#halter bred quarter horse

[shirecorn]

why does this guy exist. Halterbred quarter horse looking ass

[jadevine]

Medieval Warhorses, Repost + additions!

Since people loved my "Preindustrial travel times" post so much, I decided to repost my "Realistic warhorses" info separately from the original link, where it was a response to "how to get the feel of realistic combat."

--

The original link is here.

The "Warhorse" post on my blog, plus a recent addition, is here.

And here's the text for people who want to go down my "grown up horse-girl" rabbit hole right away!

Medieval Warhorses:

First of all: DESTRIERS WERE NOT DRAFT HORSES. Horse/military historians are begging people to stop putting their fantasy knights on Shires, Belgians, and other massive, chunky farm-horses! The best known instance of “a knight needs to get lifted onto their 18-hand draft horse” is a SATIRE (A Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, if I remember right), but somehow laymen decided to take it seriously.

Hell, I think the film’s historians knew that this was extremely inaccurate and begged the director not to do it.

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For the purposes of this post, I will not get into the different TYPES OF WARHORSES. That is a hyper-fixation for another day, lol.

—

First problem with “Draft horses as warhorses:”

The bulk of modern-day “breeds” are far too recent for a medieval or medieval-fantasy story. Modern horse “breeds” began around the 1700s-1800s, so that’s in the EXTREMELY late-medieval/early-modern period. Before that, most medieval horses were referred to by “TYPE/PURPOSE” and maybe a “Country/Region.” “Spanish/Iberian horses” (the ancestors of modern-day Andalusians, Carthusians, and Lusitanos) were overwhelmingly popular for combat, and other baroque horses were also esteemed.

Destriers are physically average-height at 15 hands high (about 5 feet tall at the shoulder/withers), but the important part is that they are STACKED at 1200-1300lbs when most 15-hand horses are only 900-1000lbs, so that’s a quarter to a third more weight in muscle.

And remember, muscle will not make a given horse look “chubby!” Good ways to get across a warhorse’s muscles in writing is 1) how ROCK SOLID they are when you touch them, 2) their chiseled shoulders, necks, and butts, and 2) when they get into motion, especially for a fight, their muscles will flex and get REALLY defined. The three regions I mentioned are usually the most visible if they’ve got horse tack or a rider on them.

Think of the difference between “regular horse” and “destrier” as “regular Tom Hardy, who looks fit but normal,” versus “Tom Hardy playing Bane, where he put on thirty pounds and his torso and arms look like a fucking tree-trunk.”

Warhorses had nerves of steel, and the best-trained warhorses used could sprint and turn on a dime–they’ve been called “the sports cars of the medieval world.” This is a far cry from huge, sweet, and lumbering draft horses.

Besides Spanish horses, modern-day candidates for destriers would be European cobs (heavier all-purpose horses, large Welsh cobs are the best-known modern breed), and Foundation Quarter Horses (working/stock horses that can herd cattle and race and actually USE their muscles, not the bloated halter-horses who are mostly bred to look “good” to judges).

—

But if the destrier was supposed to be the horse equivalent of “Tom Hardy as Bane” and not “The Mountain from Game of Thrones,” then how could they carry a knight’s armor as well as their own?

First of all, human combat armor is different from JOUSTING armor and it is easily half the weight for better mobility. Warhorses from proper medieval times aren’t shown wearing much horse-armor, even in jousting. The stuff you see in museums is also frequently the custom-made armor for wealthy nobles, who either 1) wore it once or twice a year for public celebrations, which is also why the armor’s in pristine condition instead of dented and bloody like combat armor would be, or 2) wore it because they were rich enough to not want themselves OR their expensive horses to die too soon in combat.

Assuming that all destriers needed to carry 150lbs for an adult armored man, PLUS another 150lbs of the horse’s riding tack and armor, is like people from the years 2500-3000 assuming that everyone with a “car” must have a Lamborghini or a Ferrari that takes up a lot of maintenance (if you want to keep it looking nice, at least) and can go 200 miles per hour.

So the vast majority of realistic warhorses/destriers didn’t get much if any armor, because 1) horse-armor is for princes and dukes, not Count Whoever’s third son or his nephew that he tossed out on adulthood with barely any money, and 2) horse-armor is going to weigh down your FAST and NIMBLE warhorse. (Remember: Knights wanted sports cars, not tanks!) Take a look at the horses and knights of the website called “Destrier!” Most horses there aren’t notably tall, and they mostly wear head-armor and fancy but not heavy horse-tack like capes, instead of full barding.

