Horses of the West and a Giveaway!

by

 

Aren’t horses beautiful, majestic creatures? Horses and the West go hand in hand. Sure, there were horses all over North America, and in other countries too, but when most people think of “the West” they picture a cowboy on his trusty steed, Stetson on his head, coiled rope nearby, and perhaps a herd of cattle he’s watching over to driving back to his ranch. 

While the cowboy played an important role out West, in my opinion, the horse was maybe even more important! Someone who stole a horse was subject to a harsh public punishment such as a public whipping, jail time, or branding. That is, if they weren’t taken care of by vigilante justice. 

Horses were incredibly important on the frontier, as they were used for everything from transportation to work. They really were the essential workers of the day. With their great strength, horses were used in mills, pulled plows, wagons, and hauled freight, and can you imagine a cowboy trying to drive cattle without a horse? And…all those stagecoach robberies…it’s a lot easier to catch someone on foot with the loot if they didn’t have a horse! 

In fact, from 1850, to 1890, the number of horses grew from 4,336,719 to 15,266,244! They were as crucial to the West becoming settled as were the people who traveled there to call those wide lands home. 

 

Three of the most popular horse breeds in the West during the 1800s were the American Quarter horse, Morgans, and Mustangs. Each served a slightly different need, but all of them were important. 

The American Quarter horse was the most versatile for a western man’s needs. They were generally calm, muscular, and could pull wagons, work the cattle, and were fast horses. They were also a common horse, so easy to obtain. 

Morgans were used in gold mines, and also pulled stagecoaches and buggies. They were the favorite horses of the Pony Express riders because they were strong, fast, easily trained, and had good endurance. 

A Mustang was strong and sturdy. Mustangs were also feral, and hard to catch, with a temperament that was difficult. In the early 1900s, over two million Mustangs roamed the United States. They were almost wiped out, but with government regulation managed to survive.  

When my boys started doing horse lessons a few years ago, I had no idea that each lesson (which I sit in on) would start with an oral lesson. Over the last two years, we’ve learned about horse breeds and personalities, how much water they drink and what happens if they don’t have it, how long their intestines are, how much they eat, how many pounds of manure each day, and so much more. Because of this interest, I’ve worked horses in here and there in my books. I even wrote one about a wrangler, who was someone who worked with horses. 

In this book, Rose is as spirited as any unbroke filly, with no desire to settle down. And Levi, the wrangler, might be only one who understands. 

 

 

You can learn more by going here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Romancing-Wrangler-Second-Chance-Groom-ebook/dp/B0CFWJB2W4?tag=pettpist-20

But today, one of you will win your own copy. For your chance to win either an ebook or an audiobook code of Romancing the Wrangler, I’d just like to know: Have you ever ridden a horse? 

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Sarah is wife to an amazing teacher and mom to two boys who are growing up just a little too fast. She spends her days working and writing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

71 thoughts on “Horses of the West and a Giveaway!”

  1. I was able to ride a horse two years ago at the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. My boyfriend and I rode on a trail and we got to view a beautiful waterfall. My horse was black and white and his name was Shadow. He was a Tennessee Walking horse. It was great fun riding him. I love horses! They are beautiful animals.

  3. I don’t usually talk about this. At age ten I was an avid consumer of equine fiction but had only had pony rides. When friends invited me to go horseback riding with them I readily agreed. They’d all been before and took off like they were shot out of cannons once we were all mounted. I was petrified and on a horse who wasn’t too keen on doing anything (I also only had sufficient money with me to cover the basic rental fee, not a lesson). I ended up spending the hour trying to make the horse move, unsuccessfully.

    • Oh no! That must have been so frustrating and disappointing for you! You’d think the place you were renting from would have given you a different horse, or helped you get started!

  6. My siblings and I had our own horse when we were growing up. He was beautiful with a white streak on his face.

  7. I’ve ridden a horse and got bucked off the first time I did it and got right back on it. I love horses. I find myself drawing and painting them quite often.

  8. Yes – I started riding when I was 4 that was 60 years ago last October and have had a horse in the pasture ever since – have 2 now!

  9. As a pre-teen and teen, riding horses was my favorite thing to do. Never able to own one, I loved riding the trails when on camping trips.

  11. I have ridden a horse before. However, since I’m only about 5′ 2″, a hip replacement has made that almost impossible.

  12. When we first got married, we bought an old house on the edge of town and turned it into a hobby farm. We bought a green broke Quarter-horse and she was too much for me to handle. So, Misty became my husband’s horse and we bought a 15 year old palomino horse for me. Ha! I loved that horse! We also partner with Gabriel’s Home in our area who take in rescue horses and rehabilitate them. They use the horses to help bring peace, joy, and healing to whatever is hurting in peoples lives. All the horses are given Biblical names when they come to Gabriel’s Home.

    I do enjoyed reading your blog today.

