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by Goose on 26 December 2009 - 14:12
Grew up in the horse business, am still in it. Love it. Foundation in Dressage with the best and specialised in Reiners.
Interestingly enough though, after having gone through the experiences in training horses, an ongoing experience, my heavier involvement into the dogs has done nothing but enhance it.
Wouldn't trade it for the world.
I do sometimes appreciate the ease of moving our dogs around for training and show over my horses....especially as I am getting older.
My favorite guy who I lost this October
by Mystere on 26 December 2009 - 15:12
by eichenluft on 26 December 2009 - 15:12
Me - been "in" horses for my entire life. Collected Breyer horses at first - started taking lessons at 6 years old whereever my parents could find a place near enough to the various military bases where we lived. Learned to "really ride" in Germany 8-12 years old - and got my first horse at 14 when we returned to the states, an American Saddlebred horse that I bought myself with the $600 I had saved since I knew horses cost money. I rode my bike every day after school in all weather to take care of my horse, and other horses in exchange for board. Second horse was an off-the track TB - I learned and competed in dressage, jumpers, and eventing with him and took him to college with me, where I earned a co-degree in Equine and Business Management. While in college I trained, broke, exercised horses and worked with re-training problem animals. I also started foxhunting. Summer jobs included riding the "Pony horse" at the racetrack both for races and exercising rank racehorses, and also working at a harness track. Another job was at a TB breeding stable - working with broodmares, stallions, and youngsters getting ready for auction was the most fun yet dangerous job I'd ever had. Young TBs, especially stud colts are nothing to fool around with. Rounding out my equine experience was mare-watching and foaling out probably 300 foals for various farms, various breeds over the years -
After college I earned my living managing equine facilities - one large college riding stable where I taught lessons, trained and showed hunter/jumpers - worked with problem horses that were donated to the program, did all medical care as well as "grunt work" and supervised employees. Also was foxhunting in season and started trailering horses as a "side job". Later managed a top Dressage training facility where horses were imported from Europe, trained, competed and sold.
My own horse at that time was a Warmblood (Oldenburg) mare that I still own today. Together we trained and competed in Dressage, and Jumpers. Later I got a second horse, a QH who was trained for reining - I never got into reining but always wanted to - instead I did some team penning with him, and trail riding with both horses.
Nowadays the dogs have taken priority over the horse sport - but I still have my horses (the warmblood mare and the QH gelding) and trail ride them as time permits. I breed my mare, and also have two other broodmares (an Oldenburg and a Paint) that I breed as well. I don't see myself "horseless" anytime soon.
molly
by Mystere on 26 December 2009 - 15:12
by Red Sable on 26 December 2009 - 15:12
Mystere you reminded me of a true story. When I got my Arab stallion my parents were beside themselves with worry, as a friend of theirs and mine, was almost killed by a standardbred stud.
The stallion was in a fence fight with another stud that had gotten out of the paddock. He took the first stud in the barn, and went out to get the second which was caught up in the fence. When he went to try and help him out, the stallion grabbed him by the arm and shook him like a rag doll, almost ripped his arm right off. Then the horse grabbed his leg and did the same thing. He would have died if his wife hadn't found him. He almost bled to death. His arm is useless to this day, totally deformed, and his leg isn't right either. He has been through quite a few operations.
He still has standardbreds in training, - sold the stallion to someone else. They are a beautiful animal, but the studs need to be treated with respect, no doubt about that.
by Kim Gash on 26 December 2009 - 15:12
Had a GSD as a child so getting back into them as something easier was a natural. Converted part of show barn to kennel and there you have it.
People who have had to train an 800-1000 lb horse use their head not their muscles - most people who have trained horses, ridden and been competitive have a far shorter learning curve and tend to train using their head not their brawn. Dogs are far smarter and try to please, you just have to read them - working with horses teaches you to read animals who cannot communicate well. That includes 2 legged and 4 legged. :)
All Saddlebreds have died out - my last "foal" died 4 years ago at 29 yrs. of age. Had his parents and grandparents. Have on old quartermare. The farm has lent itself nicely to dog training; pasture is now regulation size Schutzhund field, ring is perfect for smaller obedience work and show training. Barn aisle (100 X 20 and heated!) is a great place to work when its a blizzard like we have the last few days!
Shelley's post above - you have no idea how strong and in shape jockeys have to be - I take my hat off to Shelley. Race horses don't really have much turning left or right skills either nor stopping for that part - takes some guts to ride them. Thank God for pick up ponies!
Last place I galloped a thouroughbred was on the track in New Orleans - that was enough! Whole different set of muscles!
Saddlebreds are bred "hot" much like some of the high drive dogs - you learn to channel their drive into productive work. Tons of similarities in training but yet simple, fairness and consistency and clear communication - you just have to see things the way the animals do and then comminicate what you want.
by k1184 on 26 December 2009 - 16:12
We bred and showed Quarter Horses for some years(however, did rein an App for some people for 1 year and campaigned a Walker for 1 year for a customer!). All of our chidren went through the 4-H program and showed at Regional levels in Quarter Horse and open events. Tim and I were, also, 4-H advisers for several years when the kids were growing up. I rode English and Western and showed pleasure, reining, Western Riding and Trail for many years, on all levels, as did our children(pretty expensive with 5 kids showing!). Judged Horse Shows for over 20 years-mostly Eastern US. Our barn is now 1/2 kennels and 1/2 heated obedience room and our pastures and paddocks are double fenced so the dogs can run in them. We no longer have any horses. We found it too hard to go 3 ways- horses, GSD's and Police K-9, so gave up the horse/horse show circuits. I find that many things in the schutzhund/K-9 world parallel the horse world just like schutzhund and K-9 parallel each other. Understanding animals and knowing what to do to get a desired response is first and foremost whether it is a horse or a dog. The other thing that is soooo important, whether horse or dog, is getting an animal with the genetics and structure to do what you desire them to do. I recently retired as a K-9 handler for our Sheriff's Office and do miss the people from the "horse world", but I can still enjoy breeding, showing and trialing our German Shepherds!
Kathy
Von Der Wilmothhas K-9 Kennels
www.wilmothdogs.com
by malshep on 26 December 2009 - 17:12
Always,
Cee
by animules on 26 December 2009 - 19:12
by ShelleyR on 26 December 2009 - 20:12
I think the starting gate experience has a very slight edge, myself!
:-)))
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