Workin' horses

Pretty horses and the rider seems to be a natural at what he is doing...being a real cowboy...good work, Bigwoolie!  The last of a generation that can only be found in books or movies.

I tip my hat to you, your a scholar and a gentleman. Only thing you did wrong was not accidentally shoot the ranch hand or owner in the foot.

I don’t and never will rent out a horse. Any of my employees or their family members can ride anytime, as long as I know they are experienced. They also know the horse is walked for 20 to 30 minutes after a ride. Then the horse is brushed down, plus they clean the horses stall. That includes banking and bedding.

Good luck to you in the future my man👍

There. I just got me another hackamore shaped and rigged for this afternoon.

A true hackamore consists of a braided rawhide bosal (the part that goes around the nose), a mecate (this one is made of horsehair) and the leather hanger. It takes the bit and everything away, takes them back to the beginning, and make it so they have to learn to follow a feel, not depend on being physically steered.

It almost magic when you know how to use it right. Its also one of the easiest ways to teach a horse to run off if you use it wrong. There is no longer any mechanical advantage in the hands of the rider.  Its all a bluff. Working with the mind, not the body. If you get the mind, you have the body, her body will follow her mind. Ive got to go back to the beginning and get that little paint filly's mind. Her former "trainer" never did. Everyone in horses has their niche. This is mine. This is what I do. I live for this stuff.  

He's tuckered out...

You know Dewayne. Most of us here are just jealous.
When we were 5 years old, we all wanted to be cowboys when we grew up.
But instead, most of us, grew up to work in factories or offices etc.
But not you. You became a real🤠 cowboy!
Well enough of this for one night. I need to go lock all the deadbolts on the doors. Turn on the security system,
Put on the white noise machine to drown out the sirens and traffic, drop the blinds to block the neon lights,
And go to bed.
I hate you😝 lol.

My Dad was country preacher from Kentucky that came straight off the farm out of the hills. I was gangly, awkward and skinny as a rail. At 10 years old, after reading Zane Grey, Louis L'amour, Max Brand et al, I decided right then that what I was wasnt what I was gonna be. I began the journey right there to become who I wanted to be, come hell or high water. I never lost sight of it, and I never quit. Anyone can do it, if they WILL do it. But make no mistake, its never been easy. The answers to the horse conundrums come easier now than they used to, but the body hurts more than it did. The ground is harder than I remember.

We got out of the riding arena with 3 of the horses today and headed out to open country. Muddy ditches with water in them, birds flying up out of bushes, railroad tracks, gates, loping in open fields...its what really starts making a solid horse. All did well. One did a little minor crow hopping a couple of times out of pure exuberance, one decided he hated not being in front and was a little snorty and high-headed, especially at higher speeds, and the little filly decided she was a lady and should not have to cross a muddy ditch and get her feet wet.

All three of us riders were cowboys and experienced hands, so each incident was a time to stop and calmly teach the horse in whatever they were having trouble with. Thats what we were out there for.

The youngest rider, my 18yo son Will, was on the youngest, greenest horse. He was a complete pro. It did my ol' heart proud to watch him calmly cowboy up and school a filly with patience and gentleness coupled with proper technique.

When we finally got back to the barn, I saddled up the other client horse, another young filly, and worked her for about an hour in the arena and out in the pastures. She did really well too. She's calming down, and doing better every day listening to my cues and following a feel.

Which is good. Otherwise, I dont get paid.

Awesome, Dewayne!

That is a nice looking hayburner, that view isn't too bad either!

I wish it were possible to do my job on horseback. If I were younger, I could.

Now, my "horse" is a Yamaha ATV. Believe me, it is not the same!!

I am always glad to read about people who still have time and interest in horses.  I had a neighbor here, years ago, with the improbable name of Howard Johnson. Howard was originally from Houston, TX. One day, he decided, "that is it. No more motor vehicles". Howard switched to a horse. Every day, I saw him riding around our area, heading to the little store or someone's house. Then one day he decided to leave for Montana and off he went on his horse, never to be seen again.

I had a buddy in San Benito county that owned a construction company and had a beautiful ranch. Every year at the spring roundup, he ran the chuck wagon and boy could he cook!

He paid for all the grub, and was a biscuit and gravy magician.

Looks like he earned one, let the boy have a puff! 😜

I did dog behavior and training for a good ten years. I used to encounter many “previously trained” dogs that had NO clue. But, I always got those lines of communication opened.

Keep up the good work gents!

Great photos, Dewayne.

That of your son, Will, and the minx doing her best to get him off is quite special. Hang on to that one!

He does rodeo. In that picture, she wasnt bucking, she reared up to the point of almost flipping over backwards. He's yanking her nose down and to the left to adjust her balance so she has to come down to the side, not over backwards. It was a hell of a bit of riding.

We just got back today from working the same horse. She was still pissy at first, but we worked her through it. No bucking, kicking or rearing. She calmed down.