Friday, July 31, 2009

Oh What a Wonderful Feeling!

In 1999 I bought a 2 year old red mare named Johnie, she was the first horse I had owned since 1976 because I had never needed to own a horse because I had other peoples horses to ride for so long. But I felt that it was time that I owned a horse.

Like many people say, never own a red mare.

I started Johnie under saddle in March of 2000 as a 3 year old and have never looked back. After I had her under saddle for 60 days and I had a good stop and turn on her, it was time to start her on cattle.

Now I bought Johnie so I could train her to be a cutter and so I could have the pleasure of showing my own horse. She is a very well bred mare that is bred to be a cattle horse, so I figured starting her on cattle would be a breeze. Quite the opposite, you see I forgot one very important factor about horses, just because they are bred to do something, that does not mean they will do it well or even do the job that they were bred for. That being said, the first time that I put Johnie on cattle that damn red headed mare tried to run the other way at the first sight of a cow.

Needless to say, I was a little disappointed at Johnie's first performance as a cow horse.

I was bound and determined to get this mare trained so I could show her. The next night I took Johnie to a local arena for a cutting practice, I started to turn back for a friend of mine and let Johnie have a good look at the cattle all night. She threw in an occasional crow hop, but she never tried to run away.

The next night I took Johnie to the same arena to work with my friends, we put a cow in the round pen and I rode Johnie in the pen alone with the cow. Johnie and I worked the cow on the fence, a little tug here a little leg there, a few small corrections and the next thin I knew, Johnie cut that cow on her own. She gave me 3 of the best turns I have ever had in my life.

All that I remember from that night, was feeling Johnie take over and work that cow, and my face hurting from that permanent grin that was on my face.

I did show Johnie a few months later, on my first cut, the moment that I dropped my hand that mare went to work. She won her first class!

Have a good weekend!

91 comments:

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Yay for Johnie! Sounds like an awsome mare. Keeps you thinking huh? I like red horses mares or geldings ( does that mean I am nuts?)

CharlesCityCat said...

I love to watch the cutters.

You know, she is a red-head, she had to make you think for just a bit didn't she.

rosesr4evr said...

JR,

What a story and what a mare! I have my own little red headed mare. She's the light of my life (horsewise) and there will never be a horse able to replace her. She is the horse in my avatar.


I love ya Rosie, you're one in a million!

rosesr4evr said...

JR,

A little off topic. Will you look at a horse for me on All Breed and tell me what you think?

Reg name is TF Vantilly

Thanks!

Cut-N-Jump said...

Johnie is the only other redhead I share him with.

And as much as I couldn't stand red horses... What do I end up giving my heart to- a long eared red mare, Tess.

rosesr4evr said...

CNJ

What about blondes?? I might qualify for that, just whatever you do, don't call me Cathy! Plus< I only borrowing him for a minute.


Now, get your mind out of the gutter...I meant I was borrowing him for a minute so he could look at a horse for me and tell me what he thinks. Sheesh! I know what ya'll were thinking.

SFTS said...

Johnie sounds like a gem. I have a few of those. :)

Have a terrific weekend, we're off showing tomorrow!

rosesr4evr said...
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Who Said That? said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SFTS said...

Oh roses, how I know that. Mine may not be "rare", however they are exotic and definitely genuine. ;)

WST, why try to bring your garbage to this blog? We all know how you feel, it's of no consequence to myself or anyone else. I can't understand why anyone would want to attempt to ruin a really terrific post by JR, even you.

To each his or her own, I guess.

rosesr4evr said...
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BuckdOff said...

Well, gee, I've been gone for a few days and apparently nothing has changed, and don't blame me...I'm not even involved in this skirmish...I'll just go back where I belong, quieter there, I guess...regards to you, JR and CNJ, nice red mare story!

JohnieRotten said...

Buckdoff

please don't go away. I am putting a stop to this as of now.

Toy all need to take it to take it over to the gloves where it belongs.

spottedmonster said...

What about spotted mares? When I bought my daughter's POA her trainer told me I had hit a double whammy...mare and spots! She has her moments of "appytude" but pretty much knows her job and does it well.

GoLightly said...

Red mares rule.

Just sayin'.

charlienchico said...

C'mon JR- we all know you've got a thing for redheads.

charlienchico said...

