FeaturedShireStallionCowerslaneNomination

WrittenbyJudyBrodland

Formostofus,theirrevocableageofemancipationanditsaccompanyingrightofpassageintoadulthood
concludesat21.Byage21,childprodigyMozarthadalreadycomposedseveralpiecesthat,ashesettled
intoViennaandcontinuedtochurnouthisbrilliantcompositionallegacy,loggedhimintothechroniclesof
musicallegend.Byage21,Germanborncollegedropout,JawedKarim,leftaU.S.collegecampusforhis
garagewhereheworkeddiligentlywithtwopalsonaconceptthateventuallysoldtoGoogleforareported
$64million.Thatbrainstorm,incidentally,wasavideosharingwebsiteyoumayhaveheardof.Itscalled
YouTube.

AttheRockyMountainRegionalShireShowinColorado,TallyHoShiresfounderJohnParringtonenjoys
amenscartclasswithTallyHoBuckley.
Butwhatofdrafthorsestallionsiftheyeverlivetosee21?Fewstallionsholdfasttotheirhealthand
vitalityatthatage,muchlesstheirlife,andformoststallionsat21,virilityisaghostinmemoryonly.
Conversely,whilethatassertionappliestomoststallions,itdidnotandstilldoesnotapplytoperhapsthe
oldestlivingShirestallioninNorthAmericaandcertainlyoneoftheoldestintheworld,Cowerslane
Nomination.He,too,hasenjoyedanauthenticmilestoneatage21byputtingonthegroundaBest
AmericanBredandNationalChampionShirestallion,TallyHoTitan.Titan,however,wasnthisfirst
championoffspring.Notbyalongshot.Twodaughterswhoservedasherdmatriarchsandputchampion
getonthegroundthemselveshavelongsincecomeandgone.HisgeldingshaveruledtheShire
performanceclassesandhavecaughttheeyeofmorethantwofingersworthofblackClydeteamsters.
OnesonmadehistoryintheundersaddleworldandhasyettobeunseatedbyanyotherShireandsoldfor
arecord$29,000asatenyearold.Heranked,incidentally,91stinthenationamongnearly1,000horses
listedintheUnitedStatesDressageFederationofallbreeds.Yes,hewasrankedagainsttheTrakhenersand
Oldenburgsamongothers,notjustthesecularsandboxofShireonly,andheevenhadhisownwarmblood
registrationnumber.
Paradoxically,CowerslaneNomination,theillustriousShirestallionhimselfwholaysclaimtotheshining
starshesiredovertheyearswasnevershown:thereasonwasaninjurythatleftanunsightlymassofscar
tissueononefoot.Thoughhenow,ataspry24yearsofage,wearsathickblanketduringthebittercoldof
wintertohelphimkeepwarm,andisservedtwohotmealsmorningandeveningwithsupplementsthat
somewouldconsiderextravagant,theperkyseniorstallionwhois,byallaccounts,morethanjustalittle
longinthetoothstillsettles100%ofthemareshestandsto.Heisveryactiveandruleshisdomainwith
authority,keepingupwiththemaresandfoalswhilerunningatlargeinthesummerpasturesofTallyHo
ShiresinRifle,Colorado.
Thisstorybeginsabout70yearsagowhenLiverpoolsEdgarParringtonservedintheBritishRoyalAir
ForceflyingbombersduringWWII.Whileflyingthesorties,itwascustomarytoshout"tallyho"
immediatelybeforereleasingthebombsfromtheplane.Afterthewarandafterhistimeinthemilitary
duringwhichheservedasafarrier,EdgarParringtonmovedhisfamily,including2yearoldsonJohn
Parrington,toCanada,migratingshortlythereaftertotheU.S.wheretheyeventuallysettledintheRockies