Another reason average/short warhorses were preferred is for medieval safety issues: You wanted to mount your horse from the ground without help. The famous knight Jean Le Maingre was so dedicated to fighting that he could VAULT onto his horse in armor, without touching the stirrups. His instructions are, essentially, “put on your armor, find your horse, put your hands on the horse’s back/saddle, and FUCKING JUMP.”

Unless you’re seven feet tall or a gymnast, you’re not jumping onto an 18-hand draft horse.

So all those Red Dead Redemption animations where you get to alley-oop your way onto your loyal steed? POSSIBLE, IF YOU ARE CRAZY/ANGRY ENOUGH.

Quick note: In ancient Ireland, they refer to a “steed-leap” that nobles, warriors, and other “people rich enough to own RIDING horses” were trained to use–with the important distinction that Gaelic nobles often took pride in either using saddles without stirrups, or NOT USING SADDLES TO PUT ANY STIRRUPS ON. So the bulk of Gaelic Irish nobles could theoretically go Red Dead Redemption on your ass.

—

And the third reason most combat-ready warhorses didn’t get armor is because infantry (the vast majority of most medieval armies) just had a low chance of hitting them in the first place.

First of all, most horses are already faster than people. Destriers were EXCEPTIONALLY fast as the cream of the crop. For the horse to need armor, someone needs a good chance of hitting the horse.

Second, most horses are hard to kill physically because horses don’t tend to like getting stabbed or shot at, so they will likely try to kill YOU, which means that a knight and his horse are TWO fighters who are both very angry and very protective of each other. Most people love their horses, and many combatants share intense bonds! IMAGINE IF YOUR HORSE IS ALSO YOUR SQUAD-MATE!

And last of all, most horses are hard to kill mentally because when you want to use cavalry, you ALSO want the other side’s infantry to get consumed by panic and bolt for their lives, away from their companions and AWAY FROM THE CHARGING HORSES. (Which routinely leads to a slaughter, often called a “rout” in period literature, or a “curb-stomp battle” on TV Tropes.) While most knights could dish out one-on-one duels against EACH OTHER, a knight against a foot-soldier is going to have a huge and explicitly unfair advantage if the soldier is not specifically trained and equipped to take them on.

See, when you get a herd of knights on their steeds, the noise and the wave of horseflesh charging at you is going to make your reptile-brain instincts scream “NOPE NOPE NOPE, WE GOTTA GO!!!”

That instinct is so strong that infantry ACTORS in movies–who know that this is not a real war, and the riders don’t actually want to kill them–still routinely break formation and run.

It was possible to stop cavalry with infantry and end up slaughtering them instead of getting routed–it was just extremely notable.

Also, unless you’re specifically going for blood: You don’t WANT to slaughter a whole formation of knights! That means you’ve just pissed away a WHOLE lot of money that the knights represent!

You killed the horses that you could have used for your own side, and possibly bred for more high-end horses! You ruined the armor that you could have used for your own side, or at least melted down for high-quality, already-mined metal! You killed the knights that you could have sweetened up and used for your own side–or more likely, told their families to pay you if they wanted them home intact.

Barely anyone remembers that knights were as good for HOSTAGES as they were for actually fighting. (Except for Game of Thrones, and it’s still only plot-relevant for Jaime Lannister and Theon Greyjoy, and they explicitly did NOT get the protection a noble hostage should have.) It’s noted that Agincourt was a GREAT ending for England because capturing all those French nobles earned them TWENTY YEARS’ WORTH of regular income in ransoms. If they hadn’t won and gotten all that sweet, sweet French money, they would have been bankrupted and depopulated instead.

—

Two more strikes I’d feel are appropriate for “not wanting draft-type horses in combat:”

-Logistics 1: Too much food, too much hassle. Horses are already notorious for eating a lot, and a DRAFT horse that’s 2000lbs instead of 1200lbs will eat twice as much. No army wants to use their fodder for only half the number of horses they’d expect.

-Logistics 2: Too much hair, too much hassle. Shires and other British horses often have feathering on their legs, and anyone with long hair knows that loose hair/fur is a fucking PAIN. You can braid a horse’s mane and tail, but if you’re one of the many average/poor knights who DON’T have servants to take care of your horse for you, do you want to spend extra time cleaning and combing out your horse’s LEGS instead of necessary things? Like feeding them, grooming them, and checking for wounds? Nope, you’ll probably shave the feathering off or just pick a horse that doesn’t have it.

-Extra note on Friesian horses, who are RIDICULOUSLY common in “medieval” movies: Friesian horses are technically baroque horses in body form (Strong-boned! Big necks and butts!), but they’re also over-used in general, so most horse folks are sick of seeing them in movies. And if you don’t have the right kind of MODERN Friesian, you’ll probably be a laughingstock in addition to an eye-roll.

