Horses As I See Them By Ian McMurchy

[grit]

tell us Roy

[nate270]

[quote=ADMIN;254065]This is a thread for discussion of the article, Horses As I See Them By Ian McMurchy. i am a horseman that uses horses to hunt and i bet i get at least one story like this from the greenhorn bushwackers that think that hunting is easy and fun the truth is that hunting is hard work and we do it because we love it and the horses that i use love it to (as long as you leave them in camp with plenty of hay)and we have great names for them to foxy (hellbitch), or Ramsieys (puss in boots) and Misty (migrane) the names that we use for friends are not in parithesies the names that we use after the trip are. but there all gentle and i let my kids ride them but my kids are probably better friders than most of my friends. i also have a welsh pony named danny that is a pain to steer and likes to be in charge but you can shoot off of him and he can pack out just about as much as any full size horse.

[rooster740]

It has been a while since I last read the arcticle. The truth of the matter is that Ian now has the pick of the best horses that ever lived! I did not know him personally, but would bet my best shooting iron that "this" opinion has not changed. Every horse lover/hater needs to rethink about this, you can have your best horse out to pasture with some ol' foundered 1 eyed nag, and your good horse will always be the one to turn up hurt. How many times do these damn animals "the good one" ruin your day.........99.9 percent of the time it is our fault , but hey can not call B.S. on you, so they do make a good fall guy. Let's just say you are out horn hunting on your good horse, when a helluva horse race starts up for that nice set of bones across the river. It just so turns out you are on your horse that swims like a fish, but he decides he is going to walk across the bottom this time. Oh the stories I have lived and heard. Ian and his legacy lives on through the words of wisdom he enchants us or haunts us with.

[shooter1059]

Not trying to knock Ian and knowing a lot of his article was meant to be tongue in cheek, but having been raised around horses most of my life I will say that nobody in their right mind should go on a pack trip if they are not experienced on and around horses. That's how wrecks happen and people and horses get hurt.
Would you expect to climb into a semi truck and just take off with no lessons? Or jump into a jet and try to fly without even going to ground school? I think not. Well, it's the same with horses. It's a sure recipe for disaster.
However Ian did make some good suggestions at the end of the article. First off, Horseback riding is a sport and like any other sport you need to get yourself in shape for that sport. Also, find a trainer and a place to practice, and a lot of it. Otherwise you will hurt where you never thought you had muscles that could get that sore! Believe me, even I get sore if I lay off for too long and then try to go on a really long ride. Five to seven hours in the saddle can really make you hate life at the end of the day if you are not in shape for it.
Horses are the only way to get into some places that are not accessible by any other means. They are beautiful animals and great to have around. They each have their own personalities. So do yourself and the horses a favor. Take the time to learn your way around them before going on any hunts with them.
Thanks

[SPlisken]

I too have been raised around horses but I never took a liking to them the way my father did. I have no fear of them and actually enjoy them until I have to get on one. For me I figure it is the battle of wills thing...I'm just not into it when I'm in the outdoors. I want to relax and soak it all in while traveling but that's me (a horse person would probably say the same thing from their perspective eh?). The unpredictable nature of anything that has a mind of it's own is exemplified in horses for me. That is also the very thing my father likes best about horses...so go figure. I've watched a 17hand horse with my Dad in the saddle lie down and roll right over the top of him and he popped up in the saddle laughing his you know what off. I don't get it I've been the attempted object to be scraped off of a saddle on numerous occasions and while it never prompted panic or fear it was the cause of one of my famous sayings that I say to myself when things are about to get really interesting "Here we go.." This phrase has run through my head during motorcycle crashes, car crashes, and one unfortunate parachute drop...and it always makes me think of riding horses! For me they are simply a tool to be used as a last resort, for Dad a passion as others have stated. I guess you either are or are not a horseman (person). I am not and am sorry I didn't get a chance to have the discussion with Ian who I've never met but feel we would have bonded on this particular topic.

[sniper2]

Ian was entertaining as well as informative will be sorely missed. I need a horse(too old) for
hunting the high country. Still I'm not signing on as bronk buster for some kboy that rents horses
for a living ....

[Fitch]

I will look for more writing by Ian. I wish I'd discovered him while he was still alive.

My wife and I currently own three horses. Two Icelandic horses and a quarter horse. I've never hunted with them. I'm 67, been riding since I was 10, almost can't remember when I didn't know how to ride. There are a couple of things that can simplify your time dealing with horses:

First, the key to understanding a horse is to realize it is a prey species. A horse thinks of itself as something else's lunch. If you think about it, with out going into detail, this explains a lot of the behavior of a horse and how it has developed.

Second, as big and strong as a horse is, we can only do with them what they allow us to do. If they weren't as willing as they are, they'd just kill you and walk away peacefully. Ian was right, they are big and well equipped for taking on a human. Fortuantely for us, they are some of the most cooperative, willing, animals around.

Third, a horse is always being trained. There is never a time you are with a horse that it isn't cataloging what you are doing and storing that data. That is in effect training. Horses don't only listen when you think you are training them, they are always listening, and remembering.

Finally, a good horse is never a bad color.

Fitch