The Tale of a Stubborn Horse
Our family had the opportunity to stay with our friends Dave and Debbie Hutzell recently. They own a bit of land near the Marengo, Ohio area. It’s a rural community of farmers and country-folk about forty minutes north of Columbus.
While there Alex Fogle, a firefighter and horse wrangler, stopped over to do some training with Debbie’s young horse Ricky. So I sat back with my camera (merely to test out my fix to a problem I was having). I expected to get a couple nice shots to share with Debbie and Alex… but I got more than I bargained for, but not quite as much as Alex got.
My camera held up fine as the training exercise turned into a rodeo. Word after the event is that Ricky is an ornery horse. That much is obvious from these photos. What isn’t so obvious is the pain Alex was feeling near his tail bone after the event; also missing from the photos was the smirk I swore I saw on Ricky’s face.
Note: I never really expected this page to get as many visitors as it does--and I never realized that it would spur any comments from visitors. One thing I need to clear up (since I have gotten some angry emails from time to time about this) is that the wrangler in these photos is not me--I was the one photographing the moment. I do not pretend to know anything about horsemanship. In fact, I have never ridden a horse. I have pet them, fed them and photographed them... but I have never had the opportunity to ride one yet.
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Copyright © 2005-2008 by Shawn Olson.
< erica t > at 2008-07-13 20:58:35 EST
why havemt you got a helmet on and why weant you in enclosed space huh it is stupid what would have happened if you fell of and hit your head or the horse come around and kicks you in the head
My father use to train Quarter Horses and they only bucked once or twice
If you dont know how to break a horse in get some one to
and the tack was horrible nothing fitted the horse
and smoking after are you retared or something :~(
< Liz Harris > at 2008-06-14 01:13:46 EST
HAHAHA!!!! I can't wait to see Alex again so that I can make fun of him for falling off of that horse!!!! Just kidding!!! I love Alex, He is my homie!!! lol
< Zab Nilsson > at 2008-03-14 09:20:05 EST
Hm. You're even worse than I was when trying to ride Crow, which resulted in a wrist that's damaged for the rest of my life.
Take it slow, lead him with the saddle on, make sure the saddle stays on and fits the horse. Have a long rope so that he can buck if he wants to without standing close to you. Take it slow, start with moving the saddle about, then put some weight in it, finally sit up. Get off again. Next time you sit, let someone lead the horse and the rider should do nothing at first. Don't go to next step before the first one works. Don't put weight in the saddle before the horse is calm with you moving the saddle. It's a living being and you're scaring the crap out of him. Would you like to be scared to panic? Or would you prefer that the man-eating lions teached you slowly so you couls adapt to it?
< Sally randall > at 2007-05-23 14:24:53 EST
Excuse my tpyos and I make this important clarification...this horse should NOT have mounted by this rider :~(
< Sally randall > at 2007-05-23 14:17:48 EST
This trip was set up for diaster from the tacking! The bridle is ill fitting with bit hanging so low in the mouth that it come out after the too loose saddle turned, dumping the rider. This rider proved to pain in the mouth as well as the back. A proper fitting saddle and bridle are a must. A breast collar and back girth would add stablity to basics. Lunging him first would take extra energy out him and build trust. Sack him out would no even more including desensitize for the slip of a saddle. NUMBER 1 rule with horses is SAFETY FIRST! This includes using properally fitting tack. This horse should have been mounted by this rider :~(
< Bernadette A. > at 2007-04-06 02:04:27 EST
Do not 'Cowboy up'. Train that horse from the ground and then in the saddle. It has some behavior issues to be worked out. Never feel like you *have* to get back in the saddle. You are safer on the ground.
I follow Natural horsemen like Jonathan Field:
www.jonathanfield.net
< Tina Jarrett > at 2007-02-16 12:18:50 EST
Cowboy Up and try it again!!!
< pamela koerner > at 2006-09-19 23:50:59 EST
good job on testing things out first before putting the little girl on. Cowboy up and get back on. You wont make this mistake again. Iam glad all my mistakes arent on camera!
< Ruth Williams > at 2006-09-15 07:20:31 EST
you were heavy and he managed to get you off. better luck next time
< Karen g > at 2006-08-15 19:06:34 EST
If the girth was tighter that episode never would have happend and you would still be on. That horse will probably never stand to be saddled again. Have u ever riddin before??? :(
[ Comment on This ]
Comments
< erica t > at 2008-07-13 20:58:35 EST 
why havemt you got a helmet on and why weant you in enclosed space huh it is stupid what would have happened if you fell of and hit your head or the horse come around and kicks you in the headMy father use to train Quarter Horses and they only bucked once or twice
If you dont know how to break a horse in get some one to
and the tack was horrible nothing fitted the horse
and smoking after are you retared or something :~(
< Liz Harris > at 2008-06-14 01:13:46 EST
HAHAHA!!!! I can't wait to see Alex again so that I can make fun of him for falling off of that horse!!!! Just kidding!!! I love Alex, He is my homie!!! lol
< Zab Nilsson > at 2008-03-14 09:20:05 EST
Hm. You're even worse than I was when trying to ride Crow, which resulted in a wrist that's damaged for the rest of my life.Take it slow, lead him with the saddle on, make sure the saddle stays on and fits the horse. Have a long rope so that he can buck if he wants to without standing close to you. Take it slow, start with moving the saddle about, then put some weight in it, finally sit up. Get off again. Next time you sit, let someone lead the horse and the rider should do nothing at first. Don't go to next step before the first one works. Don't put weight in the saddle before the horse is calm with you moving the saddle. It's a living being and you're scaring the crap out of him. Would you like to be scared to panic? Or would you prefer that the man-eating lions teached you slowly so you couls adapt to it?
< Sally randall > at 2007-05-23 14:24:53 EST
Excuse my tpyos and I make this important clarification...this horse should NOT have mounted by this rider :~(< Sally randall > at 2007-05-23 14:17:48 EST
This trip was set up for diaster from the tacking! The bridle is ill fitting with bit hanging so low in the mouth that it come out after the too loose saddle turned, dumping the rider. This rider proved to pain in the mouth as well as the back. A proper fitting saddle and bridle are a must. A breast collar and back girth would add stablity to basics. Lunging him first would take extra energy out him and build trust. Sack him out would no even more including desensitize for the slip of a saddle. NUMBER 1 rule with horses is SAFETY FIRST! This includes using properally fitting tack. This horse should have been mounted by this rider :~(
< Bernadette A. > at 2007-04-06 02:04:27 EST
Do not 'Cowboy up'. Train that horse from the ground and then in the saddle. It has some behavior issues to be worked out. Never feel like you *have* to get back in the saddle. You are safer on the ground. I follow Natural horsemen like Jonathan Field:
www.jonathanfield.net
< Tina Jarrett > at 2007-02-16 12:18:50 EST
Cowboy Up and try it again!!!
< pamela koerner > at 2006-09-19 23:50:59 EST
good job on testing things out first before putting the little girl on. Cowboy up and get back on. You wont make this mistake again. Iam glad all my mistakes arent on camera!
< Ruth Williams > at 2006-09-15 07:20:31 EST
you were heavy and he managed to get you off. better luck next time
< Karen g > at 2006-08-15 19:06:34 EST
If the girth was tighter that episode never would have happend and you would still be on. That horse will probably never stand to be saddled again. Have u ever riddin before??? :(
Alex walking Ricky before he gets the saddle on.
Alysa gives Ricky a big kiss... well, a kiss as big as a munchkin can give a beast.
Alex is on Ricky. Ricky looks back to make sure that Alex is on...
Ricky decided to show off his jumping abilities.
