Catherine and Bart
Thank you so VERY much for restoring my confidence and turning my project horse into a "keeper". I purchased a horse even though I saw red flags and knew better. I wasn't in the market, but a neighbor told me of a killer deal on a big, stocky TWH gelding who needed an experienced rider (first red flag). I had a perfect horse at home and could use a larger horse for my hubby. We went to look and my hubby fell in love at first sight. Second flag, never buy a horse on looks. He looked like the black stallion and had excellent ground manners. His name was Bart (Black Bart). He hadn't been ridden in a year and the owner wouldn't get on him (flag). My pride kicked in and I rode him in the round pen and he ran away with me (flag). I really liked his gait and figured with a little work I could make him husband worthy and I love a challenge and fancied myself an experienced rider (it's all relative). I rode him on their property and went back to ride him on the trail. He was wonderful. I didn't lope though. Hubby loved him even more and I took a shine to him as well.
Considering all the flags I asked an experienced Search and Rescue friend to evaluate the horse and tell me if I was crazy to buy him. She does training and is a more experienced horsewoman than I. She thought I would do well with him if I had time for a project horse (which I didn't), but wasn't sure about him ever being a hubby horse. Against my better judgment, I bought him (for my hubby) and figured I would put some time and miles on him. He had a questionable training background and displayed fear in several ways like snorting, tucking his tail, rushing his hind as if he had been whipped. I set out to build his confidence and trust and ended up handling him with kid gloves, which wasn't helpful to him. I had many successful trail rides although I was always on guard while riding. I put him through Search and Rescue training and got him desensitized, SAR certified and even rode him in a parade. Then one day I got complacent and got bucked off, failed my tuck and roll, resulting in a broken collar bone in four places. He had bucked me off one other time without injury. I began to doubt my sanity. My healing time was complicated and required surgery, so I was unable to ride for months. My confidence was shaken and I became fearful. My dilemma was do I keep him or not. I wanted to be wise and practical (better late than never) and certainly didn't want to be hurt again. I didn't know who I could sell him to and didn't want to be responsible for their injury or for someone to abuse Bart. One of the problems with Bart was that he would be fine one minute, focused with you and then just be gone the next similar to a wild horse. This happened with the farrier on occasion, which made no sense and was inconsistent.
Long story short, I didn't want to part with him as he was a smart horse and a sweet horse, not a mean bone in his body. He was all about flight. I had him evaluated by one trainer who told me to sell him for $500 to a cowboy. I entertained the idea of trading him to an experienced horsewoman in exchange for her bomb-proof horse. When it came down to it, I wasn't ready to part with him, but figured it was the responsible thing to do.
I finally decided to start him over from the beginning to fill in the missing training chapters. I also decided I needed professional help, so I began taking lessons with Susan. I didn't want someone to fix my horse and give him back to me, I wanted to learn and grow with him. In the end I would be able to safely ride him. I figured if that didn't work, I'd give him up to some trainer who wanted a project. Either way the training would help in placing him in a good home or turn him into a keeper.
Susan is excellent and it was the best training experience I've ever had. Susan taught me techniques and gave me tools to lead my horse into safer territory. I got him recertified for SAR and even rode him in an obstacle course and race event. We didn't win, but he did great! I am so excited to feel good about riding him. She restored my confidence and turned my problem project horse into a keeper. I didn't heed my own advice, but thanks to Susan it worked out anyway and I couldn't be happier.
- Catherine and Bart (partners), 2010
Considering all the flags I asked an experienced Search and Rescue friend to evaluate the horse and tell me if I was crazy to buy him. She does training and is a more experienced horsewoman than I. She thought I would do well with him if I had time for a project horse (which I didn't), but wasn't sure about him ever being a hubby horse. Against my better judgment, I bought him (for my hubby) and figured I would put some time and miles on him. He had a questionable training background and displayed fear in several ways like snorting, tucking his tail, rushing his hind as if he had been whipped. I set out to build his confidence and trust and ended up handling him with kid gloves, which wasn't helpful to him. I had many successful trail rides although I was always on guard while riding. I put him through Search and Rescue training and got him desensitized, SAR certified and even rode him in a parade. Then one day I got complacent and got bucked off, failed my tuck and roll, resulting in a broken collar bone in four places. He had bucked me off one other time without injury. I began to doubt my sanity. My healing time was complicated and required surgery, so I was unable to ride for months. My confidence was shaken and I became fearful. My dilemma was do I keep him or not. I wanted to be wise and practical (better late than never) and certainly didn't want to be hurt again. I didn't know who I could sell him to and didn't want to be responsible for their injury or for someone to abuse Bart. One of the problems with Bart was that he would be fine one minute, focused with you and then just be gone the next similar to a wild horse. This happened with the farrier on occasion, which made no sense and was inconsistent.
Long story short, I didn't want to part with him as he was a smart horse and a sweet horse, not a mean bone in his body. He was all about flight. I had him evaluated by one trainer who told me to sell him for $500 to a cowboy. I entertained the idea of trading him to an experienced horsewoman in exchange for her bomb-proof horse. When it came down to it, I wasn't ready to part with him, but figured it was the responsible thing to do.
I finally decided to start him over from the beginning to fill in the missing training chapters. I also decided I needed professional help, so I began taking lessons with Susan. I didn't want someone to fix my horse and give him back to me, I wanted to learn and grow with him. In the end I would be able to safely ride him. I figured if that didn't work, I'd give him up to some trainer who wanted a project. Either way the training would help in placing him in a good home or turn him into a keeper.
Susan is excellent and it was the best training experience I've ever had. Susan taught me techniques and gave me tools to lead my horse into safer territory. I got him recertified for SAR and even rode him in an obstacle course and race event. We didn't win, but he did great! I am so excited to feel good about riding him. She restored my confidence and turned my problem project horse into a keeper. I didn't heed my own advice, but thanks to Susan it worked out anyway and I couldn't be happier.
- Catherine and Bart (partners), 2010Susan Wirgler
2014-08-28T14:48:08-07:00
https://www.susanwirgler.com/testimonials/catherine-and-bart/