Sightseers are sight from the past

Pair passes through west side of county on a sightseeing tour of the country by horseback

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

DECATUR - When traveling to see the beauty of the United States, usual modes of transportation come to mind, such as car, bus, train or plane. There are, however, some who prefer a more old-fashioned and outdated method of sightseeing without any obstructions to block their view. They don’t depend on fossil fuels but on an alternative fuel which is in abundance all across this land. They travel by the original hay burner - the horse.

Art Lamely and Sue Hemming are on a trek from Nebraska to points unknown via their trusty and very loving steeds: Big John, Lucky, Benjamin and Josie. Big John is Lamely’s riding horse, while Benjamin is his pack animal. Hemming tours the country aboard Lucky, while Josie trails behind.

While in the Gravette area last week, the posse was camped in a clearing just north of the old white church off Arkansas Highway 59.

Lamely, a retired trucker, began his journey in 2008 riding from Broken Bow, Neb., through Colorado and New Mexico. However, he now no longer hails from any particular place.

“Home is where the horses are,” he says with a smile.

Hemming, hailing from Pine Bluffs, Wyo., joined the caravan in May 2009. Lamely taught her how to ride that same year, and the duo have traveled together ever since.

One of their recent trips, from April 8, 2010, to April 8, 2011,was a 2,000 mile trip across several western states. The pair passed through such Old West towns as Truth or Consequences, N.M., Silver City, N.M., and Dodge City, Kan.

To Lamely, who is very passionate about his animals, riding across the country on horseback is not easy. He refers to it as “hard work.”

“It takes three hours to load or unload the horses each day,” he states. “The first thing we do after unpacking is to take care of the horses’ needs. Only after they are fed and watered do we take care of our needs.”

When they load the horses, they go through a meticulous balancing process. Lamely picks up each container and, by feel, judges the weight accordingly. He shifts items around so that each pack is equal in mass.

“If the packs are uneven, they slip sideways on the back and make the horse very uncomfortable,” he said.

Observing the interaction between Lamely and his horse, Big John, a thoroughbred quarter horse mix, there is a sense that they are more like father-son.

This interaction is evident with all of the horses. Josie, one of the pack horses, was getting a little restless. Lamely, in a stern voice, commanded her to “settle down.” She refused and continued fidgeting. Once again, in a more forceful tone, he commanded her to stay still. After two more attempts, Josie finally stopped. Lamely shook his head saying, “Just like a two year old.”

When all the horses were packed and ready to go, the time had come to mount up. After tying Josie’s reins to her saddle horn, Hemming mounted Lucky. She positioned Josie behind and on the right side of Lucky. When they take to the highway, the pack horses are led on the outside, next to the grass and away from traffic, preventing them from getting hit. When they cross to the other side of the road and ride against traffic, Hemming switches his pack animals to the left.

After making a few minor adjustments, Lamely mounted Big John, with Benjamin in the same position as Josie.

Then, in a scene reminiscent of an Old West film, the train headed southbound along Highway 59.

Their new destination? “Wherever the horses go.”

News, Pages 1 on 05/01/2013