06/17/2025
I've been shouldering a lot of other people's horse troubles these days, which seems to happen every year around this same time. I always say, "It's probably just the grass talking. Don't panic, he was a good horse a couple of months ago, he'll be a good horse again. You feed him jet fuel and only ride him once or twice a week (if you are lucky) it only stands to reason he might come out of the corner talkin' smack." š¤·
I learned years ago; grass equals gas, and when the pedal is to the metal and things are starting to redline, the only way out sometimes is to blow up.
Horses who have never bucked before, have been known to fall into a frazzle in the spring of the year and put their rider in jeopardy. Speed events of course, are famous for it; team roping, barrel racing, pole bending, etc. The wheels can fall off the bus fast with horses competing under extreme pressure, asked to give it their all in a burst of speed over a short distance, often without a proper warm up for their wind never mind their 'want to.'
Let me tell you something clearly; the horse you are riding off the grass pasture today, is not the same horse you rode a month or two ago off that bale of hay. A little dew on his hide where the neck joins the shoulder and his nostrils drawing air deep to his lungs, before you back him into the corner to run down a steer, goes a long way to avoiding an ambulance ride straight to traction and an unplanned holiday from your place of employment.
I know, I know, your horse has never bucked. He's your partner, your buddy, your friend. That is awesome. But I've heard it all before.
And I once thought the same thing all the way to the hospital with what felt like a sack full of gravel for a right shoulder.
I'm going to share the secret to surviving horseback events in the spring and early summer; a strict training program whether you have time or not, and a real good warm up. Don't slack on it. Don't wander around scrolling your phone or chatting with your friends. Step up and put your four footed partner to work, do a systems check both directions, walk, trot, lope, and DO IT A LOT.
After all, we owe it to our horses and ourselves...its tough, and it takes some discipline, but it beats getting back on after getting bucked off. That is if we are able to. š
Have a good day folks. š
Pictured below; hard working ranch horses.