ofColoradoandopenedaskilodgetheyaptlycalledtheTallyHoInn.Thedrafthorsepassionthat
followedEdgarParringtonfromEnglandsethimintomotion,andaftertwodecadesoflifeintheRockies
andcontinueddiscussionswithhisgrownsonJohn,thefamilydecidedthatdrafthorseswoulduniquely
andappropriatelycomplementtheirbusiness.In1974,withtheacquisitionofcattleandaspreadof
propertyinFraser,TallyHoRanchwasfoundedandtheParringtonspromptlychristeneditwithapairof
blackClydesdales,acoltandafilly,thatEdgarandJohnlocatedinBoulder.Thecoltwasgelded.When
thefillyturnedthree,theybegansearchingearnestlyforablackClydesdalestalliontobreedtotheirmare
andstarttheirdreamherdoffeatherfooteddrafthorses.Asluckwouldhaveit,theycouldfindnothingina
Clydesdalemodel,butinsteadstumbledacrossablackShirestallion,andthusthestoryofTallyHoShires
began.
Inthebeginning,therewereonlyahandfulofmares.EdgarParringtonpassedtheprojecttoJohnwho
becamemoreandmorededicatedtotheShire.FromthosemaresandthatfirstShirestallion,John
Parringtonandhiswife,Nila,beganraisingafewfoalsalongwiththeirchildren,keepingthefillieseach
yeartobuildtheherd.Incidentally,theParringtonsdidkeepallfouroftheirchildren;Kim,Rob,Jeff,and
Timandbuiltupthefamilyworkforcethathelpedwiththeskilodgeandmaintainedtheirslowly
expandingShirehorsenumbersthatwereusedforhaulinghaytofeedthecattleandtoprovidesleighrides
forlodgeguests.
In1979,JohnpurchasedastallionfromFredWeintraubandAlexRoseofBigfootRanchinCalifornia.His
namewasBigfootDirtyHarry.BigfootSupermanwaseventuallyaddedasJohnandNilabecamemore
seriousaboutproducingthebestShirestheycouldconcedingthatthiswasnolongerjustahobby.When
HarrydiedofcolicandSupermanwassold,Johnconsideredimporting.Asfatewouldhaveit,hisfirst
choiceofablackcoltwithfourhighwhitescouldnotbebroughttothestates,andinhisdisappointment,he
consultedwithforemostShireimporter,ArlinWareingofBlackfoot,Idaho.
Arlinhadalreadyscoutedoutsomegreatprospectsthatyear,andonewasatFarnahHouseFarm,in
Duffield,Derbyshire,England,whereJimYatesofCowerslaneShireHorseshadablackcoltwithablack
frontlegfromhisstallion,TremoelgochDonald.Arlindeemedthecoltquitevaluabletothescantgenetic
rangeofU.S.Shirebloodatthattime,andinspiteofthatvexingblacklegthatJohnwasmorethanjust
mildlydisappointedwith,whenthepromisingyearlingcoltwasreadytomakethetripacrosstheAtlantic,
JohnParringtonsTallyHoShiresofFraser,Colorado,waspoisedtoacquirethestallionprospect.Perched
atanelevationofover8,500feet,theblackleggedsecondchoiceCowerslaneNominationwasaddedto
thegrowingcollectionofShiremaresthat,oddlyenough,existednearoneofColoradosfamed
matterhorns,Winterpark.
IcanstillrememberthosewintersupinFraser,Johnsdaughter,KimMurchison,sayswhileremoving
harnessfromaTallyHogeldingafterarecentcartwininOklahoma.Itwasbitterlycold,andunlessyou
livedthereyoucouldnotrelatetothemeaningofwinterasweknewit.Thesnowwassohighthatthe
fencedisappeared.Sodidcars,outbuildings,roadsignsandmailboxes.Thehorseswalkedrightoverthe
topofthefencesformonthsatatimeonpackedsnowtheywereonthehonorsystem.Andsowerewe
kids.Weloveditwhenthesnowwassodeepyoucouldstepontotheroofofthehouseandslideoffthe
otherend.
Awinterwithaveragesnowfallsof30feetisntsomethingthatmostofusrelateto,norisamean
temperatureof32to34degreesFahrenheitthatearnedFraserthetitleforthecoldestincorporatedtownin
thelower48.Italsohastheshortestgrowingseasoninthecountrywithanaverageofonlyfourtoseven
dayswhichmeansthatitcananddoesgetfrost365daysayear.ThoughFraserflashesthebannerfor
IceboxoftheNation,InternationalFalls,Minnesota,disputedthatdeclarationandsetthetwotownsinto
alongtimerivalryoverwhoisofficiallythecoldest.
Idontthinkthatdebatewilleverbesettled,Kimsays.ButIcantellyouthis,inFraseryoudonteven
thinkaboutraisingyourowntomatoes.Kimisleadingher18.2hhgeldingbacktohisstallinthehumid
drafthorsebarninOklahomaCity.Itwasextremely,viciouslyandrelentlesslycoldandsnowyinFraser.
Andthatshortgrowingseasonnotonlyeliminatedourtomatoprospects,itprofferedussomesmaller
horses.Peoplemightarguewiththat,butwhenweeventuallymovedthehorsesdownfromthemountains
andintoagentlerclimate,wesawbiggerfoalsandlargermaturehorses.Therewerelikelyotherfactors
besidestheendlesscoldseasonthatcontributedtothosesmallerShiresinFraser,butourbreedingprogram
sawaprolificboomwhenwemovedthehorsestoGarfieldCounty.