CNJ- Your avatars are always so much fun- had to enlarge the latest. I've heard the term maggoty haggis before- I never really knew what it was. Not really sure what to do with the info now- not a recipe I plan on trying in the near (or far) future. Ewww.

pedfjords said...

JR, I was just going to post about my first horse...a wonderful red mare, " Annie " when as predictable as the sun comes up I guess, the 3-4 trolls begin to disrupt the thread and claim yet another blog as their own. Jr. High school level of maturity and totally ruining this writers ability to want to follow along for more attacks.

Outta here. Wrong to think a few people want to discuss horses, training ect. Shame really, that you are allowing it on what could have been a fun place to drop in. There will always be those who choose to tear down what is not their platform, but I believe that many, many others are just dropping off to other places that offer other choice of topics than constant disruption of blogs. Sorry.

Dena said...

JR and CnJ and well...my friends.
I bit the bullet.
Red? Check.
Girly parts? Check.
Appy papers? Check.
In my barn soon? Miss Placed Panties.
Unbelievable. The insanity has finally set in.
She is going to be a good one.

CharlesCityCat said...

Everyone, please see my comments on TGAO.

I sure hope this can be resolved. I know JR takes this blog quite seriously and does not want to lose posters because of needless snarking.


Buckdoff and Pedfjords, please give Jr's blog another chance. I am sure he can work something out.

Cut-N-Jump said...

CNC- I had never seen what Haggis looked like but had an idea of what it is. Maggoty Haggis, I can't imagine. Stomach turning... quite sure of that. There were picturse of it and also the one I chose for here.

Pedfjords- there is the one poster who continues to comment and drag negativity with her wherever she goes. If ignored by all, maybe she will find another audience somewhere else.

flying fig said...

Lovely story, JR. Many years ago I lost my heart to a cutting mare that I never even touched. A local ranch had a charity pancake breakfast and cutting horse show to benefit the local therapeutic riding association.... and That Mare was in attendance for a few years in a row. She shimmered in the sun like a a rare and exotic jewel. I suppose that technically she was a bay roan - but from a sort of mahogany bay base she had a purple-blue metallic sheen to her. Her thick mane and tail were shot through with silver and purple streaks. She was like a fairy tale horse. Not only was she stunning to look at, but she was also cat-like on her feet and an amazing cutting horse. Did I mention her big doe eyes? Well, she had them. I never knew her name - just admired her from afar. Is it a sin to covet another's horse? ;-)

Now, I know a good horse has no colour and yet my least favourite colour has always been solid red/chestnut. And yet those bland solid reds have been key factors at different stages of my equestrian life.... go figure!

JohnieRotten said...

I just wanted you all to know that it really pisses me off when I come on here and see that someone is upset enough to say that they will not be coming back here because of the bullshit. SO IT STOPS NOW!

This is a training blog and I prefer that it stays as such. I started it so that people can come here and learn and post their ideas.

If you want to chew on each other take it to the gloves as that is what that is for. Fjords I am sorry to see you go, and I hope that you will return.

Dena said...

I have seen this byplay in many comments sections and all I am going to say here is this.

JR people come people go. I think you have a lot of good things to offer.
I think anyone with a dram of common sense would be able to decipher that from based on what you offer and present.
The threads themselves have nothing to do with the comments of some in what is being presented here.
What is being offered.
I do not believe that it takes a degree in rocket science to understand that "one" particular poster has set their sights on undermining the methods of the blogger.
All while shamelessly advertising her own venues.
Take it or leave it is my opinion.
I have not posted here for some time until recently for two reasons.
1. I have been content to read and absorb the training ideas presented.
2. I did not wish to play any part in the disintegration of the learning opportunities presented here.
CCC I am going to have to disagree with you.
Not with regard to where the sour grapes should be redirected to.
But in that if a couple of the little girls want to pack their toys and go home or elsewhere in an effort to grandstand and manipulate?
Let them.
Because based on what I have read they maybe should have been doing what I have.
Reading, absorbing, and showing some respect for what is presented.
Instead of confusing the issues with their own offerings.
I have every confidence that JRs manner and style of training horses and people will shine through.
Regardless of, the interference of a few.
And no...CCC you do not interfere.
You intervene and there is much to be said about your style in doing so.
It is a four letter word. Starts with a C and rhymes with glass.

CharlesCityCat said...

