Why we chose the American Quarter Horse?
Ranch horses are a hot commodity these days. People around the world are looking to connect with a simpler time, time without stress, hurry and nervousness. They are looking for a horse as a smart, reliable and trustworthy partner in trail riding. Good ranch horses became not only a hot commodity but are recognized as highly versatile.
But what makes a good ranch horse? We found this definition in a brochure from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
• He must be easy to catch, saddle and lead, and he must load and unload willingly. He must also stand hobbled. He must have a soft trot because it is at that gait that the cowboy most often travels in a pasture of several thousand acres. But he must also have a nice lope.
• He must have a decent stop and handle well. He must be able to cut cattle and drive particular animals from herd, and he must be able to literally push cattle into a squeeze chute for doctoring.
• The rider must be able to rope cattle in a pen or a pasture, and then drag whatever was roped to a branding crew or into trailer. The rider must be able to open and close gate when mounted.
• The ranch horse must be able to run fast and do so when called upon. Then he must settle down immediately to perform slower work.
• The ranch horse must be able and willing to cross creeks and rivers when necessary, even if it means swimming, and he must endure obstacles such as brush so thick that light barely permeates it. He must also be able to maneuver on rocky ground without losing his footing.
• He must groundtie, and he must be willing to carry a calf across the saddle if necessary.
• He must also stand quietly while the rider dons a rain slicker.
• The ranch horse must be sound and be able to be ridden every day if necessary. But he must also be able to be used sparingly (once a week or less), and then not have to be retrained the next time he is called upon.
• Finally, the ranch horse must agreeably be corraled with a number of other horses and not cause any problems.
For us this sounds like the definition of the American Quarter Horse!