Some strains of modern Friesians are from carriage-horse lines, often referred to as “big movers.” This means “fun to LOOK AT, but terrible to RIDE.” Because, you know, those strains of Friesians weren’t meant for riding, but for PULLING CARRIAGES. Their movements are big, dramatic, and flashy… and their trot is notorious for bouncing people out of the saddle with every step. Not something you want for a knight who fills his opponents with terror.

A good riding horse’s movements are usually smooth and low to the ground, often described as “floating” and “effortless.”

—

A horse-note that I can’t figure out where to put: Many Western cultures love the idea of fiery stallions (intact male horses) for their noble knights and kings to ride into battle on, but realistically, stallions are only half of a given horse population. Many Western stallions are also gelded if they’re not the cream of the crop (which is probably at least the bottom half of the male horse population). So mares can be used by at least half of a realistic formation who just wants a warhorse, and doesn’t care about aesthetics or masculinity.

Also, mares can be ruthless and stallions can be nervous wrecks! Horses are living creatures, with personalities and feelings!

Horses also aren’t very sexually dimorphic, so a 1200lb war mare is DEFINITELY a match for a 1300lb war stallion. And remember how Loras Tyrell used a mare in heat to distract The Mountain’s stallion? That happens with a lot of stallions… almost like they’re living creatures, with instincts that they can’t always control! So if you know when your girl is ready to go every month, you can play dirty in a joust, too!

Just remember that you’re taking an equal risk, since your mare will possibly try to let a stallion mount her instead of fighting. You will either need to bail when she starts making googly-eyes, or you need to know you have ABSOLUTE loyalty from her, and she will listen to YOU instead of “the hot dude I just met five minutes ago!” HORSES ARE LIVING CREATURES, WITH INSTINCTS THAT THEY CAN’T ALWAYS CONTROL.

Then geldings will be used by at least another quarter of “the knights who cannot afford a horse good enough to keep his testicles,” so that leaves “a quarter or less” of knights who can realistically be mounted on stallions.

WORSE NEWS: If you geld a stallion too late (usually once they’re MOSTLY physically mature at 4-5 years old), that risk may never go away–so you’ve got a gelding who’s not breeding quality, but he’s still chasing mares in heat and fighting other stallions in turf battles, without understanding that he can no longer make babies!

On the other hand, some cultures don’t geld stallions because they view it as unnecessary or outright unnatural… but they also don’t want half the horse population distracted by pretty mares, or fighting with other stallions who walk by the pasture, so those cultures breed them to be sweet and easily managed (outside of battle, at least).

In short: ALL HORSES HAVE POTENTIAL TO BE WARHORSES, WHETHER THEY HAVE BALLS OR NOT.

—

Update, Feb 2 – Another day to expand on that “Different types of warhorses” mention!

Much like the common misconception of “all knights must be at least 6 feet tall and have 200 pounds of muscle” varied in real life due to genetics, cultural values, and logistics problems, the assumption that “all knights MUST have top-quality destriers that cost seven times the price of a normal horse” was not the case for the vast majority of “knights.”

Knights would have either “the best horse they could AFFORD” or “the best horse FOR THEIR SPECIALTY.”

A poor knight, or one of the early Middle Ages, would have “one horse that they’re with all the time;” that horse may not be pretty or come from fancy breeding lines, but they would get the job done and most definitely be taken care of. A wealthy knight of the later Middle Ages, when everything got more expensive and status more codified and finicky, would have two or three horses–one horse for warfare and one for regular riding, with the really wealthy knights having a third packhorse to carry all their stuff. (Moreover, they would have at least one servant to help take care of three horses.)

A muscled sprinter like a destrier is better in tight quarters and for short bursts of speed; to bring in the modern example of a classic/Foundation Quarter Horse, who are ideally “short-legged and low to the ground,” these dudes can literally hit the ground running and reach top speed in a few steps/seconds, so compare that to a sports-car going from zero to sixty miles. The tradeoffs?

1) You need to be able to hang the fuck on… and to avoid getting pitched into a wall/enemy WHEN THEY STOP.

2) That full-throttle gallop will really wear out your horse. A good commander will not bring out their heavy cavalry right away, because you also have to figure out how to get them back from the enemy’s side of the field.

In very simplistic terms, this is one of several problems that the battle of Agincourt had for the French; you had a bunch of hoity-toity noblemen with no proper battle experience who all wanted to do things their own way… and how do medieval noblemen usually want to fight a war? JUST FLOOR IT AND HIT THINGS AS HARD AS YOU CAN.

