Mustang Prejudice

[gonekigercrazy]

HI everybody

I know people all have their favorite breed of horse and that some are very passionate about one over the other but I was very surprised at the flat out hostility I was on the receiving end of over Nocona. I went to evaluate a horse for physical therapy at a big boarding place and as always happens when I start working on a horse a crowd shows up to watch. As I worked the owner and I were talking and he asked about my horses. When I told him (and everybody else that was standing around listening) about Nocona, these people turned so ugly. "Why would you get one of those mutts?" "They have no brains," "So many good horses need homes." On and on!! When I suggested that they look up Kigers and see the DNA proof that they are an actual bloodline, they acted like I was making it all up about them being decended from Spanish horses and the purity of them. This one woman kept making cracks about Nocona's dad being unknown and how far back HER horse's lines can be traced. Some kept saying mustangs weren't good for anything but chasing cows. I was getting so mad.

I finally just concentrated on the job and got out of there before I said something not mature. Are we in a minority as far as loving this breed? What is the big deal with Mustang being a bad word?

I for one love the fact that his daddy is still out on the range, living wild and making more beautiful babies so they can kiss my..well..put in your favorite anatomy.

Pam

[desperatehorsewife]

Pam, I get that kind of response from a lot of folks...or at least I used to.

I don't think of Kiger as having any more bloodline as any other mustang (and I know some folks will get upset over that), but bloodline or not, each person is entitled to their own choice in what type of horse they decide to ride.

I think the only people out there who get as much flack as we do are the Arab people. I've been around enough working bred quarter horses to know just how explosive that breed can be, so I don't take any guff off the QH crowd.

So just shrug and get your mustang out there in front of folks where they can actually see with their own eyes how trainable it really is. People are constantly amazed by how well behaved my horses are compared to their domestic bred animals...and it makes them mad, lol! I'm not just talking about your typical spoiled, pushy on the ground behaviors, but some downright nasty stuff that makes them unsafe.

For instance, I had both Sandy and Steve Holt! tied to the rail at the riding club one day when a woman showed up with her two horses. She brought horse #1 one in, tied her and walked out to get horse #2. The first horse pitched a super hissy fit of a tantrum, throwing herself around and becoming downright dangerous to anyone near her. Sandy was tied next to her and completely ignored her; it was as if she wasn't even there in his mind. Steve Holt! was on the other side of Sandy and peered around the front of him to see what was going on. Mind you, this was his third trip up to the arena and he'd only been out of the wild 30 days.

Obviously, people took note of just how well grounded my 'wild' horses were and I've now been asked to give a demo at one of the club meetings.

Getting out into the public eye is the only way to change their perception.

[fantasykiger]

Both of the stories are great examples of the horse world today The folks that poke fun at differant breeds and the folks that appreciate a well trained horse regardless.

I always find it funny when QH people make fun of the Mustang that traces back to unknown, when they find a QH that traces back to unknown they call it foundation...LOL. ;D

Anyway desperatehorsewife is right get Nocona out there when he is trained and convert the masses..LOL. When I told my old farrier I just bought a 6yr old BLM Mustang mare and that she was gentled and he was going to do her first trim, he agreed but was not to happy. He told me I lost my mind purchasing a crazy horse when there are so many good QHs out there. I have to agree that first trim was a bit wild. But he commented on how she never once made an attempt to hurt him, only to get away. I worked with her inbetween and by her second trim she acted like she had trims everyday of her life and in 6 months he was looking to adopt and train a Mustang for his next roping horse. All because of the experiences he had working with my mare.

[DianneC]

I had a crazy lady drive by and fall in love with Cedar. She called and wanted to know how much I wanted for her. Not for sale I said. She went on and on about how she had just bought a reining horse for six digits and it was no good and how Cedar was perfect. When I could finally get a word in I asked how much she knew about Kiger mustangs. "Mustang???" that horse is a mustang?" and she hung up. I laughed for an hour.

[desperatehorsewife]

Too funny! Too bad you couldn't let her know how well Bobby Ingersol did with KC in reining, eh?

This is exactly why I wanted to keep Steve Holt!, so I could get out there with a horse who's a bit more competitive and a good looker so that folks would take notice. Too bad his hocks are a bit high and his knees a tad calfed...but he's got enough heart to at least attract some attention. I just need to find his calling.

[stlkigers]

Prejudice? We get it here in St. Louis all the time.....First time my daughter showed her mustang mare she got a 2nd in Western pleasure and a 1st in English pleasure....The girl that beat her in WP lost to her in EP....anyways that girl threw a tantrum when she found out "A friggin mustang beat her QH"...she even threw her saddle on the ground cause she was mad...Hah!

First time I took my Kiger colt to a show last summer (when he got 2nd place out of over 20 horses for in hand trail) people were amazed I could pick up his feet, etc....

I find it's easiest to show them rather than fill them with words...We show, trail ride, and parade ride....Easiest way to prove that our mustangs can and will compete anyday, and be sane safe equine citizens while they do it....

Now my farrier doesn't "like" mustangs...He says mine are different....When I asked him why mine are different and he liked them, he said it was because I actually do something with them....I told him the people that don't do anything with their back yard bred QH are just like the mustang people that don't do anything with them...An untrained horse is an untrained horse no matter the breed....

Good luck and get Nocona out and about and prove them wrong....I had a Foundation QH breeder/trainer try to buy my Kiger mare....He told me she was gorgeous, and was she foundation bred....I (who was mad at this guy already) said sure she's as foundation bred as they come....hahaha....

Angela

[dunbnwild]

How frustrating Pam--but I bet if you had Nocoma there with you they would have been oohing and awing.

