Re: Barn sour/herd wanting horse LOOONG!

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 6:04 AM
Subject: RC: Barn sour/herd wanting horse


> Went and looked at an absolutely super horse for possible purchase
yesterday.
> He's *exactly* what I need at this point in my life: gaited,older(15),
done
> hundreds (if not thousands) of miles of trails, sound, big-bodied,
dog-like
> temperament.  ONLY problem: owner freely admitted he hadn't been ridden
since
> last fall, so I rode him and she rode another horse out through their big
back
> field, and around some trails.  He was super until I made him go away from
> home and friend.  Once he could see home and pal in the distance he
started
> doing the freight train (chug, chug, nicker, nicker, prance).  He was
> definately NOT out of my control, and I did NOT feel afraid, but it
worried
> me.  The owner swears up and down that it's because of the winter layover,
> that he "works out of it" once she starts seriously riding him in the
spring,
> etc, but I don't know if I believe that.  I will be doing lots of solitary
> riding, and need to know if this is a "treatable offense", is it worth
working
> with (knowing everything else about him is great), or will it make the
second
> half of every ride (once I turn for home) unbearable?  I would appreciate
any
> words of wisdom you could share.  Thanks.
> Terri Radandt
> in Michigan's beautiful U.P.
> and Woody (bring me a friend home, yeah!)

Hi Theresa,
I am a relative neophyte. Got my first horse seven years ago. He was a green
broke four year old Arab. Good temperment and georgeous. I had about two
months of lessons under my belt and that was the extent of my riding. I was
57 years old. Sooooo, we had lots of issues. Crossing a bridge, crossing
water, crow hopping when the other horses got ahead on the trail, being a
compplete idiot at the start of an endurance ride....(they really know the
difference somehow between a training ride and an endurance ride) you name
it, we had to learn to deal with it. I now know that he also had to deal
with an unbalanced, insecure rider on his back and this sure could not have
helped. Within a year, I had aquired two more horses and Taj was always the
horse that I would offer to less experienced riders because I knew he would
be sensible. (Of course, I have learned and will not put inexperienced
riders on any of my horses. I don't think it is fair to the horse. I put too
much time and efffort into developing good, light, responsive horses).  My
trainer has a saying in which I am beginning to see the sense, "my horse is
like my underwear. No one borrows it."
I have also seen two of my horses foaled here at home and my first baby
completed three 25's last year and will start her 50 mile rides this year. I
now have five horses ( at one time had seven). I can say with certainty that
with whatever horse you may get, there will be issues. Crow hopping when on
trail and other horses get far ahead is just one of the things that you will
have to work out. I have to work on this whenever I take out my four year
old. Not a giant issue in my opinion. John Lyons has a well described method
of dealing with this particular issue. You can find it in his "Perfect
Horse" monthly periodical. Just ask them to check the archives. Or get his
book Lyons on Horses. But I am sure there are any number of methods of
handling the "barn sour" horse. Although it may be that your prospect may
not even have this as a major issue. I would say that if this is the biggest
thing that makes you hesitate......get that horse. Just be sure to get a pre
purchase exam. And if you are relatively inexperienced as a rider, it may be
a good idea to have a talented, experienced rider take him out on trail. I
actually hired an old cowboy to go with me to take a look at Taj. He told me
later that he had gone away from the barn with Taj and been "unfair to the
horse" just to see what the horse's reaction would be. Would he come
unglued? Would he rear or buck? He told me that the "unfair" he spoke of
included pulling on him, kicking him in the sides for no reason, and in
general doing many of the things an unskilled rider might do inadvertently.
When he rode Taj back to the barn he announced, "Yep. He's a good safe horse
for you". (and he has been a wonderful horse in all respects).
Now I do not advise anyone to be unfair with a horse and I certainly would
not want anyone to do that with one of my horses, but with that as
background, there are many things a good rider can do, and still be fair
with the horse to find out whether they have the temperment to handle a less
experienced rider. Issues you will always have. How you and the horse
address these issues are the key to developing a good partnership. Having a
kind temperment and being sensible are far and away more important than the
level of training the horse has had, in my opinion. Good luck with whatever
horse you decide upon. Your prospect does sound wonderful.
Pat Super
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