    • That’s a wonderful thing that you guys did! It’s heartbreaking how when someone doesn’t want a horse anymore, it’s often more valuable in the meat market than on the horse market. The place my son goes to has a few rescues, and they are the sweetest most gentle horses, but were too old to pull a plot anymore, and one had a problem with his eye.

  14. I was riding a horse before I could walk! My family has always had them, and before I was old enough to ride on my own, my mom or dad would hold me in front of them in the saddle. My dad’s saddle has tooth marks in the horn from where I used it as a teething toy! I started out riding my sister’s pony, then graduated to my mom’s horse. When I was 12, my dad bought a 3 year old Palomino mare for me, and we grew up together. She was my baby for 25 years, and she’s buried in the corner of our pasture, right in front of my house, with her own headstone. I just recently heard a song by Randy Travis called “Horses in Heaven” and it made me cry, because it mentioned a pretty Palomino waiting in Heaven, and I know China is waiting on me up there, along with my dad.

  16. I’ve ridden a horse 2 times. Neither time was good. The first time I had my girlfriend’s little sister behind me, I didn’t know anything about controlling the horse and the horse was doing whatever her horse was doing which galloping. We almost fell off. The second time I was behind a guy, his horse reared up and I slid off the rear and landed in a ditch of water.

  17. Yes I have ridden horses. The first time I rode a horse it was at my brother-in-laws parents house. I was around 5. Then in high school I rode one for 2 hours and was majorly sore. Then in college I dated a guy whose family had horses. I would ride when ever I wanted it. I enjoyed riding but haven’t ridden in like 14 years.

  19. YES! My dad grew up with horses to do the farm work, so, needless to say, we always had at least one horse. I have ridden around the farm on my pony and also taken a number of trail rides, once at Jackson, WY and another time in Townsend, TN. I love the mountains and had the pleasure to discover them more fully on these rides. Unfortunately, I can no longer get up on a horse, even with assistance. My movement is not fluid anymore, which happens when one turns 80.
    I simply love the mountains, particularly the Smokys.

  21. Only once have I ridden a horse. I was really young and we got stuck going to my aunt and uncles who lived out in the country. My dad had to walk to their house and my uncle came with their horse and tractor. Us kids rode the horse back while the tractor pulled the car back to the house.

  22. In my opinion, there’s 2 type of riding, trail where each horse is trained to follow the other and free where you can just ride. I’ve only done the trail so just walking and sometimes a trot. I’d love to be able to free ride but most places don’t offer it. I’m guessing it’s a liability issue.

  26. Yes I used to ride. At one time we owned three horses and my husband, daughter and I would ride with friends. Our son rode at times but it wasn’t his favorite thing, nor mine, lol. We had a Tennessee Walker, a quarter horse and an Arabian. The Tennessee Walker, Hawk, was the favorite of each of us. We took turns riding him.
    I’m 77, almost 78, next month, so no longer ride. Also we only have one horse now and she is not able to be ridden. She had broken her hip and had surgery before we ever got her, so we have never been able to ride her. The people who had her needed someplace for her so we took her. Horses are magnificent animals and as you stated were used for a number of things. I had always read that stealing a horse was a hanging offence. I’m glad to learn that wasn’t always the case.

    • I bet you had some great memories with those horses!! There’s a Tennessee Walker named Sassy at the place my boys go to. She’s my favorite to pet or watch!

  27. i have ridden twice, but both times not a good experience. I am better at watching other’s on horseback. I have a niece who was into horses and I enjoyed watch her to her thing.

  29. Hi, wow, this is so interesting , I would have never thought that would be how you start horse lessons, but it does make sense. We should know whatever we can about what we are about to start doing. Thank you for sharing this very interesting and informative information. I am not entering this giveaway as I am not tech savvy at all, so I dont read ebooks or get audio books with codes, but Thank you. I only read books in print and I listen to books either on CD’s or MP3’s. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.

  34. “A day late and a dollar short”as they say. I wasn’t able to get to the post on time for the giveaway, but enjoyed it. There is a lot to learn about these great animals. I like that your sons’ instructor is taking the time to teach them so much. The more you know, the more you can appreciate and respect a creature.
    I have ridden a couple of times, but never got interested in taking it up as a hobby or sport. As a girl, I wanted a horse, as do most young girls, but there was no chance of getting one.
    Thanks for an interesting post.

  35. Yes when I was a teenage, it was at a family picnic, they lived in the country and there was a horse farm that their daughter volunteered at and so the got a few horse so any who wanted to ride could, it was such an great adventure since I never really rode a horse before. Wonderful experience and so fun. I would love to ride a horse again. Maybe some day.

  36. As a kid, I used to love to take off on our horse and ride to my favorite spot in the pasture and bring out my book and read. Queen, the horse, would graze until I was ready to go home. I miss the smell of the horses and the creak of the saddle under me.

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