Most problem horses were caused by problem riders. Barrel racers likely on or near the top of the list. There are a lot of amazing barrel racers, not all of them have a handle on their horse outside the barrel pattern.
I think some barrel and gymkhana horses are given crack.
ironbender;
Good afternoon my northern friend, I trust this finds you and your fine family well.
For sure we've seen some rodeo roping horses too that seemed to be proverbial "one trick pony" types.
We went to look at one that the owner described in glowing terms, only to find that it had to be cross tied to saddle, would only let the owner put a bridle on it and not willingly at that and then didn't want to do anything in the ring other than tear around in overdrive. Not surprisingly the owner couldn't stop gushing about how fast it was and how much power it had....
Conversely, at one point I was looking to sell our Quarter Horse gelding and this chap came over to look at it, accompanied by a mutual friend who was also a taxidermist.
The taxidermist had been working on a grizzly pelt that day and commented how well behaved Cody - the QH - was despite obviously being able to smell it on him.
When the prospective buyer said for the 5th or 6th time that I was asking too much for Cody, I picked up each foot and fooled with it for awhile, then I fooled with his tail, then dropped on my knees behind him and crawled on hands and knees between his back legs, then I raised up underneath his belly a couple times, all the while he stood perfectly still - likely thinking that I was just being me again...
Finally I crawled out from between Cody's front legs and said to the guy, "That's what you're paying for" and our mutual taxidermist friend turned to him and said, "Buy that damn horse man!".
But he still thought he could get a better mannered horse somewhere for less money and they left.
Cody is buried in the yard now ironbender. On still mornings when it's quiet out, I swear I can hear him running his front shoe up and down the stock gate and muttering at me to bring the grub already.
All the best to you all.
Dwayne
