Thoughts on buying horses, and putting teams together.
TLDRThe video script revolves around the intricacies of horse care, training, and auction buying strategies. It highlights the daily activities of the speaker involving their horses, Elvis and Sailor, as they prepare them for work and discuss the importance of understanding horse measurements, harness fitting, and team matching. The speaker shares insights on how to identify good deals at auctions, the relevance of pedigree versus practical workability, and the value of experience over initial impressions. The script emphasizes the joy of working with horses and the satisfaction derived from their physical development and training progress.
Takeaways
- 🌲 The importance of hardening horses in through light loads and proper training to build strength and endurance.
- 🏞️ The speaker's appreciation for their horses and the joy they derive from working with them.
- 🛠️ The value of understanding a horse's size and proportions to avoid being misled at auctions.
- 💰 The market trends observed at horse sales, such as the soft spot for 2-year-olds and the higher prices for older horses.
- 🚫 The advice to not be afraid to walk away from a sale if the deal isn't right.
- 👀 The importance of inspecting horses thoroughly, beyond just their appearance and pedigree.
- 🌈 The speaker's opinion that color should not be a deciding factor when choosing working horses.
- 🐎 Tips on how to match horses for a team, emphasizing the importance of size, build, and confirmation over color.
- 📈 The strategy of buying individual horses and pairing them up to form a team as a more economical approach.
- 🏆 The anecdote about the raised platforms at auctions and how they can affect the perception of a horse's size.
- 🏞️ The benefits of working horses in different environments and situations to build a well-rounded and strong horse.
Q & A
What is the speaker's occupation?
-The speaker's occupation involves working with horses, specifically buying logs and preparing horses for work.
What are the names of the horses the speaker is preparing?
-The speaker is preparing two horses named Elvis and Sailor.
What is the purpose of taking Elvis and Sailor up the hill?
-The purpose of taking Elvis and Sailor up the hill is to harden them in on a light load and get them acting good as part of their training.
What happened to the red boy horse?
-The red boy horse had a day off and lost his shoe, which is unusual since he wasn't in mud or tangled with another horse. The speaker plans to find the shoe and put it back on.
What is the speaker's opinion on the quality of horses at the Mount Hope sale?
-The speaker believes that the horses at the Mount Hope sale had a pretty good quality, with this year's horses being a little better than normal.
Why does the speaker think that 2-year-old horses are a bargain at the sale?
-The speaker thinks 2-year-old horses are a bargain because they are cheaper than 2-year-olds and the price difference has been worth it, even though it might be a bit young to start working them.
What advice does the speaker give about buying horses at auctions?
-The speaker advises not to be afraid to walk away without buying a horse if the deal isn't right and to wait for the right deal or the exact horse you want.
What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of horse pedigrees?
-The speaker believes that while a good pedigree is important, it means nothing in the field or woods and that many common horses with good pedigrees are overpriced.
What does the speaker suggest about matching horse teams?
-The speaker suggests that one can create a well-matched team by focusing on the size, build, and confirmation of the horses rather than just their color or pedigree.
What is the speaker's view on the value of working horses versus horses that only do farm work?
-The speaker believes that working horses, especially those that do a variety of farm work, develop a different type of toughness and strength compared to horses that only do pulling work.
Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of training and working with horses?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of training and working with horses to build their wind, muscle, and overall strength, as well as to reinforce good behavior and habits.
Outlines
🐴 Horse Training and Preparation
The paragraph discusses the process of preparing horses for work, including hitching them up and getting them accustomed to their tasks. It highlights the importance of starting with light loads to harden them in and to get them acting good. The speaker shares an anecdote about a horse losing its shoe and the subsequent steps to find and replace it. The conversation also touches on the enjoyment the speaker and others find in working with horses, emphasizing that the credit for their success goes to the horses themselves.
🛍️ Horse Auction Tips and Insights
This paragraph provides practical advice for buying horses at auctions. It emphasizes the importance of not being afraid to walk away if the deal isn't right and waiting for the exact horse you want. The speaker offers tips on understanding horse size and weight, and the importance of knowing where certain measurements are on your body. The discussion also covers the concept of matching horses for teams and the potential cost benefits of buying individual horses rather than pre-matched pairs.