That went so badly that the recorded death-toll for the French side of Agincourt has been commented as “a roll call for French nobles.”

A destrier would not be suitable for a scout or light-cavalry; they’d need lighter and ground-covering horses to cover rough terrain, and to chase down the enemy for long stretches–akin to a modern-day Thoroughbred. For period pieces they might resemble an Akhal-Teke or “Turkmene” horse. A modern-day Thoroughbred horse can “only” reach forty miles per hour at a gallop, but they can keep that up for a whole mile or longer. So now your knight’s problem is “Hanging on for two or three whole minutes,” and anyone in performing or athletics will explain how long and agonizing a few minutes would feel on a rampaging horse. Have you seen how stacked a racing jockey is? The general consensus I’ve seen from equestrians is that barely anyone in any other horse-discipline is that built.

Meanwhile, an ideal light-cavalry horse would need longer legs for a ground-covering stride, and they may or may not be taller as well; as seen in the Akhal-Teke article, many endurance horses tend to show a lot more ribs and bones than other breeds, due to how lean they are. But think of them less as a dainty riding horse and more like a hunting greyhound/sighthound–all muscle, no fat!

The other type of light-cavalry horse would likely be a pony, used to going for miles on rough terrain, with little if any feed.

EDIT Feb 4, 2024: My post got cut off, so here's the rest of it!

The other type of light-cavalry horse would likely be a pony, used to going for miles on rough terrain, with little if any feed.

A period-accurate scout's horse was known as the Irish hobby, ridden by their eponymous hobelar troops. These little dudes were VERY little and about 12-14 hands high (48-54 inches, or 4 feet tall to bit under five feet tall). They were known to cover 60-70 miles a day in their raids, which my "preindustrial traveling" post notes is the EXTREME upper end of mounted distance travel. Their modern descendant is likely to be the Irish Connemara Pony.

Very wealthy and/or lucky European horsemen could probably manage to buy/steal an Arabian horse, as they remain exceptional endurance horses to this day. However, excessively cold/wet climates will need a lot of upkeep for a desert-bred horse to stay healthy.

While Arabians are known for their adorable "dished faces," this is not actually required! Many well-bred native lines have a regular face (ie, a "straight nose/profile") but they are from well-bred parents and have the capabilities of other Arabians. To the other extreme, you have some modern show/halter lines with REALLY exaggerated heads that hit a lot of people's "Uncanny valley" buttons, and they find it creepy/weird instead of refined. This kind of "seahorse face" would NOT be seen in a period piece.

Notice how the smaller a horse gets, the more ground it can cover? This is partly because size only matters TO AN EXTENT for "how long a horse goes," and partly because of physics! Less weight for a horse to drag around on its own body means more energy for putting miles behind them!

[craigslisthorses]

Do you happen to have any resources on why breeders might breed for typically undesirable traits? I'm doing a research paper on that topic, focusing on Quarter Horses (like the six-panel health issues, OLW, and Dominant White). While I have plenty on those issues themselves, I'm struggling to find things on why some people still breed horses with them.

Most of the time in like the QH halter world they see the double muscling genes as a blue ribbon opportunity and I don't think there's any other thought process in their minds other than that.

Howeverrr normal QH's are often bred with downhill structures because it's ideal for getting low when doing stuff like cutting cattle. Same with warmbloods being built uphill for dressage. These traits have their advantages even though sometimes unappealing.

[despazito]

Listen I'm a bit of a hater and I do have some reservations with the concept surrounding conformation and animal fancy as an institution but horses are one of the LAST animals you can really criticize for their conformation standards and just calling it eugenics. Unlike most dog breed standards, horse conformation is more predicated on their ability to function and perform work, or to carry a wholeass person on their backs so it's really important they got good structure!!! Sure there's halter horses bred purely for show and that's where you start getting the wonky dish faced Arabians and BBL quarter horses but unlike pugs the vast majority of horse breed standards do in fact keep the horse's best interests in mind.

[superfluffychickens]

That front-on horse looks like it was bread only to kick things down.

Haha, it’s actually the horse equivalent to roided-up bodybuilders; huge bulging muscles can actually get in the way when doing high-impact exercise or sports and can negatively affect cardio (muscles are heavy, you’re carrying a lot of weight around) and flexibility/agility (those muscles can get in the way of joints and tendons/ligaments iirc). Not implying that horses are given steroids, lol, they’re not, they’re bred to look like that. Like how a husky construction worker could probably kick a competitive bodybuilder’s ass, a stocky working cow horse QH would run circles around a Halter QH in pretty much every category.

