Buckaroo Texan Blog

I have two roan geldings that live  in the west pasture. They  have been turned out for the last 4 years.  They come into the water lot everyday and get a handout and are around just long enough to know they are ok.  One is 11 years old, the other is 8 years old.   The 11 year old was ridden alot by me during his three, four and 5 year old years and then  ridden a few times the next 2 years.   The 8 year old was started and ridden about 4 or 5 times  as a three year old and then turned out. 

 I got the two boys up yesterday afternoon to work with them and check them out.   Due to the drought, I may need to find a different home for them.  They both came right to me and I had no trouble approaching them with halter to be caught.  I lead the 11 year old into a big pen and checked him out with my flag and lariat rope.   He was big eyed and looking alot but let down real quick.  His backup was super soft, he remembered his leadbys, rope around his middle to prepare for the cinch, changing eyes.   I could see some areas in him that with a little work will be better. His balance and movement with better direction from me got better as we went along.  With the improvement of my technique over the years, I could spot these little things that I overlooked years ago.  I could see what I settled for years ago, but even in this first session I could start to improve upon his balance and placing of his feet and do less to get more.   The 8 year old, was the same,  he showed me what he knew from years ago, areas in him were better than the 11 year old, here again  I had a better technique when I started him, but we could improve on it, today, after all these years.   I was so proud of the boys, it was such a fantastic moment,  I had tears in my eyes.  It was so heart warming to  see that  horsemanship with quality, really, really does last.     That is all these two horses have known.