If you are of that opinion, then don't tell these guys:
I'm rather certain most of these cowboys would be rather offended by my terminology, buts its really a compliment! These are the competitors of the NSPRA, or the Natonal Senior Pro Rodeo Association. In actuality, it's for any competitor aged 40 or older. Most of us probably wouldn't consider 40 "senior" aged, but there are the more "wisened" 60's division as well as 60+. I witnessed a 75 year old bull rider go an entire 8 seconds, get hung up in the rigging, get trampled on and mauled, and then get up and walk off as if nothing happened. Those 60's + men are the type of old hands that put vodka in their prune juice. I'm not even trying to make a funny on that one, I've experienced it firsthand.
My step-father is a "senior" competitor in the 50's division of steer wrestling. Whats more impressive than a 75 year old going toe to toe with a 1500 pound bull? A 24 year old bulldogging horse still competing on a regular basis. Well, it may not be more impressive, but I'm pretty awed regardless. Dan's (my step-father) bulldogging mount is a 24 year old palomino quarter horse. The old guy is long bodied with short legs and one of the most hard to sit strides I have ever experienced (second only to the infamous Anglo-Arab rocking horse, Beau)...but he can do his job. And do it well. Dan's hazing gelding is only a year younger, and his appearance could fool you into thinking he was a mere youngster. Big and powerful, his favorite speed is GO. These guys are the poster-horses for aged equines. They show how long a horse can last, and how healthy and sound they can be in their older age through proper breeding and care.
(Me riding Monster, Dan's 24 year old Bulldogger)
I can't believe how fake the background on this photo looks. It's so perfect, and its entirely real. That folks, is Winnemuca, Nevada for you. Please ignore the chubby girl with her toes pointed out. :)
(My mum with Cinco. Can you believe she is in her 50's? Can you believe he is 23?)
(And Finally, Dan and his hazer Ricky with Monster and Cinco doing what they do.)
So for the people who whine and make excuses for their old, skinny horses. STOP! These horses compete, and they compete hard. They are certainly not underweight, so being OLD isn't an excuse to let your horse stand there and be a skinny mess. These guys get joint supplments, senior feed, and alfalfa. The end. Yes, breeding, structure and proper care over their lifetimes has allot to do with their continued soundness, but good feed and dental work is what keeps them fat and sassy.
I hate people who show me their 17 year old and tell me how they are skinny because they are just "old", or that they are too arthritic, etc. to ride. These are just excuses. You need to get his teeth checked more frequently as he ages. You might *gasp* have to soak his feed so he doesn't have to chew. You might even *double gasp* have to invest in some more expensive senior feeds, or up his grain intake. Also, a 17 year old can be arthritic, but you are just being lazy by saying he is too arthritic to be ridden. Get somes joint injections. Supplement him with MSM. Don't be so freaking irresponsible. When you get old and have arthritis, how about we just lock you in a room without medication and say that you're too arthritic to take you anywhere. Allot of people do just that with older horses.
Speaking of irresponsibility, just look at the colts they were selling raffle tickets for at the Finals last weekend. I was appalled that they were allowed to offer these horses for a prize. Fortunately, it seems that 99% of the cowboys/cowgirls who were competing in Nevada were also disgusted. I think some of the stupid board members who OK'd this entire thing need to be kicked in the head by one of these babies, instead of the six year old whose idiot parents are going to bring home a TWO YEAR OLD and get their child murdered. There were flyers on the walls advertising them as 2, as I previously stated. These were some of the most stunted two year olds I have ever seen. They were all ribby and underweight and conformational mistakes. Not only that, but the smallest of the four was severly wormy with a bloated belly. "Buy a raffle ticket and win a colt for your child for Christmas!" yelled the dumbass breeder over the microphone as he paraded them around the arena.
This colt was probably only 13.3 hh tops. He was ewe necked with a crappy hip and a big old pot belly. The others weren't much better. The horse he was riding around had the most odd shaped hip I had ever seen. Looked like a football. Probably bred that one too.
____________________________________________________
On the continuing note of irresponsibility, I just picked up someone's dropped ball yesterday. As you know, I sold Dez last fall because he was just too small and narrow for me or my fiance. I sold Stella recently because we just couldn't get her in foal, and she didn't have the go I enjoy and was better suited for a beginner or child. That left me with two yearlings and nothing to ride. After spending the entire weekend in Nevada riding broke rodeo horses, I started longing for something (anything really) that was old enough to ride. So, I started looking for something on Craigslit that needed a new home. I was looking for a long two year old or a three year old who was ready to be started, thinking I could get something rather inexpensive with enough quality at that age/training level.
