Re: Re: bad boys

["Becky Huffman" <tos@htcomp.net>]

This is crazy IMO, not humble - and no apologies.

I have worked with stallions, and I consider temperament to be AS important
as conformation, and I also consider emotional stability to be extremely
important in the mix.  ...and not just stallions... *all* horses.!!!

I have two colts that I am raising that will be my stallions, (a yearling
and a suckling) Neither of them were as friendly their first month as my
fillies, but both are confident and curious.  The younger one seems to have
a lower "I don't want to" tolerance but is *not* aggressive.  At four
months, he stands quietly to have his face/ears/mouth/eyes handled, his
hoofs can be handled/picked/trimmed, he leads with a halter and is beginning
to learn to tie.  The yearling as been on weekend camping trips (endurance
ridecamps) and several shows, and even to the local jr high as the example
'Arabian' for their equine class.  It was a cold, windy, rainy day and he
was proud to have 30 kids swarming on him.  I have a photo I'd be glad to
send <VBG>.  He ponies on a lead or at liberty, and will work extensively at
liberty with me, jogging patterns, even with the mares loose in the pasture
with us.

I'm proud of both my boys and could go on for pages, but the Point is: this
is what *I* consider *acceptable* behavior, for a stallion,... for any
horse.    I do NOT consider 'boys will be boys' to be acceptable. period.
There are plenty of well built, SENSIBLE and trainable stallions (horses)
out there, life is too short (and fragile) to waste time on 1000lb animals
that 'check out' when asked to do something that isn't a priority on *their*
agenda.

Becky Huffman, Cleburne, Texas
Huffman's Arabians ~ The Original Series ~
http://www.htcomp.net/Huffman/

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.  The Great Oz has spoken."
The Wizard of Oz


----- Original Message -----
From: jsalas <jsalas@tampabay.rr.com>
To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>; <bluewolfranch@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 2:06 PM
Subject: RC: Re: bad boys


Linda, I so agree with everything you said. I also have a young boy (a
yearling) who is a Desperado V son and we are not so eager to geld. He was
also imprinted, correctly I hope, and independent from day one. Though he
has never shown a mean or aggressive bone in his body, he is an intact boy.
He has been ponied, trailered, haltered and lead since 2 months of age but
he goes in and out of cooperation modes. Kinda like Batty, from the movie
Fern Gully. So we just keep doing the same thing over and over again. I took
him out over the weekend and was ponying him when some other riders came up
on us. I told them to go ahead because he was getting a little out of
control. Next thing I knew, he ran a few circles around us (so that is what
the rotator cuff is for!), rearing and bucking and I had to let go. When I
caught him, I decided it would be easier to walk him back to the trailer. My
other horse followed us, like a well behaved horse should, while my maniac
boy was not well behaved at all. Just when I was ready to beat the snot out
of him, he bolted. The trail is deep black sand and wide enough for two
horses. I was trying to disengage his hind end to no avail and found myself
skiing on my knees. After the skin came off my knee caps I decided to try
getting to my feet. Those trick water skiers have nothing on me. Did you
know that sand can spray just like water and actually leave a wake? Well, I
saw some roots sticking out of the ground and since their was no ramp to
jump, I let go. Meanwhile, my other horse, the well behaved one, picked up
the trot to stay with me. How sweet. I finally caught up with that little
whipper snapper. He just wanted to see those other horses.  I won't be able
to bend my knees until the skin grows back but that is the price we pay for
education. Mine or his? I am not sure. I do know we will do some round pen
work for a while. Boys! :) Lisa Salas, The Odd FArm