March 22, 2014

Horseman Passing By

horsemananddog.jpg

I encountered the Horseman in Laguna Beach riding along the Pacific Coast Highway. He was ahead of me moving at horse speed. The traffic, hurried as always, slowed to a pause and then pulled around him. As I pulled past him, I could hear the clip-clop of the hooves of his mount and his pack horse. I glanced into the rear view mirror after I got ahead of him and saw the blinking red and blue lights and heard the short bleep of a siren tapped once. He had been pulled over by the Laguna Beach police for an interview. I pulled in around the corner, walked back, and joined a group of citizens already watching this encounter.

The Horseman was riding to Texas. He said he'd started at the Canadian border. The cop asked him why he wasn't driving. He said he didn't have a truck and a horse trailer, just a horse, a pack horse and a dog. His plan was simply to ride the coast to San Diego and turn left.

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He had what he called a "shoulder pass" which he drew from his pocket and presented to the officer. The officer, being confused, was not even sure such a document existed and examined its molecular structure.

Then the Laguna Animal Control officer showed up. That officer informed the cowpoke that he did not have his dog on a leash. Something all good little citizens of California do as willingly as they carry bags of the dog's feces around in their hands.

The Horseman replied sensibly that his dog (named, I swear, "Dog") knew how to follow along, and that if he put a leash on him from the saddle he risked strangling the dog.

"Horse goes one way, Dog goes another. Tough on Dog, officer."

At this point, having been alerted to the Horseman, another police car showed up with another, but more senior, officer. He stood to the side a bit taking in what the situation actually was.

The animal control officer, failing to see the sense of not strangling a dog on a leash tired to a horse, began a hectoring lecture on the very special ordinances of the very special town of Laguna Beach, California. The Horseman stood motionless as the scolding went on. Finally the litany of banal cop-talk was interrupted by the senior officer who evidently had less patience for the Animal Control claptrap than the Horseman. After all, if you are riding a horse from Canada to Texas in the 21st Century, you are probably not in much of a hurry.

In short order, the senior officer informed the others that, regardless of the endless petty ordinances of Laguna Beach, what they were actually going to do was let this man continue on his way. Not only that, they were going to give him a police escort out of town.

I assume the senior officer looked into the near future of any other action. And in that future he saw the issue of providing transport for two horses to some undisclosed location as well as the dog, while they were arraigning the Horseman, was going to be far too much paperwork to contemplate. That and noting about 15 citizens gathered nearby, ready for a sincere chat with the city council probably gave him pause as well.

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The Horseman had heard and seen it all before on the long road between Canada and Laguna Beach. He took "The Cowboy Way." He rolled a smoke, nodded, saddled up, whistled to Dog and was escorted out of town.

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That was all years ago and on another planet. But I still like to think of the Horseman. I like to think he's still out there making his way from Canada to Texas -- via a left turn in San Diego.

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[2009-08-11]

Posted by Vanderleun at March 22, 2014 2:08 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

When I was as student at college in San Luis Obispo, a group of us went to a service sation in Avila Beach where a fellow student worked evenings. An old fellow riding a ballon-tire bike peddeled slowly down the highway. He stopped for some air and water, and told us he was on his way to Arizona to see his daughter. He had come from Oregon, and after riding so long leaning on the handle bars, his thumbs were permanently dislocated. He stayed awhile, then peddled on into the evening.

Posted by: Charles Richards at August 11, 2009 3:34 PM

Why am I crying?

Dammit.

Posted by: Cathy at August 11, 2009 5:12 PM

Okay, first thing, government sucks the big tool of mind sucking stupidity.

Second, I believe I know that man. In a biblical sense.

Third, Gerard makes me cry all the time. This is a good thing, it means I still care.

Posted by: Daphne at August 11, 2009 5:43 PM

That bottom photo of the Horseman looks like it was taken right outside the old Fahrenheit 451 bookstore.

Posted by: Gagdad Bob at August 11, 2009 5:59 PM

You know (or don't) when I was assistant night supervisor out at Camp Dearborn, I had the privilege of waiving an ordinance or camp rule, and letting things go by. I thought it a privilege of position then. After about twenty years of reflection, I see it as a duty (duty? is that the word I search for? perhaps responsibility) of leadership.

