I grew up in the southeastern corner of the Great Basin in Iron County, Utah on a horse ranch. Learning from my father, we raised and trained old style ranch type Morgans, Arabians, Welch Ponies and Quarter Horses, bound for the track. All were started in the hackamore and were in the breeding program, so stallions and mares were ridden side by side as ranch horses. All of which takes some good solid horsemanship skills. My wife and I operate “Flanigan Training and Sales”. Our backgrounds come from the Western and English worlds, giving us a diversified bag of skills. From colt starting through tune-ups for other horses; we do our best to help horse and rider become a team.
SJ Ranch Horse Sale
Bear is a 15.1 hand 1100 pound Sorrel Gelding. Blaze Face with color around both eyes, 3 white socks. Bear is an exceptionally flashy horse with a beautiful desired flaxen mane that draws the eye. He's pretty in motion and so well put together. From birth on, he learned to get his feet under him and travel out well. He went through the winter hanging out at the calving barn and being used to drag newborn calves in on a sled. He's naturally picked up on everything he needs to know and has the desired qualities of an awesome ranch horse, plus the bloodlines for athleticism, endurance, speed and cow. He's had a lot of miles put on his back on a cow/calf operation, and many hours of roping calves and then standing quietly while tagging as well as having an outstanding performance in the branding pen where he was used to head and heel calves. I have been riding Bear in a Hackamore as well as Bridle, he does well in either one. Moves off my leg nicely and travels out very well. He is for a medium and above rider in their skill. He is a very personable horse and easy to get along with. He does not do well if someone is a "ram em, jam em, hollar and yell" type rider. He does excellent with me, but I'm rather quiet with the horses.
Bo is well gaited, but unlike many gaited horses, he can go along just fine and walk with non-gaited horses. He has been started on ranch roping and dragging to the fire, not finished in that skill yet, but on his way. He is great on trails, but has also been used for a lot of mountain riding as we keep him on our mountain ranch in the summertime. He is used to seeing deer, elk, grouse, etc there. He does not need a trail – he knows how to go bushwhacking if necessary. He handles steep hills whether up or down. He is solid footed in downfall, rocks, deep sand, slickrock and will go right through streams or ponds. In the wintertime, we either ride in the west desert or haul south to warmer weather to keep riding. He has never been lame for any reason, but as the areas we ride in are hard on hooves he is always kept shod. He is very good with shoeing and handling of his feet. He loads and unloads from a trailer safely and calmly. When unloading he is told to ‘Wait’ until told ‘Down’. This keeps him from wanting to get in a hurry. We also do this going through gates so that all is kept calm. It is fun to watch him as he expects to be told to ‘walk, wait, walk, wait’. He does not take a step until told to do so. When caught in our ranch pasture of 40 acres, we do use a grain bag, but our horses do not get any until the halter is on. I have led him from riding an ATV or from out of the window while driving our truck. He handles both just fine.
Bo is a big, 16 hh, 1200 lb, solid built horse than can easily carry a larger rider. At this point he is not a beginner’s horse, but that may come down the line. He has been ridden double. I have been riding Bo in a “US port” mouthpiece and he neck reins well, moves off my leg well and is learning to work a rope.