FF:

I remember, many moons ago, when I had my first guy in Missouri, there was a mare that showed at the big show we had yearly at our barn. I don't know what her registered name was but she went by the name of Sugar. She was a little App, she was black with a white blanket on her bum and a very scrawny tail. She ran barrels and poles and she was good. When she ran, her little tail rotated in a circle, like a corkscrew. She was fabulous. This was in the early 1970's and I still remember her.

Who Said That? said...

Mr. Rotten, while it was not my intent for you to lose any readers or posters, (not even one) I will delete my comment above and hope as CNJ said, the negativity of that one poster will follow her to another blog, far away from here.

I do enjoy your posts and topics. My deepest apologies to you and anyone I may have offended. I should know better and will not let myself be so easily baited anymore in the future.

CharlesCityCat said...

Dena, check out my blog, please.

SFTS said...

I agree with you CCC, the snark and personal attacks should be kept to the Gloves blog, where they belong. I posted a nice comment, complimenting JR on his post and wished folks a terrific weekend. That was a bad thing to do??

So who is it perpetuating the bullshit here, but CnJ herself. I "dragged" negativity here?? Huh? No, negativity followed me here. Big, BIG difference.

Guess what, SFTS haters ~ I am not going to stop commenting until and unless this blog becomes moderated and JR himself tells me I am not welcome. Thus far, I have continually been told by the blog owner that I was welcome to continue posting, and I shall do just that until something changes.

Btw, we had a GREAT show! :)

JohnieRotten said...

SFTS

The inflection of the tone of your last post makes it easier for me to make a decision that I did not want to have to make here. And CNJ has nothing to do with this decision.

This blog will remain unmoderated, because it is as I have stated so many times, an open forum for people to learn from no matter what their disciple is in the horse industry.

That being said, it is time for you to say goodbye and you are no longer welcome here. Please do not send me any more email complaints and I prefer that we have no contact.

For all the others that post here I continue to welcome your comments.

joanna said...

I adore a red head Boy. Lots of chrome on him. My best horses have always been bays, though. Red Boy may change that, if I ever get a chance to do anything with him!

JR- are you going to Congress this year? Do you ever? I think I'm going to go watch the cutters and reiners. Absolutly nothing else. It's to painful.

CNJ- my heritage is primarely scottish, but there in no way on this good green earth will I ever eat haggis! Bleh. Who comes up with this stuff?

joanna said...
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horspoor said...

Sounds like a nice mare. We don't get many 'great' ones in our lives. For me they have been accidents of fate. I've never 'picked' a horse that ended up great. Well, I picked them...but I didn't know that they were more than just a nice horse. You know what I mean?

GoLightly said...

Does anyone think the liver chestnuts are "worse" or "better" than the reds? Just curious, as to general thoughts.

My first horse was a liver chestnut 2/4 TB mare. I bought her because she took a kick at my dad's head as we were bringing them in from the field. I was 14, she was 2.5.
I liked her attitude;)
She was never hot, but she had a fire...
I think the reds are fierier.
Hey, that's a word!

horspoor said...

I like red horses. The redder the better. lol My SWB was such a dark liver chestnut she looked black during part of the year...or if I happened to maintain her coat. She looked like dark rubbed mahogany.

GoLightly said...

That would be 3/4 TB.

2/4 = 1/2.

I DID go to school!

so, HP?
Which is hotter temperament wise?
Red or liver or light sorrel?
(excuse my imperfect redness terminology.)
Jeez, focus, woman..
So what if you're exhausted!!

Horse people. They are great when they're awake:)

windingwinds said...

Personally I ignore the crap, just wanted the rottens to know I'm still here, not going anywhere! Currently in a rescue situation, so a bit busy.

windingwinds said...

Oh and a good horse can be any color! (I'm off to save the world, wish me luck!)

joanna said...

Golightly- I'd say reds. I've known livers and light sorrels (don't really know much more terminology than you do). The reds always seemed to have, lets say, stronger, personalities. Especially the copper reds.

joanna said...

HP- who is that gorgeous horse in your avatar?

horspoor said...

That is Daf. Terribly cute isn't she. 6 year old Arab mare.

joanna said...

An arab? Really? She looks like a warmblood! I'm guessing you don't show her in halter ....

horspoor said...

She is actually a student's horse. Real name is Dafenae..I think I have the spelling right. Guess it mean 'hidden treasure'.

She's Khemo on top, and Crabbet and Naborr on the bottom.

horspoor said...

