What remark did Rooster make to insult LaBoeuf's horse?

• A. How long have you boys been mounted on sheep down there?
• B. Your horse is a top thoroughbred.
• C. Your horse can outrun a dog.
• D. That horse looks tired after a long ride.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing a sharp, mocking line aimed at undermining the opponent by insulting his horse, which is a classic move in Rooster Cogburn’s rough, humor-tinged bravado. The line “How long have you boys been mounted on sheep down there?” directly targets LaBoeuf’s horse, implying it’s weak or bizarrely mounted, and it’s delivered in a way that stings without being a straightforward insult to the rider. This fits Rooster’s style—using blunt, crude humor to shake confidence and assert dominance before a confrontation.

Other possible remarks wouldn’t land the same punch. Praising the horse as a top thoroughbred would boost, not insult, the animal. Saying the horse can outrun a dog or commenting that the horse looks tired are either neutral or complimentary observations about the horse’s abilities or condition, not taunts aimed at diminishing the horse’s value.