I came across Clyde. Clyde's photo showed an emacciated bay horse with soulful eyes. I emailed the owner. She recognized my name from 4H, years ago. She told me that she had just picked up Clyde and a bay mare (whom she called Molly), from an old man two weeks prior. She said she had taken them in because he could no longer afford to care for them. I gave her a short test ride. She was calm and smooth and I felt comfortable and safe. A great seat nad posture seemed to come naturally on her back. Leslie said she had thrown a saddle on and hopped up without knowing a thing about the mare's training level. She had put on a back cinch and one of those huge fly tassels that slaps them in the belly with every stride. Molly (who I am naming Gypsy), never flinched. She rode her up the mountain through the orchards to see how she would do. I decided I wanted her. She is a 6 yeard old Appendix Quarter Horse, and I MAY be able to get her papers. For $400 I couldn't see her going to anyone else. No, I don't agree with her riding an emaciated mare like she had been. And no, I wouldn't normally get on something that thin, but I wasn't going to get her without a very short, very easy test ride.
We got her home where my fiance was revving his Raptor 660 (a VERY loud quad.) She didn't flinch. Our 5 dogs barked like crazy and jumped around her feet. She didn't seem concerned. She didn't snort and blow and prance around. My yearlings came running to the fence. She sniffed politely but didn't get excited. Mind you, she doesn't act like she is sick or lifeless. She is perky and trots around regardless of her skinny state. Hopefully she doesn't have a hidden demon just waiting for some extra calories to come out, but it doesn't seem like it. She leads respectfully. I clipped her face and bridlepath tonight as she dozed. Someone did allot with this mare. Its sad to see the situation she ended up in.
Her feet are a mess. Her heels are very underslung. These are photos of her feet AFTER the first trim:
PEOPLE! How do you let this happen? Look at that right front. Its like a duck bill. Gah! She had the trim when Leslie first got her, so two weeks ago. Gave her another trim today. She'll get another in two weeks until they can have simply maintanence trims.
And here is her poor, ribby body. I just don't understand people. Leslie says it was an old guy who couldn't afford feed any longer. Why didn't he give up the horses before they starved? Her hind end looks like it used to be much thicker and more muscular...as if she was kept penned up 24/7 and her muscles wasted away. Leslie also said there are rumors that a certain semi-famous country singer actually owned the two horses, but abandoned them when they didn't work for what she wanted to do. Just pure rumour, but who knows.
This photo is actually decieving. The sun was setting so there isn't much light on her, and it makes her look less skinny than she actually is. She also has half of a winter coat already, that obscures her ribs. If you get up next to her, her spine is jutting pretty badly. I see a diamond in the rough here. What I don't like? She has longer cannon bones than I like, but she IS half thoroughbred (An Appendix Quarter Horse is a Thoroughbred/Quarter Cross that can be registered with the AQHA). She is 15.1-15.2 hh (haven't sticked her yet.) She is somewhat sickle-hocked, but not to a degree that I would consider it a big concern. She also is longer in the pasterns than I like, but I always boot up and protect the legs as best I can.
Beyond that, she is longer in the back than I like and there is something about her hip that bothers me...but I will wait until she gains weight and muscle back to make a clear assesment. I have a feeling her lack of substance is what is making me raise an eyebrow. Beyond that, she has a perfect shoulder angle (if she puts her front legs direclty under her its exactly 45 degrees). Her neck is a bit thin to my liking, but hopefully that is simply because she is thin all over right now. It comes out of her chest well and is long and balanced. She is level over the top and perhaps even slightly uphill with prominent withers that aren't TOO prominent. She has clean legs, a long hip with a great slope to it, and an adorable face. She also has a lush mane and tail that just needs a little TLC. No, you can't ride the mane and tail, or the head...but its always a plus. She has flaws, but she is balanced with the right angles and everything is attached smoothly and in the correct manner. She travels very level and feels like a dream.
I can't wait to get her back in shape and start unlocking her secrets. I want to do gaming again (barrels, poles, keyhole, etc.) I'd also like to do some breakaway and team penning. Beyond that, I've always loved HUS and low level jumping, so I might do some of that with her as well. We'll see if she can be an all-rounder. She certainly has the mind and heart. I clipped her and she was a doll. I'll post photos of her clipped up face in a couple of days along with her second trim photos. I plan to start hand walking her a little each day to helpe build up some muscle wihout slowing down her weight gain. I might started riding her at a walk in a few weeks if she makes good progress. Wish us luck!
