🐎I hope you all enjoy this episode! I had been looking forward to meeting this breed for years! Michael Muir is such an inspiration and has brought joy into the lives of so many people!💜I love hearing the stories of how people got started with horses. Share your story below - When was your first horse experience?
I have been horse crazy from birth. My parents didn’t know where I got it as we were raised in the suburbs. When I was twelve years old I’d walk to the public library and had checked out every book they had about horses. The librarian finally told me she didn’t have anymore books on horses except veterinary manuals and I said “I’ll take them!” and took them home and read them too. I would save my lunch money so I could rent a horse by the hour at a local riding facility. It was too far to walk so I would have to beg rides from my older brothers. They would say they could drop me off but they didn’t know how soon they could come back to get me. I would just say no problem I can just stay there all day if I need to. While I was waiting for a ride home I would ask the stablehands and the boarders if they needed any chores done for them. I mucked out stalls, cleaned water tanks, brought horses in from pasture and turnouts, groomed and bathed and cleaned out feet just for the pure joy of being around horses. The owner finally hired me and before long I was in charge of the 20 rental horse string. Brought them up everyday fed, watered, curried, saddled, bridled and by age 14 was taking out trail riders. The owner would go to the sale barn about once a month and fill a stock trailer with as many unbroke ponies as he could buy. He would put them all in a dry lot and have us ride them. We didn’t have saddles or bridles to ride them with we would make halters out of baling twine and wire and ride them right there in the pen bareback. It was a blast! We ate a lot of dirt but it sure taught us how to ride and gave us a good seat. We’d get those ponies gentled down and he’d take them all back to the same sale barn and sell them as broke ponies for a good profit. He got to be known for his gentle ponies and people would come from all over to buy them. Finally my Dad decided that I wasn’t going to grow out of my love of horses. Leo Kings Shasta was my first horse. Registered QH. Culled from the King Ranch herd. She was registered AQHA Leo King bred. My daddy took me with him most every where he went. He took me out to a ranch in Kansas and he went to the farm house to talk to a man and I asked if I could stay out at the barn. There was a mare and her filly out there in a dry lot. The filly was a long yearling coming 2 still not weaned, skinny, ewe-necked, with a long dull hair coat still in late spring. My daddy came out to the pen and asked me what I thought about the filly. I started pointing out all her faults and that she needed weaned, wormed, and feet trimmed. He asked me if I would like to have her. I cried “Oh Daddy she’s beautiful!” We later found out they couldn’t get her broke to saddle cause she would just throw herself down and sull. I was 14 and didn’t own a saddle or bridle and broke her bareback with a halter. Didn’t get a saddle until my 21st Birthday! And yes first time I put that saddle on her she threw herself down and sulled! Had to unlock her by lunging her to ride her with a saddle but I loved my Daddy’s gift 💝 She was a true blood bay and gave me a beautiful bay roan colt out of a Three Bars stallion and a filly. She was a twinner and after losing the other foal with each twin birth I quit breeding her. I’ll always be so grateful for the gift my daddy gave me as horses also brought my beloved husband into my life as we met on a trailride 30 years ago this August.
The local fair with my mom, who grew up a farm girl in rural Alberta with percherons. ❤ I don't have any living breathing horses but I customize model ones to look like them!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing breed - and this special breeder! 2 1/2 years ago an emergency back surgery changed my life - and since then I need a wheelchair. At the first rehabilitation center they had a riding therapy program. I have been riding since childhood. Riding therapy has helped me so much with recovery - physically and mentally! And since then I can’t get out of my head to find my way back to horses. I had been driving carriages, too. It touched my heart so much to see this video!
Oh my these spotted Stonewall horses are gorgeous! I had an Appy horse when I was a teen. He was golden with a white rump and white spots over the rest of him. He was an excellent trail horse, very surefooted in every type of terrain. I lived next to a County park in South Phoenix Arizona and there were awesome trails all over the park and trails to the top of the mountains that really were best ridden with a smart surefooted horse. Cactus, jack rabbits, Havalina and snakes could pop up at any time and I was so grateful that my Appy didn't flinch at surprise critters and he had his own good sense about not getting near the cactus! He was only green broke when I bought him and I was just as "green" as he was. I loved on him for months before I ventured getting on him. By then we were buddies, he trusted me and honestly I don't know how it happened that I did not really "train" him for anything because I was so young and uneducated about horses, but because of the bond between us from day one, he basically just trained himself! I don't advise doing what I did because a green broke horse with a "green" rider can be dangerous.
