Life Lessons From the Reining Pen
by Michael Damianos
This bit is known as a Loomis Shank and was made by bit maker icon Greg Darnall. It has been a staple among reining trainers for decades. I own this cheek with half a dozen mouthpieces. I was staring at this bit a few days ago and a line in an old Clint Black song I’ve often paraphrased popped up in my head, “Ain't it funny how a bit is like a melody and can bring back the memory. Take you to another place in time. Completely change your state of mind.”
I was judging a large horse show in the mid-’90s at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California. The last class of the Friday afternoon session was the open reining class. I had a very competent scribe and a young learner judge with me. A bit like in this picture was on a horse ridden by a horseman I respect very much, Mike Baker. At that time in history reining exhibitors were wrestling with how to cope with the centerpieces in our arenas. Reining patterns and center rings are not very compatible.
"Reining patterns and center rings are not very compatible."
Mike walked to the center to start his pattern and did two sets of good to very good spins. Next, his horse stepped cleanly into a lope to start the circles, and ran pretty circles. As they were closing their third circle, Mike unfortunately miscalculated. He looked down at his horse to set up for a lead change, and when he looked up, he was about to crash into the centerpiece. Mike had to abruptly pull up to avoid a big collision. You could hear people gasp.
Mike and the horse stood there for a few seconds, and then he looked at me, one friend to another, with a red face. It was obvious my eyes were teared up and I was trying my best to hold my breath to avoid laughter. As I was biting down on my tongue as hard as I could, he rode past me and said two words, “F@%k YOU!” My scribe, who also knew Mike, dropped her clipboard and covered her face with both hands to hide her chuckles. Despite my best efforts I was overwhelmed with a compulsion to bellow in laughter. Every muscle in my face started to spasm in my effort to suppress the laughter. Somehow we got it together enough to finish the class.
"...more importantly, I am grateful for my multi-decade friendship with Mike Baker."
After the class my learner judge, a conscientious young lady, said to me with sincere concern, “Did you hear what that gentleman said to you? Are you going to report this to the steward?” I smiled and said, “He wasn’t serious. Profanity between a couple of cowboy friends is just an expression of affection, that is our love language.” Unfortunately, the learner judge was having none of it. She said,"That man was really mad, he was red! Should I expect this when I judge?” I replied,"NO, I’m 100% certain at times we all have made people really mad, but this wasn’t one of them, and they don’t use profanity at you. He just said that to me to generate a little levity in the situation.” That poor learner judge saw no humor in the situation and she told me she was very concerned he would say something further. We were then on break until 6:00 p.m. and I told her not to worry and I would see her at 5:45.
"Are you going to report this to the steward?"
During the break when I wasn’t laughing, I thought about how to reassure her the situation was all in jest. 5:45 came and went, 6:00 came and went, and the rest of the three-day show came and went. I never saw the learner judge again. Apparently, that brief exchange affected her so strongly she abrogated her aspirations to be a judge.
Mike Baker and his wife, Shannon Ketcheson.
The show went on, I saw some nice horses and Mike showed that horse back on Sunday and handily won the championship class. This humorous anecdote is peppered with several life lessons about the horse business. First, this business is not for the weak of heart. If you are a breeder, trainer, owner, judge, or rider be prepared for disappointment. The bluebird of happiness will drop a lot of guano on you at times.
Secondly, a little humor can lighten a dark moment. The Roman poet, Horace wrote, “Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.” Mike had the maturity and wisdom to know that was the best reaction to the situation. It also made for a great story!
"Mike and the horse stood there for a few seconds and then he looked at me, one friend to another, with a red face."
Finally, our industry isn’t for everyone to be a professional in. Sadly, the young lady was very affected by that brief exchange, yet intuitive enough to know that judging may be too stressful for her, so she made an abrupt exit. Maybe loving horses from the perspective of an amateur exhibitor is a better path to take. Terri Deering, The Hat Lady, profoundly said to me once, “Horse trainers are people that love to work with horses that can’t afford to be an amateur.”
In reflection, I’ve enjoyed telling this story all these years and getting lots of laughs, but, more importantly, I am grateful for my multi-decade friendship with Mike Baker. I was a teenager the first time I met him. Thanks Mike for all the learning experiences and good times. You’re a true horseman, role model, and a gentleman. To all the readers, I hope this story makes you smile and “changes your state of mind.”
WARNING: Be careful who and when you share stories like this. One time Mike and I were judging a national event together and he told me to tell this story to our escort who was driving us back to the hotel for the evening. The poor lady laughed so hard she drove the van off the side of the road.
