[Serenity06]

Ok so i know there is a big stereotype out there that a GOOD (or bad for that matter lol) gaming horse can only game and isn't calm enough for anything else or just flips out outside the arena. How many of you have a gaming horse that is CALM going IN AND OUT of the arena? How many of you have a gaming horse that can do more than JUST GAME? What do you say to the people that are sterotyping the gaming horses and to those people that have one of those psycho gaming horses? Just because the horse is winning is it an EXCUSE to be too hot to handle with lack of training to do anything else besides game?

What are all your guys thoughts on it and do the poll too lol.

[RansomRokz]

All the horses where I ride have been well trained and will walk calmly in and out of the arena, only running when asked. They're also versatile enough to be lesson horses, as well as some of them being jumpers/english horses on the side.
Just because a horse is a good gaming horse, doesn't mean s/he should be unable to do anything else.

[shepherd406]

Almost every horse that we take to the game shows & even some of the NBHA shows does more than just Game. I've only had my mare for 6 months, & we've only been to game shows & we do regular riding during the week. Working cows, I'll rope the dummy from her, & we'll 'trail ride' around the ranch.

Kitty, Bobby's favorite mare, is a prime example of a good horse. She's a great game horse, works cows like a dream, ropes good, is a great trail mount, & even does 'pony rides'. She resembles Eeyore until Bobby hits the timer. Haha.

[Serenity06]

I agree completely with you guys by the way

Just trying to see what everybody says lol.

[faroutfax]

On my mare she knows when it is time to run. She is abit hesitant going in the gate, but by this I mean I may have to cluck at her once or twice to walk forward. There is no dramatics about the gate. Leaving we always halt and exit nice a calmly. Once she is in the arena she is pretty easy to control, except for the occasional "happy"/excited buck I use her for many things other than gaming. We do all the performance calsses (WP, HMS, trail, SMS, halter etc). We school basic dressage stuff, though she doesnt' have the movement to really be competitive there. I will also ride her on the trail for 3-4 hours routinely.

She is known for being one of the quietest horses. And I always get comments on how people are suprised that she can be so calm outside the ring but turn it on when she needs it.

I think more barrel horses should be used for other events, keep their minds fresher We do have alot of horses at our club shows that are insane entering, running and exiting the arena. But they are fine as long as they know they don't have to run...

[rwinksters]

A friend of mine and I went to a western speed show where every horse, except ours, had a tie down on. Hardly any of them actually walked into the arena and only a few of them would actually trot and lope. I think it's sad to see horses that can't do anything besides game. Most of the gamers that I've met like that break down mentally after a few years.
I prefer a gamer to be very versatile. I like them to pay attention to me and do whatever I ask. The gamer that I ride isn't necessarily the fastest, but she competes well. She tries her heart out. She also is a great jumper and trail horse. I'd always take a horse like that over a crazy one that can only do one thing.

[Serenity06]

i wanted to add that option 1 and 4 are pretty much meaning the same thing but i put #1 up for those who don't do much else with their gaming horse but its still calm

[shepherd406]

What does having a tie down have to do with how a horse acts? Just curious

[rwinksters]

Originally Posted by shepherd406

What does having a tie down have to do with how a horse acts? Just curious

Usually nothing, but the bad thing about the horses I was talking about was that none of them were calm enough to keep their heads down. They would constantly jig, throw their heads in the air, and all around act up. The riders were using them as a way to avoid issues instead of training their horses.

[shepherd406]

My mare has a problem throwing her head up when she backs & she tried to fight the bit a lot. We used a martingale (or training fork as some call it) on her for the first few months I had her. She started holding her head down naturally, but still would fight me to back up. (She's had this problem since I bought her) She 'graduated' to a tiedown last month, but it wasn't tight enough. We tightened it last weekend & this weekend she was better.

I was always told a tie down helped with a horses balance & getting his rear down around turns, when stopping, etc. And also that it just reinforces his head set.