LOL...I don't show anything halter. She stands just under 15h. Really good mover. Can be a challenge at times. Very sweet though.

joanna said...

Is she a dressage horse? If so, at what level?

horspoor said...

She's pretty solid 1st level. Struggles with downward trans from canter sometimes it is a focus issue. Has tempo like a metronome.

JohnieRotten said...

Joanna

I have not been to the Congress in a long time. I would like to go though. I had a lot of fun there.

Riding cutters for me cam be a spritual thing. I hope that does not sound strange.

horspoor said...

Amazing leg yields on her though.

Dena said...

CnJ I haz Miss Placed Panties in the barn.
Now what do I do?

Cut-N-Jump said...

HP- you have mail.

Dena- put them in the wash. Use bleach! Just kidding. Pics please. How dare you hold out on us like that, you tease.

Roses- he has 2 palomino's so as far as blondes go... And we have two bays and a black mare too, so brunettes are covered as well. No greys at the moment though I am sorta working on changing that...

Joanna- I'll join you in NOT eating haggis. Heritage or otherwise. I take it you'll pass on the black pudding as well? Blech! Maybe if we had been raised eating it, things would be different? Maybe. But then I think just about every ethnicity has something others would question who ever thought that was a good idea to eat?

Fig- totally laughing at your coveting anothers horse. I think we have all done it at some point. I have and some years later ended up owning that horse. I guess you never know what the future can hold.

Cut-N-Jump said...

HP- I forgot to add, I likey the grey. May not be exactly typey, but then some of those ultra typey halter horses... well, not everyone uses their horses and some of them aren't allowed to be horses.

GL- the pali's seem to have a Barbie/Diva thing going on. They think they are special. Ok, so they are. At least to him.

The chestnut/flaxens I have dealt with seemed to carry some amount of that mixed with the red headed fiery 'tude. Not something I get along with, and I can't imagine why?

The liver and deep sorrels I feel have a strong will but can be highly tolerant.

Anyone have any comparisons on the shades and 'tudes of bays and greys? To me they seem to be the 'steady eddy' of the group.

rosesr4evr said...

Dena,

Good thing you didn't have to go to the ER. That would've been embarassing.

horspoor said...

CNJ,
I doubt she'd do well halter. But she is/was a pretty good athlete. I'll know more by the end of the week with her.

cattypex said...

OK I havent gotten thru the comments yet, but...

Give me an honest (even if she's pissy) mare any day of the week.

Red is a bonus. Though of course they come in all colors.....

Totally OT, but..... I just saw an ad somewhere where you can RENT FAKE TAILS. I had to share that.

flying fig said...

CNJ... if only I had wound up with that purple-blue-pewter-shimmer, shot through with silver sparkles cutting mare of divine loveliness...

*dreamy sigh*

...but now I have a new Equine Object of Fixation. This current one is a gelding. A liver chestnut, GL - a true liver chestnut and not just a darker sorrel. He boards at a place down the road. I do not know his name. I do not know who owns him. But it is a rare trip up or down that road that I do not stop/slow down and look in that pasture to see where the Wondrous Beast is. He has a wide blaze... white stockings just past his knees and hocks (I expect that he is a Paint). His conformation looks great. I love his laid back shoulder and arched neck - and that face!! *swoon*
He is deep through the heartgirth and has a good length of hip... I was pleased to see him cantering with some pasture buddies (common ordinary nags by comparison) - and it was a lovely, forward, round canter - not the broken 4-beat lope I was dreading might be the case. I keep thinking that I should stop in there on the pretext of looking for a place to board... and wander along the barn aisle and find his name/picture on the stall door as that barn's signage dictates.

Would that be...ummm... stalkerish?
Rhetorical question, huh.

flying fig said...

cattypex - on one of my first rips tp a Saddlebred show barn - I was astounded to see the tails hanging on the back wall of the grooming stalls.

All colours. All lengths. Some were even in tail bags.

I sort of expected it of peacock-like Saddlebreds ... but when I saw them being woven into QH tails at a big show ... I was surprised. Long flowing tails trailing behind the WP horses, slowly gathering up arena dirt like poofy, Show-sheened brooms seemed a bit...odd. ;-)

Cut-N-Jump said...

Fig- I know that of which you speak. Our neighbor had a most handsome, striking blue roan stallion. Never knew he was there or even existed until I was riding home from a friends after a trail ride. I had gone that way several times before and never noticed him.

