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Show Volume XXIII Issue IX The Ogden Valley news Page 9 June 1, 2016 The Autobiography of Robert L. “Bob” Wangsgard – Part XI was eight, Dad hitched Bugs and Dale to the light ludlow (buggy) and told us to go to the store, get 1,000 pounds of block salt, and deliver the salt to the dry farm where he was working. Everything went according to plan— at first. We picked up the salt, opened and shut the gates and were almost to the top of the hill ¼ mile from the dry farm when all at once the horses simply stopped. The horses turned their heads and looked at There were dozens of incidents with horses: spills, us. They would not take a step forward to pull chills, jumps, balks, and pleasant experiences too. the buggy and its load up the hill. Scott and We were driving some cattle through light I decided that the load was too heavy, so we brush near the divide between Weber and unloaded the salt. That did not make any difMorgan counties. I tried to turn Silver to drive ference. They would not tighten the tugs to pull the cattle out of some loose brush. Showing the buggy. After trying for a while to get them some of that mustang stubbornness, Silver to cooperate, I walked up to the dry farm, found threw his head to the side and refused to go Dad, and told him our problem. around that side of the brush. I dug the spurs Dad and I walked back to where the horsinto his side to persuade him and the next thing es, salt, and buggy were stalled. He loaded I knew, he turned his head and the salt, took the reins, and told bit me on my foot. As he bit my them to “Get up!” in a very firm foot, the short chains between the voice. They walked up the hill bridle and the reins caught my at a brisk walk, pulling the load spurs. With my foot attached to they wouldn’t pull for us. Dad the bridle close to his mouth, he explained that both horses and lowered his head and proceeded people can sense when the person to buck. He soon bucked me off in charge of either is confident and my foot came loose from the or is unsure of himself. From bridle. that day on, I was boss over the As he bucked and I lay on the Robert Wangsgard with his horses I worked with. I never had ground, he stepped on my right daughter in May 2016. another horse balk on me and I hand. Every bit of skin was stripped have been able to take horses that off the back of the four fingers from my knuckles balk on others and make them do what they are to my fingernails. I was taken to the doctor, given supposed to do. The same concept works with a tetanus shot, and fitted with an aluminum hand people. If you are undecided or wishy-washy, guard to protect the skinless fingers. Silver was people will not put forth much effort. If you are taken to the next horse auction and sold. confident and oriented, people will feel your I was in high school and was taking a typ- confidence and work with you to accomplish ing class. I went to every class and practiced your goals. the best I could with only my left hand. After We had a team of horses called Bolly and about three weeks, the typing teacher stopped Dolly. They were matched in name and color at my desk and said, “I can’t believe you still only. They were driven as a team because they can’t use your fingers. Let me see what they were both a pretty dark brown in color. Bolly look like.” I untied the wrist-tie and undid the was an impatient Shire mare that pranced along aluminum finger guards. The teacher took one with her neck arched and pulled most of the look at the gory mess, gasped, put her handker- load because she was always a step and half chief to her face, and hurried out of the room. ahead of Dolly. Dolly was a large complacent She didn’t return during that period. The skin Belgian mare. She was easy to handle and very did eventually grown back with no scars. Dr. strong. A child or girl could handle her so she Time did his usual good job. became the horse of choice whenever we needWhen I was about ten years old and Scott ed a single horse. She was the derrick horse and Note: The following is composed of excerpts from the autobiography of Robert L. “Bob” Wangsgard who turned 100 years December 22, 2015. This autobiography was written a little more than 15 years ago when Bob was preparing to celebrate his 85th birthday. Part I-X ran in earlier issues of the paper. If you missed a section that you would like a copy of, please contact Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879. the single plow or cultivator horse. Dad got tired of her always being a step behind Bolly and sold her to a neighbor. The neighbor’s barn was on the road between our barn and our fields. Every time we passed this neighbor’s barn, Dolly recognized the sound of our horse’s hooves. She came to the fence nearest the road and whinnied at us as we traversed the 3/8th of a mile that she had us in view. We all felt pangs of remorse about her obvious homesickness. Dad vowed never again to sell a horse to anyone where he would be able to see what happened to it. Maud was a medium-sized Shire mare that had enough drive and get-up-and-go to be