Eventually,theTallyHoInnofFraserhadgivenwaytoTallyHoConstructionofRifle,andJohnandNila
relocatedthefamilyandtheirhorsestoariverbottomfarminGarfieldCountyatamoremodestelevation
of5,500feet.Theyarestillthere,andJohnsreverenceforEnglishandAmericanShireshasremaineda
bastioninhislifeonehenowshareswithdaughterandgeneralmanagerofTallyHoShires,Kim
Murchison.

HaintonWarrant
KimsinferencetosmallersizepertainstothewellbredCowerslaneNominationwhoselineageincluded
membersofrespectablestature.OnesuchpowerhouseinhispedigreeisHaintonWarrant,ahorseArlin
Wareingdescribesasabigbonedhorsewithtremendouspresencewhowasalsoagreatmovinghorse.
ThisPeterboroughSpringShowchampionwaseventuallyimportedbyArlinforNelsonBrinkerhoffof
Michigan.ButitwasHaintonJimwhowasperhapsthemostimpressivehorseinCowerslaneNominations
pedigree,alargehorsewhoatonetimeheldtherecordforproducingmorechampionsinEnglandthanany
otherhorseuntilhewasovertakenbytheillustriousHillmoorEnterprise.Andonthesubjectstallion,
HaintonWarrant,echoesofhisinfluencecanbeseentodayinsomeofthehorsesintheTallyHoShire
retinue,onebeingTallyHoBentleywhobearsastrikingresemblancetoWarrantwithhismassandbone.
CowerslaneNominationhadthisbigname,Kimsays.Butinspiteofthelargehorsesinhisbackground,
heneverreached17hh,nordidmanyoftheotherhorsesthatmaturedonourFraserproperty.
BythetimetheParringtonshadsettledintotheirnewdigsabovetheColoradoRiverjustwestofGlenwood
Springs,thelittlestallionwiththelonghandleCowerslaneNominationwasupforbarnnamereview.
Nationdidntfit,nor,mostcertainly,didCow.ItwasduetoKimsgrandfather,EdgarParrington,that
thenameGovywasaffixedtotheblackleggedimport.MypapagrewupnearLiverpool,andwhenhe
wasyoung,everyoneinhisvillagecalledhimTheGovernor.Itwasasignofrespectandwasanickname
thatfollowedhimtothiscountry.Whenthesubjectofabarnnamecameupforourstallion,myDad
suggestedGovyinhonorofmypapa,andthatwasthat.Today,nearlyeveryoneknowsofourstallionas
Govyandthatswhattheycallhim.
LongbeforetheGovysiredsuccessionofTallyHoShiresbeganfillingDonLangillesshowbarnin
Meeker,Oklahoma,theParringtonsstartedthewaymostofusdo,learningaswegoandseekingadvice
fromsuccessfulpeers.Kimandherdadfittedandhandledthehorsesthemselves,oftenconsultingwith
SheilaGrange,whoatthattime,livednearbyinGlenwoodSprings.WhenSheilawasatArgonautFarm,
shetaughtmesomuch.IrememberstandingattherailduringtheNationalWesternStockShowinDenver
andwatchingherdrive,tellingmyselfthatsomedayIwasgoingtoshowjustlikeshedid.