While Quarter Horses were originally bred for sprint racing - the “quarter” in their name refers to the quarter-mile races they’d run - halter-bred QHs like that one aren’t really suitable for riding and struggle to move faster than a very slow and laborious jog/trot. It’s actually kind of sad, their health is usually pretty poor. But I will say that the number of Quarter Horses (and Paint Horses/Appaloosas, to an extent) with that physique pales in comparison to the number of healthy and athletic horses of the same breed(s). It’s a very niche breeding/competition sphere.

The idea of horses bred for fighting (not just like, warhorses, but like…fighting each other or fighting other animals) is a truly terrifying thought though that you’ve put in my head, anon. Horses are already dangerous enough as it is with very little intent on their part.

[nordfjording]

why do they make halter bred quarter horses look like theyre raised for meat

[tearlessrain]

like listen yes there are horrible quarter horses and horrible arabians because halter lines are a thing, but the breeds themselves aren't inherently bad and you can get really nice horses if they're bred for their actual intended purpose and not aesthetics.

but friesians are just Like That.

[bode-leone]

i can promise, with nearly 100% certainty, if the arabian and quarter horse (and by extension american paint and appaloosa) stud books introduced live cover only accepted for registration, the breed would be cleaned up by AT LEAST 75% within a decade. no more backyard bred shoddy quarter horses being passed off for some distant reining or cutting ancestor and halter breeders (of both quarter horse and arabian) would be taking a bigger look at their bloodstock, especially in their dual usefulness (halter AND rideability).

there should still be leniency for artificial breeding methods but you should have to apply for them, for example, if a mare has a career ending injury that would be negatively impacted by a live cover but doesn't impact her ability to carry a foal, nor is it based in a genetic defect or deficiency. they should be allowed for artificial insemination or potentially the use of embryo transfer to surrogate mare, with the foal being eligible for registration because they went through background checks and medically vetted the parental contributors before breeding.

this could also be used rare tail lines in both QH and arabians, especially with cloning. making sure the clone of an individual with replicated DNA (whether mare or stallion) can function and prove itself should be an option to keep lines from dying out. if the animal can prove itself and its genetics, whether it's a clone or not, it should be allowed to breed (with the help of artificial technologies, in the instance of the clone, especially for individuals that are geldings and the last of a tail line).

[lafseanchai]

Went out to the barn, and rode a different bay horse! As well as my good boy, Beau (short ride bareback and halter and lead rope). Dixie belongs to a friend's family, and I asked to ride to help keep her in shape as she's not getting the time she used to get. Selfishly, it also gives me another horse to ride and learn from, and a way to be able to ride with a friend.

Dixie was a good girl, and has very good buttons that she's very sharp with. She's just out of shape and not very flexible (I couldn't find her lateral movement like side passing or two tracking buttons, at least, and she struggled to do circles with an inside bend). But you could probably throw her into a Western Pleasure walk trot class and land a pretty good place today.

It is funny that Beau and Dixie are both Quarter Horses, but who where bred and trained for different things, and they way the are built and how they move is different.

Also, I spotted a momma turkey with her little brood wandering in from the woods, through the paddocks, heading towards the indoor arena.

[accountingacademic]

Catching Up Again

Daily Reflection Thursday, 25 January 2024

Things I'm Grateful For:

Highlights:

The research report I have to do for Communications can be on any topic, not just business (though tying business in is a bonus). Scrap my first six ideas (or save them for later, more like), I'm doing eight pages on genetic disorders/diseases in Quarter Horses, with a tie-in on profitability for why some of those problems are bred for (yes, I will absolutely be taking the piss out of halter breeders in this report).

Challenges:

For my Marketing course this semester, the marketing plan we have to do is based on a product we're creating, not an existing company. Thankfully once I expressed my hesitation in trying to come up with something, we spent almost half the class working on mind maps to come up with ideas. So I have an idea now, at least; a custom PC building service.

I tend to stay in my main classroom at lunch, taking the opportunity to get more work done since it doesn't take me an hour to eat. Unfortunately, four of the international students in my class also stay in that room, though they take the time to socialize. And unfortunately, socializing with them involved a lot of shouting. I've tried to ask them before if they can keep it down, but that doesn't happen. Even with my headphones on (active noise cancelling headphones, I may add) as loud as I can handle, I can still hear them from across the room.

Emotions:

I'm kind of enjoying the difference between my projects for those two classes, and how neither of them are tied into my plan to become an accountant.