The patrol supervisor was wise. This isn't what they were on guard for; help it pass by; and remember that one day you did something right.

Knowing you did something right, picking through duty and responsibility, makes it all worthwhile.

Like when you get someone out of danger as the jet engines on the hydroplanes whin-ed up. Good was done.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at August 11, 2009 6:00 PM

I wonder why he didn't go down through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas, or maybe through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Kansas. I would think crossing the desert from southern California would be a problem. What was the season?

Posted by: charris at August 11, 2009 7:33 PM

Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by.

Perfect.

A strange thing, nothing makes me homesick for California (circa 20+ yrs ago), more than the sight of one of those streets... and especially one at late night... a little mist in the air.

The Mountains don't do it (which I loved), the ocean comes closer, but still no. Those streets near the coast....

Horseman, pass by.

Yep.

Posted by: Van at August 11, 2009 8:35 PM

The true spirit of freedom is in the Horseman. A sight that will soon be but a distant memory and possibly a concept that will only be in history books before long.

Posted by: Cilla Mitchell at August 11, 2009 9:01 PM

Good for the citizens. Good for you. That is proof the small things in life are more important than the great ones.
The cowboy had it all figured out. He is extending the liberty I did not today.

Posted by: james wilson at August 11, 2009 9:59 PM

Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow .

Posted by: Amy at August 12, 2009 12:50 AM

When I was a teen, my dog was named Dog.

Best. Dog. Ever.

Posted by: Timothy at August 12, 2009 1:43 PM

You never cease to amaze me.

With all the rush, rush coming out of DC these days I think they could use a lesson such as this.

Posted by: Robohobo at August 12, 2009 3:04 PM

There was a reason for Andy having Barney carry the one bullet for his gun in his pocket.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at August 12, 2009 3:33 PM

charris, the mountains are far more perilous than the coast and the desert.

Posted by: at August 13, 2009 6:52 AM

"I wonder why he didn't go down through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas, or maybe through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Kansas. I would think crossing the desert from southern California would be a problem. What was the season?"

Um... charris, have you ever driven those routes? You could quite easily call most of it desert.

Last year, we had opportunity to drive from Denver to Eugene, Oregon, across the center of the state. You cross the Snake River into eastern Oregon— the desert side, mind you— and the eye is impressed with all the vegetation after Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and southern Idaho.

I think the coast route was almost certainly wiser, as the population on that route is much more closely spaced. And besides, imagine the view... and all that time to take it in.

Posted by: B. Durbin at August 17, 2009 2:41 PM

I can only echo: Why am I crying?

"His plan was simply to ride the coast to San Diego and turn left."

I LOVE that!

This is one brilliant piece of work. Thanks.

Posted by: Patrick Carroll at August 20, 2009 4:58 PM

I wonder what would happen were he to try to go back the same route today.
Would he still get that police escort, would he be left alone, or would he be arrested and put in a mental hospital without any form of trial or legal representation?

I fear the last, sadly it's come to the point where anyone who doesn't "conform" to the mainstream is considered a lunatic to be locked up "for his own safety".

Posted by: JT Wenting at August 23, 2009 11:18 PM

Worked in Pampa, Texas for 3 years, until May of 09. We had 2 different riders pass through from Chicago and St Louis to San Diego. They inspired on of the locals I knew to get a pack saddle for one of his horses and ride from Pampa, to Sweetgrass, Mt on the Canadian Border. Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by

Posted by: Al Morrison at September 19, 2009 8:51 AM

This was an event of intersection of two thinking beings. It happens, too rarely, but still every day, when people take a step back from (law, regulation, closely held opinion) and observe the core reality of a situation. I think the critical element missing from most encounters that prevents what happened here is patience - the description of the horseman's patient consideration of the long-winded diatribe was rewarded with the patience of a lawman who understood, as others have said, the difference between blind compliance and understanding that laws are made to protect, not to prevent.

Posted by: Wilma at September 20, 2009 2:06 PM

I think common sense finally showed it's face here.
I had just posted about the death of common sense on my site but I may have been premature in the burial.

