Australian Bush Poetry, Verse & Music

Cobber

This is a true story about a horse I purchased from a "mate" of mine. The horse's name was Cobber. He was a big 16.5 hand chestnut thoroughbred who had obviously raced and also played a fair bit of polocrosse at one stage. My period of ownership could be described as nothing less than an adventure!

I was looking for a new horse, coz the one I've got's a bit slow
Something with a bit of fire, something with a bit of go
Now a mate of mine said he had one that just might fit the bill
He can be a little hard to stop he don't like standing still

"A little hard to stop" I said, "I don't want a horse to fight"
"Oh, you can ride all right" he said, "I'm sure he'll be just right"
So I took him home and worked him, with ropes and leads he was quite sound
I'd never had a horse this good when working on the ground

Time to put the saddle on and test his real worth
A few circles round the yard were good, I'd better check the girth
Now on the road, we'll do the block - at the walk the rein was light
I put him to the trot OK, there wasn't any fight

I'll try him at the canter I thought, he's done well, I had no fear
My fortune's good, the perfect horse, I'll kick him up a gear
He lopes along, then takes the bit and cocks his head left and high
Oh no I think, the signs are bad, now I'm in for a ride

And ride we did like a Flemington sprint, he flew for at least a mile
"Hard to stop" that bastard said, but the thought didn't raise a smile
Well, I got him down and we walked back home and I put him back in halter
You see there's a difference between a horse that's hard to stop and a mongrel bloody bolter!

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