Last Sunday it was a balmy 18 degrees here so we decided to take a nice Sunday drive north about a 120 miles to see how Mojo was doing with the trainer. We get up there and the snow is melting and 45+ degrees. The trainer has Mojo saddled up and already had been riddin but was just calmly standing there waiting. The trainer got on Mojo and showed us what he has been working on for the last two weeks. Mojo has made some good improvements in a short time between the -too cold days. Then we are all standing there talking and I ask 'well what do you think now that you've rode him.' I am a firm believer in when I hire someone to do something to take heed on there counsel. The first thing out of the trainers mouth was 'He's a real sweet boy'. Of course my heart sank at that catch all phrase that is used when there isn't much other to say. A little further in the conversation the trainer said that he would make an excellent kids horse. Another hard swallow. Twenty years of breeding horses with the goal of having good level headed athletic fast horses and I seem to have only gotten the first part right. How does one take and have good running lineage on the top and bottom and produce 'a real sweet boy' as his best and only quality. Luck of the draw.........maybe. On the way home we had some indepth and long discussions. An interesting pattern developed the mares are fire breathing speedsters with a controllable amount of attitude but all the geldings seem to be of the pocket pet mentality.
I have the two year old filly to break this spring so we will see if that theory holds. We can always use another horse for lessons but his younger brother may have to go if he follows the pocket pet mentality. As with any of this only time will tell.
The lemonade in all this:
Mojo's future jockey (in 8 years:)
3 comments:
The pocket pet mentality :)
cute. Cute lil jockey too.
Where are you in Montana? Ever hear of a trainer named Doyle Parker, 30 year veteran and past National Champion Bull rider? He's up outside Billings. He worked with a gelding of mine and did wonders. He doesn't do a lot of training now but will in an exception. Superb trainer and I've worked with quite a few.
My gelding used to be a champion barrel racer. I wanted to just ride him along the trail. After breaking a few ribs and my sternum in a bad one rein fall with him at a gallop, my fault of course, we looked to Doyle to assist.
Now he's great on the trails.
I still have to work with him often of course.
Just a thought...
Thanks for the comments.
Sorry I do not know Doyle but then there are a lot of good horsemen in this state. Seems when they get good enough and tire of the winters they tend to move to warmer climes :) Something I won't have to worry about.
I have too many ties to the Helena area to leave.
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