matched with larger workhorses. She was small enough to be used as a riding horse if there was such a need. Her one fault was being what we called “hard-mouthed.” She had an inclination to grasp the bit between her teeth and proceed to go her way. After one long day of working at the dry farm, Dad decided he wanted Maud at the barn the next day. Maud was unharnessed and I was put on her with only a work bridle to ride her the five miles home. She immediately gripped the work bridle bit in her teeth and lit out for home on the run. The other workers followed in a car. About one mile from the dry farm gate, Maud took a short cut on a corner and tried to jump a 20-foot wide wash. Of course, we piled up on the far side of the wash. Maud got up first and continued to dash toward home. I crawled out of the wash just as the crew came along with the car. There were no broken bones, but the skin was scraped off one side of my face from my nose to my ear and from the hairline to the jaw. It was debated whether Maud stepped on my face or I simply crashed into the side of the wash. Maud ran home at 20 miles-an-hour in front of the car. The whole incident was a wasted effort. Maud was so stiff and sore she could not be used for three days. It took me about three weeks to grow new facial skin. While I cannot remember all the horses we had, I am sure a few of them would feel hurt if they knew they were not mentioned. Chub was a riding horse we had for many years. We loaned him to a neighbor girl to ride in the Ogden Parade. She taught him to stand on his hind legs and wave his front legs in the air. Many times when we were chasing cattle he would get excited and stand up and wave his front legs. Patsy was a high-spirited little bay mare that could outrun any calf or steer, and won several holiday races in Huntsville. Buck was a solid, tame riding horse that logged a good many miles taking grandchildren around the barn. Dick was a riding horse that had been trained as a barrel racer. He could out run the cattle, but never got over wanting to spin when he passed the animal being chased. There were about a dozen more draft horses and that many more saddle horses. They served us well, but I will spare the details. From The Past . . . Summer Concerts at the Ogden Nature Center Outdoor concerts at the Ogden Nature Center combine an unrivaled outdoor setting with fresh, talented musicians! Held in the glen behind the rustic Visitor Center, these summer evenings will find you lounging on a picnic blanket, toes in the grass, sunset in the late summer sky, tapping away to some amazing, live music. Bring your family and friends, a picnic dinner, drinks, low-rise chairs or a blanket, and enjoy an outdoor concert at the Ogden Nature Center. The Barefoot Movement – June 9 The Ogden Nature Center welcomes The Barefoot Movement to Ogden in true O-town style! Heartfelt, energetic, and down home. Listen to The Barefoot Movement at <www. youtube.com/watch?v=0lco9ErfiME> Tickets are $18 for adults/$10 for children 12 and under; at the door, $20 for adults/$12 for children. Kristin Andreassen & Friends -- August 11 - Kristin’s last performance at the Ogden Nature Center was a riot, so they’ve invited her back, and she’s bringing friends! Kristin Andreassen is a singer, a writer, and a percussive dancer who combines those skills in musical performances that are both “inventive” (The New Yorker) and “haunting” (NPR’s Folk Alley). Listen to Kristin Andreassen & Friends at <www. youtube.com/watch?v=q_EOxkW4uoQ> Tickets, $16 for adults/$10 for children 12 and under; at the door, $18 for adults/$12 for children. Tickets can be purchased online at www. ogdennaturecenter.org or by phone at 801-6217595, or in person at the Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., Ogden. Details - Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Seating is general admission on the lawn. Bring your own low-rise chairs, picnics, beverages, and blankets; they are all welcome. Concerts are held rain or shine, and tickets are nonrefundable. Box dinners - Box picnic dinners by Union Grill may be ordered when you purchase concert tickets! They are $11 each. High Altitude Kids Summer Tumbling June 6th – August 19th Summer Tumbling Classes, Beginning to Advanced, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Sign up today…space is limited! For more information visit www. hakutah.com for class days and times. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night 5:00 p.m. followed by The Rosary and Adoration Fr. Ken Vialpando 801-399-5627 Tuesday 5:30-6:30 p.m. or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. Second Grade 1952-53 Front Row: ?, ?, Dan Shupe, ?, ?, ?, Bob Stoker, ?, ?,?. Middle Row: ?, David Creamer, Marilyn Crawford, ?, Nancy Allen, Juana Story, Sharon Manning, Kay Roylance Powers, Roger Price, Max Burley. Back Row: Greg Harrop, Ella Story, Kitty C. Watts, ?, Monty Doman, Bob Richardson, Sharon L. Willard, Helen Ogden, Max Bitton, Zelda Chard. If you can identify any of the missing names, please call Shanna at 801-7452688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879. |
