tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post7924953597421739963..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Open HorsesMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-29359452457770759482015-02-17T08:02:43.169-07:002015-02-17T08:02:43.169-07:00I own huskies. I talk about them a lot here, but t...I own huskies. I talk about them a lot here, but they're a driven and interesting mind. They aren't hard to own for people who haven't developed a "feel" for dogs. But they can be. The really driven ones can be. They are rarely going to get dangerous, but they'll destroy your couch, eat your neighbor's cat, and dig out of your yard. I love that about them. I love feeling their energy, and their love for life. I love using that to push me to keep moving and staying active.<br /><br />The same with my horse. He's not a pro-quality dressage horse. His movement is mediocre, and his arthritis will keep him from true extensions. But he has that pro-attitude. He's demanding and sensitive and requires that his rider puts in the time to learn and understand his training and the way he communicates. It's not an impossible task, but it's one that takes dedication and a little talent to learn. <br /><br />The same as learning to write well. Or be a good public speaker. Or a swat team member. Or a football player. Or ... anything that requires you to understand and in some ways manipulate the emotions, actions, and reactions of those around you. You can learn to read a crowd, or you can learn to read an animal. Both take time and experience.Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-51202141216869683942015-02-03T17:02:07.889-07:002015-02-03T17:02:07.889-07:00Personally I've found that there isn't muc...Personally I've found that there isn't much difference between most high level horses and normal horses - with the exception of of some of the very, very top ones (as in FEI World Champs top 10 horses) - these horses just seem to have that bit extra attitude that can be a bit much for "normals" to handle. <br />I wouldn't call myself a trainer, however I turned a few slow racehorses into reasonable horses for mid/low level show jumping, eventing, trail riding and general stuff - including being able to help round up our small mob of sheep. (The only horse that completely failed at this was the 17hh + TB - her turning circle and ability to follow stock was abysmal!) <br />These horses went on to become long term horses of their owners, I spent a lot of time teaching them to tolerate all sorts of things - having abandoned live lambs placed in front of the saddle to get them up to the yards, walking with me as I dragged jump rails into position, bush bashing out on trails. Some of these started off a bit jumpy but teaching them tolerance for stupid human stuff makes them so much less likely to end up in a bad place. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705417333700162861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-6664214534097590172015-01-31T14:58:55.597-07:002015-01-31T14:58:55.597-07:00Training enduring horses who stay with their peopl...Training enduring horses who stay with their people long term - definitely something to be very proud of in my book. :)Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349843561587332639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-16952412560370024252015-01-30T10:09:31.433-07:002015-01-30T10:09:31.433-07:00So very spot on! Although, I don't think being...So very spot on! Although, I don't think being permissive in dog training is breed exclusive. The brattiest, most ill-behaved dogs I see at the vets are the little frou-frou dogs, usually dressed in a sweater and named Precious. Or Heaven.<br /><br />Amy in OhioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-219210732487137992015-01-27T12:54:30.098-07:002015-01-27T12:54:30.098-07:00"the most satisfaction I get is when I see cl..."the most satisfaction I get is when I see clients from 10 and 15 years ago, still mounted on horses I trained for them" - love that!Peanuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15241198497115465345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-51011541169442587152015-01-26T17:23:11.210-07:002015-01-26T17:23:11.210-07:00I had never heard of Malinois before, so I googled...I had never heard of Malinois before, so I googled. What beautiful, beautiful dogs.<br /><br />Mugs, your last comment is so spot on.Helenhttp://castironbalcony.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87975689395913408502015-01-26T15:34:13.629-07:002015-01-26T15:34:13.629-07:00Scamp- I ended up deciding that my talents were be...Scamp- I ended up deciding that my talents were best used creating nice horses. If they were good cow horses it was an awesome bonus...but the most satisfaction I get is when I see clients from 10 and 15 years ago, still mounted on horses I trained for them. I realized I gave horses longevity...which is more than enough to make me feel it was a career well spent.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-65300761019662286542015-01-26T08:59:43.900-07:002015-01-26T08:59:43.900-07:00This post speaks to me, too. I think my new horse ...This post speaks to me, too. I think my new horse may fall into this category - he's not *easy* but he's forgiving. And when the trainer rode him last season in a fairly big NRHA show out here, he scored a 72.5 on him to win the class. <br /><br />I aspire to be able to ride him to his full potential, in all my almost 60yo, amateur, and new to reining glory , but will be thrilled to be able to bond with him as his new partner and not drive him crazy with my mistakes. <br /><br />Scamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04236918959046980355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-21101638887757712642015-01-26T08:54:22.712-07:002015-01-26T08:54:22.712-07:00Great post. I had horses as a kid and love them t...Great post. I had horses as a kid and love them to this day. Your blog has been so interesting. Besides the fact that you write so well, you do a lot of thoughtful posts that make me think. I’ve followed your life with Brockle and am impressed with the way you researched it and the way you have been working with him. So many people only take on a dog that is as problem free as possible and just dump the less than perfect ones in the shelter/rescue.