SiblingsBessandBaronperforminthetandemattheNationalWesternStockShowwithathen16year
oldKimParringtonatthelines.HowardSchatzbergphoto
BythetimeKimwas16,twoGovyoffspringwereoldenoughtocompeteinharness:BessandBaron.
BesswasoneofthefoundationmaresthatGovyputontheground.ShedidverywellinhalterandI
showedherineveryperformanceclassIcould.Baronwasoneofthebestmovinggeldingsweeverhad
andIusedhimintheleadofthetandem.Itshardtobelievethatwas15yearsago.Andbothofthose
offspringhavesincepassed.
Likeeveryoneelseshorses,theShiresofTallyHohavebeenimproveduponovertimewithaselective
breedingprogram.Ourhorseshaveevolvedlikeeveryoneelses.Whenwestartedout,wedidnthavethe
kindofhorseswedonow.Whatamazesmeisthatwehaveturnedoverourbroodmarelineafewtimes,
andyet,Govyconsistentlyputtherightkindofhorsesonthegroundnomatterwhatwestoodhimto.Tally
HoTitanisafirstratetestamenttothat.Soarehisprogenyonegenerationdown,suchasAimeeand
Bentley.Onelongtimefeatureofourhorsesishealthylegs.IdontknowofanyTallyHobredhorsesthat
brokedownearly.Govythrowsacleanjointandadecentfoot,somethingwebelieveisasolidcontributor
tohealth,useablesoundnessandlongevity.
PerhapsthemostubiquitousandwinningofthetraitsthatGovyinfusesintohisgetarethecharming,
sensibleandreliabledispositionsthatattractsomanynovicedrafthorsepeopletoTallyHoShireseach
year.Temperamentseemstobethehandsdownandmostsignificantreasonforthefollowingtheold
stallionenjoys.

ThesehomebredGovysonsaretheoriginalFabFourintheTallyHoShiresgeldinghitch.
Itwas2002,beforeweeverputtheShirehitchtogether,Kimsays.Ihadabreedingoperationandof
course,likeeveryoneelse,Isoldtheoffspringtopayforhayandequipmentandeventuallyreplacement
maresandanotherimportedstallion.MyhusbandwasgrowingincreasinglyfrustratedbecauseeachyearI
soldallthehitchgeldingprospects.Wehostedadrivingclinicthatyearandusedmyfatherinlaws
Percheronstoteachthestudents.Wehadpeoplefrombothcoastssignupwithonepersonfrom
Washingtonstatecomingoutwholaterplayedakeyroleinlaunchingthegeldinghitch.Shireshadnot
beenalifelongdreamforher,butafterdrivingthePercherons,shefeltthattheShireswerebettersuitedfor
hernovicestatus.SheboughtfourhorsesfrommeonthespotandtookthemhometostartSaukMountain
Shires.Myhusband,Shad,wasnotjustdisappointed,hewouldntevenspeaktomebecauseofthetwo
coltsIsoldtoherinthatgroupoffour.Thetwoweanlingswereabeautifullymatchedpairthathewas
convincedwerethebestIhadeverputontheground.Andasitturnedout,theywere.Butwithawinter
haybillonlyamonthaway,Ihadtopartwiththecoltsandcontendwithhismanpout.
Thingshaveawayofworkingout.SaukMountainShiresbroughtthehorsesbacktotheColorado
RegionalShireShowthefollowingyearandstayedwithus.Wecouldntbelievewhatwesawwhenshe
tookthemoffthetrailer.Theyearlingwasstretchyandathletic,andhehadalltherightparts.Hewasa
Cowerslanegrandson,justbeautiful,asweretheotherthreeCowerslanesons;ayearlingandtwo2year
olds.Thefollowingyear,SaukMountainShirescamebackfortheshowandwepromptlystartedthemin
harness.Theownerwasabletodrivetheyoungstersfromthegetgo,andshehasneverlookedback.Sauk
MountainShireswasafamilyendeavorandtheywererelativelynewtodrafthorses,yettheywere
enamoredofthesecalmShiresandwereabletoconfidentlyhandlethem.Thatdispositioniswhatsellsmy
horsestothisday.
Eventually,circumstancesforSaukMountainShiresandthefriendshipthatresultedfromourassociation
landedthefourhorsesmuchtomyhusbandsdelightbackatTallyHoShiresonamorepermanentbasis.
Aseveryoneknows,itstoughtogethorsesoutontheroadbyyourself,butwejoinedeffortsandwereable
toshowthehorses.ThosefourgeldingsarethefoundationhitchthefirstTallyHobredShirestopull
Shadscustombuiltwagonthathedesignedandconstructedhimselfandtoday,ateightandnineyearsold,
thosegeldingsareourmainperformersinharness.ForTallyHoShiresandSaukMountainShires,we
couldntbehappierormoreproudoftheoriginalFabFourofwhichthreeareGovysonsandthefourthisa
grandson.

