If i had a Horse....

[scott41069]

i want a mean one like this.... ;D

[mamaflinter]

Oh my! I wonder how the rider faired in all that? Obviously the horse had a rider at one point.

[scott41069]

I dont know the story but my guess is by seeing the dogs in the background that they had already shot the cougar and the Horse (i think its really a mule) got honery with it...

[mamaflinter]

Actually I think the horse is a wild (or once wild) mustang. This same thing went through a mustang mailing list I'm in about a week ago, but I couldn't see the images in the email and couldn't figure out what they were talking about.

[acal]

I had a stallion that would without a doubt not let anyone but me ride him ! He would get you off his back in no time, if you could get into the saddle. But that hore is MEAN ! ! ! Are these pictures for real ?

[mamaflinter]

I do believe the pictures are real.


Not to be smart in what I am about to say, but I do believe that there are certain people that could work with that stallion and eventually (not saying it will happen overnight) be able to ride him.

[acal]

With 20 years of experience, this stallion took a bit for me to get him to accept other riders, but he eventually did so. He had so much trust and loyalty for me that it was tough for him to trust others. Fact is, when we showed him under saddle for the first time-he cleaned house, as they saying goes; and he did so with my daughter riding him.

[mamaflinter]

Wow that is awesome. Might I ask what breed the horse is/was? Do you still have the horse? Are you still involved with horses? What types of riding do you do?

[acal]

Hello Mammaflinter,

My stallion was a purebred Arabian. I bought him the day they weaned him and he was not a trusting soul, but with a lot of patience and knowing how to "read" the little guy, he eventually gained trust in me and looked forward to my coming around and being trained. He was never out of the ribbons, top three, when we showed him at halter and eventually doing the same when he was sound enough to be shown under saddle. We always trained our horses in the ring and on trail rides. Very basically speaking, every training session always progressed from the ground and then to doing the same training from the saddle. We also made sure that the horses had time to be horses and not be locked up in a stall as a lot of show horses are kept. Consequently, we really didn't have a lot of attitude/behavior problems; minor problems, but well manered and behaved horses that were WILLING to do as the rider asked it. Any horse that had an attitude that couldnot be trained out, or was dangerous did not stay

I, my wife and two daughters showed western pleasure, equitation, trail class, western riding. My wife and daughters also showed Saddle seat, hunt seat and dressage.

Sad to say we are no longer with horses.

Hope you get the same enjoyment and more with your horse, as we did

[mamaflinter]

That remains to be seen. You see I hae come to the realization that I have a fear of riding. Here is the explanation why. This was a post I made on a mustang list I belong to.

I've been watching this thread but haven't said anything until now. I agree with Nan. It sounds very sensible to me.
I must admit that I too have a fear of riding horses. I've just come to the realization of it a short time ago. I never was around horses much growing up except at things like summer camp. When I was chatting with an online friend of 5 years (this chat was about a month or so ago) he told me he was going to give me a mustang next summer. I began to get fearful since I was uncertain what I would do with this horse. At that time I had no fear of riding, just in making sure I could properly care for him. So my husband thought he would call a friend of his who owned horses and ask him to show us the basics and allow us to ride. When we got over there, he had 4 horses on this one parcel of property. Apparently he has many more horses/mules on other parcels. He chose a gelding for us to ride. My children get up and go a bit and all was well. Even my first trip up and back the path was well. The second time the horse was exhibiting what they call barn balking. He is a racking horse. He did this hopping/jumping thing while we were on a decline and I about went over his head. But determined that I wouldn't fall off this horse, I threw my right arm around his neck hoping I could hang on and when I FINALLY got the horse stopped, my right leg was out of stirrup, right arm around neck, and my left arm had a hold of the reins just where they attach to bridle. But I maintained staying on the horse and got him stopped. Owner was watching the whole event unfold next to hubby. I was going to allow horse to walk down the path, but when I let pressure off the reins he began the hoppy/jumpy thing again. So I made him stop as I couldn't get my foot back in stirrups and had no leverage. It was then that the owner came over and lead the horse down the path.
When I got home, I went into the bathroom to survey the damage. I had a teacup sized bruise already forming on my right leg hit the saddle horn. Not only did a bruise myself, I put a knot on both my leg and my pelvis.
Before this day, the last horse I was on was a pinto colored horse. The owner had broken her arm and was unable to ride. I had gone with my cousin to visit and she let me ride the horse. I found out later that the person she had paid to ride the horse only rode the horse at one speed RUN. Well off we go and all is well and from what I can remember I guess I must have gave him his head a bit and off he goes. I'm hanging on for dear life and he goes around a corner. I see fence up ahead and I'm thinking to self "will I fall off or be thrown". Horse stops just shy of jumping fence. Again I just about go over horses head but didn't fall off.
Now let me say that lessons are not a possibility at this time. I don't know if they will be a possibility before my mustang arrives next year or not. But I can tell you that I live in the mountains and I will be nervous when I take him riding when we have to go on a decline just because of the racking horse. My friend assures me he will be well suited for a novice rider. Since he trains horses for a living, I'm taking him at his word. If after I get the horse home and get to ride, I feel I can't handle him, I'll call my friend back and give him back. But the point is that there are several people getting into horses later in life and don't have the background to have much confidence YET. It takes time.

