Our Horses: Vaquero
Acorn, Aspen, Athena, Beryl, Blackhawk, Cedar, Chaparral, Daisy, Everest, First Star, Hickory, Honey Girl, Jade, Jasper, Joyee, Juniper, Navajo, Onyx, Pearl, Pepper, Pinon, Raven, Sapphire, Sequoia, Springtime, Starbright, Teak, Teton, Tiger Eye, Topaz, Vaquero, Wild Sweet William, and Zoey
Vaquero, the clown, is everyone's love. His soft eyes and gentle manner melt your heart. Vaquero, is a 15 hand, handsome, black gelding, is mistaken for a Morgan instead fo a member of the Maverick-Medicine Herd in Nevada. He was adopted in 1997.
As a weanling his gentle nature and curiosity were evident. Vaquero was afraid but his eyes longed to partner-up with the human if they weren't too scary. When we visited the Ranch he'd stick his head in the truck window and pull out a coat. Then he'd scare himself and run off with the coat clinched in his teeth.
Vaquero is quick to take the hose filling the watering trough and wash his teeth and then spray the other horses. Cones and buckets become game items for his active mind and lips. Needless to say, knotted ropes and latches are easy prey for him. He opens and closes gates to prevent his buddies from following him on his adventures.
Last summer he became a schooling horse for Mary Lee's intermediate students and jumped in his first horse show last fall. This winter he enjoyed taking friends on Red Rock desert rides. Vaquero has a fan club who bring him carrots regularly.
2009 Update:
Although Vaquero has taken on the adult-role of riding school extraordinaire, he still plays and gets into mischief, which is just who he is. He keeps getting out of his stall and getting into students' tack boxes, and letting his friends out to join him in a haystack fest. He and Starbright often join forces and together can open almost anything that contains treat stashes. We put every kind of closure on his stall that we could think of, but nothing could stop him. Finally, we put a combination lock on his stall. That lasted a year. However, after continual work, he opened it and escaped. No... he didn't get the combination... he just played with it so much , it didn't work!
He loves his riding students, especially young, beginners. So they don't have to reach too far to put his reins over his neck, he bends down low enough so they can do it easily. Because of his kind, willing and comedic nature, Vaquero has continued to expand his fan club.