I'm rather certain most of these cowboys would be rather offended by my terminology, buts its really a compliment! These are the competitors of the NSPRA, or the Natonal Senior Pro Rodeo Association. In actuality, it's for any competitor aged 40 or older. Most of us probably wouldn't consider 40 "senior" aged, but there are the more "wisened" 60's division as well as 60+. I witnessed a 75 year old bull rider go an entire 8 seconds, get hung up in the rigging, get trampled on and mauled, and then get up and walk off as if nothing happened. Those 60's + men are the type of old hands that put vodka in their prune juice. I'm not even trying to make a funny on that one, I've experienced it firsthand.
My step-father is a "senior" competitor in the 50's division of steer wrestling. Whats more impressive than a 75 year old going toe to toe with a 1500 pound bull? A 24 year old bulldogging horse still competing on a regular basis. Well, it may not be more impressive, but I'm pretty awed regardless. Dan's (my step-father) bulldogging mount is a 24 year old palomino quarter horse. The old guy is long bodied with short legs and one of the most hard to sit strides I have ever experienced (second only to the infamous Anglo-Arab rocking horse, Beau)...but he can do his job. And do it well. Dan's hazing gelding is only a year younger, and his appearance could fool you into thinking he was a mere youngster. Big and powerful, his favorite speed is GO. These guys are the poster-horses for aged equines. They show how long a horse can last, and how healthy and sound they can be in their older age through proper breeding and care.
(Me riding Monster, Dan's 24 year old Bulldogger)
I can't believe how fake the background on this photo looks. It's so perfect, and its entirely real. That folks, is Winnemuca, Nevada for you. Please ignore the chubby girl with her toes pointed out. :)
(My mum with Cinco. Can you believe she is in her 50's? Can you believe he is 23?)
(And Finally, Dan and his hazer Ricky with Monster and Cinco doing what they do.)So for the people who whine and make excuses for their old, skinny horses. STOP! These horses compete, and they compete hard. They are certainly not underweight, so being OLD isn't an excuse to let your horse stand there and be a skinny mess. These guys get joint supplments, senior feed, and alfalfa. The end. Yes, breeding, structure and proper care over their lifetimes has allot to do with their continued soundness, but good feed and dental work is what keeps them fat and sassy.
I hate people who show me their 17 year old and tell me how they are skinny because they are just "old", or that they are too arthritic, etc. to ride. These are just excuses. You need to get his teeth checked more frequently as he ages. You might *gasp* have to soak his feed so he doesn't have to chew. You might even *double gasp* have to invest in some more expensive senior feeds, or up his grain intake. Also, a 17 year old can be arthritic, but you are just being lazy by saying he is too arthritic to be ridden. Get somes joint injections. Supplement him with MSM. Don't be so freaking irresponsible. When you get old and have arthritis, how about we just lock you in a room without medication and say that you're too arthritic to take you anywhere. Allot of people do just that with older horses.
Speaking of irresponsibility, just look at the colts they were selling raffle tickets for at the Finals last weekend. I was appalled that they were allowed to offer these horses for a prize. Fortunately, it seems that 99% of the cowboys/cowgirls who were competing in Nevada were also disgusted. I think some of the stupid board members who OK'd this entire thing need to be kicked in the head by one of these babies, instead of the six year old whose idiot parents are going to bring home a TWO YEAR OLD and get their child murdered. There were flyers on the walls advertising them as 2, as I previously stated. These were some of the most stunted two year olds I have ever seen. They were all ribby and underweight and conformational mistakes. Not only that, but the smallest of the four was severly wormy with a bloated belly. "Buy a raffle ticket and win a colt for your child for Christmas!" yelled the dumbass breeder over the microphone as he paraded them around the arena.
This colt was probably only 13.3 hh tops. He was ewe necked with a crappy hip and a big old pot belly. The others weren't much better. The horse he was riding around had the most odd shaped hip I had ever seen. Looked like a football. Probably bred that one too.____________________________________________________
On the continuing note of irresponsibility, I just picked up someone's dropped ball yesterday. As you know, I sold Dez last fall because he was just too small and narrow for me or my fiance. I sold Stella recently because we just couldn't get her in foal, and she didn't have the go I enjoy and was better suited for a beginner or child. That left me with two yearlings and nothing to ride. After spending the entire weekend in Nevada riding broke rodeo horses, I started longing for something (anything really) that was old enough to ride. So, I started looking for something on Craigslit that needed a new home. I was looking for a long two year old or a three year old who was ready to be started, thinking I could get something rather inexpensive with enough quality at that age/training level.
