Greeley County, Nebraska
Centenarians

Back in the saddle again

WOLBACH -- The last time Paul Rother rode a horse was 12 years ago when he was still just a youngster.

Saturday morning, a more mature Rother mounted up again for a jaunt around a Wolbach park to celebrate his 100th birthday.

"He was around horses all his life, farmed with horses, rounded up cattle with them. He loves horses," LaDene Mueller said of her father. "So he and his family thought this was a perfect way to celebrate a special birthday."

Rother had continued to ride alone up until he was 88, but at that point his family, fearing for his safety, asked him to hang up his saddle.

"They thought I was too old," Rother said.

After the family decided that a ride was the perfect gift, Rother's granddaughter, Pam Dankert, made arrangements with Elba horse owners Terri and Bryan Runge to supply several horses for the outing.

So bright and early Saturday morning, Rother, who turns 100 today and other family members who were in town to attend the weekend-long birthday festivities, took a spin on several loaned horses.

Rother's horse, a lineback dun named Buddy who is 25-years-old -- that's 125 years-old in horse years --waited patiently as Rother climbed into the saddle, practically unassisted.

Rother and Buddy started out at a leisurely walk, then he coaxed the horse into a light trot, loping across the grass, still wet with morning dew. As he rode with several family members following along, Rother expertly used his legs and reins to guide and control Buddy, showing he still had the skills and horse-sense honed in his youth.

A big smile stayed on Rother's face during his 10-minute ride. But he did have one small complaint.

"He neck-reined pretty good, but he's old like me. He's too old of a horse for me. ," Rother said. "But I guess I don't know if I should have had a younger one or not."

Published: Sunday, September 3, 2000
By Kris Epley
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

Paul Rother Obituary