That day I was riding a different horse. I was on the black mare. He came ambling across the pasture to the fence and stood there in all his purple-blue magnificent glory. JR was in the truck and after a quick call on the cell phone consisting of OMG! You've gotta see this horse! He drove by for a look.

He drove by pretty much every day after that. Just to have a look and admire the horse for who he was and how he was built. The color was a bonus, but also completed the package.

Then there was a hell of a storm one night. Flooding in the streets, strong winds, downed trees and branches, lightning, thunder- the works. The following morning we took a drive around the hood to check out the damages and offer to help where we could.

Driving by the pasture we noticed him lying down- flat out on his side. Yep, dead! We made a few phone calls, got word to his owners who were out of town and found out he was young, nicely bred, well behaved and also for sale. Things like that just make you sick in the gut.

He had been struck by lightning. So at least it was quick, no foul play and he did not suffer, but it still just sucks no matter how you look at it.

kestrel said...

Aw man, sad about the horse struck by lightning...we lost the prettiest yearling 2 years ago. Black with gold shadowing, white streak through tail, arab face to dream for and the absolute sweetest personality...gelded him and 4 hours later his intestines fell out of the incision. Most horrible thing...I didn't even know that could happen. I'm definitely doing closed incision gelding from now on.

cattypex said...

OMG Kestrel! That is HORRIBLE!!

Never heard of it either. :(

Damn... my favorite colors to look at are blue roan, buckskin and dun. Especially when duns/BSs get that bright gold metallic sheen.

Is that genetic, like in an Akhal-Teke, or can you achieve it through sooper sekrit old timer methods?

I love to see a well-groomed horse that's dappled out from awesome health and good care.

Cut-N-Jump said...

Funny thing about the owners of the stud, she's now our insurance agent.

There's also another horse down the road I admire. Bay gelding, four whites and a white spot right in the middle of his tail. Nice horse at a nicely set up facility.

Makes us wonder if anyone drives by to look at any of ours that way? We have had people slow down to watch when we are out riding, doing arena work and working cows. One stopped the other day to watch JR ride that red mare of his. We have gotten a few clients that way.

Cut-N-Jump said...

Kestrel- Sorry to hear about that, I have never heard of that happening either.

Always seems to happen to the nicest horses and nicest people too, doesn't it?

One BNF I was at lost one of the best colts they had produced in years when a halter was left on because he was tough to catch. Hard lesson learned for those who should have known better.

Can we talk about happier things now?

GoLightly said...

Yes, please, more on red mares.

I think red geldings are usually brilliant.
Oh, an old friend from days gone by had an 16.0h AppendixQH, showed him ammie jumpers. The high jumps, for ammies.
Not this 1.0m crap;)
metric, blech.
anyWAY
Heart of gold, courage to burn. The number of strides she left out to fences could have made up a whole course..

He was brilliant. One of a kind.
Topaz.
Great name, huh?
Sorry, eh?
iamcanadian.

sigh.
The brilliant ones, can we get back to those?
They come in ALL colours.

flying fig said...

Happy news this a.m.! The Object of my Obsession is alive and well and was having a great game of Chase Me! when I drove by this a.m. I am not stalking per se - his pasture borders the only road in and out of this patch of horse suburbia. ;-) No catastrophes have befallen him... so far.

In direct contrast to him, no one will covet Nor - my headcase semi-"rescue" Icelandic gelding, The poor guy was assembled by a team who was looking at the conformation guidelines upside down. Where to begin?

Narrow chested.
Toes out.
Flat pancake feet.
Cow hocked.
Sickle-hocked.
Rafter-hipped - you could mistake his butt for a Holstein cow (he is a black pinto) from the back if you just glanced at him.
Steep croup.
Looooong back.
Slab-sided.
Back has begun to drop.
Mutton-withered.
Neck set on too low.
Pencil neck without shape.
Large VERY common head screwed onto the end of it.
Ears that would fit on a nice mule.

For his sake I look forward to winter, when all that disappears under a thick yak coat and he almost/sorta/kind of passes for a slightly fugly "pony" instead of a conformational nightmare.

So I am confident that No One drives by the end of our pasture just to gaze at him in admiration....

Plus he is uncatchable in the field.. I need to use the other gelding to lead him into the barn. No vet can get near him - I do all that. He does trust the farrier - only if I pick up the hoof in question and hand it to the farrier.

