Little update video of “Toaster.” This handsome fella has about 75-80 days on him when this was taken. Wishing him and his owner the best of luck going forward!
Another smooth first day for this nice 3yo colt, “Toaster” of an old friend’s. Funny story about his owner: back in around ‘99 I was still in Wyoming and Les Vogt had a clinic I decided to attend in Cheyenne. His owner (who was a barrel racer at the time) was on the freeway when a storm blew in and the interstate closed down. Instead of just twiddling her thumbs waiting for the freeway to open up, she made some calls and decided to come participate in the clinic. It turned out that she fell in love with the CowHorse that day and is still doing it today.
We had a great day at The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio. The sale company worked their butts off to get the arena, grounds and ring safe and ready for the sale after a huge downpour on Friday. They did a fantastic job and I’m sure proud of Throttle!
Well, we were rained out of the preview at Rancho Rio yesterday, so they’ll do it today. Preview at 12:30 and sale at 5:00pm 🤞🏻
Today’s video is similar to many others we post in that it was another successful first ride, but it is done a little differently. It is a longer video that we added text that contains some of my thoughts on this process, and addresses many of the misconceptions I commonly read in the comments of our videos. It goes pretty fast, so feel free to pause the video to read. This is one of two fillies that came together who are very similar in that they were more reactive than most. I wanted to add more of her initial reactions as well. This filly chooses the form of self-preservation of panic and flee at any stimulus she deems scary. I must keep steady, patient pressure that is high enough for her to search for a solution on how to get release, but also low enough to allow her to be able to think through it. I will post the other filly later. I think the most common misconceptions people have on my videos and starting babies in general, is regarding sweating, as well as the use of spurs and the use of the flag… Sweating does not mean exhaustion. Sweating is healthy - for both humans and horses - physically, mentally and emotionally. How many people have to get up early, get their heart rate up and work up a good sweat at the gym just so they can get through the day without going postal? I am far more concerned with the horse’s respiration rate than I am of their sweating; many sweat just from using their brain to figure out the puzzle I am presenting, even if they come physically fit. On the other hand horses get hurt when their blood gets depleted of oxygen and they get fatigued. That is when I stop and let them air up, like I did with this filly. To get physically fit or start a new physical activity, everyone starts out soft and out of shape. They have to work through it to get stronger and fitter. I’ve had people say the only reason my program works is because they give up due to exhaustion. That is not the case. Exhaustion and pain aren’t really your frie
Duke is a really nice 3 year old gelding that came off the Pitzer Ranch with 60 days on him. I appreciate when I get a colt in that’s already started and I don’t have to go back and fix a bunch of problems; that’s nice, but fairly uncommon. I’ve had him about 2.5 months now and I really like this guy. I was so happy with him after only two loops on the donkey that I just stepped off and called it a day.
Rocky was a phenomenal switch-ender, breakaway and cowhorse. He was entered in the 2021 Rancho Rio Horse Sale. Tragically, he fractured a pastern 4 days before the event. He was treated and extensively rested and rehabbed over the last almost 3 years and although he will keep a mechanical lameness due to the fusion in his pastern, he isn’t painful and was cleared by the vet to be ridden again. This month he’s been ridden consistently by Elle, a student of mine and very handy 14 year old girl to leg him up and make sure he’d stay at the same soundness level. We are happy to report that he left today to go to a fantastic light riding home with a veterinary surgeon and vet tech couple. So glad we saved him and got to facilitate him still ending up having a great life! The video is of Elle doing various things with him and a few pics of him before the accident at the end. ❤️
You saw my assistant Trainer, Dominick, put the first ride on “Poncho,” the blue roan last week. Well, this is his slightly spicier brother “Lefty,” a gray 3yo quarter draft gelding. Still a great first ride and I’d say Dom is getting the hang of the program! Both colts will be looking for homes.
Here’s Poncho: https://fb.watch/oh4OyFZbld/
Throttle is a badass 5 year old gelding. We just submitted his nomination to The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio. This sale is invitational and sets the market for the rope horse industry each year!🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
My assistant trainer, Dominick putting another smooth first ride on one of his 3yo quarter draft colts. Good job!
Stupid comments are always abound, but one of the most hilarious ones we’ve received recently was that we are too poor to have roping steers and that’s why we rope our poor little donkey 😆 I certainly wish my hay bill reflected that! But no, it couldn’t be that they’re an integral part of our program that we care deeply about... 🙄🧐😂
Just turning a few steers for Dominick on “Fraser” at roping practice the other night. Fraser is a half-brother to the great gelding “Donk” that we loved so much and sold through Rancho Rio a few years ago. I really like this guy because he’s becoming really versatile. He has the wheels for the fast cows in the higher numbered pots, but is super gentle and will just cruise, staying at the hip for the lower numbered pots too. I will be jackpotting on Fraser this season and he is/will be for sale.
Another successful first ride, this time with my assistant trainer, Dominick. This colt needed more forward energy so you’ll see me on the ground encouraging him with the whip…before you comment, no, I am not whipping him.
Note from Megan: The video quality isn’t as good as normal, sorry! I wasn’t here and that’s what happens when you tell a cowboy to film 😆😆
Nothing too exciting today, just a little riding out in the desert on Jacklyn’s thoroughbred mare, Gemma.