<br /><br />I foster dogs for Malinois Rescue and get very impatient with the kind of people you were describing in this post. The “if you can’t handle a Mal, you are incompetent and your kids are stupid” ones. I will say I do think Mals are wonderful, insanely smart dogs who are not for everyone, but must because you do not want to train your Mal to the nth degree in protection/agility/obedience/ something does not make someone a bad or stupid person. I give my personal Mals plenty of exercise and love but not a lot of structured training and they are fine dogs. I just try to ignore the idiots.<br /><br />Again, great post and I’m looking forward to the post with the results of Brockle’s DNA results. Should be interesting.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15409004219738609732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-17457836499694899642015-01-26T04:55:39.803-07:002015-01-26T04:55:39.803-07:00But most of the judges are trainers, and I believe...But most of the judges are trainers, and I believe it is human nature to give extra points to the coolest new way to get the job done. I believe it probably starts with one day, the best horse in the pen has this little quirk, perhaps a banded mane, or a super low head set. Of course he wins, he is the best horse in the pen. Then the rest of the exhibitors, who of course want to win, pick up on that quirk, copy it, and poof, you have the next trend. <br /><br />I was blessed with one of those "open/ammy" horses, too. It was not quite as rare 40 years ago, but my youth mare had more open points (with me in the saddle) in reining, western riding and trail than she did youth points. That was before amateur even existed.Sharon Burdeshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425618522911569080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-40166526648139563792015-01-26T04:55:38.906-07:002015-01-26T04:55:38.906-07:00But most of the judges are trainers, and I believe...But most of the judges are trainers, and I believe it is human nature to give extra points to the coolest new way to get the job done. I believe it probably starts with one day, the best horse in the pen has this little quirk, perhaps a banded mane, or a super low head set. Of course he wins, he is the best horse in the pen. Then the rest of the exhibitors, who of course want to win, pick up on that quirk, copy it, and poof, you have the next trend. <br /><br />I was blessed with one of those "open/ammy" horses, too. It was not quite as rare 40 years ago, but my youth mare had more open points (with me in the saddle) in reining, western riding and trail than she did youth points. That was before amateur even existed.Sharon Burdeshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425618522911569080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-29613432537707752622015-01-25T21:22:18.492-07:002015-01-25T21:22:18.492-07:00Nah, don't blame the trainers. They train what...Nah, don't blame the trainers. They train what the judges score.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-61484918413233952372015-01-24T13:34:32.357-07:002015-01-24T13:34:32.357-07:00I think you are very right about ALL of this. In ...I think you are very right about ALL of this. In fact, I hold the belief that some of the weird stuff you see in the open pen is to justify the trainers, not to make a better horse. For example, the extreme low headed round reiner, or the magically slow and (supposedly) correct western pleasure horse.Sharon Burdeshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425618522911569080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-6170601666609421362015-01-24T07:39:36.371-07:002015-01-24T07:39:36.371-07:00Ohmigosh yes, yes YES!!Ohmigosh yes, yes YES!!cdncowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09055181472294995601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-52223277817677130862015-01-23T20:44:53.935-07:002015-01-23T20:44:53.935-07:00Loved this one Mugs. Spoke to me on many levels. T...Loved this one Mugs. Spoke to me on many levels. Thank you.<br /><br />MichelleLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-13548590722532398332015-01-23T13:18:59.826-07:002015-01-23T13:18:59.826-07:00I have known too many amateur riders that top the ...I have known too many amateur riders that top the open classes to separate them any more.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-77234889564046455542015-01-23T13:18:17.874-07:002015-01-23T13:18:17.874-07:00That's what I'm talking about.That's what I'm talking about.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-89083488148425268172015-01-23T13:01:51.435-07:002015-01-23T13:01:51.435-07:00Really love this post, and (as always) has me thin...Really love this post, and (as always) has me thinking. I'm right there with you when you say the Non-pro horse is priceless. To me, a truly priceless horse though is a horse like Oh Cay Felix that won both the open, and amateur NCHA futurity in 2006. A horse that is gritty, smart and trained enough that they can literally switch their brain from an amateur ride to an open ride, and win both, is pretty incredible.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03119897669944588627noreply@blogger.com