|
This is an older horse that works young; a smaller horse that works big.
He gathers cattle in the steep west-side Pacific Coast range of California; pulls calves to the fire in the brand pen, held ties-off mature cows to be doctored in outside pastures, and sorts cattle inside and out. He’s a jackpot level heading and heeling horse, giving me good shots with plenty of speed.
His training is as a California reined cow horse: snaffle, hackamore, spade bit. He is straight up in the bridle with a spade bit, but you can ride him just as well with anything on his head. He is light to the hand, responds to leg and voice cues. Stops, spins, backs, side-passes, rolls back. (He also hauls, shoes, ties, and hobbles.)
Chip’s distinguished family history equips him to be sound, to brim with health, intelligence and life at age 22. His sire, I’ll Be Smart ,was the “2002 Equi-Stat #4 Leading Reined Cowhorse Sire in the nation.” His fifteen top contest winning off-spring earned in excess of $720,000.
Physically, he is quite agile: short coupled and has a “Doc Bar Back Leg” which is wider at the stifle then at the hip. This extra muscle makes working off of his back feet seem easy and natural.
Instinctually, he definitely has his great-grandfather Doc Bar’s DNA. He rates cattle naturally, and when he locks onto one, hang on to your hat. And when an exciting task is done he drops his head and walks calmly toward the next thing.
Temperamentally, Chip is gentle and safe for all ages, including mine which is 88. He was handled and conditioned to human contact. from birth by the Atwood ranch staff.
Most uniquely, this horse looks to his handler for direction when things get spooky. I spotted this remarkable behavior at the Atwood ranch in Orland, CA twenty years ago. I immediately bought him on that basis out of a herd of 20-pus 2-year-olds, all beautiful. I have benefited ever since.
Finally, he doesn’t just yield to training. He loves the learning game! Watch him on the video snuggling into place so I can get on him from the fender of my trailer.
Gregg Churchill
|
