset, man realizes fault and tries to make amends, woman
uses this as opportunity to continue punishment, man tries harder, woman says nothing, man continues eff ort, woman fi nally allows the cheek kiss and everything works itself out from there. I think girls are given a class at some point on how to out-think boys while the boys are told to go outside and punch each other.”
T e rest of the day was not one of those a writer would detail in a Harlequin romance book.
She was mad, and rightfully so. I on the other hand was doing whatever I could to mend fences and move on. We have all been there. Man does something stupid, woman gets upset, man realizes fault and tries to make amends, woman uses this as opportunity to continue punish- ment, man tries harder, woman says nothing, man continues eff ort, woman fi nally allows the cheek kiss and everything works itself out from there. I think girls are given a class at some point on how to out-think boys while the boys are told to go outside and punch each other. Aſt er the cheek kiss had been achieved, I started a campfi re in the yard, which seems to
help us talk sometimes. She still had not said a word to me. But, my listening and interpreta- tion skills improve substantially aſt er an argument and Paula knows it. When she did join me by the fi re, she asked, “Do you really want to do this horse riding thing?” “Yes,” I said, knowing simple yes and no answers were appropriate at that point and
further at empts at defending my actions would only end with me sit ing by the fi re alone. “What do you think about taking lessons?” “You’ve taught me a lot,” I responded, hoping I was saying everything right, “and there is a lot yet you can teach me.” “No,” she said “we are at a point now I can’t teach you anymore, and it’s not all your fault,
it’s just the way it is.” “If you think that’s best,” I said, “I’m game.” We talked a lot about where we wanted to go with the horses in order to fi nd a suitable trainer and she said she would do some research. A week or so later a trainer was found and plans were made for my fi rst lesson. We did ride a few more times between the argument and my fi rst lesson. T e only time she made a comment was if I asked. Guys, if your cowgirl is teaching you to ride, try as you might to control it, male behavior
will rear its ugly head and the argument will happen, oh believe me it will. If you’re a cowgirl learning to ride from one of those rare real cowboys who is your signifi cant other, I still think it’s going to happen. As sincere as the gesture of teaching may be and as willing a participant one is in learning, teaching each other things rarely ends well. Ladies, if you sense your cowboy prospect is showing a real interest in learning how to
ride, bring up the idea of taking lessons and circumvent that nasty argument. T ink of it this way: A good horse needs a lot of patience, guidance and understanding. A cowboy prospect needs the same thing. You want a horse with a bit of spirit and spunk, but you need to control it. A cowboy prospect is the same thing. You know when to guide your horse well before the horse knows he’s going to follow your guidance. A cowboy prospect needs the same thing. Sense when his ego is at that precipice when the “heels down” comment will go bad, and suggest riding lessons. Stroke his ego, and suggest he has advanced to the level at which professional training would be best. T e truth of it is, a true cowboy prospect is like a fl ashy stallion—real cool if you can control them, but a pain in the but if you can’t.
Colin Williams is from Prior Lake, Minnesota. He describes himself as a part-time freelance writer and a full-time cowboy prospect. He was introduced to horses in his late thirties, when he met Paula. T ey now share a small farm with two dogs, two cats and of course, the horses.
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