Hancock Horses question

[righter]

The other half's favorite mount is a grade blue roan mare that we (and everyone that has ever seen her) is sure is hancock. All those descriptions fit her, tough, good legs, good feet, thick, hard headed. Everything except uglyheaded, because it is nice. Point of fact, her name is Beauty because she is so pretty.
I rode her for a good while, and she was ok, but you REALLY have to ride her, no time for daydreaming with her. He rides her hard, uses her hard and she is great. Give her a little time off, and she seems to be really p'd off about it for a couple of days.
The only time she ever bucked was when a bull ran up under her flank and pushed her out of the way. She set in to buck, but when the other half yelled at her to stop, she stopped in mid-jump.
She also has learned to dump (trip)something that needs to be doctored. Guess other half got tired of waiting for me to catch anything besides a cold

[greg]

Good job Moody,Proved wrong about Hancock line--Plus has color.Keep er up

[Paul]

[Tumbleweed]

Howdy Paul

That picture is one of my most favorite ones because thats the most favorite horse I've ever had.

You're right about that heifer being tied off and being there for however long it takes to doctor her. I used to pick up both heels, pull them down then ride up as close as I could to them, lift on the rope and tie a clove hitch around the horn. Then take the tail of the rope go down on the other side of my horses neck, over the rope then back to the saddle horn and tie another clove hitch. Doing it that way as long as your horse faces what ever you have roped he won't choke himself. He will also have to face the critter you have down and if they struggle your horse usually backs up, tightens the rope which helps to keep them down. I would then step off and tie both front feet together. Once you have that done you can do anything you want to them.

The part where you really need to be careful is when you have your first clove hitch tied around the horn and when you are going down on the other side of the neck on your horse and around the rope and back to the saddle horn. You need to keep your horse facing the critter you have down. Once you have the second clove hitch tied they are forced to face the critter that they are tied to. The first few times they are a little nervous and skittish about it but soon get pretty comfortable with it. I stayed a horse back all the while until I had them tied off to.

[Tumbleweed]

Paul from your pm on this I believe you're wanting to try this and I thought I should add a few words of caution for you or anyone else who works alone and wants or needs to doctor cattle this way.

You need to be able to keep your horse under control while your tying off and thats not so easy with a young or inexperianced horse. You need to keep your rope and the reins from tangleing while your doing it.

After the first clove hitch the tail of your rope is under the rope going down to the heels, you just keep pulling it under until you have a large enough loop to drop it down over your horses head and under his nose. Then the end of the rope is dropped down over your horses head and under his nose again and pulled up around the saddlehorn and tied off with another clove hitch. You need to know those hitches and do a good clean job of tying them so they don't slip or come off. If you're not clear on the knots or exactly how to do it you could choke your horse. When you step off you could also tie your reins to the rope going to the heels to help keep him facing the critter.

The first time you do it I think it's best if your horse is tired and will be more likely to stand quietly for you.

You need to cinch very tight before you rope them and the back cinch needs to be cinched up tight to. You don't want the saddle tipping forward and digging in to their shoulders.

It's also best if you chase what ever you're going to work on far enough that they slow down then rope them. That way they are more likely to lay there and rest without struggling while you tie off. Usually that's not to far.

I only do this with yearlings, cows or bulls because they need to be heavy enough to keep your horse facing them and not being able to run off. I've had inexperianced horses try to drag them backwards quite aways or buck but they soon give that up.

If I'm close to a corral with a chute thats what I use, if there's some one around to help I will head and heal them but if I'm alone and no one is handy to help this is what I do.

Probably the best way to try this the first time would be with someone else to help and in a corral. I only do this when necessary because you could get in trouble in a hurry. I've been doctoring cattle this way for about twenty years but I'm always cautious and try to have my horeses well prepared and under control. Good luck and always be careful.

[Jinglebob]

Good, sound advice.

As for running the critter far enough so that they won't struggle as hard, I couldn't agree more and the way I rope, it's sure never a problem

We've found when doctoring for footrot, that the running causes the sore to break open and drain and seems to do as much good as the medicine. I've had quite a few people who run yearlings tell me the same thing.

When doctoring for bad eyes, the running doesn't seem to help, but it still seems like I run them just about as far!

[Northern Rancher]

Yes patience is a virtue in ranch horses lol.

[Paul]

Yes Tumbleweed I would like to try this, but will use my brothers horse as he is bomb proof & great for stuff like this or let the kids ride. I have used your clove hitch before, but didn't know the name. (looked it up on the internet) I chase everything more than I need to, as I'm such a bad roper it takes me two or more loops to heel most of the time.
When I lived at home about 18 years ago I was much better, but now I only get to go home three or four times a year and help with the cows. When I retire I'm going to go up & just play with the cows/work on my ropping

I'm still not sure about the loop under the horses neck I will need to try it this week with just the rope on a block or post & see if I get it to work. I have been in the situation with my horse turning away & this seems like a neet little fix.

How about the saddle you ride, who made it?

Paul

[Tumbleweed]

Thought I'd probably confuse you with the description I gave for tying off. I'll try again and try and make it a little simpler if I can. Basicly after you've got them heeled and tied the first knot you have to use whats left of the rope to go down along you horses neck on the other side, around the rope then back up to the horn and tie off again.

That saddle is one that was built by Jerry Croft at Deadwood. He does good work and I have been well satified with it. Jerry also built the one I had before this one but the seat was to short for me and there were just enough swells to get me in trouble. There's a picture of that one on a thread in coffee shop titled "Kevin".

Glad to hear you have a bomb proof horse to try that with and some help when you do it. Better take along a camera, get some pictures then post them here on Ranchersnet. Good luck and be careful.