Sam Grey Horse and mule use energy to distribute cheer in Austin

No make any difference how lengthy you’ve been in Austin, Samuel Grey Horse has most likely been below lengthier than you and the spirit of his indigenous ancestors walked the land far in advance of any one residing did. Born and elevated in the cash city in 1961, the metropolis has grown and altered all about him.

---

You have probably observed or listened to of Grey Horse before—he’s been identified as the “Sixth Street Cowboy” because of to his penchant for driving his horses by the city streets, dressing up as Santa Claus throughout the holidays and earning nationwide information back again in 2011 when he acquired a DUI while driving his mule down Sixth Avenue.

“I recall when I could see the money from everywhere,” Grey Horse instructed Austonia for the duration of a check out to his East Austin ranch. “I never ever considered or imagined that I would see Austin like this.”

Now, dwelling with his three horses, mule and canines in East Austin on “the road that time forgot,” Grey Horse lives the “Native” lifestyle he cares for his horses, tends to his yard, retains sacred prayer ceremonies, writes tunes, sings with legendary musicians and sometimes movies with
Richard Linklater, director of “Dazed and Bewildered.”

Just as Austin altered more than the several years, so much too did Grey Horse. On June 26, 2010, he was in an incident that he credits for transforming his everyday living. Whilst driving a racing horse, Grey Horse’s saddle came loose and dragged him beneath for 150 yards. By the time they experienced stopped, Gray Horse experienced 12 broken ribs, collapsed lungs, a broken neck, damaged clavicle, cracked skull, broken wrist and went into a coma.

“I experienced all the points performed to me but that’s how the universe teaches you,” Grey Horse stated. “They said I would never ever journey a horse again or stroll correctly, but no, I never are living in that environment, because wherever I went to with my coma. I was living in a further entire world, in the other world’s illusion.”

His street to recovery was extensive, arduous, miraculous and aided by his horses: Large Tex, Big Pink and mule Mula, who have all been in his care for well above a ten years. Gray Horse mentioned they took care of his “energy” when he desired them most. In spite of the suffering that ensued from horses, his accident drew the cross-species loved ones together.

Significant Purple and Mula have been residing with Gray Horse for 16 and 14 decades, respectively. (Sam Gray Horse/Instagram)

“I trip them all around city and share them with everyone since almost everything has a objective,” Grey Horse claimed. “You do not toss anything absent just simply because it is really a minor conquer up. I was all beat up.”

The winters are even now painful for his joints but he powers by so he can carry pleasure to the persons of Downtown Austin in his Santa Claus costume each 12 months.

“I are unable to damage mainly because I’m Santa Claus, and I obtained to be Santa for the little ones and everybody. I give them inspiration and strength, I make millions satisfied downtown,” Gray Horse said. “I sing usually with a cordless mic, my horses dance and they are joyful. If I can make a single individual joyful that can make a variance.”

While it was hardly ever his intention, a career in new music observed Gray Horse and it felt ideal thanks to his mom telling him as a boy or girl he would be a singer 1 day. Gray Horse not too long ago returned from his tour with The Greyhounds and Sir Woman across Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

https://www.youtube.com/view?v=JGSjuYJSPe4
(Laura Figi/Austonia)

His initial tune, “Crow Puppy,” is a tribute to his everyday living and the people today who have passed together their loving electrical power in it.

Show biz can not get plenty of of Grey Horse, who also types for Patagonia and Levi’s he taught Joe Jonas how to ride a horse for a movie shoot. He is now doing the job with a British filmmaker on a documentary, and was highlighted on episode 10 of Linklater’s “That Animal Rescue Demonstrate.”

“I sing with Grammy winners, which is incredibly exclusive to me, and I publish songs about my lifetime. Pretty magical stuff,” Gray Horse stated. “(The tour) was just one of the greatest runs we’ve carried out for now—people are out and want to get out and the electrical power the fellas convey is incredible.”

You’re particular to see Gray Horse close to city if you devote some time in close proximity to
The Continental Club on South Congress or the Texas Capitol into the night. Right up until then, tok sha.

“There are no terms for goodbye in my language, it really is ‘tok sha,’” Grey Horse mentioned. “It suggests I’ll see you all over again. I will see you shortly. I am going to see you in the upcoming life.”