Texas Style Round Robins

Have you ever heard of a Texas Style Round Robin? Well, I hadnt until last year but it sounds like the best way to have a round robin! It really makes each roper rope their very best in each team effort!

From what I understand it goes like this - Each header ropes with each heeler one time. The times of each team is recorded...if they dont stop the clock they get a designated time such as :30 or :60 recorded. At the end of the roping, each headers times are totaled and each heelers times are totaled...the header and heeler with the quickest overall time wins, followed by the next quickest etc. Basically you are solely judged on YOUR times...not the fastest teams! So if you want to throw your rope in the dirt, go ahead, its going to hurt you as much as anyone! How cool is that!!

Not only do these type ropings remove the 'ability' to cheat, they are much easier on the cattle and horses too!!! With the added benefit of not going on for such a long time! win...win...win

The greatest benefit to me though is it really evens up the playing field. If you botch one or two, you could still do well. How many of us have been to ropings to see a roper throw it in the dirt when paired up with one person and do a 'rodeo run' with one of his buddies. I know I have...up close and personal.... and it is sooooo frustrating.

I believe that folks that put on Texas Style Round Robins are truly in it for the sport. There is one place that I know of here nearby that is doing just this...BK Arena...they wont start back up until spring, but you can watch http://www.dillydallyarena.com/ for more info.

Horse collecting

Have you ever driven by a field and there were just way too many horses in it? And you wonder, why in the world would anyone want that many horses? What do they do with them all? Their field is just dirt (or mud) and it must cost a fortune to feed them all and vet them and have the farrier out, etc.... what causes folks to 'collect' horses. Perhaps, you were driving past my house when you thought this!!!

What causes horse collecting? Is it a disease? A disorder of some sort? I dunno, but if it is, I think I'm recovering from it myself!!!

Perhaps it starts with the search for the 'perfect' horse - which I am convinced is really not out there- or perhaps it starts with the indecision over what style riding you are doing or maybe it is just that you cant resist that beautiful mare. However it starts, I think this winter has 'healed' me!!!

Yesterday as my husband and I were wrestling with a heavy (and frozen) tarp covering our hay supply in 6 degree weather with a slight breeze, I decided that this just isnt fun anymore....maybe its my age...but at the time, getting down to just a couple horses sounded really good!

Now that I've thawed out, reducing our numbers still sounds good. When I really start counting up I think my husband and I spend a whole lot more time (and money) taking care of our horses than we do 'enjoying' them. Now, dont get me wrong, I'd rather care for my horses myself than have them at a boarding stable where everything is done for me (and the horse), but taking care of a whole herd in single digit weather just has lost its appeal to this 'ole' lady.

Still, just before turning the lights off in the barn, smelling the clean shavings and hay, listening to the horses happily munching away and just knowing all is well, is a really great feeling.

So, perhaps this is how folks like me end up with more horses than they can ride. Maybe when the weather warms up, I'll be able to laugh about it too!

The CSI Pad

We got the CSI pad that we ordered several days ago but it sat in the den for a few days before we finally got the opportunity to try it out.
The temps were hovering around 30 degrees outside and it was already dark out, but we hauled over to a friends indoor arena and saddled up. We werent able to do any hard riding, but the saddle fit two of our horses perfectly and they both seemed very comfortable with it. It is a very nice looking pad...a bit plain, but clean lines and I really like the way it sits OFF the horses withers.
All in all, I'd say it's by far the nicest pad we've ever owned....and I cant wait to see how well it works when my hubby is roping with it!! Up until now, he has been using two fairly thick pads so his horses wouldnt get sore and the thickness was a disadvantage, he really had to crank on the girth to keep the saddle from rolling....not to mention the difficulty of getting both pads just right! Considering how well padded, how sturdy and how lightweight the CSI pad is, I'm pretty much hooked. Time will tell if it is truly as good a pad as it appears. But, nonetheless, now that I've seen it, I want to get one for me!!!

Crazy things horses do...

By now most everyone has seen this photo. It made its rounds via email awhile back. And, you've probably also seen the photo of the mare that liked water so much and got stuck trying to swim in a big water trough.

I've been talking to some friends lately about ways their horses have tried to get their attention....one young horse was playing around in a field, reared up and got its front leg hung in the 'Y' of a tree....another decided it would be fun to roll under the fence, but got stuck...then there was one that was playing 'the whisker game' over a fence with a neighbor and impaled its chest on the gate hanger.

We built our new place with 4 plank fencing and rounded corners...plastic troughs...etc...but our horses still manage to injure themselves. The other night my 2Yo Pally mare came in with blood running down her leg...it appeared to be a puncture, but on closer examination was just a bad bump. I was thankful for that, but have no clue how it happened.

My husband says horses have one goal in life...to kill themselves. And, honestly, sometimes I think he is right!!! Horses just do the darnedest things, dont they?

Helping Hands

Today I was gone for most of the day...to help a friend in need. My friend's husband, also a good friend, had a pretty terrible 4-wheeler wreck and has been laid up since Thanksgiving. He is on the mend now, but is still confined to the bed...and probably has another month or so to go before he will be able to get around again. My friend has her hands full taking care of him, working and doing the daily chores that we all must do. She had gotten alittle behind in a few areas and so some other friends and I went to give her a helping hand today.

