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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | In your own opinion, what makes a good rodeo horse; physically, mentally, and emotionally? |
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Veteran
Posts: 154
Location: Tennessee | I prefer a horse that was brought up slow and started right from the get go. I don't like a rodeo horse to need a ton of maintenance, since miles and miles on the road are hard enough on a horse that requires no maintnance at all. I like them to be very sure footed and able to work well on all types of ground since rodeo arenas are known for not having the best ground. Most of all I like my rodeo horses to be very level headed and not on the muscle 24/7. It seems like the more level headed they are the easier they cool down after a run and when you are traveling to 3 different states in one weekend, you sometimes don't have long before you have to pack up and hit the road right after your run. But that is my opinion...... |
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 Regular
Posts: 72
| My mare has been around for forever and has gotten me to nationals numerous times. She is probably the most "nut cased" horse before the gate and after while I'm cooling her off but she would run through a brick wall for me.
She is always focused and ready to go even though she is always prancy. She isn't a friendly horse to be a stable pet but definitely performs.
I am always making sure she is in shape and she gets the best feed as possible. She also handles every ground that is thrown at her, stables/ties/stands through anything and any kind of atmosphere she handles it! |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
 
Location: Texas | physically- the ability to handle ground that they don't see at barrel races. It's not always BAD ground, just not what they are used to.
Mentally- the ability to be able to go to a pen, saddle up, make a run, and not need exhibitions or getting in the pen first because sometimes there's no way to get in there before your run.
Emotionally- the ability to keep it together with the cows, flags, carnival rides, cheering crowds, pick up men, ropes, etc.
rodeo horses come in all shapes, sizes, pedigrees, etc… you really just have to find a special horse, give it a try, and find one that likes it |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Thank you all for the reply's!! Maybe I wasn't being too specific with part of it though in my question. With the physical part I was more curious on like....big hooves vs smaller, big horses vs smaller, just that kind of stuff lol. |
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Veteran
Posts: 104
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Physically, I want big feet and I think they need to be balanced so they're able to stand up on the often iffy ground.
Most of all they have to be mentally tough. At some point, you'll be headed to the alley or gate only to be stopped by a kid carrying nachos or a contractor moving bulls across the alley. You'll have to set them up with bulls in the chutes, in front of speakers, and the list goes on. The good rodeo horses are focused on the barrels and everything else is just kind of there.
A rodeo horse has to be gritty. They can't ever give up. There's no "oh darn we got by the 1st maybe we will win a 2D check" at rodeos so you have to keep hustling after a mistake. If you slip, you better just pin your ears back and go that much harder. You also never know when it will rain big time the next day and all the money will be won one night, allowing someone to sneak in for a check with a slower run. They also have to crave being on the road and seeing different setups all the time. Both of my current rodeo horses are pretty curious and yet they'll hang out at the trailer anywhere without throwing a fit, even if there is baseball practice going on behind them and a busy highway on another side. |
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Veteran
Posts: 104
| So, size wise what are your thoughts? (Anyone) That is, size of the horse in hands terms. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | HALEY MARiE - 2014-06-21 2:42 PM So, size wise what are your thoughts? (Anyone) That is, size of the horse in hands terms.
I used to think a smaller horse did better on bad ground, but Clifford is 15.3 and he handles everything the ground can throw at him. I really think it has more to do with the individual horse's sense of balance than anything else. Some horses just stand up better on slick ground. Big pens vs small pens might have an affect on the size of horse you want but overall it really doesn't matter. A good rodeo horse is a good rodeo horse. |
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