The typical frustration with the international students in my class. There is a super petty part of me that wishes they'd drop out. For clarity's sake, the fact that they are international students has nothing to do with this. It's purely because they talk very loudly and off-topic on the regular, interfering with my ability to focus on my work. There are other students in my class I often feel the same way about, but those cases aren't daily frustrations because it doesn't happen as often.

Today's To-Do List:

Complete

Pick up cue cards to start research for my Communications report.

Start research for the Communications report.

Incomplete

Read Chapter 10 for Marketing.

Read Chapters 12-13 for Communications.

Make chronological and functional versions of my working resume.

Chapter 6 work for Accounting.

[cuttinghorsetrainingonline]

Mastering the Art of Cow Horses: Essential Tips and Techniques

From Beginner to Pro: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering the Art of Cow Horses

Are you ready to saddle up and embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of cow horses? Whether you're a novice equestrian enthusiast or a seasoned rider looking to refine your skills, this comprehensive guide is here to transform you from a beginner to a pro in no time! Get ready to dive headfirst into the captivating artistry of cow horses as we explore everything from choosing the right horse, honing your horsemanship, mastering cutting techniques, and much more. So grab your hat, tighten those reins, and let's gallop through this ultimate guide that will have you riding with confidence like never before!

Introduction to Cow Horses

A cow horse is a type of working stock horse that is used for herding cattle. They are also known as ranch horses or stock horses. Cow horses are usually bred for their athleticism and ability to work with cattle. 

The term "cow horse" can refer to a specific breed of horse, such as the American Quarter Horse, or it can describe any type of horse that is used for working with cattle. There are many different types of cow horses, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Some cow horses are better at herding cattle than others. Some are better at cutting cows out of a herd, while others excel at roping or chasing down strays. It takes a special kind of horse to be good at all aspects of cow work, and these horses are often the most valued by ranchers and rodeo cowboys alike. 

No matter what your goals are with your cow horse, it's important to start off on the right foot. This means choosing the right horse for the job, and then training him or her properly. With patience and hard work, you can turn even the greenest beginner into a pro at cow horses.

Gear and Equipment Needed for Cow Horse Training

If you're looking to get into cow horse training, there are a few things you'll need in terms of gear and equipment. First and foremost, you'll need a good quality saddle that's comfortable for both you and your horse. You'll also need a halter and lead rope, as well as a variety of other bits and bridles depending on your horse's individual needs.

In terms of other gear, you'll need a set of spurs, some chaps or chinks for protection, and a lariat or lasso. You'll also need access to cattle - either through owning your own stock, or being able to borrow or lease some from someone else. And last but not least, you'll need patience and perseverance as you learn the ropes of this challenging but rewarding discipline.

Basics of Working with Cow Horses

There are a few basics that are important to know when working with cow horses. First, it is important to have a horse that is properly trained and has the necessary foundation skills. Secondly, you must be able to read and understand cattle behavior in order to work them effectively. You need to know how to handle your horse during various situations that may arise while working cows.

If you have a horse that is properly trained and has a solid foundation of basic skills, then you will be off to a good start. Your horse should be able to stand quietly at the hitching rail, be familiar with being saddled and bridled, and know how to respond to your cues. In addition, your horse should have a good understanding of basic maneuvers such as turning, stopping, and backing up.

In order to read and understand cattle behavior, it is helpful to spend some time observing them in their natural environment. Watch how they interact with each other and pay attention to their body language. This will give you a better understanding of what they are trying to communicate when they are around humans and horses.

When working cows, there will be times when things can get tense or even dangerous. It is important that you know how to handle your horse in these situations so that both you and the animal stay safe. For example, if a cow gets aggressive or starts to charge, you will need to know how to make your horse turn away from the threat while still keeping control

Exercises to Improve Performance and Speed

There are a few key exercises that can help improve your cow horse's performance and speed. One is to work on their starts. This means getting them used to being explosive out of the gate and keeping their speed up throughout the run. You can do this by setting up barrels or poles in a line and having your horse race through them as fast as they can.

Another important exercise is working on their turns. This is key for cow horses because they need to be able to make quick, sharp turns while still maintaining their speed. You can work on this by setting up cones or barrels in a circle and having your horse navigate around them. As they get better at this, you can make the circle smaller to really challenge them.

It's important to work on your horse's endurance so they can keep going strong all day long. This can be done by gradually increasing the length of their rides or runs, or by adding some hill work into their routine. By doing these exercises regularly, you'll see a significant improvement in your cow horse's performance and speed.