🌲 Logging and Horse Teams
The speaker shares insights on selecting and working with horse teams, especially in the context of logging. They discuss the advantages of using different colored horses to form a team and the importance of matching confirmation and build rather than color. The paragraph also touches on the speaker's personal preference for horse colors and the idea that pedigree means less in the field or woods compared to the horse's actual performance.
🏇 The Role of Pedigree in Horse Selection
This paragraph delves into the role of pedigree in selecting horses. While acknowledging the value of a good pedigree, the speaker argues that many common horses with good pedigrees are overpriced. They suggest that the physical confirmation of a horse is a better indicator of potential performance than lineage. The speaker also shares personal experiences and observations from horse sales, emphasizing the importance of first impressions and the potential for unexpected value in horses that may not have prestigious pedigrees.
🌿 Working Horses and Training
The speaker discusses the process of working and training horses, particularly focusing on getting them in shape and building their strength and endurance. They share a story about their father's experience at a cow auction to illustrate the importance of understanding the actual size and build of the animals, rather than being misled by appearances. The paragraph also includes practical advice on harnessing and the different types of equipment used for different tasks.
🛤️ Harnessing and Teamwork
This paragraph focuses on the specifics of harnessing horses and getting them to work together as a team. The speaker explains the importance of the right fit for collars and harnesses, and how to adjust them for comfort and effectiveness. They share observations about their own horses, Sailor and Elvis, who despite being different in color and some physical aspects, work well together as a team. The speaker also discusses the importance of not being distracted by appearances when assessing a horse's suitability for work.
🌲 Forest Drives and Horse Conditioning
The speaker shares their enjoyment of taking horses out for scenic drives in the forest, emphasizing the value of such activities for both the horses and the handler. They discuss the benefits of working horses on a farm versus focusing solely on pulling, arguing that a well-rounded work routine leads to a stronger and healthier horse. The speaker also talks about the importance of balanced muscle development and the unique challenges and benefits of working with horses in different settings.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Horse Training
💡Harnessing
💡Auction
💡Pedigree
💡Teamwork
💡Conditioning
💡Equipment Fitting
💡Market Trends
💡Horse Sales
💡Physical Attributes
💡Work Ethic
Highlights
The speaker discusses the process of preparing horses for work, emphasizing the importance of gradually acclimatizing them to heavy loads and tough conditions.
A lost shoe mystery is presented, highlighting the unexpected challenges that can arise in horse care, even when they are not exposed to typical risk factors like mud or other horses.
The enjoyment and satisfaction derived from working with horses is emphasized, noting that the credit for their performance should go to the horses themselves.
The speaker shares insights on the horse market, particularly the price trends at the Mount Hope sale, noting that 2-year-olds are often undervalued compared to 3-year-olds.
Practical advice is given on assessing the size of a horse, with the speaker recommending the use of a known measurement point, such as 17 hands, as a reference.
The concept of matching horses for teams is discussed, with the speaker explaining how physical attributes like height, neck length, and shoulder slope can be used to pair horses effectively.
The economic advantage of buying individual horses and pairing them as a team is highlighted, potentially saving significant money compared to buying pre-matched pairs.
The speaker advises not to overemphasize pedigree when buying horses for work, as performance in the field or woods is more important than lineage.
The speaker shares personal preferences in horse colors and emphasizes the importance of not letting color affect the functionality and teaming of horses.
A story is recounted about a mistake made at a cow auction due to the deceiving nature of raised platforms, highlighting the need for accurate size assessment.
The speaker discusses the importance of first impressions when buying horses at auctions, but also cautions that these impressions may not always be accurate.
The process of working and training horses is described, with the speaker emphasizing the need for repetition and gradual progression in building strength and endurance.
The speaker talks about the different types of harnesses and their suitability for various types of work, providing specific examples from their own experience.
The importance of a balanced harness fit is stressed, with the speaker noting the impact of improper fit on horse health and performance.
The speaker reflects on the value of farm work in building a horse's toughness and strength, comparing it to the strength gained from weightlifting.
A practical demonstration of working a horse team up a hill with a tire is provided, showcasing the application of the speaker's training and teaming principles.