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Title: George Bush the Texan is 'scared of horses'
Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
URL Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai ... =/news/2007/09/21/wbush121.xml
Published: Sep 21, 2007
Author: Alex Spillius in Washington
Post Date: 2007-09-21 13:17:21 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 1797
Comments: 41
President Bush may like to be seen as a swaggering tough guy with a penchant for manly outdoor pursuits, but in a new book one of his closest allies has said he is afraid of horses. Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, derided his political friend as a "windshield cowboy" – a cowboy who prefers to drive – and "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life". ''A horse lover can always tell when others don't share our passion," he said, according to the Washington Post. Mr Bush has spoken of his fondness for shooting doves and cutting brush on his Crawford ranch in Texas, which he bought in 1999. The property reportedly has no horses and only five cattle. Mr Fox is the latest old friend to turn on Mr Bush as the US president faces a lonely final 18 months in office, derided for failures in Iraq and at home. Donald Rumsfeld, his defence secretary until last November, asked recently if he missed the president, said flatly: "No." Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, has attacked the Bush administration's economic policy at length in a new autobiography, accusing the Republican president of poor fiscal discipline and betraying the party's basic principles of low spending. Asked for his reaction to criticism from former aides, the president replied: "My feelings are not hurt." George Bush the Texan is 'scared of horses'
By Alex Spillius in Washington
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but where is the horse?
He recalled a meeting in Mexico shortly after both men had been elected when Mr Fox offered Mr Bush a ride on a "big palomino" horse.
Mr Fox, who left office in December, recalled Mr Bush "backing away" from the animal.
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#17. To: robin, rowdee, christine (#0)
(Edited)
I'm afraid of horsies, too. I knew a gal in Iowa who was a real horse lover, and once when she tried to get between a trusted mare and her newborn filly she got kicked and her arm was broken. She simply wanted to look the foal over and make sure it had all its fingers and toes, but, despite the mare's gentle nature and years of trust between the woman and the horse, she was in a cast from her shoulder to her hand and in a lot of pain. But, she was in the stall with the two, feeding and mucking within two days of the injury. I never walk behind a horse within kicking distance, and when I'm near the bite end I hold the bridle. I try not to be twitchy and I talk in a calm, confident voice, but if they can smell fear (and I don't mean because I make #2) then perhaps I'm not fooling the animals at all. I've never had a chance to cultivate trust with a horse and if I did I may not feel this way.
I have a very healthy respect for both ends of horses and cattle, as well. That said, I don't pretend to be any sort of macho anything. I don't go around strutting and primping and acting like I was the second coming. I loved my horse and my cattle, but kept things in perspective with them--hell, I even did that with my sheepies. His hobby is playing with chain saws! At least that is the impression he wants to make....its sort of like Reagan chopping firewood at Rancho Del Sol (IIRC that is the name is RR's ranch). Reagan was a MAN, not a __________________ (fill in with whatever you wish).
His hobby is playing with chain saws! At least that is the impression he wants to make....its sort of like Reagan chopping firewood at Rancho Del Sol (IIRC that is the name is RR's ranch). Reagan was a MAN, not a __________________ (fill in with whatever you wish). I believe that you mentioned a big headed bull who could easily cold cock you just by turning toward you to say, "Whazzup, Dee?" And, a ram can hurt you, especially if you don't get the signal in time and turn around and deflect the little imp's surprise ramming speed sneak attack! ;) And, I can see Bush along with a lot of weekend hobbyists having fun with their shiny new (and easy to start with one pull) 14" chainsaws. But, if he had to handle an 8-pony power 48" Stihl and do some serious timber jacking, he'd lose interest in playing El Macho Grande PDQ! "Reagan was a MAN, not a" pisswilly.
:) You are a quick study artist! See--you'd do fine with horsies if you were around them for more than a few minutes at a time.
Well, I wouldn't mind being around some old paint, but a spirited, powerful animal? I don't think so. When I watch the pro bull riders getting stomped, hoofed and maimed by one ton bulls I have to wonder if they're missing a chromosome or sumthin'. I used to think that I was a genetic anomaly because I'd get up at 2 AM and go out into the freezing cold to hunt dux before sunrise. Most of my co-workers couldn't even picture themselves putting their feet on a cold floor hours before work time and it is a bitch to force myself not to crawl back under those warm blankies and go back to sleep! Few of my fellows understand why I'd either go out in a boat or walk into waist deep ice water in chest waders in the dark and wait for 1/2 hr before sunrise which is legal shooting time. But, riding a bull that wants to crush me like a grape? Or, breaking a mustang that would rather not be saddled? I'll take the calculated risk of cold water immersion to hunt because if I'm careful the odds favor me. But, even the best bull rider or horse breaker/saddle trainer/cowperson can be thrown and have her/his face sheared off, and that's not my idea of a good time.
Very, very true. The young man I gave my mare to went on to riding bulls. At a rodeo in Washington state, he lost a piece of his ear lobe. And at another rodeo, his lower leg was stepped on. While the bone wasn't broken, tendon, muscle, and ligament damage took him off the circuit for something like 6 months. He wound up using some sort of electrical stimulation machine. He was a very good bull rider; was in contention for rookie of the year til that happened. Wound up that at the NFR Finals, after the show when they ride stock for the various stock producers buy and sell sessions that he rode for them. But he was never the same quality rider; and after 2 more years, gave it up and went back to outfitting and guiding. He was a good sportsman, thanks to his daddy, who had lived in Alaska for many years. I loved that kid; he would have made me a proud mother; a good boy.
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#29. To: HOUNDDAWG (#17)
#35. To: rowdee (#29)
I have a very healthy respect for both ends of horses and cattle, as well. That said, I don't pretend to be any sort of macho anything. I don't go around strutting and primping and acting like I was the second coming. I loved my horse and my cattle, but kept things in perspective with them--hell, I even did that with my sheepies.
#38. To: HOUNDDAWG (#35)
#40. To: rowdee (#38)
#41. To: HOUNDDAWG (#40)
But, even the best bull rider or horse breaker/saddle trainer/cowperson can be thrown and have her/his face sheared off, and that's not my idea of a good time.
Replies to Comment # 41.