Definition of Broke

Striking up a conversation with another owner at the vet.:


Me: "Gosh,  She sure is a cute little mare."
Owner: "Thanks she sure is a sweetie."
Me: "What do you do with her?"
Owner:  "Oh, just ride her around the house sometimes, she can be a tough to ride.  But I have her son, and he is just a great little horse, very broke and I did it myself."
Me:  "Well that is just great, training a horse is a lot of work.  What do you do with him?"
Owner: "Oh yes, training is very hard, he does just great about everything until I ask him to move."
Me: " Well they never said it was easy."


And the small talk continued until he was called back for his appointment.


Why am I bringing this up?


Because his definition of "broke" absolutely floored me.


In his mind a horse is well broke is one you can saddle, and get on, and off without bodily harm. 


But is that really all there is to it?


In my mind a "broke" horse exhibits no bad or dangerous behavior and can be easily handled for everything: feeding, grooming, saddling, bathing, etc.  And is willing to move off leg, and listens to aids, and travels easily in all gaits, and does it all with minimal resistance to the rider.


A "well broke" horse does everything that a broke horse can in addition to advanced maneuvers, all on a loose rein, and can perform all these tasks and then some consistently in or out of the arena regardless of location or circumstance. 


And a "very well broke" horse will do all of the above for every rider every time.   


What got me was that he honestly thought he had a well broke horse, a horse I would maybe call green, but never broke.  


I walked away feeling very sad for both the owner and his horses.  You could see his love and commitment to his animals. But until he raises his goals and expectations, getting on and not dying is all that he will ever be able to achieve when so many wonderful things are possible.  



You can have the equine relationship of you dreams, you just must have the want to learn and the willingness to try.  
  

Equine Definitions

Today I've decided to compile a list of unofficial horse definitions.  It's funny what can pop into your head at 5am.




Trailer Trasher-  A horse who trashes the walls, floor, and possibly even ceiling of the trailer with muck and urine.


Egging/Egged-  When you are riding and your horse warps your circle an a certain direction, usually towards the barn, gate, or other horses.  Use:  Your horse is egging your circle every time you pass the gate.


Green- A inexperienced horse or rider.


Green Squared- A inexperienced horse and rider working together.


Stall Trasher- Same as Trailer Trailer but in a stall.


Barn Sour- Any horse who throws a fit about being ridden out away from the barn.


Buddy Sour- Any horse who throws a fit when separated from their horsey friends.


Fear Rider- Any person overcoming their fear of riding.


Turkey- A term of endearment.  To be substituted for a name when you are super pissed at your horse.  Especially useful when children and people you should not curse around are present.


Pumpkin- A term of endearment. To be substituted for a horse's name when you do not know their name, or you are a pleased with their progress or behavior.


Expressive-  A nice way to say your horse is a bitch.


Opinionated- Another nice way to your horse is a pain in the back side.


Discussion-  What happens when a horse acts out in a such a negative/dangerous way that requires correction.  As in, "Today Red and I had a discussion about rearing." 


Riding- The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground. (not mine but still funny)




Added Definitions



Dressage-The art of riding.


Communication- What happens when a rider listens to their horse. 


Team- The bond that results from hours and hours of communication.


Can't- The frame of mind that prevents horses or riders from achieving success. 


Training- What happens from the moment you step foot in the barn until moment you leave.


All of a sudden- What happens when you are not paying attention.


Guest Definitions

Cassandra Was Right

"Special" - a truly and genuinely stupid horse. As in, "We need to give Ringo a little more time to figure out how to get through an open gate. Remember, he's special." 

 "Lateral quantum displacement" - when a startled horse shifts position at least ten feet sideways in less than a nanosecond, leaving the rider suspended in midair.


"Bombproof" - an adjective used to describe a horse that cannot be startled or surprised by anything - until the day that a lost party balloon a quarter mile away causes it to perform a 400-foot-record lateral quantum displacement.



Please feel free to add new ones by commenting and I will add them to the list.

Keeping it Green

Fast Friday-  On Fridays I am going to offer a quick thought, tip, quote, etc.  

As riders we must never stop learning.  To often we sink into a comfortable routine of mediocrity.  We forget to push ourselves and our horses. we forget to grow.

So...

Keep riding, learning and growing.  

Quote of the Day:

There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse. ~Robert Smith Surtees