The saddest part of this is that he is superbly gaited... tolts like a dream (thereby disproving the Form to Function laws - go figure) and does a flying pace down the field that make him look as if he is actually flying - it is so effortless and smooth.

And then he stops moving... and reality settles on him again like a spotted cloak of fugly.

He is started... but can be explosive and IMO is not safe to ride. If he can explode when being lead, spin and almost throw himself over backwards for no apparent reason... I see no need to be sitting on top of that.

And yet when I visit the Icelandic boys in their cedar grove late at night and bring them treats.... Nor will come up to me and nuzzle and talk. For him, that is a gigantic step forward. And I will just have to accept that he has come as far as he is able to... and will always be a Special Needs guy.... at least he is as happy as someone that neurotic can be. *sigh*

Oh - one so-called Trainer in the area said he could "fix" Nor by setting him up in a running W rig - pulling his feet out from under him and smashing him into the ground when/if Nor tried to blow.

Because you know that would work really well to make that horse trust anyone ever again... and he would fight it until something snapped... like a leg.

And all THAT ^^^ is why if the New Trainer at our barn has her way and the Ice guys are evicted so she can move a couple of her horses in there... there is no good option for Nor - he will have to be PTS. He needs His Space... His Routine. His cedar grove to shelter in. His person at the gate who understands him and lets him puzzle things out. I have no doubt that if he had to move somewhere - he would be out of his mind stressed and a danger to himself. And maybe - to the people around him.

Why can't that new trainer just SFTU and back off and leave us alone?? :-(

Dena said...

Okay CnJ found the Pantees but am refraining from the use of bleach.
Pretty sure the label reads "hand wash."LOL
Pictures are up go take a peek.

horspoor said...

All of my mares are red. Red is good. lol All but one does the metallic sheen that has that irridesent quality. I love that. Cat and Iris' manes do that sparkle glitter look in the sun. Yeah, still have some of that little girl my pretty pony left in me I guess. Both have amazing, long thick manes, leaning toward flaxen. Both are hotter than hell. lol

flying fig said...

SFTU? WTF is that?

*snort*

I meant to say STFU... apparently I suffer from dyslexic acronymns...

I think copper-coloured pantees are supposed to be dried flat after handwashing,... or maybe air-fluffed...

CharlesCityCat said...

FF:

Sad about Nor. Makes my heart hurt.



I have never had a red-headed mare or gelding. I tend toward off color horses. I have had five in my life, a buckskin, a palomino, two greys and a very dark bay who borders on being a paint.

They each have their own personalities but I do love my greys. Both are such people equines, and really have such soothing personalities. Now the dark bay/paintish gelding loves people too, but he is a bit wicked. Spunky the pally is so very wonderful, but has always been a bit of an enigma, couldn't ask for better under saddle, but as far as his interactions with people, he could take it or leave it. In other words, he loves attention when he wants it, if he doesn't feel like it, he gets a bit pissy. I totally forgive him for that.

GoLightly said...

Seriously, FF. I had to bite my fingers 'til they bled. Figuratively.
I kudoed you on the 'tother blog, and I still didn't say anything.
Hard choices in horses.

How do you handle hot, JR? CNJ?
everybody?
:)

Hot tempered HORSES.
sheeesh.
How do you tell if one will be hot to ride, or cold?
Or can you?
A horse can be cold on the ground, but hot in the tack.
How about vice versa?
How do you "know"?

Hey, I'm on holiday tomorrow. I can wait:)

<")

Dena said...

Copper colored pantees why does that just sound like something I must have?
I keep wishing for a horse the color of my hair but have not had one since Ruby.
And yes, I am shallow like that.
If, I was blonde I would probably be much more enamored of the pally.
Good thing I don't have black hair.
A good black horse is hard to find and costs a fright when you do.

CCC the pictures are there. Maybe hit refresh?

Hard choices suck FF. I wish you much luck and peace with your's.

amarygma said...

I obviously have to love the reds.

They're honest horses, and I love all my animals sassy (my African Grey just told me to shutup, then laughed like a wheezy old man).

cattypex said...

I had copper colored breeches in the 80s that matched my mare perfectly! OOOO they were ugly but I thought they made my leg disappear.

