I’m partial to mares, so using Rosie’s video. The McKibben’s recently moved from TX to
AZ & those of us in the know miss them but, happy they’re still training some great horses. My all-time favorite is still Catfish, but Rosie’s quite a girl!
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Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m a city boy, but love horses. And the sound track is great. My wife and I enjoyed the series “Heartland” a lot because of the horses. One of God’s most beautiful creatures.
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This is my chance to dream. A near perfect run on a 3 year old: Zak34 winner of the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity. This is the last of 3 events (others are reining and herd work or cutting) called cow work but we know it better as down the fence. It starts at about 1:13 after they have to give him a new cow (the first one immediately went off the fence.)
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Thank you for sharing. I know zip about horse competition, but am going to learn a bit. Living in Fort Worth I notice the marquee for the equestrian events at Will Rogers when going to the g’n shows, but have never been. I’m too old to do much but watch, but am glad the vids are available.
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That IS the Will Rogers arena and since I show reined cow horses, I was there to watch the finals this year. My horse, CWR Sanntonio won reserve Limited in the Hackamore Classic (4-5 year olds) and won the Limited class last year in the Snaffle Bit Futurity (3 year olds, only). Horses have been a lifelong endeavor for me and owning a western saddle would have made me ROFL when I was 16 and working for a saddle horse trainer. Reined cow horse is to cowboys as event competition is to the hunter-jumper world. 3 different competitions for a single horse and rider- a real way of showing other cowboys who has the best young horse.
It is truly based on the ranch horse, what being a cowboy was all about, and is one of the last vestiges of that life left (although it often takes insanely rich people to be competitive.) There was a favorite this year who didn’t make the finals- a guy from Missouri on a 3 year old mustang who did a lot better than many of the royally bred competitors. That is what makes Fort Worth so special- a place for every one.
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Thanks for some education about this subject. I like to read the Longmire novels by Craig Johnson. In his latest one he mentions a book I purchased: “We Pointed Them North” by E.C. “Teddy Blue” Abbot. Not the cowboys of Hollywood for sure. Highly recommend it if not already read.
Yes, from what I have observed on one of the websites, there are some very expensive horses for those who have the means. However, I’m sure that there are also those who love the animals and have good training practices. I suppose bloodlines are important, but not necessary to have an excellent horse such as your example of the gentleman from Missouri. I especially liked the Heartland shows having to do with wild mustangs.
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Here is an example, Extreme Mustang Makeover 2010, with Logan Leech. He is a friend of my former trainer. Note, he does it all by body weight and leg aides- no neck strap or visible control of any kind. Enjoy. I never tire of watching this video.
BTW, they have 100 DAYS to train their horses for this event. Snaffle Bit Futurity entries have since the horse was foaled in many cases. VERY impressive to pull a horse off of BLM property and get them to perform in an arena filled with carnivores…
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Very impressive!
I used to go to shows like this, but don’t travel much anymore.
Here’s Cortez. Roy Rodgers, eat your heart out! McKibben’s horses are incredibly good-natured.
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Possum too!
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Looking for something different?
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