Globe

Last weekend a few of us drove up to Globe, Arizona for their Old West Days festival. We had been requested to ride in a parade in the morning on Saturday and to carry the colors in the opening ceremonies in a rodeo that evening. We were treated royally by the City of Globe who put us up in the Apache Gold Casino.

We were a little worried about the reception we'd receive as Globe as the casino is on the San Carlos Indian Reservation which is where Geronimo escaped from during his last rampage through the southwest. We memorialize the unit that chased him down and forced him to surrender for the final time in 1886. The last time we were in this neck of the woods, we were roundly booed by the Apaches.

However, we had no problems this time and we were warmly received by the people of Globe. The people who live their are very proud of their city which is an old mining town. It has plenty of good history and Al Seiber the famous German Army scout is buried there.

I rode Apache in the parade in the morning and Charlie during the rodeo ceremony. Apache was his usual interesting self. We started the parade with him doing his famous "galloping in place" act. This behavior is scary on a normal day but particularly terrifying on asphalt. He settled down after a while so that he was at least manageable, if not calm.

Charlie was his usual laid-back self until another horse bumped into him at the end of the national anthem, causing him to spin away from the formation. Otherwise, Charlie is about the easiest horse to ride in situations like that. He is perfect for color guard duty as he proved last December at Las Vegas. He still has some rough edges during other events, but is basically an easy ride.

All in all, it was a good trip and the City already wants us to come back next year. The weekend was exhausting but we had a good time and I'm sure I'll have volunteers to go next year.