Breeding Qualities

What qualities do you look for in a stallion or broodmare? I ride western and do a lot of western events, so my idea of a good breeding animal may be different then an english or other types of riders. So, personally like to see:

1. Conformation...they have to be put together right. Long backed horses can't move as quick and turn around as fast. I like a little longer pastern, because it provides for a smoother ride. Pretty head, honestly whats the first thing most people see when they come walking up to a horse? Its head. Long swan like neck, makes for a prettier horse and better balanced on as well. Straight legs, a horse can't move right if its legs are so crooked that the bump into each other as they walk. Balance, they have to have balance, easier for them to carry themselves properly. built uphill, provides for them to be light on the front end and quicker on their feet.

2. Disposition...you could have the best built horse in the world, but if it wants to kill you, then it a worth a dime. I don't like really jumpy and flighty horses as they can influence the foals disposition as well.

3. Pedigree...registered horses sell better then grade horse. I want some one to look at the pedigree and say "Hey, that horse did something!". There's a better chance that the foal will be good and cutting or reining or whatever if the parents were successful at it as well.

5. Performance...they have to do something other than sit in the pasture make babies and look pretty.

5.Color...sad to say but the public likes color.

Training...and Colt Starting

I admit it, I am incapable of not training every horses I ride. I borrow one for a local trail ride and I spend the trail ride teaching him to slow his walk and put his head down, I borrow one for a fun day and I have no fun, because I have to teach it to stop on its hindquarters and not kick out when asked to speed up....I am even afraid to ride other peoples horses as I already know I won't enjoy riding, because the horse rides different then I am use too. I give up!

Anyways, I am done ranting now....so lets get to the point of this post, and that would be colt starting. I would like to know what everybody does with there colts to keep from getting killed??

I perfer to start two year olds, BUT I never work a two year old very hard. I like to start getting the colts use to things when they are yearlings, meaning saddleing, bridleing, a little lungeing, desensitizing and just the basic ground work up until their two year old year. Then I will slowly start to back them and then eventually riding in the round pen. The reason I go slow into riding is for the saftey of the horse and myself, beacause I am alone and have no help in starting my colts. After I feel that I can stop, turn, go forward, I have good flexetion, and have taught the one rein stop, I will start to take the colt outside, on short trail rides. After about a month of this type of riding I start to pick up the pace and start to do a few local shows, and by the 3rd month there are a couple of trail rides I go on with them. I have never had a colt start bucking or just generally freak out on any of the trail rides I take them on. The most any colt has ever done was jump sideways and stop.

Slaughter

Hmmmm........... The issue of slaughter, a much discussed issue it is. Many believe horse slaughter is a very bad thing, and that it is, but what would you rather watch; a horse shot in the head and then slaughtered? Or, a horse slowly starved to the point it is so weak that it is unable to stand up, and they lay there and moan and hollar for help only to then be dragged away and eaten by wild animals while they are still alive?

Hmmm...tough choice isn't it? And don't give me the "I would put it down before it starves." line of bull shit, not all people are like you, some don't care, at all or ever. When they see are horse they either see a walking dollar sign or a waste of money hay burner. That's it.

The laws use to say horses are livestock, the same as cows, pigs and the whole lot of other animals, they are raised for a purpose and when their purpose is done, some people don't care where they go. If they aren't making them money, they are useless. Period!

I believe that horses are livestock, therefore they are food. Would I eat a horse, I don't know, probably not if I knew what it was. Personally when my horses are done working for me, they will be retired to my nice green grass pastures and cared for until there end, but not all people are like me and you, they don't care. That's it, the end.

Halter Horses

OK so.....WTF is up with AQHA and the halter horses? I mean seriously if these animals are showing the best traits of the breed then I think AQHA is screwed. Quarter horses are generally known for their good work ethic and ability to get the job done, but if we can't even ride the best looking horses of our breed because we fear that they will possibly hurt themselves because of their massive size, then what good are they? I mean if they are unrideable what's their purpose? Looking pretty just doesn't cut it, I personally want a pretty and functional horse but if I had to pick between pretty or functional, your damn right if you think I'd pick the functional one. Seriously what are people thinking when they breed for these kinds of animals? Grossly over muscled, their legs look like they could snap like a twig, and they look like you need to use one whole trailer to get them anywhere cause of their width and weight. Seriously people, seriously! These horses don't look pretty, they look disgusting. They can't even move right because of all of their excess muscling.

Picture is of Sir Cool Skip, AQHA champion halter stallion, who is also HYPP N/H.

All about me

I do small time horse training for a few locals, until I can get out of this town. I have two horses a grade appaloosa mare and a registered quarter horse filly, and I also care for three other equines, psycho registered paint gelding Chico, and grade mini mules Tucker and George. I work at a small town cafe and I find it to be a very good job, but nothing like what I am use to (I worked on a dairy farm previously). Stupid people annoy me. Ignorant asshat old style cowboys piss me off. I have been bull riding and I want to do it again, along with bronc riding. My dream is to one day own my own ranch and breed a few select PROVEN mares to a PROVEN stallion and TRAIN the resulting offspring and sell them to good INSPECTED homes. Along with that I want to buy throwaway horses and train them, and resell them to good INSPECTED homes. I also have a coming two year old AQHA filly I want to train and then PROVE in the show pen and later retire to breed to a PROVEN stallion.