MyHoofPrints

Legends of Ranching Sale: A time for goodbyes and tears

“It’s going to be awful to say goodbye. There will be tears. But I’m excited for him to go to a home and get to do something.”

- Lorraine Johnston

via www.news.colostate.edu

Our very own Hobbes got his start at the CSU Legends of Ranching Sale, and what a happy adventure it has been! (Click on the news.colostate.edu link above for the full story on the Legends of Ranching Sale.)

(Karin Livingston is the author of the horse novel Winning Bet, available in hard copy and on the Kindle.)

Read also: Buying a horse: 14 questions you should ask

 

Wonderful thing on the way to the barn

We have a new young client, and I ran into her and her father walking down one of our lanes to see their new horse the other day. These are exciting days when people begin their journey with

a new horse. They are especially exciting when that person is a young person. Horses light up children. In the middle of her glow, our young client turned to me and said, “Oh, by the way, I just read Winning Bet for like, the 11th time. It’s awesome! I love it!” Psychic income: You can't beat it - and it's tax-free!

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Get Winning Bet AR test for your school

Buying a horse: 14 questions you should ask

Young horse - novice rider: 5 tips for success

Hobbes, purchased at the 2010 CSU Legends of Ranching Sale, continues to amaze us. Pairing Gregg, an owner new to horses, with a 3-year-old was a gamble, but the other day, our suburban Poudre River bike trail proved no problem for this young Quarter Horse gelding. Hobbes calmly and safely navigated cyclists, strollers, roller-bladers, pedestrians, wood and cement bridges, as well as a tree-root infested water obstacle. In the arena, he has mastered canter pickups, leg yields, and is working up to spins. Hobbes also spent an entire day recently herding cattle at a friend’s Wyoming ranch! (Sorry, no photos with the cattle – the camera batteries died.) I credit much of Gregg’s success to the following:

1. Round-penning before riding
2. Using an experienced horse as a buddy
3. Being open to the voice of experience
4. Regular workouts for horse AND rider
5. Wearing a helmet. (Yes, there have been a couple spills after we broke the workout routine, and it was cold, windy and close to dinner.)

Stay tuned as we continue to work with this amazing horse!

Hobbes' purchase: Some rules were made to be broken

Buying a horse: 14 questions you should ask

(Karin Livingston was a career 4-H leader specializing in horses, and is the author of the young adult horse novel, Winning Bet. You can subscribe to this blog ad-free on your e-reader.)

Buying a horse: 14 questions you should ask

The ever-helpful economy never seems to know what it's going to do these days, but if your life is relatively stable, this is a great time for your latest adventure -- buying a horse. Prices have never been better. (Parents, if you're thinking of buying a horse for your child, beware: There are some things you need to ask first.)

I've had some memorable moments shopping for horses. I once declared a prospect “toed out”, only to have my big mouth hit the grapevine. The horse’s irate owner called to say “that horse does NOT toe out”.

When I picked up my first horse, she flipped over backward as we novices tried to force her into the trailer with ropes and a whip. Then there was the lady who sank her spurs into my prospect. As he leaped away, she noted this horse’s great side-passing skills.

My personal favorite is the owner who whipped out a pistol and pulled the trigger as we stared, dumbfounded, at a possible mount for my daughter. The owner grinned and said, “See, bullet proof!” (The gun was loaded with blanks.) Seriously though, if you’re buying a horse, always take an expert, get a vet check, and phone ahead with these questions (Click the "questions" link for a printable page.)

1. Why is the horse for sale?
2. Does the horse have any vices? (i.e., cribbing, biting, trailer shyness)
3. How much has the horse been ridden during the past year?
4. Who has ridden the horse the most — trainer, amateur, youth?
5. How easy is the horse to handle after being turned out for a while and not ridden?
6. What kind of equipment has been used?
7. How much training has the horse received and in what areas?
8. Where has the horse been stalled?
9. What type of concentrates and roughage does the horse eat and what is its feeding schedule?
10. What kind of health has the horse had during the past year?
11. Has the horse ever had any colic episodes? Lameness?
12. How often is the horse de-wormed and shod?
13. How often has the horse been away from home and what is his behavior in different surroundings?
14. How does the horse react when being shod, clipped or de-wormed?

(Karin Livingston is a career 4-H leader specializing in horses, and the author of the young-adult horse novel, Winning Bet, available in hard copy and on the Amazon Kindle.)