I've never had anyone say anything negative to my Kiger's faces. How could they--they are too busy drooling. ;D Some of them ooh and awe over their personalities, some over their feet, some over their smooth trot, some over their willing attitude, some over their stamina, and most over just everything. If you ask me-- that's a heck of a lot better that oohing and awing over ridiculous names typed up on a piece of paper.

I have to admit though, I'm just as prejudiced--one of our friends knew I was trying to get Cat pregnant and offered up her very fancy Appy stud. I think she was shocked that I preferred to breed Cat to another mustang, thank you very much. LOL.

[canadiankigers]

I too have gotten my fare share of prejudism, mostly from the old timers who think that they are either broom tails or hay burners only good for the nackers. (it fries my fritters) I do however get a very positive responce from people mostly between the ages of 20+ to about 45 or 50 for different reasons. I think you will always have those people who won't give them a chance but I have to agree with the concenses here......train'em, ride'em and show'em! That is the only way we are going to earn the respect of people as a whole.

As I am not breeding this spring I will have a lot more time to work with my guys. Training around here starts in late April or early May depending on the amount of spring rain and mud we have. It would be a lot nicer if I had an indoor arena but for now I will make due with what I have. Maybe the "arena fairy" will visit me someday. LOL!!!!!

[dunbnwild]

Oh-- forgot to add what my new farrier said... mustangs are the perfect example of survival of the fittest. He says that humans have really mucked up horses (and especially their hooves) by their careless and uneducated and superficial breeding.

And half of the pedigree snobs you'll encounter don't even know why the names they are so proud to spout are "good" ones. It's very easy to make them look stupid just by asking a few questions.

And you may not know who Nacona's father is, but you know he was tough enough to survive in the wild until breeding age (without shoes, vaccines, special foods or supplements), and that's more than they can say for their horse, I'd imagine.

[stormyranch]

These prejudice people are why we started showing our mustangs. If any of you know Kevin you would understand, if you tell him his horse is no good he will do every thing in his power to prove you wrong!
This is Katie our first mustang adopted in 1996 at Wester states wild horse and Burro show in Reno, Nevada in 2000.

This is MoJo adopted in 2000 in Reno and winning grand champion halter.

We love to show our mustangs in opens shows and beat the QH
By the way, Last year Kevin was at an Arab sponsored show and he was not even placing in his classes. I couldn't figure it out expect that the judge just didn't like him. Then at lunch he overheard someone ask the judge why the guy on the stallion wasn't placing and the judge said because he's a mustang! The judges were just club members or we would have gotten their judges cards revoked. Kevin left the show after that. I wish he would have demanded his money back.
Lisa

[angelsdream]

It's also pretty bad down here in GA as well. The 1st time the vet came out to check Maverick - she had already went in and took blood from him - and when she came out, the girl there said "of I forgot to tell you before you went in he was a mustang", like he was going to hurt her or something. He was the best one there. WHen I tell people Im on a mustang, they just look at me like Im crazy but since winning the Trail Horse Challenge last year, everywhere I go, people say" is that the kiger mustang"

Everyone down here think mustangs are in bred and good for nothing but so far, Ive changed quite a few minds. I do enjoy watching there faces!!

[desperatehorsewife]

Keep the mane over the brand when you want to show. That was what Tom told me last year (Lisa, you know Tom...new manager at the corrals.) He's spot on with that statement. People will judge the brand, not the horse.

Sandy's mane falls over his brand naturally, but Steve Holt!'s does not. If I end up adopting him back I may try to switch sides with it so that he has a fair shake out there.

My daughter was just 'attacked' on you tube when she said she wasn't in favor of breeding horses while there are so many without homes. Another kid came along and started in on her, telling her our mustangs were go nowhere, do nothing, couldn't get the job done...snarkiness at it's teenage best. DD was pretty upset because the girl said they're nothing but pasture pets, and that she was about to put her pasture pet down because it was worthless. DD has seen photos of that pasture pet...a branded mustang.

Don't you find it funny (sad?) how people will condemn the entire lot based on a few bad experiences had by people who have no business with a horse?

Anyway, unless your horse is beyond exceptional, hide the brand when you enter the arena. There are and will always be judges who can't get over their personal prejudices.

[prizmbluekigers]

I am beginning to get out in the 'public eye" with my stallion. We are going to a local clinic in about a month and the clinician knows he is a mustang, but I am not going to volunteer any information unless asked, just to see if he will show his best manners before I tell anyone what he is. Here in this area though many folks at leat recognize a Kiger (or think they do), so someone may spill the beans.

What about stallion prejudice? Has anyone encountered that? This clinician is the only one so far that hasn't flat turned us down as participants, and I have been turned down by Clinton Anderson and Buck Brannaman, just to name a few.

We are participating in just the ground work portions of the clinic unless it goes so well that we feel he is ready for the mounted portions also.
If there is a wild horse club and mustang show in Prineville this year we are going. Going to give Kevin some Kiger company in the halter/ trail classes ;D.

If my horse behaves as well as Dino and Bravo Canyon did last year at Kiger Fest he will do me proud. They are such well mannered stallions.

I don't think we can make Kiger Fest, still no trailer, so I will be looking for local events. The babies are practicing to show also.
The clinic is bening held here:
www.pilotoranch.com/
They have Andalusians and Lusitanos. I know Piloto has been to the NW Horse Show and Expo.

[rubymountainkigers]

If you go to Ray Hunt's website at www.rayhunt.com and click on sale horses there's a poem there called "Heart". It pretty much says it all.

[desperatehorsewife]

Ruben loves stallions, if you ever want to do one of his clinics.