Circle B Ranch
The Story of Pecos
This is the story of a little painted colt named Pecos.
Pecos was entered up, at the last minute, in our colt starting clinic in May of 2008. A cancellation only a few weeks before the
clinic created an opening, and Pecos was next in line. Some good friends of ours brought him up, and spent the weekend with
us, helping in the clinic, and lending us their son, Curtis, to be a colt rider for me.
On Friday night of the clinic, we did groundwork with all of the colts, got them saddled, and I put their first ride on them. This first
ride is usually only about 10 minutes in length, just enough to expose the horse to the sensation. When I start horses on my
own, I like to wait until the 2nd saddling to get on them, but since I had 3 colt riders that would be mounting up first thing in the
morning, I decided to get on all the colts Friday night.
Things went pretty normal with Pecos until we saddled him. Some colts react big to being saddled for the first time, some
hardly pay any attention to it. Pecos reacted BIG!! He stood very quietly for me to saddle him. I work hard to get some trust
built up in the colt so they will give me the time needed to secure the saddle. Once saddled, I can only help them so much, they
must learn to deal with the pressure of the saddle however they can. As soon as he tried to walk off with the saddle, he broke in
half and began bucking around the round pen. He must have made 2 or 3 laps around a 60 foot pen before he finally settled in
and went to trotting. This is still not that unusual for a lot of young horses, but usually once they settle in to the feeling of the
saddle, they are pretty much over the fear of it from there on. Not little Pecos.
I haltered him and began doing a little more ground work with him. Every once in a while, for no apparent reason, he would
return to bucking and running around frantic. I don't like to see this panic in the horse. Every horse is capable of it, but I try real
hard to keep them from experiencing any more of it than they have to. I decided that it would be best to try and get a ride on
him while he was wrung out a little, rather than wait until he was fresh the next day, so on I climbed.
Pecos was a little trooper, he tried to hang in there with me. I don't believe for a minute that he was afraid of me being on his
back, but rather he just couldn't deal with the added pressures on his body with the saddle and my weight on his back. We
didn't make it very far around the pen before he broke into another bucking rage. I don't mind if a young horse bucks with me
for the first couple rides, they are free to explore every avenue, then after that I try to discourage it. Pecos bucked for what
seemed at least an entire lap around the 60 foot pen, perhaps two, I lost count. I just know the panels were whizzing by, and
going up and down as we went.
Fortunately, I was able to ride Pecos out, and he eventually smoothed out and we were able to do walk, trot, and canter in both
directions, on both leads. I feel it is best to get all of this accomplished the first ride, that way there are less surprises for the
next few rides, and I think it helps the young horse to learn that he can move out, freely.
The next morning, I thought little Pecos would be much better off for all that we went through on Friday night, but to my surprise,
he seemed to buck just as hard when I saddled him. This bothered me because I had arranged for Curtis to ride him so that I
could work with him and Pecos from a saddle horse. It was at this point that I knew we had to do a little something extra to help
settle the little painted colt.
On occasion, I will lay a horse down to help settle them, it can be a life changing experience for them. I don't do it to all horses
though, as there are some risks that come with it. I decided that Pecos would benefit from laying down if done in the right
manner. There are some trainers that lay horses down in an effort to conquer the horse, I try to stay far away from that. I would
rather go about it with the idea that I am allowing the horse a chance to lay down, and learn that he has nothing to fear. I think,
for the horse, it is beneficial for them to realize that at the one time in their life when they are most vulnerable, that I will not hurt
them, but rather comfort them.
Pecos was entered up, at the last minute, in our colt starting clinic in May of 2008. A cancellation only a few weeks before the
clinic created an opening, and Pecos was next in line. Some good friends of ours brought him up, and spent the weekend with
us, helping in the clinic, and lending us their son, Curtis, to be a colt rider for me.
On Friday night of the clinic, we did groundwork with all of the colts, got them saddled, and I put their first ride on them. This first
ride is usually only about 10 minutes in length, just enough to expose the horse to the sensation. When I start horses on my
own, I like to wait until the 2nd saddling to get on them, but since I had 3 colt riders that would be mounting up first thing in the
morning, I decided to get on all the colts Friday night.
Things went pretty normal with Pecos until we saddled him. Some colts react big to being saddled for the first time, some
hardly pay any attention to it. Pecos reacted BIG!! He stood very quietly for me to saddle him. I work hard to get some trust
built up in the colt so they will give me the time needed to secure the saddle. Once saddled, I can only help them so much, they
must learn to deal with the pressure of the saddle however they can. As soon as he tried to walk off with the saddle, he broke in
half and began bucking around the round pen. He must have made 2 or 3 laps around a 60 foot pen before he finally settled in
and went to trotting. This is still not that unusual for a lot of young horses, but usually once they settle in to the feeling of the
saddle, they are pretty much over the fear of it from there on. Not little Pecos.
I haltered him and began doing a little more ground work with him. Every once in a while, for no apparent reason, he would
return to bucking and running around frantic. I don't like to see this panic in the horse. Every horse is capable of it, but I try real
hard to keep them from experiencing any more of it than they have to. I decided that it would be best to try and get a ride on
him while he was wrung out a little, rather than wait until he was fresh the next day, so on I climbed.
