Sometimes It’s Easy
The benefit of having a bunch of horses to ride is you get to see how each one is different. Sure keeps ya thinking and trying to learn. But every once in a while you run into one that does the teaching. I’m fortunate to have one like that in our lot now.
Brandy…AQHA “Sweet Donna Twist”…She learns things so quick you gotta be ready to move along when you step up on her. It’s sort of a process of show her what to do, refine it so she does it nice, then let her show you what it feels like when it’s done right.
She has tons of natural ability. Even fairly advanced moves seem easy for her. Never really get that clumsy feeling most of them have when their learning. She works with a lot of “float” in the reins and seems very comfortable being collected and flexed. She works in a smooth 3/8″ snaffle. Just a shake of the rein gets a response.
Brandy was originally a Christmas present for my wife Chris. She wanted a baby horse and I found an internet ad for a place selling a bunch of bred mares by their stallions. Well the prices ranged from “yeah we could that” to “people really have that kinda money?”. Brandy was part of the first group. Dirt cheap. Pasture bred to “Joeledojack” an AQHA palomino stallion. I really liked “Joe” because I look for disposition first. But he had everything else to go with it.
So now we have to find out why “Brandy” was “dirt cheap”. Well when they let her out of the stall into a small indoor round pen I found out why….bronc. 3 years old, recently from an Iowa ranch and never really handled. But she showed her athletic abilities in that little pen. Changed leads, spun on her back end and slid to stops. And bucked…a lot. Being that most of the owners clients were halter and western pleasure folks, Brandy’s price fell into the toilet. When the lady told me the price I told Chris not to walk but run to the truck and get the checkbook.
When we first got her home the farrier charged me an extra 10 bucks for her cause she was such a handful…and I gladly paid it. Now I think my 3 year old granddaughter could pick her feet up and trim her. I can no longer say I’ve never seen a horse lope in a 10′x12′ stall. That happened first time with fly spray. Last time I had my granddaughter in the saddle with me Chris sprayed Brandy head to toe with fly spray. My first few rides on her were worth the price of admission. Especially the one where she tried to throw me into a water trough.
The best thing about it is “Jack”, our yearling stud colt is out of Brandy. I’ve always felt that horses get their athleticism from their dad and their brains and disposition from their mom. I think I see that in Jack. He’s got some awful high expectations to meet but I think he’ll be up to it. And I think Bandit and Junior told him about that gelding thing so he knows he better be good.
They say good horses make good trainers. It’s a matter of having one that’ll teach you what it’s supposed to feel and look like. The ones that make it seem easy. Then when another doesn’t quite “get it” you ain’t confused right along with em. I’ve got a darned long way to bein a good trainer. But at least I got a good teacher.
I recently watched a couple videos by Larry Rose. He ain’t much for words. Most of the video is him training…no talking. Great videos and I highly recommend them by the way. But the one thing he does say in both videos is “if you find a good horse, buy it”. Makes a whole lot sense once you know what he means.