KimdrivesTallyHoBentleytoanotherwinattheOklahomaNationalShireShowingeldingcart.The18.2
hhgeldingwasthehighplacingShireinallofhisperformanceclasses,easilysweepingthecartdivisions.
Themostrenownedofthefourgeldingsis18.2hhwheelerandformerNationalReserveChampion
gelding,TallyHoBentley.Kimsfaceglowswhenshetalksabouthim.HeisGovysmostfamous
grandson,acoltfromBesswhowasalongtimeproducerforus.Bentleywassuperbinharnessatthe
NationalShireShowinOklahomathisyear.Theolderhegets,thebetterhegets,andforabighorsehecan
suremove.LikemanyofGovysgetandgrandget,Benisaverylatebloomer.Hegrewuntilhewasseven
yearsold,anditsreallynotunusualforourhorsestotaketheirtimematuring,shelaughs.Butwhenthey
finallyarrive,theyarrivewithstomp.
SaukMountainShiresisnotaloneinthepraisestheyhaveforGovy.Ontheoppositecoast,BarHarbor,
MainesWildIrisRanchisjustasenthusiasticabouttheoldstallion.CowerslaneNominationisawonder
horse,ownerSandiReadstates.Ilovethestyleandtemperamentthatstallionisknownfor.Itshowsin
everybabyontheground.
ForSandiRead,aMorganwasgoingtomakehertheidealtrailhorse.Thatswhatshewasdeterminedto
findthatfalldaybackin2005assheconsideredtheMorganspresentedtoherforconsiderationat
ArgonautFarmsinGlenwoodSprings,Colorado.Afterawhile,shestrolledofftogivemorethoughttothe
spiritedMorgansthatsheknewinherheartweretoomuchhorseforheratthisjunctureinherlife.Hiking
aroundthegorgeousfarm,shescaledahillandcametoastonewallpasturewherethethreeremaining
ArgonautShiresa2yearoldnamedArgonautsNominationTruman,andthelasttwoShiresofthe
Argonauthitch,28yearoldDoc&Ed,weregrazing.NoonewasaroundsoIscrambledoverthewalland
Trumantrottedrightuptome,puthisheadonmyshoulderandIwasinlove.Allthoughtsofgettingatrail
horseleftmymindandwerereplacedbydreamsofdrivingTruman.Ihadalwaysloveddraftsandwentto
everyBudweiserClydesdaleappearanceIcouldfind.Thiswasachanceformetoatlastacquireoneofthe
heavyhorses.Trumanwasn'tforsalebutIwaspersistentandhisownerfinallyrelentedandTrumancame
homewithme.Thus,beganourjourneytogetherwithneitherofusknowingathingaboutdriving.Ilearned
thathissirewasGovy,andafterabitofresearch,Iknewthatwiththosegenetics,hehadeverythinggoing
forhim.LikeGovy'sotheroffspring,Trumanhadverytidyjointsandanicefoot.Healsoprovedtobe
gentle,smartandwasafastlearner.HewasextremelypatientwhileIrepeatedlymademistakesfastening
harnessandhookingcarts.WhenharnessslippedoffhisbackbecauseIhadn'tfasteneditproperly,Truman
wouldjuststandthereandwaitformetothrowitbackuponhisback.Ishouldalsomentionthathewasnt

small:heweighsabout2,100lbs.andstandsover18hh.LikeallGovybabies,hewasslowtogrowupand
nowatsevenyearsoldIthinkhehasfinallyreachedhisfullheight.
Argonaut'sNominationTruman,bytheway,wasthelastShirebredatArgonaut.Hisdamdiedofcolic
shortlyafterhewasborn,andSheilaGrange,thebarnmanageratthetime,bottlefedhimuntilhewasold
enoughtokeepDocandEdcompany.
LikeotherGovyoffspringowners,myloveaffairwiththisShiregeldingcontinues,andTrumanhas
nabbedseveralchampiongeldingawardsandhasplacedverywellincartclasses.Ireallyenjoydriving
himandwetrytoattendasmanydrafthorseshowsasourscheduleallows.ImightaddthatIwassotaken
withTruman,IhavesincepurchasedthreeotherShiresincludingafillyalsosiredbyGovy.Theyareeach
wonderfulhorseswiththekindofattitudethatkeepsyoudevotedforlife.
PerhapsthemostradicalrecruitthatGovyiscreditedwithisNancyFryofEchoValleyShiresin
SteamboatSprings,Colorado,oneofthemostrenownedownersofaCowerslaneNominationoffspringin
theU.S.,butnotinthetraditionalsense.Thoughherstoryisemphaticallyfarfromthenorm,herlifewith
TallyHoKingArthurisnolesscaptivating.TheShirestallionthatNancypurchasedatanauctionremains
todaythemostacclaimedShireintheUnitedStatesDressageFederationhistorywithscoresthatnotonly
nabbedhimtheShirechampionshipthreeyearsrunning,butscoresthatprevailedluminousinthetop10%
ofallbreedsinUnitedStatesDressageFederationcompetition.HisunprecedentedtriumphputEchoValley
ShiresonthemapasabreederoftopshelfridingShires.Eventually,itwasKingArthursfamethat
encouragedotherundersaddleadmirerstostepuptotheplateincludingoneofthemostrecognizedgroups
intheU.S.,theShireRidersofNorco,California,whoenjoyTournamentofRosesParadefame.