Sorry for the long post.

Donna

[mamaflinter]

Scott and to anyone else interested. Here is the story behind those pictures.

"These pics came from a co-workers dad in AZ. Yes the Mule, killed the mountain lion. The lion had been stalking them for the better part of the morning, on the way out to a hunt. They were pretty sure it was after a
dog. The cat apparently ambushed them, and the mule pictured tossed its rider and went into attack(defense) mode, the horses scattered and shots were fired but no one was sure if they hit the cat or not. Unfortunately,
the battle was decently long, and it wasn't until it was almost over that one of the guys started snapping pics."

[Tenbears]

Mammaflinter
Your fear of Riding. Is a well founded one. Although I understand it. I do not understand how any horse person can put someone on a horse that is not suited to the riders experience, or ability. Your friend did you no favor by allowing you to ride. In fact he seriously hindered you confidence. I do not know what kind of horseman your friend is. and am not trying to insult him, or you for that matter. But anyone with any sense does not put a novice rider on a horse they are not absolutely sure will behave impeccably. No one I do not know their abilities ever mounts one of my horses without me first riding the horse to be sure it is in a working frame of mind. Even those that tell me they have rode all their lives. I just have to see it for myself first.
Your experience was a bad one. One that has etched fears, and apprehension deeply into your mind. And for that I blame your friend. His poor judgment resulted in a problem you must now overcome. Had you been put on a horse that was well behaved, and well disciplined your second ride would have overcome your first experience. The lack of good judgment has done nothing but reinforce an underlying fear that was seeded long ago.
Shame on your friend. But take from the experience a lesson or two. Not everyone that owns horses is an instructor, Horseman, or aware of potential hazards.
And until you are confident in your abilities. Never get on a horse that someone you know, trust, and knows your abilities has not ridden first.
My wife is an excellent rider. She has won more ribbons than I could ever hope to. However rarely does she get on a horse she does not know. Unless I have been on it first. Yes, She is an excellent rider. and rarely have I ever seen her thrown. But when It comes to rank, obnoxious horses. I am the one least likely to come off. or get hurt. So I evaluate all the horses. This way I can tell her what to watch for when she begins working the horse.

[mamaflinter]

This makes much sense to me. Before I made the trip to PA, another friend came over and decided to throw a leg over Star to see what her reaction would be to having a rider on her. She showed no reaction at all to having a rider or walking with the rider. He had me get on her and I will admit that I was nervous at bein on a horse bare back and the horse showed me that she was nervous over my being nervous with "awkward" type walking, but she never balked or anything.

It will take much persistence on my part to get over this fear I have and I think that I can do it if I ensure that I take it very slowly.

Remember those instructions you gave me as I will have you ride Rodeo first when you bring him to me. I don't want to make him nervous the first time I mount him, nor do I want to escalate my fears even higher than they already are.

[Easystyle]

Riding fears like any others are hard to overcome , but it can be done.
if at first you are only comfortable being on a horse while someone leads it, then that is what you do. you have to overcome this fear at your own pace, no matter what anyone else says you can do, only you know how you feel inside, do not be pressured into doing more then you are comfortable with sooner then you are comfortable with it. if you allow yourself to be pressured or pushed or riduculed into something sooner then you are ready, I guarantee something will go wrong again and it will only reinforce the fears you already have, maybe to a point of no return. trust me a wonderful well trained old horse is a real confidence booster. and does wonders for the spirit as well. but it will take time and a heartful of desire to undo the feelings you now have

[mamaflinter]

Tina Yes I understand that it will take much persistence and patience on my part My biggest fear since the riding incident is that the horse will want to take off with me and that I won't be able to stop him (or her). I was doing ok on Star while being lead until she (at least it felt this way) slipped a little. Then I thought she was going to fall or something. I know she cold feel my nervousness and she began expressing nervous steps.