Bonding With Jet | A Nice Horse Story

By: Jean Leifhelm

For as far back as I can remember, I have been involved with
horses. Whether it be on top of a horses back, or on the ground at
the barn, being around horses always seemed to light up my life. I
also joined the Horsemasters 4H Club. Like many horse people
starting out, I took lessons at a local riding stable and couldn’t wait
till the next lesson came again. I remember riding this sweet and
gentle mare named Angel who passed away shortly after I started
taking lessons.

Devastated over Angel‘s death, I stopped horse lessons.

I was
eight years old. My Mom and Dad felt for me too and helped me
understand the death of this horse was just as natural as the death
of other pets. I missed being around those 4-legged animals, and
about a year later, my parents bought my very first horse for me. A
calm and old grade Quarter Horse Gelding named Max. I learned with
Max in the four years that that we rode and played together. Sadly,
due to a trailer loading problem causing me to miss an Area E 4-H
horse show, we sold Max to a nice home with children who love him.

We found a great horse that was my very first actual show
horse. I only owned her for a short while, but I earned many ribbons
and points, for which I am very thankful.

Thinking I was ready to
move on to a more challenging horse I purchased my first 16.1 hand
Appendix Quarter Horse Gelding named Jet. I bought him mainly to
show english and in the first few weeks I had him home I thought I
had purchased the perfect and calm horse. I was mistaken.

Because he is an Appendix Quarter Horse, he turned out to be
very hot and eventually he took control of me. All those years
learning and showing on quiet horses I discovered how spoiled I
was. For many weeks Jet and I were against each other and I was
scared of him.

I fell off many times when I rode him. One day Jet and I finally
arrived at the turning point. Here’s what happened: my local 4-H
club puts on a riding clinic every month, and after my dad talked me
into going, I packed up the trailer, wrapped his legs, and proceeded
to put him into the trailer. As I was leading him to the trailer, Jet
stopped and wouldn’t move forward. I lightly tugged on the rope to
get him to move and he decided to back up. I turned him around and
again tried to get him into the trailer, but he did the same thing, not
once, not twice, but 3 times. Only on the third try Jet reared up and
almost fell backwards. Scared and crying, I wanted so bad to put him
back in the pasture and forget about this whole Clinic thing. I took
Jet over to the pasture and proceeded to open the gate. Before I
could open the gate, my Dad told me, “You will never get this horse
back into the trailer if you put him in the pasture.”

Thinking back to
my first horse and how I missed an Area 4-H horse show because of
loading problems, my attitude totally changed from a timid horse
handler to a very aggressive, determined person. I had to get this
horse on the trailer and I had to get him on now. So, once again, I
walked Jet up to the trailer and again he reared up. I then took him
in the round pen and worked him until he was listening to me. I
worked him so hard and long that by the end he was covered with
white sweat patches. But, I had results and we were making
progress. I made him stand for 30 minutes and he stood there,
looking at me with his ears up. Finally, I was in charge! I led him to
the trailer and tried to load him: again he reared up. I was not quite
in complete charge of him, yet.

I then remembered a handling trick I
saw at a Pat Parelli clinic: moving the lead rope in a snaking motion
to earn and gain control of a horse. I did this snaking lead rope each
time Jet would not load. I also used my aggressive, determined
voice while backing him away from the trailer. After a few tries with
Jet backing away and I taking charge with the snaking lead rope, Jet
loaded into the trailer! Jet loaded not once, not twice, but seven
times. We proceeded to the Clinic and I got there and rode for
several hours. For once in my life a horse was listening to me and I
was in Control! Boy did it feel good!

Now Jet and I are the best we’ve ever been. Jet is much calmer
now and we have a great relationship.

We jump full courses, have better showing experiences, and he even follows me around the
arena with no lead rope like a puppy dog! I can honestly say that
morning changed my life forever. I am not only a more aggressive
and confident rider, but Jet respects me on a whole different level
now. And if he ever tries that again on me, I know how to be in
control.