About Congress.... if we go, we'll be meeting up with a relative whose Judging Team usually makes it... but I can't STAND watching the peanut rolling trit trotty sad sad SAD WP/HUS horses. I was forced to watch an entire versatility class once, and it was sickening.

I do like the cutters and reiners, though the babies in futurities make me sad.

And the shopping is fun, though it's always the same vendors with the same stuff.

Eating in Downtown Columbus is always a treat.

flying fig said...

cattypex - I had copper-coloured breeches as well back then in the 80s-90s - very helpful in case they ripped because then your copper-coloured pantees would not be so obvious.

I also had dark teal breeches. And a pair that could only be described as a sort of smoky purple.

I guess I was hoping that they would fool the onlooker into thinking I was blessed with the long, elegant legs that were simply not there.... heh.

horspoor said...

I had copper colored ones. I may still have them. I think they were Devonaire Versailles, light cotton for summer.

I tye-dyed a pair of white dressage breeches I'd thrashed after two shows. "F" em if they can't take a joke. But I also have a hat that says, "Those that say life is too short....Have never watched Dressage."

Cut-N-Jump said...

CP- I was in Columbus once. What's the name of that restaraunt where you can order a bowl of gravy. Honestly it's on the menu.

Bowl of gravy. You want biscuits or anything to dip in it? You better order them too. Who would have thought! They have the buffet or you can order off the menu. "Sams" or something like that.

Fig- I hope things work out for the best in concern to Nor. Those least understood are usually the first to be compromised when things take a turn. At least he has you watching out for him!

Cut-N-Jump said...

GL- maybe JR can do that as a topic and give it it's own post.

We knew a woman who had a horse that she seemed to brag about having to take the horse to the showgrounds several hours before a show and lunge, lunge, lunge, lunge the poor thing damn near to death before their classes. She told us about one class she lunged the mare for 3 hours for a lead line class!

horspoor said...

Well that's nuts. Why not train the horse, rather than trying to tire it out. It will just get fitter and fitter, and naughtier and naughtier. lol

Anonymous said...

I love red mares! I never really paid much attention to that being a pattern in my life, but it sure has been. I tend to prefer mares over geldings in general, altho they are harder to "win over" at the beginning. But once you have their trust in your leadership, I find them to be much bolder and have much more "heart" than many geldings.

My special red mare right now is my saddlebred mare - who has never done saddleseat but has done everything I have asked her to try. Rugged trails, lessons, western, english, fun and games, dressage, taught many beginners and intermediate riders the basics, will stand and let tiny ones "pony paint" her half the day, and we have even worked cattle with her. She's one in a million.

Cut-N-Jump said...

HP- You wouldn't believe the story behind this one. I know the horse and worked with her long ago. She didn't have any issues other than a less than stellar start in life.

Cut-N-Jump said...

Anon woman- I learned to team rope on a Saddlebred. They are very kind and easy going when handled right. Sadly what so many see are not the horses like the one I knew and the one you have.

horspoor said...

I've watched people do that. Using lunging to make them tired so you can ride them. Talk about self defeating. The horse gets fitter and fitter....and still hasn't learned a damn thing.

Yeah, that's what I want...a super fit very green (training-wise) horse that is probably really resentful. Perfect. Must just be a joy to ride.

JohnieRotten said...

Hp

That is why we do a lot of the training at the walk. Tkat keeps em from getting hot. Them when we cool the we always do it on their backs at the walk.

horspoor said...

I spend a lot of time walking. Esp re-treds. They need a safe relaxed place to go back to regroup. I like them to stretch that neck out, and swing in the walk.

GoLightly said...

The walk isn't nearly fast enough, for an over-anxious novice. So much can be learned at the walk.
The walk is highly under-rated, extremely under-used. Trust comes with walking, and finding out how hard "just" walking can be.
applauding....
and not even tapping fingers impatiently. Such self-control!
Plus CNJ has the TwinBoosterRockets'n a Castle!

joanna said...

We have a restaurant in our town that offers a bowl of gravy, too. You can get gravy on hash browns with a biscuit. It's a gravy with bits of meat (I'm guessing Spam?) in it. My hubby ordered it last weekend. Good thing he has a high metabolism, because it probably had enough calories in it to last me the whole day!
We go into Columbus occasionaly to eat. Our favorite, though, is La Scala in Dublin. Pasta made fresh every day. MMMM yum.

