:rofl: “professional equine associate” or a “paraprofessional bovine and farmstead assistant.”

 

Good using horses are the kind that don't ever get sold around here.

 

A good using horse is what so many pleasure riders need. After all "handsome is as handsome does"

One time many years ago my sister was taking her daughter and horse for a lesson, the horse was a little off that day so instead they took my sis's riding mare that wasn't particularly trained for anything just riding around.
The instructor was very impressed with this mare as she went out and did everything required even some jumping that she really didn't know much about and did a respectable job of it, not a beautiful horse but the instructor said that they should build monuments to horses like this. I guess you could say she was a good using horse.

 

This reminds me of 'No good horse is a bad color!"

I would take the wonkiest looking horse in the place if it was a better using horse than the rest of them.

It's an added plus if they're pretty, but definitely not a deal breaker for me if they aren't!

 

What a great and honest article.

The only problem I see, is this is in the wrong place on the forum.

It needs plastered in New To Horses, Horse Talk, Training, Trail Riding, and several others.

Sadly the people who need to see themselves, when buying a horse, won't.

This is another of those great articles that will end up only preaching to the Choir.

 

This is another of those great articles that will end up only preaching to the Choir.

Well, the more of the Choir that sees it, the louder we all can sing!

 

In a way, a good using horse if it goes to the wrong or inexperienced person, could unfortunately start taking advantage of that person who is not horse savvy and in these circumstances even the best of horses will know they can assert themselves.
I have seen many cases where someone gets a lovely horse, just perfect for them and then in a few months you hear all the problems that person is having with said horse.

A good using horse can be turned around quickly with some proper help from a knowledgeable horse person and become again what it was before, that's the difference between a good using horse and a bad actor or spoiled horse.

 

From my own experience, you can make good using horses out of a wide variety of horses if you just use them. Who said to treat your green horse like a broke horse and he'll become one?

 

Absolutely Avna, that's why I'm always advocating "sweaty blankets". And frequently that green horse may have a green rider who needs "sweaty jeans & Tshirts" themselves.

 

I think a good using horse is more than just what this article described.

Several of my successful show horses were also using horses. I think a lot of people just fail to present them with that opportunity, for fear of ruining them or them getting hurt. That I understand of course, but on a level it's very good for them.

I remember on ride #4 or so of colts out at my first job, we'd take them out to gather cattle - Then when the cattle were in, I'd lope them, and we'd put them on the flag. Then the broke horses would work the cattle that the 2yr old brought in. By the time they were three, they were seasoned veterans. I pressed cattle into a trailer and pushed my three year old filly's body up against the door while I latched it and tied it shut on horseback, all the while the cattle were jumping, pushing against her, and causing mayhem. She never moved an inch. Later that year she went on to earn a respectable amount of money in the show pen with the lady I sold her to.

By that same respect, the older sister to that mare was a TOTAL flunk. She wasn't pretty like her sister, wasn't trainable like her sister, and what have you. Her saving grace was that she was safe and you could rope on her. She was fun to work a cow on too, but she loathed dry work and she loathed anything she couldn't chase down. I ended up using her for two years on the ranch and then patterning her on the barrels, sold her to california.

Both of those sisters were "using horses". Yet one of them was a show horse and the other was a can cutter. A lot of the job that the horse is given depends on their mind, and their exposure in training. A lot of them just don't have the opportunity to become a using horse, and will remain useless all their lives except in their specific discipline. It just depends on how you make one.

 

Several of my successful show horses were also using horses. I think a lot of people just fail to present them with that opportunity, for fear of ruining them or them getting hurt. That I understand of course, but on a level it's very good for them.

A good friend of mine has one of these horses that you describe. She just turned 66 (my friend not the horse :wink and decided that she is slowly going to start doing less and less with shows, and that she wants a "using horse." She was going to go out and buy one of these horses and my trainer convinced her that she already has a "using horse" but that he's never learned how to be used. For years and years he was a high level show horse, and in a sense, never got to be a "horse." He's slowly been introduced to cattle, roping, long trails...like someone else mentioned- WET SADDLE PADS! And it's been fun watching him turn into one of these "using horses." My trainer jokes saying he's doing "reverse training."

I think sometimes we do our horses a disservice in not using them to whatever potential they have... But I do understand why it is the way it is!

 

Good article.

I'm always interested in a good using horse, or a horse that might make one.

 

You know that feeling where you fall in love with someone based on one piece of writing.