Quiet Riders Make Timid Horses?????

The great debate! So I get the idea of having soft hands, correct feet etc. Spurs are an extension of your feet, not go fast torture devices. But have you ever “walked on eggshells” around a horse for fear of them spooking?

So I have a theory that I share with some friends. If you don’t ride your horse like a dead broke, seen it all, sane horse, then you will never get them there. I don’t mean jerking them around. I mean, throw the saddle on them. Don’t be quiet. Talk, dance, sing…. When you pull off the gear, pull it off. Let it hit the ground. I mean, take care of your stuff but don’t be all whisper quiet! The horses need to get used to random stuff too. If you have ever heard me run barrels, yes I said heard me, you would get it. I have tried to run quiet. With my mouth. But, my horse is like “mom? Are you ok?”. So I’m loud. Sorry!

Today we gained photographic evidence of our “horse’n around”! We call it Equine yoga! Needless to say, my horses really put up with a lot! We also carry pop up barrels, poles, ice chests and even chairs around from the saddle. I use my barrel horse to trim tree limbs because he is tall! He is used to them falling on his head! It happens!

So let’s all think about that the next time you go to saddle that flinchy horse!!! Swing wide! #resbarrelracing #resridinglessons #noonefellofftoday

Lynx and I on the left, Tori and Goose on the right!

Maggie riding backwards on Splash… not sure why but…

Update on Whiskey!

A while back, Whiskey and I had a come to Jesus meeting over spurs. Sadly, the ground is harder than it used to be. I did get back on. I did make him lope 5 laps each direction before releasing him for the day. I did go to the ER. It seems that my 44 year old body does not bounce and my rebuilt hip as well as my slowly deteriorating spine are not going to put up with my shenanigans anymore.

While some might scoff and tell me I’m being a wimp, you are not paying my medical bills so hush! On the flip side, I knew I needed outside help to get this 70 days rode colt going. I did hire one guy that came out four whole times over 3 weeks thus ending our contract due to lack of work. Then… we met Ashley! Very convenient since he is living with my best friend and Ashley lives right next door! He has been there for about 10 days now and she has gotten him over his attitude over spurs. She is riding him daily as well as hauling him to a covered arena to ride and expose him! He will also get ridden during roping practice, through the field and the trees and basically just get those hours of training he needs to become a solid citizen!

My brain doesn’t recognize that he “bucked me off”. No. It was more of a “he got me out of place and I fell off” thought. I’m not afraid of him. I just knew that he needed some heavy riding to help him understand what work really is!!! I think he will become a great “do whatever” horse! He has a solid sliding stop! He is super soft in the face and really has a motor. He is a little on the lazy side. I much rather speed up a lazy horse than slow down a crazy horse so he is my type! I mean… have you met Gabe and Lynx? They were/are the same way!

Who knew that this little bay would come to me and become something? I didn’t! Honestly, his breeding is way more cow/show than anything. He is super athletic and built really nice! I sure look forward to our future!

God’s Plans are not Always Our Plans.

As much as we would like to pray for something to happen, sometimes God just flat has other plans! Whiskey spent a lot of time with another trainer but didn’t get the rides he needed to become a good citizen. He was being good for me but still so green. I ended up asking for too much from him and hit the ground. He didn’t buck me off, he just got me off. I did get back on him and loped him five laps both directions in the round pen and rode back closer to the trailers. He was a saint.

I ended up hurting my bad hip and my back. I also had contusions on my hamstring. Y’all, the ground is harder when you are over 40! I reached out to find someone to put rides on him. Sadly, even though I loved how he worked with my horse, we had to part ways. I work on a schedule and he didn’t. But… I prayed on it! Whiskey cut his knee so I had a couple of weeks healing him while I prayed!

Now I have a choice between two trainers. One where he is with my BFF and will have access to two arenas, a round pen and lots of cool places to be tied up! Also, pasture riding! This trainer is willing to work cattle on him, haul him on rainy days to covered arenas, and expose him to a lot of things! She is confident she can get him over his baby stuff like hating spurs. I really like her positivity and her mentor! Not to mention that I can go ride him when I want and I know my BFF will keep me posted on his progress!

The other is a professional trainer about an hour and a half away. He mainly trains western pleasure. I know he would put the rides in but it would be similar to him being far away like before. Also, he would not have cattle work, pasture work or anything like that. But he would have a heck of a handle on him!

I decided to go with the first one. I’m attached to this colt and really want to get him to where I can saddle and do whatever I ask him to do without him questioning me all the time! So say some prayers that this works out for us!!! Also, this means I will have Four, the grey mare, as a lesson horse! Yay!