Your Horse's Name, Age and Bloodline
My horses name is American Major League Runner. I call him "Leaguer" for short. He is a 13 year old Thoroughbred. He is 16 hands high, he is low heeled and has small feet. My horse is surely an exception to the rule. He is a retired Hunter Jumper. He came to me about 3 years ago. Our relationship has evolved into an emotional one. Both of us have physical limitations that prevent us from activities we used to love. We have great respect for one another and enjoy the most each other can give. Slow and leisurely rides full of the lost art of doing nothing but enjoying the moment. He is a great friend.
How Long Have You Owned & Where Did You Get Your Horse?
I have owned Leaguer for three years. He was a thank you gift from my brother, a Louisiana Cattleman after Hurricanes Rita and Ike. I had helped in those disasters when horseman were in great demand to organize scattered herds. Not long after, my brother was in Houston, Texas looking for a special cutting horse, when he stumbled upon a seller that offered one of those "twofer" deals. The seller's young daughter had competed with Leaguer and had won! But, unfortunately had since grown up and out of him. He was not being ridden and suffered from foot abcesses and injury which made him difficult to sell. Thinking of me, and of course wanting the other horse, my brother bought him and brought him home. My husband and I have a 60 acre farm, plentiful green grass, shady live oak trees, a clean spacious pond and shelter from the damp Louisiana cold, in short, broke down horse paradise. I hadn't owned a horse of my own in sometime, only cattle, chickens, and dogs. I rode western rodeo events like barrels and pole pending in my youth. But a family with four children and a job soon consumed my time and personal horse relationships faded. But my love for them did not. I would ride my brother's horses.
When leaguer came to me, he was wild eyed and obviously scared and Oh so LONELY. He was used to being stalled with many other horses. I worried over him for weeks. He paced and wheenied and I feared he'd hurdle the fence line. He got a way from me through an opened gate on one occasion and his herd instinct lead him straight to neigboring horses. I was gentle with him and brought him to meet all of the horses in the area and he visited them with joy. Each time we would ride I would allow him a visit. I sat with him at feeding time day after day. In the beginning he would "spook" over everything. Each day I sat with him during feedings, groomed him, spoke to him and tensions between us began to melt away.
Riding him was challeging, he had been english reigned and handled his whole life, all I knew was western. I read and relied on lessons from trainers to help find a way to communicate. We have come a long way and continue to learn from each other from day to day and ride to ride. I still have difficulties with my own (in-)abilities and he is very forgiving. I look forward to riding him from one time to the next and he has renewed my passion to perfect my horsemanship. I am not quite sure who the lucky one is.... him or me!
Advice
- I have enjoyed many horses in my lifetime. I think I am enjoying this horse/human relationship more because I am much more willing to understand him rather than he understand me, in turn the later has been achieved.
What Is the Best Characteristic of This Breed?
Their playful spirit on and off. He is silly. He is also very alert. He has become the leader of my cattle herd. Very protective.
Is There a Challenging Aspect of Owning This Breed?
Loads of fight or flight insinct. He can be very nervous at times. I have to be careful with feed, too much protien causes him to be too high spirited.
Do You find This Breed Requires Any Special Care?
No, In fact. He was stalled and shod his entire life. I am caring for him via a wild horse model after repeat abcesses. It took some transitioning for him to sleep outside during the fair weather months. Stood at the door of the stall every evening for a long time, now he comes and goes at will.
In a nutshell my horse is...
A joy to relate to. It is as if we have been together forever.
