A blog that focuses on our unique program that teaches natural horsemanship, heritage breed conservation, soil and water conservation, and even folk, roots, and Americana music. This blog discusses our efforts to prevent the extinction of the Corolla Spanish Mustang. Choctaw Colonial Spanish Horse, Marsh Tacky, and the remnants of the Grand Canyon Colonial Spanish Horse strain.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views: Put Your Mouth Where Their Money Is
This is the fifth most viewed post on ou blog over the years. It falls into the category of "Don't tell me what you think. Show me what you do."Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views: Put Your Mouth Where Their Money Is: If you oppose horse slaughter and belong to a horse breed registry it might be worth your time to find out that registry's position o...
The other thing that is difficult to combat is ignorance in the general A. horse owning population, and, B. would be horse owning population. There are many impediments to owning large livestock, most notably, land, or land use. Then the little stuff crops up, farrier bills..well, as Baxter Black says, "A fellow who does not trim his own horse's feet either has too many horses or not enough time." I won't even start in on horseshoes..Go ask Comet if he wants new shoes..bring food. Horse treats, professional trainers, horse trailers, miscellaneous horse care products Shampoo..really? Eight bucks a tube for mane detangler? Really? Try mineral oil..buck a bottle. Horse treats? The treat your horse needs is time, firm control, and affection.Don't believe me..go out and hug a horse..scratch that little triangle on his neck for a few minutes..he'll relax and take a nap. Horse trailer..yeah..the trend is towards these monster side stepping walk through trailers that cost tens of thousands, even before you have a vehicle to tow them..peachy..I have seen two perfectly acceptable two horse trailers sell at auction over the last year for less than three grand total..ok, so it isn't a walk through..see above about time..Owl Prophet will walk around and get in without all that walk through stuff..your horse will too..just a few minutes of time over a few days. "Load up, buttercup!" Big barn? Just you go ask any of our horses what kind of barn they need..Pay somebody to muck stalls while you work overtime to pay for all this? Sure, I'll come do it..write the check..I'll green break that colt for you too..again, see above about time. It isn't hard, but you have to be willing to spend the time, or you have nothing in the end.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best horses I have ever had the pleasure of riding, training or loving, is a victim of this very thing..pro trainer could not get through to her, and yet a few handfuls of sweet feed, lots of soft words, patience and deliberate control...she and I are very close to moving together now, and I am not really very knowledgeable about training horses..but I am very knowledgeable about loving them.
I spent a couple hours yesterday watching one of the preeminent trainers on tv..if I were not already somewhat grounded in how a horse ticks, I would know no more now, than I did before I watched, but I was able to glean some tricks to use...what I would know, is that I can be so much better a trainer if I am willing to write big check$ for that halter, or that fancy stick, or an excerball and leotard for my horse. Bleh. Folks, the simple truth is that all one really needs to start a green colt is some rope, a blanket, and a stick. Oh, and a whole boatload of patience and love for the animal. As Steve says above..the people who "Run Things" in this world are not running them for you, or your horse, they are running them for their wallet, and while we cannot escape some expense in keeping these gentle giants, we can sure cut through the politics of money, and the greed of industry. Still scared of it? That is ok, we'll show you how. Never ridden? Not a problem..Come on out, we can show you the way. A simpler, more natural way.
If you want the best possible care for your horse, picture in your mind's eye, a horse from a thousand years ago, he runs wild on the steppes of Russia, or Mongolia, A horse evolved to his world, a mount fit even for the mighty Khan, (I am thinking of Holland's g-g-g-g-g-g-g-great grandpa)nobody wrote big checks for his care, he wasn't registered, and never stood in a show ring..Grass, mineral, clean water, and freedom to move. A noble animal who should never be reduced to standing in a phone booth, waiting to die.
-Lloyd