Welcome to the first of many blogs devoted to a passionate subject of mine, the horse. I have been a calf roper and horse trainer for over 15 years, devoting countless hours to teaching people how to ride, rope and get along with their horse. Whether it be saddling, chosing the ride bit for the right occasion, or just how to chose the right horse, we will talk about it here. Please if you would so we can determine if what we say or do here meets your approval or if an article makes sense or helps, Go to the bottom of each article and post a free comment. We welcome them and hope you take the time to post a word or two. Today I want to talk about first and formost chosing the right horse.
A horse is not like a car or a game, it's a living breathing eating responsibilty. One that requires alot of time, patience and know how to properly care for it. However a horse is also the best friend you'll ever have and someone know matter how bad your day goes, can understand and listen to your complaints, and sobs. The right horse will be based on your personality. But if you are beginner you need a horse already broke. That doesn't mean green broke, it means already accepting the saddle without any jumping or jitters. It also means a horse that can be one handed either to the left or the right, stops and goes with the squeeze of your leg. Here is something you cannot skimp on. If you are learning and the horse is learning, though a common myth, it just ends up leading to one or the other or in most cases both, frustrated, angry and ready to quit. When I first began to rope calves, I started with a green broke horse who knew nothing about the arena or tracking. The whole time I should have been concentrating on catching the calf, I was focused on trying to keep the horse from running away with me. It wasn't his fault, he was a green broke horse who had never been shown the ropes. In time, I had to sell him, because truthfully, he never was born to be a rope horse. Trails? Barrel racing, even penning cattle, yes. But not a good rope prospect. However in my trials and learning curve, I realized that people and horses are not that much different. Oh sure we look different and eat differently, but both of us have tempers, and must be taught how to do certain things in order to succeed. So when you are chosing that perfect horse. Whether it's for trails, or the arena, find one that is already knowledgable. You will be surprised at how much that horse will teach you the ropes and be off to a faster start in horsemanship.
Now if all you want is something to look at, or pet,or breed then a trained animal will not matter, but personal appearance, pedigree,genetics and confirmation will play more of a factor. This first step you will have to determine yourself. I will say that money always tends to play the biggest role in leading to a mistake. If you cannot afford a horse that truly meets your needs, do not settle or buy less, because it will lead to a dissatisfied owner and horse that will lead to a loss of interest and could even prevent you from continuing in the equine business. So before I close, listen carefully. If you do not know what to buy or where, find a trained professional who is trustworthy, honest and knows about horses. They can either locate the perfect horse for you and your family, or point you in the right direction. Remember, you wouldn't buy your child a scorpion instead of a rabbit, just because the scorpian was cheaper and all you could find would you? Of course not, well an untrained, green broke horse can be just as dangerous if not more so. Take pride in your choice and email me if you need help. Remember comments are welcome. Tune in for the 2nd blog post. We will discuss the proper saddle, and how to saddle your horse. Proper saddling is important. Sore your horse and it can lead to poor performance, and even bucking. Happy trails and God Bless
