I Remember When . . . .
Great Stories about growing up in the Horntown, Oklahoma area!

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Do You Remember Your Special Horse?

     During the later forties, tractors began to replace horses. Thousands of horses were sold for four cents per pound. Most went to dog food or glue factories. It was hard to think about because these horses had been an important part of the farm business. A select few of the horses were almost like family members. These were special horses with personality and ability that far exceeded that of the average horse. Prince was our special horse. You could harness him and go to the field or saddle him to work cattle or carry little children. He did it all. I don't remember his ever being contrary. We all loved him.
     A neighbor, Jeff Hardwick, also had such a horse. Scotty was a big horse that could do it all. A work horse with stamina and a saddle horse that was gentle and dependable.
     One Saturday, Jeff and Mandy went to Holdenville as usual, but son Doyle decided to stay home. After his parents were gone, he saddled Scotty and set out to chase jack rabbits across the prairie just west of the
Hickory Grove Baptist church. In a dead run, Scotty stepped in a hole and fell. Scotty was not hurt but Doyle broke his leg. Doyle was on crutches for about six weeks. When his leg was sufficiently healed, he resumed riding Scotty, but he never chased Jack Rabbits again.
Clayton Adair, Class of 1954 (Clayton attended Moss 1942-53 and graduated from Holdenville - 1954)