Posted by: Lori E at November 7, 2009 5:39 PM

Amazing!!! I stand and Applaude.. how sad we lost this. Now too busy to even notice how fast life passes us by. Bet his life is a 1000 times easier than ours. Wouldnt that be nice.

Posted by: Dianne at November 28, 2009 2:31 AM

Completely OT, but WARNING you go to the tumblr link at the top of this page and begin scrolling down, AVOID the ad about women's shorts from Wantering or something like that. As items often do, if you accidentally touch the wrong spot trying to scroll, you will open the item in its own window. Irritating, but just use the back arrow, right? NO - with this site there is no navigating away from it, at least not in Safari on an iPhone!

Closing the browser doesn't help either because it opens right back to the same damn place. The only way I got out was to click "register" and once there I got a bookmarks icon that allowed me to escape! I'd like to meet the asshole that designed that nasty piece of shit!!

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at March 22, 2014 11:34 AM

just saw this guy yesterday in san diego (national city, corner of division and euclid). He was there with his 2 horses which I thought were mules, I remember the saddles. Its march 21, 2014, where ever he is going he aint going fast. This is the first time I ever seen horses in the city, thats why I remember the incident. He is still in califoria, the horses might like the weather.

Posted by: jonyjoe101 at March 22, 2014 11:57 AM

@jonyjoe......are you sure it's the same guy/horses/dog?
He needs to head just a wee bit farther East (Az.)
Methinks he'll (as will the horse) find it more to his tastes.

Posted by: sabasarge at March 22, 2014 1:16 PM

There was a time when autos actually shared the road with horses (and trolleys)

As oil grows more and more expensive perhaps that time will come around again.

Posted by: Marlin Williams at March 23, 2014 4:42 PM

We still have people who ride horses and others who drive mule powered rubber tire wagons on the roads. Upstate, SC.

And they still have a wagon train in WNC. http://www.wncwagontrainnc.com/

I used to live in San Diego and seem to remember people riding horses through the streets of Julien.

Posted by: Mike G. at March 23, 2014 5:51 PM

Some of those blue-suited are Law Enforcement Officers. A few, damned few, are Peace Officers. This story shows both kinds.

Only one kind is worthy of your respect, your support, and your assistance. The other kind is your enemy, and you'd damn well better get your mind right about which is which.

Posted by: razorbacker at March 23, 2014 7:07 PM

There are laws and there are rules. Abide by the laws (as in Natural laws). Abide by the rules as they apply; as there are NO rules that can completely cover all situations.

Posted by: Jon N at March 24, 2014 6:29 AM

Reading this, I wondered if there were a few more people that would have the patience to see our great country from the back of a horse. Today we all seem to have to hurry through each day & never appreciate what we were given. May y'all have time to stop & say thank-you for the beauty that is America.

Posted by: A. Gentry at March 24, 2014 11:01 AM

Reading this, I wondered if there were a few more people that would have the patience to see our great country from the back of a horse. Today we all seem to have to hurry through each day & never appreciate what we were given. May y'all have time to stop & say thank-you for the beauty that is America.

Posted by: A. Gentry at March 24, 2014 11:02 AM

Reading this, I wondered if there were a few more people that would have the patience to see our great country from the back of a horse. Today we all seem to have to hurry through each day & never appreciate what we were given. May y'all have time to stop & say thank-you for the beauty that is America.

Posted by: A. Gentry at March 24, 2014 11:02 AM

This is a great piece, and I wonder what happened to the man. I envision him working his own ranch somewhere, away from the cities and chuckling at what he reads in the news.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 25, 2014 9:53 AM

Happy Trails to that BRAVE man of character! I hope the Lord blessed his journeys!
Brings to mind a quote from a man named Learned Hand: "I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and upon courts. These are false hopes; believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. While it lies there it needs no constitution, no law, no court to save it."

Posted by: Mary at April 2, 2014 4:55 AM

When I pray for that one thing to make me a better person, it is to be given patience like the Horseman. Because when I try to understand why the first officer acted the way he did rather than understand the great opportunity he was given to use his authority to act in a benevolent manner, I just lose all of mine! GREAT STORY. Excellent lesson.

Posted by: Laurie from Ione, CA at April 2, 2014 8:38 AM