Pecos was a little trooper, he tried to hang in there with me. I don't believe for a minute that he was afraid of me being on his
back, but rather he just couldn't deal with the added pressures on his body with the saddle and my weight on his back. We
didn't make it very far around the pen before he broke into another bucking rage. I don't mind if a young horse bucks with me
for the first couple rides, they are free to explore every avenue, then after that I try to discourage it. Pecos bucked for what
seemed at least an entire lap around the 60 foot pen, perhaps two, I lost count. I just know the panels were whizzing by, and
going up and down as we went.
Fortunately, I was able to ride Pecos out, and he eventually smoothed out and we were able to do walk, trot, and canter in both
directions, on both leads. I feel it is best to get all of this accomplished the first ride, that way there are less surprises for the
next few rides, and I think it helps the young horse to learn that he can move out, freely.
The next morning, I thought little Pecos would be much better off for all that we went through on Friday night, but to my surprise,
he seemed to buck just as hard when I saddled him. This bothered me because I had arranged for Curtis to ride him so that I
could work with him and Pecos from a saddle horse. It was at this point that I knew we had to do a little something extra to help
settle the little painted colt.
On occasion, I will lay a horse down to help settle them, it can be a life changing experience for them. I don't do it to all horses
though, as there are some risks that come with it. I decided that Pecos would benefit from laying down if done in the right
manner. There are some trainers that lay horses down in an effort to conquer the horse, I try to stay far away from that. I would
rather go about it with the idea that I am allowing the horse a chance to lay down, and learn that he has nothing to fear. I think,
for the horse, it is beneficial for them to realize that at the one time in their life when they are most vulnerable, that I will not hurt
them, but rather comfort them.
I offered Pecos a chance to lay down, and with little trouble, he did.
Once down, I sat on him and petted him and tried to reassure him.
I had Curtis come in the round pen and sit on him with me, petting
the little horse and helping him to relax. We worked with him for
about 10 minutes until I felt he had completely relaxed.
Once down, I sat on him and petted him and tried to reassure him.
I had Curtis come in the round pen and sit on him with me, petting
the little horse and helping him to relax. We worked with him for
about 10 minutes until I felt he had completely relaxed.
I instructed Curtis to mount up, and we would try to help Pecos to
come up in a relaxed frame of mind, without any panic whatsoever.
Curtis sat astride the little colt, I handed him the lead rope, and
told him to keep petting the little horse. Pecos rose part way up
and hesitated, we gave him all the time he needed before asking
him to come up any further.
come up in a relaxed frame of mind, without any panic whatsoever.
Curtis sat astride the little colt, I handed him the lead rope, and
told him to keep petting the little horse. Pecos rose part way up
and hesitated, we gave him all the time he needed before asking
him to come up any further.
Pecos stood up, shook his head, and then without hesitation, walked
off in a nice calm manner. The picture to the right shows Curtis and
Pecos just moments after rising to his feet. At this point I had Curtis
do nothing more than pet the little horse, he did great!!
I was able to drive the duo around the pen at a walk, and then into a
trot, and eventually into a lope in both directions. Pecos traveled
very nicely with his head low, and totally relaxed. It was a pretty
picture.
off in a nice calm manner. The picture to the right shows Curtis and
Pecos just moments after rising to his feet. At this point I had Curtis
do nothing more than pet the little horse, he did great!!
I was able to drive the duo around the pen at a walk, and then into a
trot, and eventually into a lope in both directions. Pecos traveled
very nicely with his head low, and totally relaxed. It was a pretty
picture.
This last picture on the left was taken on Sunday morning, the
last day of the clinic. We once again started Pecos off by
allowing him to lay down, and once again, he came up in a very
relaxed manner. Curtis again was able to do walk, trot, and
lope in both directions.
We bridled Pecos and the other two colts on Sunday, and
eventually had them all come in the round pen together where
they spent some time doing some drills in a small group.
Curtis and Pecos were able to do everything the other colts
could do, it was a great feeling to watch them both. Curtis is a
good rider, with no fear, and Pecos was able to relax and really
learn what Curtis was asking him to do.
last day of the clinic. We once again started Pecos off by
allowing him to lay down, and once again, he came up in a very
relaxed manner. Curtis again was able to do walk, trot, and
lope in both directions.
We bridled Pecos and the other two colts on Sunday, and
eventually had them all come in the round pen together where
they spent some time doing some drills in a small group.
Curtis and Pecos were able to do everything the other colts
could do, it was a great feeling to watch them both. Curtis is a
good rider, with no fear, and Pecos was able to relax and really
learn what Curtis was asking him to do.
The story of Pecos is not that remarkable, in fact, it happens to a lesser degree quite often while starting horses by myself. I thought it
was neat though, that I was fortunate enough to have a colt like Pecos in the clinic, where everyone that came could witness the
dramatic transformation that unfolded that weekend. Horses have such an amazing aptitude to adapt, if we allow them the time, and
can be there to reassure and direct them when they need it.
I would like to thank Jim and Debbie for trusting me with their son, Curtis. And I would like to thank Curtis for doing such a great job
with little Pecos.
As a follow-up, Pecos is scheduled to come back to the ranch in 2009 for a full 30 days of training.
was neat though, that I was fortunate enough to have a colt like Pecos in the clinic, where everyone that came could witness the
dramatic transformation that unfolded that weekend. Horses have such an amazing aptitude to adapt, if we allow them the time, and
can be there to reassure and direct them when they need it.
I would like to thank Jim and Debbie for trusting me with their son, Curtis. And I would like to thank Curtis for doing such a great job
with little Pecos.
As a follow-up, Pecos is scheduled to come back to the ranch in 2009 for a full 30 days of training.