Sue Wallis - A Thousand Pretty Ponies

Rangeland Horses

A Day Often Spoke Of,

A Thousand Pretty Ponies

by Sue Wallis

Come on you little darlin's and let's go watch your daddy gather

A thou­sand head of horses out of grassy Garven Basin.

They are running altogether as they have been all this winter

And it is a sight that we may never chance to see again.

So let's hurry up the mountain, watch and sit and wait there

To see a thousand pretty ponies pouring down off Garven's Range.

A hard day of riding o'er a bunch of fresh horses and finally

We have them all lined out and lopin'.

We lead them toward the trail and we cut off their choices,

'till they headed uphill just like we'd been hopin'.

Now I see my sweetheart, the kid's and they're a'waving –

Even the wee one's from thereon are bidin'.

I thought that they would like the sight of us gatherin'

A good thou­sand horses is the sight worth the trip.

Over yonder see them comin' there's your daddy and he's running

With a thousand head of horses down from grassy Graven Basin.

They are ripplin' like a river with their manes and tails a'flying,

Flashing, glinting colors, proudest thing I've ever seen!

And see your daddy swaying as he comes a'riding hard an' spurring

Leading all those pretty ponies pouring down off Garven's Range.