Almost 2 weeks ago, I stopped by to see another dear old friend in an assisted living center. She was so thrilled to see me....said it was the highlight of her year! I just stopped by to give her a hug and to tell her I had been thinking of her.

These two incidents got me to thinking as I was driving home tonight....I was thinking about the times I had actually reached out to help someone in need, and you know what? I could do alot better!!! When someone is lonely or needs a helping hand or just needs someone to let them know that they CARE....it really is a simple thing. Why dont we look for these opportunities more often? You know, the opportunity to reach out and let someone know that they are not alone...that we are there for them....

Maybe they need a meal cooked, an errand run, someone to go to the doctor with them. Perhaps they need someone to pick up a prescription or help with their chores. Maybe they just need a hug and someone to tell them they are there.

I'm going to try to do more for my friends and those in need this year...in fact, I'm going to LOOK for ways to help out.

Winter Weather and Horses....

After a couple of weeks of really decent weather for this time of year....mild temps and mostly dry conditions....it is just totally nasty out tonite. The temp is around 35 and a steady rain....just miserable! My husband commented that he would rather it be 15 degrees and snowing!!! (I have to agree and I think most horses would too.... although I'm not sure the horse in this picture would!)
The warm and waterproof blankets that we use were working just fine when I checked each horse this evening while feeding. Wish I had the room to bring everyone in the barn, but I dont and I do have several mares that just prefer being out... no matter what the weather. As long as they have plenty of good hay and fresh water and their blankets, they should be fine. Of course, I always check on them at least twice a day to make sure!
Because it is so bad outside, I thought it would be interesting to post some info on winter horse care. I found several good tips on the following websites.

This is a good site

and so is this one

and this one is too!

Now none of these sites mention the following problem....Have you ever been to a competition or practice and watched folks lead their sweaty, tired horses to their trailer and then proceed to unsaddle and load them wet?? I've actually seen some wet horses loaded into stock trailers! One guy laughed that his horse would be blown dry going down the road when someone said something to him about it!!! This freaks me out! Admittedly it is hard to dry a heavy-coated horse, but at least throw a blanket over them for the trailer ride home. And please put them in a clean, dry stall once you get there.... at least until they dry throughly!
What do you think? Any other tips or suggestions?

BTW, I feel very blessed that our horses here in Tennessee dont experience weather like the horse in the picture!!!

Bomb Proof

You've probably already noticed that there are lots of horses for sale right now. And alot of them are advertised as 'bomb proof'. Craigslist and other horse for sale sites are loaded with ads of 'bomb proof' or 'kid safe/husband safe' horses....some of which look like they havent seen a brush or farrier in months. Bomb Proof? Doubt it! But it did get me to thinking...what exactly is 'bomb proof'??? And, better yet, why do some really good horses get a bad reputation after one incident?

I've had horses for almost 40 years now and I've seen some really, really well trained horses, but in any given situation, I think these horses could've easily come un-trained! Bomb Proof...sounds good on paper, but in reality, I dont think so.

I owned this one horse...he was a gorgeous, aged gelding and was super well trained...he was what a lot of folks would classify as a real 'baby-sitter'...even to me, this horse was as close to 'bomb-proof' as I'd ever seen. One late summer day on a leisurely trail ride a horse fly the size of a hummingbird got after us.....I swung and swatted, but this was a very persistent horse fly....and it had a single minded target in mind - my horses rear.

You've probably already guessed what happened next...the fly came in for its landing and my horses rear came about a foot off the ground, considerable tail swinging and head tossing accompanied...then I smacked the fly and BOOM! it was over, quick as that, nothing unusual in my opinion....but to some of the riders that were present that day my well-trained horse 'bucked' with me. Now most likely, if my horse hadnt been so well-trained the incident would'nt have caused a second glance; but because he was so well trained, the expectations regarding his behavior were completely different.

Word games...everyone has their own set of beliefs and expectations. That is why I could never advertise a horse as bomb proof...especially a 3YO ,but that is the way this one is described in this craigslist ad.

"Jesse is a registered 3 year old bay gelding. His registered name is "*******" but is affectionately known as Jesse. He comes from the Jesse James bloodline. He is 14.3 hands tall and can be ridden by anyone. He is considered a family horse and is completely bomb proof. He can be bathed, clipped, doctored, loaded, unloaded, and saddled without any trouble. He has been used to work cows and does a great job. He would make a great roping horse and is basically an all around prospect. He has been taken on trail rides and just ridden in the pasture by my 4 year old niece and he does really well. While on the trail ride our friend had him cross the river and he had no problems with crossing the water or standing in it. She also could stand up on him and he didn't move. I currently don't have those pictures but hope to have them up on our website soon, on Jesse's page, look for website link at bottom of page. He can be caught anywhere, will just walk right up to you to be petted and is super friendly. He would make a great addition to your home for the kids or the husband, you just can't go wrong with this horse. I don't like to say kid safe because some feel that means they can just turn the kids loose on the horse by themselves, but this time I don't mind. My 4 year old niece rides him by herself all the time while we stand outside the pens and she will tap him with a stick and he does absolutely nothing. Jesse is completely worth every penny and an outstanding horse."

This looks like it is a really nice horse. He is obviously cared for, groomed and well fed...and the folks have spent time with him - he could very well be a 'needle in a haystack' and be super well trained for his age....but 'Bomb-proof 3YO' is an oxymoron if I've ever heard one.