I came across Clyde. Clyde's photo showed an emacciated bay horse with soulful eyes. I emailed the owner. She recognized my name from 4H, years ago. She told me that she had just picked up Clyde and a bay mare (whom she called Molly), from an old man two weeks prior. She said she had taken them in because he could no longer afford to care for them. I gave her a short test ride. She was calm and smooth and I felt comfortable and safe. A great seat nad posture seemed to come naturally on her back. Leslie said she had thrown a saddle on and hopped up without knowing a thing about the mare's training level. She had put on a back cinch and one of those huge fly tassels that slaps them in the belly with every stride. Molly (who I am naming Gypsy), never flinched. She rode her up the mountain through the orchards to see how she would do. I decided I wanted her. She is a 6 yeard old Appendix Quarter Horse, and I MAY be able to get her papers. For $400 I couldn't see her going to anyone else. No, I don't agree with her riding an emaciated mare like she had been. And no, I wouldn't normally get on something that thin, but I wasn't going to get her without a very short, very easy test ride.
We got her home where my fiance was revving his Raptor 660 (a VERY loud quad.) She didn't flinch. Our 5 dogs barked like crazy and jumped around her feet. She didn't seem concerned. She didn't snort and blow and prance around. My yearlings came running to the fence. She sniffed politely but didn't get excited. Mind you, she doesn't act like she is sick or lifeless. She is perky and trots around regardless of her skinny state. Hopefully she doesn't have a hidden demon just waiting for some extra calories to come out, but it doesn't seem like it. She leads respectfully. I clipped her face and bridlepath tonight as she dozed. Someone did allot with this mare. Its sad to see the situation she ended up in.
Her feet are a mess. Her heels are very underslung. These are photos of her feet AFTER the first trim:
PEOPLE! How do you let this happen? Look at that right front. Its like a duck bill. Gah! She had the trim when Leslie first got her, so two weeks ago. Gave her another trim today. She'll get another in two weeks until they can have simply maintanence trims.
And here is her poor, ribby body. I just don't understand people. Leslie says it was an old guy who couldn't afford feed any longer. Why didn't he give up the horses before they starved? Her hind end looks like it used to be much thicker and more muscular...as if she was kept penned up 24/7 and her muscles wasted away. Leslie also said there are rumors that a certain semi-famous country singer actually owned the two horses, but abandoned them when they didn't work for what she wanted to do. Just pure rumour, but who knows.
This photo is actually decieving. The sun was setting so there isn't much light on her, and it makes her look less skinny than she actually is. She also has half of a winter coat already, that obscures her ribs. If you get up next to her, her spine is jutting pretty badly. I see a diamond in the rough here. What I don't like? She has longer cannon bones than I like, but she IS half thoroughbred (An Appendix Quarter Horse is a Thoroughbred/Quarter Cross that can be registered with the AQHA). She is 15.1-15.2 hh (haven't sticked her yet.) She is somewhat sickle-hocked, but not to a degree that I would consider it a big concern. She also is longer in the pasterns than I like, but I always boot up and protect the legs as best I can.
Beyond that, she is longer in the back than I like and there is something about her hip that bothers me...but I will wait until she gains weight and muscle back to make a clear assesment. I have a feeling her lack of substance is what is making me raise an eyebrow. Beyond that, she has a perfect shoulder angle (if she puts her front legs direclty under her its exactly 45 degrees). Her neck is a bit thin to my liking, but hopefully that is simply because she is thin all over right now. It comes out of her chest well and is long and balanced. She is level over the top and perhaps even slightly uphill with prominent withers that aren't TOO prominent. She has clean legs, a long hip with a great slope to it, and an adorable face. She also has a lush mane and tail that just needs a little TLC. No, you can't ride the mane and tail, or the head...but its always a plus. She has flaws, but she is balanced with the right angles and everything is attached smoothly and in the correct manner. She travels very level and feels like a dream.
I can't wait to get her back in shape and start unlocking her secrets. I want to do gaming again (barrels, poles, keyhole, etc.) I'd also like to do some breakaway and team penning. Beyond that, I've always loved HUS and low level jumping, so I might do some of that with her as well. We'll see if she can be an all-rounder. She certainly has the mind and heart. I clipped her and she was a doll. I'll post photos of her clipped up face in a couple of days along with her second trim photos. I plan to start hand walking her a little each day to helpe build up some muscle wihout slowing down her weight gain. I might started riding her at a walk in a few weeks if she makes good progress. Wish us luck!
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