Working through Difficult Maneuvers

Working through difficult maneuvers can be daunting for any cow horse, but with proper training and practice, it can be a fun and rewarding experience for both horse and rider. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Start small - don't try to tackle the most difficult maneuvers right off the bat. Work up to them gradually by mastering the basics first.

2. Be patient - both you and your horse will need time to learn and perfect each maneuver. Don't get discouraged if things don't go perfectly at first - just keep practicing!

3. Pay attention to your horse's cues - he knows what he's doing and how best to do it, so trust his instincts and go with the flow.

4. Reward your horse often - let him know that he's doing a good job with plenty of praise, pats, and treats. This will help him stay motivated and willing to try new things.

Advanced Techniques to Master the Art of Cow Horses

If you're looking to take your cow horse skills to the next level, there are some advanced techniques you can learn to really impress your friends and family. Here are just a few:

- The Figure 8: This is a more advanced version of the basic circle work you learned as a beginner. To do it, you'll need to be able to control your horse at a trot or lope while also moving laterally. This will come in handy for things like cutting cows out of a herd.

- Rollbacks: These are another great way to show off your control and Horsemanship skills. To execute a rollback, simply ride up to a cow and turn your horse around in a 180 degree turn so that you're facing the opposite direction. Then, ask your horse to back up while still maintaining control of the cow. This is a great move for heading cattle in the right direction or separating them from the herd.

- Flying Changes: These are definitely an advanced move, but they look really impressive! To do flying changes, you'll need to be able to trot or lope smoothly while also changing leads (the front leg that's moving). This is usually done by cueing with your reins or voice, and takes practice to perfect. But once you've got it down, it's sure to wow anyone who sees it.

Conclusion

Cow horses can be a rewarding and challenging discipline to pursue, but with dedication, patience, and the right knowledge it’s possible to become an expert. This comprehensive guide has provided you with all of the information you need to get started on your journey from beginner to pro. Now that you understand the fundamentals behind mastering this art form, it’s time for you to put your newfound knowledge into practice. We wish you luck on your cow horse journey!

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[track2hack]

Mum’s cousin’s AQHA stud is the new star of a tv series based on the Pony Club Secrets books that in no way actually follows the plot of the PCS books. but I mean hey magical glowy cremello stud is sure to bring in the horse kids

[suspiciousmammal]

i am absolutely fascinated by the differences in conformation and function in the horses! I really thought in the first example that one horse was just relaxed and the other was just more "on alert" - i didn't realize that was their actual differences in head carriage and leg placement. kind of unbelievable to make a *draft* horse to not be super functional at pulling heavy loads. is there a generalized problem in american vs euro where the american type is less functional across breeds?

That's a great question! I think it's hard to give a general answer, as some breeds are drastically different in the US vs Europe, while others are largely the same.

Even within the US, horse breeds are rarely uniform in type and conformation. If you look at the Quarter Horse, the performance and show lines are worlds apart:

On the left is My Intention, a successfull halter horse sire. And on the right is Metallic Cat, who is currently the highest ranking ranch horse sire. My Intention looks grossly overmuscled, because that's what wins in the show ring. But it's very far from functional. He looks like a gym bro who's overcompensating for his last breakup. Meanwhile Metallic Cat just looks more like a functional horse.

So within the US on its' own you'll see a difference in work vs show lines.

And then there's breeds where you can really see a difference. Irish Cobs are rather common especially in the UK. They're colorful and a bit more laid-back in terms of temperament, so they're usually a great choice for children's ponies or people who are more casual about riding. Meanwhile in the US, they're this weirdly exotic novelty breed that primarily gets bred for flashy colors and extremely long manes and tails.

The us version of the IC is on the left, while the traditional IC is on the right. The hair is much longer, and the body type of the us IC looks like it's been refined a bit. It's less draught-ish looking, with a drier head.

When looking at the Shetland Pony vs American Shetland Pony, you'll see that it's also been refined, but to a much more extreme extent:

American Shetland Pony on the left, Shetland Pony on the right. These two are roughly the same height, by the way. The Shetland kind of got the harness horse treatment, like the Brabant.

In general, American breeders seem to be focused on improving breeds while European breeders stick to preserving the qualities of a breed. That's a generalisation ofc, but in very broad terms, that's essentially what's happening here.

