THE BLACK COWBOYS OF THE AMERICAS EPISODE III
CAROLOINA COWBOY
SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA: The temps over the last few days of the trail ride have been averaging a sweltering 95 degrees. But no one seem to complain, at least when I was passing by, and until I met up with Caroling Cowboy of Shelby, NC.
who has been riding since he was two. “My grandfather had me riding” at his house in Shelby. He says every morning I would take cows across the road and walk it across the field. Carolina remembers one time “we had a cow in the chicken house. with a big old round bail of hay with a chicken on the side and milking it.”
After his chores were done Carolina’s grandfather would take me to this white guys house where he kept the horses. He learned to ride at the neighbors house and began riding bare back. “I had to ride bareback, because I had to lean balance.” Carolina went on to riding without stirrups is how to get the balance right.
Carolina gives an example of how he taught his late son how ride. “I wouldn’t give him stirrups and put him on hot horses and learn how to ride up and down hills.”
Of all the horsemanship he likes the most is Rodeo. Carolina has been riding bulls since he was 14, and now 44 he still rides. In fact, at the time he was the only Black male on his high school team and on the circuit after high school.
Like most taunting, he was called the “N” word among other insults. But maintained his competitiveness and composure among the riders.
What makes a good rider, Carolina says practice and putting in the ground work. The ground work is what can be done on horseback should be done on the ground such as walking the horse, turning the horse, grooming, feeding, training and basic care of the horse. Carolina ads while no two horses are the same. The all can be broken.
When he first came up the arena “folks began laughing me and didn’t think I was for real.” Once they saw that I had rhythm I was the type of person that I didn’t want to come off.” I ride bare back on horse or bulls with just a rope.” "That’s may thing I’m just a Cowboy.”
Carolina goes on to say “I like anything a cowboy,” From branding cows, roping cows, to vaccinating cows he does it all. Carolina remembers when he was younger he learned how to take care of the farm animals by a veterinarian. When asked who is his favorite cowboy he responded by saying “my grandfather was my favorite cowboy and now myself as well as my son.” He said his son was the baddest rider he taught in is life!
Saturday, the next day, Carolina leads the band of horseman on the annual trail through bits of Cleveland County, NC including the College Farm Trail and Broad River. Carolina also assumes the role of the trail boss for the first time on this ride.
During the halfway point where riders take some time to catch their breath along with a few snacks and water the trail boss gives them about 30 minutes before a half time announcement. For novice or inexperienced riders this is the turn around point. For the experience riders continue on the College Farm Trail. Again he shouts “this is for advance riders.”
This trail consists of a nine degree assent to the top and rugged downhills and repeats until the telephone lines appear for guidance then and at least 3 miles in 4 four foot deep and in some spots deeper if you don’t keep to the left as some horses and riders found out on past rides in the Broad River before returning to the beaten trail that leads back to base camp.
The Trail rides ends with a lunch for the riders around 3 clock. Later that evening around 8 until a kick off of a live band and Dj’s swamping stages back and fourth and of course at least two thousand line dances stepping their way with “Chinese checkers, Step in to it and more while other guest sit in there chairs and only watch the performances.
All in all between 20-25 thousands visitors paid homage to one of the largest east coast trail rides sponsored by the horseman across dozens of acres enough to fill thousands of Rv’s, campers, horse trailers, and tents packed into one another. Let’s not forget to mention two thousand golf carts rolling around between the lodging and horses both rented and private.
While several complaints were lodge against the Ebony Horseman, lead organizer Six said changes would be made for next year to keep the horsemen separated from traffic and open up more trails for daily tuns on the 4 day event.
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