January 02nd, 2015

I bought a mini. Now what does that have to do with barrel racing? Well, nothing really, but this is more about attitude. She is little, 33" at the wither, and overall she is really good. She rides, she drives, she is great with kids, but man is she trotty. For the list of things I liked about her in that week trial, there as also some stuff I didn't like. Every horse will have their quirk and you have to figure hot what you can live with right? Well to a degree yes that is true, but every horse no matter age or size can still learn. She tried to kick me one day, could I have let it go because it was honestly kind of cute. 33" kicking their little hinny up to get you in your shin, but instead you got a whipping. She has not tried it since or even acted like it. I'm not sayif a beating, but one good spank across her butt. Now what is the point to all this? It has absolutely nothing to do with the pattern, picking a horse, or anything, so this is a waste of time, right? Well just follow me for a minute. I got it into my head with this mare that I was going to live with her few quirks (trotting off on the lead, about to mow me over, etc) because she did so good elsewhere. I used to do that with my good barrel horse. He used to come wide off my third, like you weren't getting his nose, but I was still winning money so it wasn't a terrible issue. It kept going on and on and on until guess what? Finally that not getting his nose led to him not turning at all and he would run me down the panel from the third barrel because I had let the issue go for so long. One of my lessons horses is great to my students but is a complete jerk to me. Anyone can ride him, he will ride brideles thru the pattern, le lopes the best circles, but he will bite me and even act like he wants to kick me. And giving him a spanking? It doesn't do anything but really blow him up. Back to the mini. I started workig with her, now I can walk in her stall where she's waiting by the door and she gets a treat, halters, waits while I open the door, still waits then only when I say ok and walk out does she. She's not so trotty, isn't pushy, has started coming to me in the pasture, and when our big cactus scares her whenever she backs into it, I am the one she runs to. My barrel horse doesn't get by with not giving that nose. Not any. Horses learn we will never discipline them during a real run so they take advantage. If you hit a barrel or blow off it completely wide and have been for weeks, swallow the entry fee and fix it. I believe it with my whole heart you need to fix an issue right then. One entry fee is not worth your whole season. My big horse that's so crabby? We have been doing some serious ground manners on respect, and are slowly starting to make progress. I'm not against spoilingy horses, they are all rotten, but also they don't need to be 1,000 pound unruly brats. They have it made; are fed great, don't get cold, wet, to hot, or even have to work to hard, so or me to ask for a bit of personal space or respect is not to much. Some are always good, and some you have to constantly stay on your toes for it. Just remember even a 33" 300lb mini can become that nightmare.