Mustang Talk

   We had a good time at this years Extreme Mustaag  Makeover in Fort Worth. There were a lot of good horses and the trainers did a great job. This year the horses were all 6 yrs old and were headed to long term holding so this was their last chance to get adopted. This year all of us trainers adopted our horse before the contest so they all have new homes with us. Our horse is a nice 6yrs old grey mare she is a sweet horse and tries to do what I ask her to do but at the show she got nervous so I just slowed down and let her ease thru the classes so she would not get to scared and lose what I had taught her I look at the big picture for the horse so I will have a horse for a long time sometimes if you push to hard at a show you will lose in the long run and not have a nice horse when you get home. There will be other shows for her to show what she can do. I did notice some thing I would like to share with you. The nice people next to our stall were worried about their horse and his response to the whole thing like the people moving around and the noise so they would sit by his stall and tell him everything was ok but in the horse’s mind all he could see was that they were upset and worried which made him more upset which in turn cause our horse to get upset the only time the horses could relax was when everyone went home at night. Then when everyone returned the worry started again which made them more afraid of what was outside of their stalls. I beleive if they would have let the horses get use to their surrounding they would have shown better and would of had a better  experience. Some times good intentions can cause problems People need to remember horses need to learn about their surrounding in their own way which is to survey what is going on around them to see if there is any dangerous animals or danger in any other forms. When they feel safe then they will relax and learn how to survive. So people need to look at thing thru the horse’s eyes and mind and let them find out that they will be OK on their own by this I don’t mean that you don’t make sure your horse is safe when you put them some where but you can only do so much and then let them learn it is OK to be where you have put them. The horse is a really adaptable animal so lets let them adapt to thing and let them relax by relaxing ourselves. Next time you take your horse some where new let him see what there is around him and then let him adapt to the situation on his own while you do the same by staying in your own space and leave other peoples horse alone too. I’ll let you think about this for a while.

On our trip we got to stay at Sam Cruse’s new bed and breakfast plus horse motel if you are in Wichtia Falls Texas and need a place to stay with your horse this is the place to stay. The address is 2550 Windhorst road his number is ph.940-767-9284 Tell him I sent you there. The web site is www.cruseacres.com. We also stayed at the Blake ranch R.V. park outside of Kingman Az. they also have stalls for horses plus a cabin you can rent for the night it is a nice place to stay.

 Today I was looking through a new catalog on horse things and I saw something I just had to write about.They advertise a lead rope that they were calling safe well it is one of the most dangerous things that I have seen in a long time. It is a rope with a loop in the end so you can hook it over your saddle horn and it leaves your hand free. But what they don’t tell you is if you hook that end over your saddle horn you are tied to the horse you are leading. If he was to pull back and get behind your horse he will knock you off your horse or hurt your back as the rope slides over you. When I was a young cowboy just starting out that was one of the first things I was told not to do when I was leading a pack string as it could cause a wreck and get me hurt and my horse also. If you are leading a horse make sure you can turn him loose if you have to and if you don’t know how to dally a rope around your horn then don’t do it . But don’t ever tie your self to your horse with this dangerous lead rope with a loop in the end they should take it off the market before someone gets hurt. Be safe and have fun with your horses.

 Today I was reminded of something that all ways bothers me. I saw a person saddling their horse  the person let the back cinch hang loose which is an accident waiting to happen. When you saddle your horse you should pull the back cinch snug against the horse’s belly so they won’t be able to put a hind foot between the cinch and his belly. If he was to kick at a fly his foot could get caught and you will have a problem not only could you horse get hurt but your saddle will need some repair. I hear people say that their horse doesn’t like it tight that is why they leave it loose. If your horse doesn’t like a back cinch make sure it is in the right place. I like mine to be about four inches from my front cinch with a leather strap holding it in place if you don’t have it hooked to your front cinch it can slip back into your horse’s flank and this can cause him to kick and some will buck with you. So if you use a back cinch keep yourself safe .

 When people rise horses they take on a lot of responsibility for the care of those horses from mares to colts I see so many young colts with bad feet because the owners have not trained them to lead and have their feet picked up so they can be trimmed a lot of leg problems could be avoided if more people trimmed their colts so their feet will grow straight and in balance. When the feet are long and they go into training the legs and tendons take a lot of abuse and that can lead to injury and a lame horse that might not heal. So if you rise horses do al of them a favor and teach them to have their feet done as the grow. Yo will have a better horse in the long run.  

 The other day I was shoeing horses and saw something that I thought you should be made aware of.There on the hitch rail was a halter left tied and hanging. That is something I see a lot of times on horse trailers fences and other places where people have tied their horses. It is a dangerous thing to do with the halter tied and left hanging a horse can get a foot caught in it or you could trip when you walk away . I feel it is better to untie your halter first then put on you head gear that you use to ride our horse an hang up your halter safely so no one get hurt .

 Spring is here and we want to enjoy our horses but there are somethings we should do be for we ride them. Remember your horse hasn’t been used much this winter so you should not just climb on and go. Take a little time to get them ready by going over some basic thing such as warming them up from the ground  saddle your horse and let them run around the corral without you on their backs. This will let them get use to being saddled and get some pin up energy used up so when you get on they will be ready for you and be more willing to listen to your cues. Do some ground work lunge them both ways and see if they are as soft as they were when you put them up for the winter. Remember a fresh horse can feel more like playing and even and old broke horse can get scared and run off with you if you don’t prepare them for ridding before you get on.  Make sure their feet are in good shape too.check out your tack make sure it is in good working order and your cinch still fits and is not wore out. With older horses have them vet checked to see if they don’t need any vet work like teeth that need work  check when was the last time you had their shots and their teeth floated.

    Have you ever wonder why your horse turns better some times and not others it might be how your thumbs are pointing. What do I mean by this? Let me explain if your turning your thumbs down when you pull on your reins [ when ridding with a snaffle]  as you pull or lift your directional rein and you turn your thumb down you are using more muscle and less feel. With your thumb turn up you will have more feel in your hands. When your thumb turns down our forearm rotates so you use your shoulder muscles as well as your whole arm which causes you to use more force. When your thumb is pointed up you use only your forearm so you can lead your horse’s nose into the turn with more feel. Try this next time and see if it works for you.

Been teaching my grand kids how to ride this week as they are on spring break. Getting them to learn how to sit. So I thought some of you might like to know how and why I have them sit the way I do? I know a lot of people have you sit with your toes pointing straight toward the nose and your heels down. well I was reading an article by Buck B. and I have to agree with him when  he said a rider’s toes should be turned out some and that will let your legs wrap around the horse so you are ridding the horse not perched on his back. I have all ways rode with my toes out as it is easier on your knees and you can feel your horse better. I have had people who have rode bareback most of the time and say it is hard for them to ride with a saddle. This is why when they ride bareback their toes point out but when they sit in a saddle they hold their feet straight which puts their knees in a bind. That throws them out of balance. When your toes are too straight your knees are to tight against your horse and this will push you out of the seat when you lope then only way for you to stay on is to ride tighter. Of course to be able to turn your toes out your saddle will need to have the stirrups turn so they hang right.  If any of you are interested in a good way to do this I will try and post some picture on how to do this later.

I will start your colts or teach you how to start your own bring you colts or bring your campers and stay and learn how to start your own colt contact me here at this web site and I will tell you the cost. Let’s have some fun while you learn.

On this holy day I hope everyone will remember why He died for us and will be a little kinder to each other. Remember He loves all of his children no matter what we have done all we have to do is ask him to forgive us and be truly sorry and he will forgive you.