Re: Re: bad boys

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

despite imperfections, not something I can necessarily be 'light' about.
I've handled too many horses to waste time (and accept liability) on the
ones that are inconsistent.  I'm not talking about untrained or fearful
horses, I mean the ones that periodically 'forget' their training,
especially those that forget and act in a way that endangers themselves, you
and innocent bystanders.  If you feel the colt is valuable enough to keep,
and/or keep intact, in spite of his behaviors, that is your decision, I hope
he isn't having a bad day if you ever camp next to me.

at home, it is your own neck, in public, when someone's Boy 'checks out',
that *is* a "big freaking deal".

owning a horse, especially a stallion, is a *responsibility* I take *very*
seriously.

all that said, I didn't mean to flame you, and your boy specifically, I
simply meant to address the issue, I do apologize if I was too strong. it is
something that is close to my heart.

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>; Becky Huffman <tos@htcomp.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: Re: bad boys


> Lighten up, Becky! I was just making fun of myself and having a good time
at
> it, I might add. None of us are perfect parents, trainers, horse owners,
> people. Neither are our children, our horses or the other people we have
to
> deal with. Are You? As far as the other lady with the wild boy, who knows
> what is going on. Genetics is a crap shoot at best. You can try to breed
for
> the best this, that, and the other and only get the "other". We all have
> bragging rights to our children and /or horses, including me. My boy has
> also been to shows, on the trails, hung on by kids, had his teeth brushed,
> been clipped and bathed, knows tricks, blah, blah, blah. So he had a bad
> day. Big freaking deal. Yes, temperament is a big deal but are you always
> happy and willing to put in 100% no matter what? I am not wasting any time
> with my boy. And guess what? Some of us have to check out just to keep our
> sanity. Jeez!!  Lisa Salas, The odd Farm, Our boys my not be well trained,
> but are well behaved.  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Becky Huffman" <tos@htcomp.net>
> To: "jsalas" <jsalas@tampabay.rr.com>; "ridecamp"
<ridecamp@endurance.net>;
> <bluewolfranch@yahoo.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 5:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Re: bad boys
>
>
> > 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
> >
> >
>