I tried once to lunge my gray to get the extra energy out before I rode him. He could be very, uh, forward. All it did was warm him up. He was on from the time you got on until you got off. To cool him out you had to get off. Otherwise you'd be there all day trying to cool him down. He's a little bit better now that he's 19. Not much, mind you, but a little. He certainly taught me lunging is totaly useless to settle a horse down.

horspoor said...

For me lunging is very worthwhile. However, and JR may agree or disagree with me...but use it for training. They should be thinking, paying attention to you. Working on up and down transitions. Tempo should be consistent. They shouldn't be rushing...they should be working on the lunge.

JohnieRotten said...

Hp

I do definitely agree with you. But it is important to remember that you do your ground training on the ground and you performance work on their backs. JMO

in other words if you need to warm them up for a western or English class. Ride th to warm them up

horspoor said...

I agree. If you need to start at the lunge...fine. But you need to do your riding warm-up under saddle. I can't imagine trying to enter a class without riding my warm-up. It had never occured to me. But just because I didn't think of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen all the time. lol

cattypex said...

I swear, AQHA people lunge to SHOW OFF their gadgets and Sleezies. Oversweated necks just look so WEIRD and atrophied.

I love to munch my way around the market in downtown Columbus. Start with sushi, end up with the exotic ice cream place. The food vendors at Congress aren't nearly as good as the ones at the Indiana State Fair. MMMMmmmm....... Pineapple Whip.... MMMMMmmmm.........

My rust breeches were made of VISA© - America's Freedom Fabric!

All the photos I find of my red mare show her ears back. Not pissy (except when I screwed up), just floppity on hot show days. I never noticed from the saddle.

I never felt the need to sweat HER neck. This guy who was (still is) very into Arabs always asked if she was for sale. "Why?" "Because she has such a nice NECK!"

Dena said...

JR I wanted to add something if I may about the longeing aspect.

I consider the longe to be part of the line training.
That said, it seems to me that a lot of trainers and riders have forgotten or maybe never knew what part longeing plays in training.

Where I come from longeing is an extention of ground control and training.
You may be 20-30 feet away from me but I am still driving the bus.
I am still the pilot.

When I teach a horse to longe it is a prelude to how I want them to perform in all things.
Quietly, attentively, and in a relaxed manner.
It is not free time to act a fool.
That is turn out time.
Neither is it ever meant to tire out.
To me it is time to stretch out, limber up, relax, and get your thinking cap on.
I do not like to imprint youngstock with the thought that longeing is a necessary prelude to riding.
That just becomes another thing they need to be weaned of to become a proper saddle horse.

I know you get that JR. The longeline is just another tool that it seems to me has been greatly misused.
Longeing is another form of a workout.
Another form of exercising.
But I expect the horses I am longing to be as soft on a line as I make them in the halter.

If they turn and face you? You have not done your training.
If, you are constantly braced against the line? That too is incorrect.
And if, you tried to put the whoa on your horse after giving them 20-30 feet of line to run?
That is the wrong order.

It is also a fitting tool for halter horses.
Now I know that halter is recognized as a performance sport.
I just don't see it that way.

Okay I am done. Sorry to be so long.

And thank you for the condolences.

cattypex said...

Some trainers use treadmills to tire out WP horses before they go into the ring.

*sigh*

Cut-N-Jump said...

HP- would you believe the previously mentioned person is a self professed trainer? Yep, hosts clinics for one of her heroes and aspires to dressage...

The horse was bred by a local farm, had trailering issues when younger and still breeder owned. I'm not sure where the wheels fell off, but 3 hours of lunging for a leadline class? Shamtastic advertising at it's finest for your training methods there. *eyeroll*

We lunge every horse before every ride. If they want to buck, snort and race a little, fine. Do it now, before I get on. When they relax and settle themselves down, it's time to mount up. I can't imagine showing without riding the warm up. Last chance to make sure I have my shit straight, signals clear and getting the correct responses.

As a workout for conditioning, a little racy in the beginning- ok I can deal but at some point they need to chill out and behave. When they do, then we ask for a little more work and quit, but not on their terms, on ours.

If they turn towards the center as they stop, ok, but don't come crowding in and invading my space. When spooked, they may just come flying in for reassurance and run me down in the process. Not what I want...

Dena said...

CnJ I must insist that you stop taking all the mystery out of horse training and making it seem and sound so...well practical for lack of a better word.
*giggle*snort*lmao