Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The New Girl...Edited

EDITED to add...Sorry about forgetting about her breeding. I guess I am just so used to our horses that I forget they are new to others.

This mare' registered name is Katie Boon and she is by our old King stud, Brown King Command. Lots of foundation breeding in him. He was bred by Van Norman's in NV. That family held the AQHA Remuda of the Year a few years back. The old stud, who passed away a few years ago, went to some cutting futurities his 3y/o year and then turned into a rope horse. My brother used him to head and heel on. My brother tried to show off his cutting abilities one day and ended up hanging off the side of his neck. He never tried to show off again-LOL.
The previous owner said that Boon's dam was 4th in the World in the AQHA cutting. I don't know what year-had to have been awhile ago, since she is in her mid-twenties now.

We ended up with her because her previous owner had promised my brother first crack at her if he ever decided to sell her. This guy, is a very nice guy...he just isn't a very good cowboy and although he loved the horses that my brother rode(all by our King stud), he can't ride them. They are way to much horse for him. That is a problem we have had with finding homes for some of our horses. They are wonderful using horses, gentle and kind. But, if you get to rough with them, they will defend themselves and it isn't pretty. With this bunch, it really is more about "showing" them what to do, rather than trying to "train" them for anything. I suspect that the mare was just too quick and got out from under the original owner. He seems to have a hard time staying in the middle of a horse if they move too fast-LMAO.

I like her. She is definitely getting better looking. She was so faded and washed out looking when she got here. Her head is pretty plain. Really long from eye to muzzle, but she has the prettiest eye on her. Very kind looking, but completely aware of what is going on. Long hip, good wither, decent shoulder...she will make a rider for sure.

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So a couple of weeks ago the Boon Bar grand-daughter showed up. Her soon-to-be previous owner was rather vague about "things". As in how she lost her head...

Just kidding...

What can I tell you? Nothing in the riding department. Haven't gone there yet. It became quickly apparent that this little mare needed some groceries and down time.

She's pretty flat in the chest at the moment, but is already showing signs of filling out.
Ignore the feet, she has been pretty touchy about them so far. She's getting better, but I have an idea is was no fun for her getting shoes put on. She still has the hind shoes on. I will have to get them pulled and her feet trimmed in the next couple of days. So we will have to have a nice calm come-to-jesus meeting. I think she will relax once she finds out I am just going to take my time.

She is pretty peaked in the hip too...

But the frame is there...
She isn't exactly thin persay, she just lacks a lot of muscle.

When she got here, she wanted nothing to do with people. Now, she will stand to be groomed without a halter and I can pickup and clean out her feet without her jerking away. She's touchy about her head. Not so much headshy, as just not sure about being touched. She loves her feed, so tolerates me messing with her throughout her meal. She is not about to walk away from that grain. She likes being alone during feeding time. I can tell she has had to fight for her share. But she didn't really like being by herself for the first week. She paced a lot and would grind her teeth. Now she only grinds her teeth when she sees her grain coming.

That's about it. I won't be riding her for awhile. She still needs some time to "forget", so will go to mom's this weekend and get acclimated with the herd. Her previous owner called mom and offered to come "show us how she works", but mom politely declined. He is afraid that we won't keep going with her and get her finished out. All I want her to do is forget most of what has probably been done to her and relax. She can take most of the winter off and we'll just ease along and fill in all the gaps she has in her training.

Oh yea, she is only 5 and we named her Boon. How could I almost forget important stuff like that?


15 comments:

Flying Lily said...

She is SUCH a lucky girl to have found you. Pretty too.

Callie said...

She is a pretty little thing. Good luck with her. I love mares!

Melanie said...

Boon looks like she will definitely fill out some more. A few months of good food and some riding under her saddle, and watch out boys...here she comes!!!

What can I say??? Your little bay colt is too cute!! BTW...you do NOT look like Steve Erkle, but that comment really made me laugh!

Megan was probably like "Mommmmm....you look like such a nerd!" Teeheehee!!!

Anonymous said...
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Vaquerogirl said...

Cute cute cute!
Wish I looked as nerdy in wranglers. I have to buy them in the " EGADS!" size now and they aren't nearly as attractive!

Anonymous said...

I think you have the right medicine for Boon. Some people think that horses have a time schedule. Take your time - or Boon's time.

Chelsi said...

I am wondering who Boon's sire is? Dams sire? I am curious because I know a horse that had a very similar point of croup that was actually that way due to poor riding and care in the past. I know another that was just bred that way. I know a lot of cutters have a sharp croup which helps them get under themselves. The one with the bad back had chiropractic adjustment and after a few months her entire topline changed and became more fluid over her loin and into her hind quarter. There is a lot of quality in the bone of this mare, cant wait to see her in condition! I love her eye, there are more than 5 years worth of wisdom in them!

BITR Country Girl said...

She's a pretty girl. I hope she forgets about her old life so she can start a new life real soon.

Train Wreck said...

Quick recovery! I was getting ready to ask how old she was? Yes and Breeding? Hello? She looks like a really nice mare. My husband can't believe Shooter is that big for his age! I had to take him back to the beginning post! He said that is going to be ONE big horse!! I agree!

Andrea said...

Boon is a pretty girl! I thought she looked fat. I do see where she needs some muscles. It's amazing how horses can hold gruges. Hopfully she will relax with you!!

SunnySD said...

Are you tired of hearing how pretty she is yet? Because she sure is a nice looker :) Not a speck of white on her, anywhere, it looks like.

I like her build, too - bet she muscles up quick on pasture with room to self-exercise & enough feed.

kdwhorses said...

Well I thought I had commented already! Guess not!

She is a pretty girl! I too love mares! I bet she is going to be fast with her build! I know you can get her back to her potential.

Anonymous said...

She is adorable! She looks like she is a smart cookie too. I can't wait to hear how she is in a herd...and I am glad you told the old owner no thanks. I bet she will be amazing once you get her trained up.

Gracie's Mom said...

The comment from the previous owner cracks me up...if they had her all figured out and had her "working" that well, do you think they would have sold her? I don't! She is a cute thing...how tall? And not fighting for food--that will make all the difference in her attitude right there! Can't wait to see how she progresses!

Unknown said...

Great looking horses. If you start looking at cutting horse family trees, you will find that the name Boon is all over them. The biggest two in the past few years have been Royal Blue Boon and Bet Your Boon (I think that is right). Anyway Bet Your Boon seems to have parents that were half siblings. That sound pretty scary to me. She has had problems reproducing (Is Ma Nature saying 'enough already'?) so she has been cloned.

Watching her work is really something. I have never seen a horse more focused. There are a lot of viedos on line.