“Hammy” is a 7 year-old gelding that has seen it all. He’s handy and has been used on the ranch and has had several months cow-horse training. I've used him to compete in team-penning, day work, brand, pasture rope, gather in the steep country of the Blue Mountains, swim in the Columbia river, ride bareback, bridle-less, and the list goes on.

Details: Rides in a bridle, hackamore, or take him back to a snaffle. Great to load, haul, shoe, bathe, hobble, and ground ties. He wasn’t started until his four-year old year but he’s all caught up. Great walk, trot, lope, with tons of speed behind that. Easy lead departures, circles well, counter-arcs, turns around, and is proficient at flying lead changes. Tracks the sled, tracks calves in the branding pen and holds them tight. Has been around guns and I have shot my 9mm off of him. He knows where he puts his feet at all times, sees the wire and badger holes before you do. He’s the same horse every day, never offers to buck or even think about it. He’s automatic at opening and closing gates, you can sort and load cattle with a flag, and no matter how many days in a row you work him, he’ll come running in from the pasture to great you. He tries on cattle and gets the job done when sorting. He’ll dumb down for beginners and children, and steps up when you ask him too. I have had kids, beginners, and intermediates ride him.

The quirks: This horse is a little watchy but he is honest about it. He doesn't like coiled ropes being handed up to you unless you let him smell them first. I've roped his feet and tail in the branding pen (on accident) and he's never flinched. I rarely hard tie him because a few times a year he has pulled back. If I just soft tie him and he feels the need to step back, a couple inches of rope with slide and then he stops. He never runs off.

I think he'd make a solid horse for someone who wants a using horse during the week that they can go run barrels, team-pen, sort, or more on the weekends with.