4/12/08 Part 2

[Choclab]

Things are starting to pick up again...about time eh? With the longer days and 70 degree weather back, it means time to work the boys and some colts.

The half brother to my calf horse. He's gonna be awesome when he gets going good.





My buddy Hoffee and his colt Wiskey




Hoffee



Hoffee on Zodie.....guess how old this horse is.



Waiting their turns




Some moms and babies



Doesn't rolling feel great!

[Cowboy Up]

nice horses you got there

[Choclab]

Thanks. It's taken awhile to get the mare/stud combo we wanted, but it's finally paying off.

[Cowboy Up]

yep, the livestock business ain't the fastest one out there

[Jassy]

Good pictures of your setup,,I like the round pen,, thought wondering why a tiedown is used so early in training.? I have no idea how old horses really are unless they are young baby colts, or their lower lip is draggin..lol So I give up on how old that sorrel is...

[Choclab]

It's not really a tie-down, it's a rubber bungie. It helps them to learn where to keep there heads....and thats not up in the air, plus they won't freak out when I put a real tie-down on them. The little sorrel is 6...lol. He's 13.1 and 800+ pounds, just a little guy. Hope to sell him as a jr. rodeo horse. He's quite the character and would do well with a younger teen.

[kolanuraven]

[Hooks]

[Choclab]

lol...quick gimmick and crutch eh? It works well, but what do I know....I just started colts my whole life. They get tired of pulling against the bungies and learn to keep their heads down. It teaches them how to find relief, or their "out", something that you will use to train your horse it's whole life. It also gets them ready for the tie-down. I want them to be able to feel comfortable pushing against the tie-down for balance. It helps them get under them selves and gets them stopping better. I have so much junk hanging off of my colts when I start them, it's alost funny. It never hurts using all the tricks you can to get your horse more broke. "Crutches" or not. So while your still trying to get your ranch bred pony's head out of your face, I'll be 10 steps ahead of you. Cowboyed horses are ok for plugging along on the ranch or trail....but not for the arena or show pen. Tell ya what there "cowboy", I'll take some video of how broke and responsive my horses are, and you do the same.

[Hooks]

Whoa there Chocolate, didn't mean to pee in your Wheaties............
I just come from a school that never used tricks (your words, not mine) to start a colt. And I'm not good enuff to be called a "cowboy". I too have spent most of my horse-life in the show pen. But I started working for some dang good trainers & tried to learn their ways. And "tricks" wasn't one of 'em. We got the basics on 'em & then went on. If something came undone, we went back to the basics. Not saying its the only way, but just the way I was taught.
And I've had some pretty decent results. Don't have no videos, but some of my horses have paid a few trucks & trailers

[Choclab]

[Jassy]

Ok...I understand the bungee function...but do all your horses use tiedowns? Just curious...we don't use them very often if possible...have had some wrecks when they step in a gopherhole..and can't get their head up to balance or save themselves from a major fall...So..if ya start a colt with the bungee,,will it help him to keep his head level even without a tiedown down the road???