Now, warmbloods are a different story. I think I'll split this answer here and save the warmbloods for later though, my brain is fried from work

[horsesarecreatures]

Clabber Pinto (Top Breeze x Clabber’s Millie V) was a 1963 crop-out racing bred Quarter Horse. At seven days old, the decision was made to put him down due to his pinto coloration in order not to soil the name of his famous sire. However,  Vince Sanchez, a worker at the ranch where Clabber Pinto was born, saw potential in the horse and traded a well-bred quarter horse mare for him. Clabber Pinto began running in match races, but was then stolen buy a man who wanted to lease him but was refused. The horse was was missing for six months, but then an off-duty cop saw and recognized him from missing horse ads that the owners had paid for. 

Upon being returned, Clabber pinto was sick and emaciated. But he recovered and started competing in everything from western pleasure to reined cow horse events. At seven years old he started barrel racing and showed immense talent.  Cherry Sanchez continued running him and one year he places in 40 out of 43 rodeos. 

He placed 6th in the world and was then sold to Sharon Welch after standing at stud for a while. She began running Clabber Pinto again while also competing in western pleasure. He continued standing at stud and sired winners in a variety of disciplines, including western pleasure, halter, flat racing, and barrel racing. Sadly, he then fractured his sesamoid, but not realizing it, the owner injected him thinking it was another issue. This crippled him later on. He still competed occasionally but was sold to Jerald Crawford, who sold him again to D.C. and Floyd Cogburn. When the stallion was 25,  Cherry Sanchez bought him back.

Clabber Pinto was sold one last time. In December1995, his final owner Doc Allen put him down due to pain from the stallion’s arthritis and career injuries.  Clabber Pinto earned a spot in the record book as the first stallion to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo and sire multiple NFR qualifiers.

[theadventurek9]

I saw the conversation about working vs show types of dog breeds. I didn’t have anything enlightening to add to it but wanted to bring up another thing I find horrifying which is the world of halter bred horses vs sport horses. (Let’s be honest a lot of working bred horses have no type for breed or are grade)

Quarter horses and Paints seem to suffer the most. Though I’d argue that you can maybe throw in Arabians into that group. (Though I don’t think/know if physical functionality is affected vs. temperament. I mean most of those horses have cayenne pepper where the sun don’t shine and are ran HOT in the show ring. So I can’t say much, but some of that flare also would be bred in)

I think the warmblood stud books are pretty good from what I understand. The horse has to be judged on conformation, movement and jumping ability. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong)

It would be cool to try and bring back more functionality to breeds across the board.

[hippography]

TONETTE  Photo by Cosner  Champion Quarter Horse Mare 

For the first time, our cover picture presents a fine example of the Quarter Horse. This is an innovation, as more emphasis has previously been placed upon other horses more generally regarded as the backbone of the horse show circuit, such as the American Saddlebred, the Hackney, the Morgan, the Palomino and, of course, the perennial and adaptable Thoroughbred.

The Quarter Horse may be a comparative newcomer to the horse shows but he is the oldest truly American breed. His name comes from the Colonial "short horse" which was developed for great speed in the short races down the main street of a small town — the only available race track of that day. In this connection it is interesting to note that William Robinson, once deputy governor of Rhode Island and an ancestor of Tonette's owner, bred some of the most famous "short horses" of his time. Spanish horses — those imported by Columbus and Cortes — and the Colonial Thoroughbred are perhaps the most important American progenitors of the Quarter Horse, but behind them stand the Barb and the Arab. Without the mustang and the Longhorn the great history of the Southwest and Far West would not have been written in such colorful fashion.Today the Longhorn has been replaced by the Hereford, and the mustang has been pushed from the picture by the Quarter Horse.

The Quarter Horse represents the efforts of a thousand breeders to achieve the perfect cow horse — one which is fast, able, intelligent, strongly muscled and even-tempered.To the breeder, the ideal is an animal which is equally outstanding in the halter, on the race track, in the rodeo ring or out on the range doing the everyday work of the great beef industry. That the search for the perfect Quarter Horse is not ended is evidenced by the fact that Tonette did not win every class in which she was entered last season. This, in her owner's opinion, shows a healthy interest in the quest for the ideal.

The Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association recognizes that horse shows present the acid test of type and quality and in order to expedite a uniform standard the Association is conducting a school for judges of the breed.

Tonette is the product of outstanding breeding, coming from the famous Casement ranch in Colorado, and she clearly shows the desired refinement, alertness, speed and strength — the last demonstrated by the twenty six inch circumference of her forearm. She is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Danielson, Junior, of Rancho Sierra Vista, Camarillo, California, who hope to produce more like her. She was trained and shown by Bill Porter of Encino, California, who is regarded as one of the few great exponents of the old Spanish-American art of training horses with the hackamore, in which Tonette was shown last season.

Betty Jellinek (ed.), 1948, Here's Who in Horses of the Pacific Coast Vol. 5