Pawnee: The Stallion Who Isn't

Pawnee is an eight-year-old bay Quarter Horse gelding who we've owned since he was two.  This picture was the first  I saw of him.  My father bought him at an auction two weeks after my brother's first horse, Target, died.  We weren't ready for another horse yet but Pawnee was ready for us.  He came to us as a wild, ungelded two-year-old who wasn't interested in doing anything he was told.  The first time I met the scrawny boy he chased after me on Socks which resulted in her kicking him and me falling off.  It was not the best of beginnings and I was less than impressed with this horse who I felt like was supposed to replace Target.  He was a troublemaker and felt like he was the strongest man out there.  He was barely 14 hands but he managed to jump out of the six-foot pen when he decided he didn't want to be worked with.  He terrorized all the people and the horses on the farm, trying to jump up whenever somebody rode another horse.  He was a major disappointment compared to the amazing horse we had just lost.  He has a registered name but we called him Pawnee, after the villianous tribe in the movie, Dances With Wolves.  Just as in the film, it was always bad when the Pawnee showed up.

And then two things happened.  He was gelded and I spent some time with him.  As I waited with him for the vet to arrive, it quickly became apparent that he was just like any other teenage boy.  All he wanted was some attention and he only knew of one way how to get it.  He was a horse who just needed somebody to spend a little bit of time with him.  He was eager to be trained to saddle and although he had a few episodes where he reminded us that he didn't like taking orders, he quickly settled into his life as our dependable Pawnee.

Pawnee soon proved that he would be great for riders of all levels.  His gentle nature made him perfect for beginners and he learned to take full advantage of their timidness by staying twenty feet behind the rest of the group if his rider allows him.  The experienced riders fight over who gets to ride him because he is always a good ride.  He could trot all day and although he has speed when he wants, he prefers to plod along most days until he has a little bit of encouragement to speed up.  With a rider who pushes him, he soon cooperates and travels at your speed.   He is not a above giving a little buck and toss of the head to let you know when he does not agree with your decision.  Animals don't scare him but you've got to watch out for that scary rock that might just eat him, but only if you're an experienced rider.  Apparently the presence of a beginner on his back magically makes all scary rocks harmless and boring.  Only Socks has been in the mountains more than him, and with his rock-hard feet he's often a better choice than she is.  He's run from attacking moose and chased wild horses in the Rockies.  On a hot day he likes to take his rider for an unannounced swim in the river.

Although Pawnee boy is now, and thankfully, a gelding, he is still the "stallion" of the herd.  The young boys know not to mess with him and the mares like to fight for his attention.  When we first brought Sadie home he loved his new girlfriend but Socks quickly reminded him of who was there first.   He is the herd's protector and I feel bad for anything that threatens his family.   Pawnee is both Cutting and Reining bred and is a cow's worst nightmare.  If you need to work with cows, he is your guy.  Ears flat against his head he won't give up until the cow is exactly where he wants it.  He doesn't appreciate interference from his rider, he knows his job but every now and then he'll give in and listen, but only if he decides your plan is better than his.

There are three things we've had to accept in our partnership with this pretty boy.  First, he'll go in the trailer but he will without a doubt, make a mess, no matter how short the trip is.  He won't complain about getting in, nor will he put up a fight while he's in.  But make sure you bring a shovel because he'll always leave you a present.  Second, you may ride him but you must understand that he's afraid he cannot breathe with the cinch on and will always walk stiffly until he realizes that he can indeed breathe.  Third and most importantly, you may ride him but you must mean it.  Except on the very rare occasions when he decides, you must prove to him that you really want to ride.  He will run around in circles around you, bucking and rearing and doing his best impression of an insane wild stallion.  If you manage to catch him he will immediatly become a teddy bear and ask for a hug.  While these may be less than desirable, it's the deal we've come to for asking him to carry anyone we put on him safetly.  And he always carries through on his part of the deal.

Pawnee doesn't like to admit this to anyone but it is one of his greatest qualities.  In his mind, every foal that steps onto the farm is his.  The mares may keep their babies only because he is a gracious and kind leader.  They are really his babies and his alone.  No foal is in danger if Pawnee is around; we don't like to tell him but he likes to spoil his children.  Cassidy and Hades in particular are two of his favourites.  He bosses Cas around but realizes in the end Cas will always decide what happens.  He should have been born a mare because he would love nothing better than to have a foal of his own.  He keeps them in line but tends to let it slip if they annoy Thor or Fonda, or whoever else is low on Pawnee's Favourite list. 

So far, at eight years old, Pawnee's tried several different careers.  His favourite is Master of the Cows.  His least favourite, a Show Horse.  He doesn't quite see the point in barrel racing or Gymkhana.  He almost tried Western Pleasure but he's rarely had a bit in his mouth, he's never needed one and we didn't want to put one in him just so he could show.  However, as much as he hates showing, he didn't want to return home empty handed and decided to show people he could do it if he really wanted to.  He granted Alex a fourth in thread the needle and then proceeded to finish just out of the ribbons each and every time after that. 

As Pawnee gets older he's beginning to calm down more and more.  He will always be the boss of the other horses and as the leader, he has become our partner in training other horses.  His sucess stories include Thor and June, whom he reminded was not in charge and had to listen to him or get out of the herd.  He's developed a preference for girls and although he'll allow a boy to ride him, they shouldn't even bother trying to catch him, it just won't happen.  Here he is with the second and last time he ever had a bit in his mouth.  He also does not appreciate being a cart horse.  He prefers to remain as Master of the Cows and Dependable Trail Horse Pawnee. 

Pawnee came into our lives at a bad time when we didn't want another horse yet.  I guess we didn't realize that we needed him.  He's taught us more lessons than any other horse.  We've taken concessions in our partnership with him and allowed behaviour many others might not have, but in return for what he's given us, we felt it best to accept that past experience and a hint of claustraphobia will remain a part of him.  He'll take care of anyone we put on him and in return, we won't ask him to pull the sleigh or be a show horse.  That might make him less sellable but I'm okay with that.  He's one who will be with us until the end.  He never did fill in Target's hoofprints and he never will.  He'll never be as great as Target but he's been greater.  He's different and he reminds us of that every day.  And that is why we love him.