TheTallyHounicornperformingatParker,Colorado,withDickensinthelead.PhotobyJudyBrodland
Overtheyears,astringoffamilymembersincludingmatriarchsinthebroodmarecontingentallsiredby
GovyandcoltsandgeldingsthroughouttheTallyHobrigadehavelaidclaimtoRegionalandNational
titles.From1994to2005,thegetfromGovywerelayingclaimtosuccessesfromPeublotoLosAngeles;
asaweanling,TallyHoLegendwasNationalReserveGrandChampionShirestallion.TallyHoRoyal
LaddiewasalsotheNationalReserveGrandChampionShirestallionaswasTallyHoKingArthur.Both
TallyHoLadyMidnightandEnglandersMaeWesttwoofGovysmostprolificdaughterswerewinners
ontheshowcircuitandinthebreedingbarn.TallyHoGriffinwasReserveGrandChampionGeldingin
LosAngelesatthe2004WesternRegionalShireShow,thesameyearTallyHoBuckleyclaimedJunior
Championstallion.In2005,attheNationalShireShowinRifle,Colorado,itwasBentley,Buckleyand
DickenswhotooktophonorsintheunicornclasswithfancyleadhorseTallyHoDickenscatchingalotof
attention.Wevehadseveralpeopleoffertotakehimoffourhands,Kimlaughs.Hesthebestmoving
horseGovyeverputontheground."

TallyHoTitan,SupremeChampionStallionattheNationalWesternStockShowin2008.
PhotobyJudyBrodland
By2008,itwasobviousthatthe22yearoldGovywasnotlosinganygroundwherechampionShireswere
concerned.ItwastheyearlingTallyHoTitanhandledbyDonLangillethatlaunchedashowringonslaught
withwinsfromDenvertoHarrisburg.TitanwasSupremeDraftStallionunderjudgeBrianColemanatthe
NationalWesternStockShow,andlaterthatyearhecollectedtheNationalGrandChampionStalliontitle
atHarrisburgunderjudgeMarionYoung.HealsowonBestAmericanBredShireStallion.
Govyisoneofthosestallionsthatissorare,Kimtellsme.Hewasageneticstrokeofluck,oneofthose
horseswhoputgreathorsesonthegroundfortwodecades.Andtolookathimyouwouldneverguessit,
mylittlestallionwhoisnteven17hh.
Today,JohnParringtonisstillasproudofhisShiresaswhenhebegan.Youllbreedhorsesfor30years
beforeyougetanotheroneofthese,hesays,slappingtherumpofamassivehomebredgeldingthatheis
obviouslyfondof.Itisimpossibletomistaketheprideanddevotionthatdriveshimashehooksthetugsup
onthebritchenanddrivesateamoutofthealleytowardaforecart.Itsamazingwhatthatoldhorsehas
doneforus,anditsfunnywhenpeoplevisit.Youtellthemthatthefoundationofhorsesonthisfarmis
fromtheoldstallionweimported23yearsago,theonestandingovertherealongthefenceline.Youwatch
themworkingthatmentalcalculatorinsilenceastheytrytoabsorbwhatyouresaying.Youhavetoassure
themthattheirmathisright.
AndthoughmostofhistimeisconsumedasacontractorputtingupSentinelbuildingsinGarfieldCounty,
Johnnevermissestheirannualfarmingday,alocaleventtheyhostonachosenspringweekendthatdraws
invisitorsanddrafthorseownersalikewiththeShiresofTallyHoleadingtheeventbyplowingand
harrowingthepastures.
Thesedayswegrowsomeprettybigfoals.Andthetomatoesdoprettywellhere,too.