Gobernador Cowboy: Billy Hibbler

I did not want to send my mustang, Jemez Dancing, off for training. I really had no intentions of doing so, but yesterday Billy Hibbler came down to pick up his little mare, Rita, and we went out for a ride. I rode Cracker Joe, my little hinny, and Billy rode Jemez Dancing. They looked fabulous together. Maybe it was the light in the canyon or something, but JD seemed to glow. I asked Billy how much it would cost me for him to put 30 days riding on my sometimes spooky mustang. At 53, I am getting reluctant to get on unreliable mounts. Billy said that he normally charges $600, but he would cut me a special deal since we were friends and I hadn't charged him anything for working with his crazy little mare.

I have known Billy for more than a year. He and his partner, Vicky, live in Gobernador. Vicky cooks at Navajo City. Billy shoes and trims my horses for me... he is the only guy that will come out as far as I live. He does pretty well traveling all over the region shoeing, but his real love is horse training and horse trading. He always has a new bronc in his pens, and then suddenly he is riding the ex-bronc all over the country. He learned this skill in Oklahoma where he grew up around a sale barn. He can ride a horse to make it look like it is worth twice what you'd normally expect. No wonder he made JD look so good!

Now, just like any real cowboy, Billy can drive you absolutely crazy. He loves to talk about horses and horse training. He loves to speculate what any horse might be worth. He loves to swap his good horses for good blooded horses that just need a little training. Sometimes, I just have to cut in and tell him, "Billy, do you think you could give me a turn to talk?" Well, that never lasts long, but the man has a good heart and a way with broncs. We're good buddies.

If you might need him to work on your horses, give him a call: 505-801-4364. Tell him you got the referral from his ol' friend down in Largo Canyon.