Information from Previous owner
I have owned Patches for 2.5 yrs. He was bought to
replace a gelding of mine who was injured and has
since recuperated. During that timehe has had many
adventures and outings........They include such
rides as:
Bandera Hill Country
State Natural Area in Nov. 02.
This is probably the
most difficult riding area in Texas. It consists of
hilly, rocky narrow trails, many of which are at the
very edge of the cliffs where it's important to have
a sure footed horse. It involves a lot of climbing
as there are not a lot of flat areas to be covered
which can be hard on both horse and rider.
Feb. 03 Friday Ranch
Ride
This is a 5,000 acre
ranch in Uvalde Tx. There are both flat and hilly
areas. The hilly areas are not well marked as they
are not used for livestock production. Patches
picked his way through rocks, hills and overgrown
areas and kept on going for over 4 hrs. because his
owner and friends managed to loose their way because
there were no markers and we all got off trail.
May 18, 03 Heart of
Texas
This is an Endurance
ride held at Lake Whitney. He managed to complete a
limited distance ride of 25 miles and came in in
good pulse and respiration.
Aug 04 Big Horn
Mountains Wy.
Patches survived 2, 13
hr. days (up and back) in the trailer without any
problems. Managed to load and unload 3 times a day
and still get back into the trailer without
hesitation. Spent the next 5 days crossing steams,
jumping logs in old growth forests, blazing trails
and even managed to make it through the "killer
ride" which was an all day trek into Devils Canyon
which went down 1000 feet and then back up 1000
feet. This ride crossed numerous and various
terrains from rocky to heavy growth forests to
mountain tops where the wind really whipped one
around. During the ride Patches encountered moose,
elk and loads of deer without any mishaps or
spooking. He was able to adjust to his new diet
which consisted of alphalfa and oats (there is no
hay in Wy. and none can be brought in unless it is
certified weed free) without any colic problems or
diarrhea.
Quintana Beach
This horse is ridden
almost every weekend at Quintana Beach near
Galveston Tx. He will do sand (uneven
footing) withstand the waves regardless of how
active they are and "swim with dolphins" going in
past his belly to swim and cool off during rides.
He will even tolerate the "flutterbys" which consist
of flapping tents, kites towels and anything that
is loose that the wind can blow.
This horse can do
traffic very well. He will tolerate cars and even
trucks and semi that whiz by the road I ride him on
at about 60 mph. He does not spook at dogs or
other "pop ups" during the ride. He rides out very
well by himself and will "go with the flow" on a
group ride, be it a dead walk with my Quarter horse
friends, or a gait with my gaited horse friends.
He has excellent feet
and does not use shoes except on rocky rides.
He likes a high port bit
and can be ridden in combination with a bosal. He
will gait on both. I use a bit in group rides just
in case.
He does fine in a "herd"
pasture situation as he is not aggressive and is
usually low man on the totem pole. He will do a
stall if necessary.
He stands well to have
his feet cleaned and for the farrier. He likes to
be groomed and fooled with.
He does not crib or eat
fences or trees.
He likes most feeds and
has never been picky, but is a rather slow eater.
He likes "snacks"
apples, carrots, cracker jacks and starlight mints
(you get them at the restaurants).
He will do gates, and
gaits! He knows to nose the gate to open it and
will stand alongside the gate so you can relock it.
He will western rein if
you ask him and has no problem stopping.
He will stand tied
quietly, and will stay quiet for mounting.
He does not mind having
his ears fooled with.
He does not like being
cinched rapidly and roughly when you are girthing
him.
He will take a wormer
without too much fuss, I follow with a treat.
He is a GQ kind of guy
in that he is never usually very dirty or covered
with mud. I have had some horses that are truly pig
pens.
He likes to be hosed off and even likes it when you
do his face and really likes his "baths".
If he does not like something or is unsure about
something he will stop and look at the situation and
not throw a hissy fit or tantrum. I usually get off
and walk him up to the obstacle causing the concern
and have him deal with it on the ground and then get
back on and ride him passed the problem without any
more problems.
Feel free to ask me any
other questions that you may have regarding this
horse.
Norrene Trama
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