September 28, 2006 Bonus Blog
Just got back from lunch. Pastor David Shirley and Russ Garrett treated at El Encanto. They are planning a Western Heritage Day the first Sunday in November and wanted to pick my brain about all things Western. Over enchiladas and quacking ducks and swans, I told them the stories we celebrate on the pages of True West.

Russ mentioned watching me every night on the Westerns Channel and since he's an oldtime rancher and horse person I asked him about ground trained horses. I told him about the guy who wrote me claiming he could prove me wrong 100% of the time about my "hitching rail" True West Moment. Bill claims you get off, drop the reins and walk away and the horse stays put. Russ told me it's about 50% true with horses. Some are real good about it and others will be good as long as you are close, but if there's grass nearby, say goodbye. He also added this: "If you've got three ground trained horses and one that's not and you put all four to the test and the one that's not ground trained walks off, two of the three ground trained will go too." Now, this I want to see. Hey Jeff, let's go video tape this!

"Hey BBB, did you ever get the link working to where we could watch the PSA 'To Save Old Cowtown'?  Also, I’ve always wondered were false-front buildings really used in the Old West?  If so, what was the purpose?
— Mark Kilburn, TW Maniac 235

No, we are waiting on tech support to get the PSA up. We're hoping it'll be up next week. The false front phenom was a peacock move, intended to fake out the person entering from the front that the building was larger than it appeared. Of course it only works, if a series of false fronts are flush next to each other, but the style became so ubiquitous, even stand alone buildings utilized the look.
—BBB