What a wonderful story this gentleman just told us. I get emotional in almost every episode. I’ve been a horse lover since the time I was two and I always had a horse growing up ….as I got older and my body began to break down a little bit. I just backed off from riding to deal with my knees and now it’s my back, and I hope that I will be able to ride again, if my back heals like it should. Watching your series makes me yearn to be back on a horse again.
Bless his heart. What a beautiful story and life. As a horse lover as well as a support worker for adults with disabilities, it fills me with joy to see programs like his! Also...his horses look similar to Knabstruppers. I wonder if they're related breeds?
Thank you so much for all your videos. Apart from your infectious nature, I love and look for the interaction between you and the horse. So beautiful to watch. Especially this episode between the Stud Owner and his horse. I will keep watching bout for more. I love them to make my day.
I have been horse crazy from birth. My parents didn’t know where I got it as we were raised in the suburbs. When I was twelve years old I’d walk to the public library and had checked out every book they had about horses. The librarian finally told me she didn’t have anymore books on horses except veterinary manuals and I said “I’ll take them!” and took them home and read them too. I would save my lunch money so I could rent a horse by the hour at a local riding facility. It was too far to walk so I would have to beg rides from my older brothers. They would say they could drop me off but they didn’t know how soon they could come back to get me. I would just say no problem I can just stay there all day if I need to. While I was waiting for a ride home I would ask the stablehands and the boarders if they needed any chores done for them. I mucked out stalls, cleaned water tanks, brought horses in from pasture and turnouts, groomed and bathed and cleaned out feet just for the pure joy of being around horses. The owner finally hired me and before long I was in charge of the 20 rental horse string. Brought them up everyday fed, watered, curried, saddled, bridled and by age 14 was taking out trail riders. The owner would go to the sale barn about once a month and fill a stock trailer with as many unbroke ponies as he could buy. He would put them all in a dry lot and have us ride them. We didn’t have saddles or bridles to ride them with we would make halters out of baling twine and wire and ride them right there in the pen bareback. It was a blast! We ate a lot of dirt but it sure taught us how to ride and gave us a good seat. We’d get those ponies gentled down and he’d take them all back to the same sale barn and sell them as broke ponies for a good profit. He got to be known for his gentle ponies and people would come from all over to buy them. Finally my Dad decided that I wasn’t going to grow out of my love of horses. Leo Kings Shasta was my first horse. Registered QH. Culled from the King Ranch herd. She was registered AQHA Leo King bred. My daddy took me with him most every where he went. He took me out to a ranch in Kansas and he went to the farm house to talk to a man and I asked if I could stay out at the barn. There was a mare and her filly out there in a dry lot. The filly was a long yearling coming 2 still not weaned, skinny, ewe-necked, with a long dull hair coat still in late spring. My daddy came out to the pen and asked me what I thought about the filly. I started pointing out all her faults and that she needed weaned, wormed, and feet trimmed. He asked me if I would like to have her. I cried “Oh Daddy she’s beautiful!” We later found out they couldn’t get her broke to saddle cause she would just throw herself down and sull. I was 14 and didn’t own a saddle or bridle and broke her bareback with a halter. Didn’t get a saddle until my 21st Birthday! And yes first time I put that saddle on her she threw herself down and sulled! Had to unlock her by lunging her to ride her with a saddle but I loved my Daddy’s gift 💝 She was a true blood bay and gave me a beautiful bay roan colt out of a Three Bars stallion and a filly. She was a twinner and after losing the other foal with each twin birth I quit breeding her. I’ll always be so grateful for the gift my daddy gave me as horses also brought my beloved husband into my life as we met on a trailride 30 years ago this August.
Amazing! 🐎 Thanks for sharing your story Anna! I was the same way at my local library when I was little. It is still the first section I go to in all new libraries and book stores! 😊
Lovily story,I would be like you just being around them learning how they think. But life gets in the way,my mum was a strong force in not encouraging me as she didn't like them as her dad got killed by a pony. But its my biggest regret not pursuing my dreams.Still love them,the smell of them just being near them fills my heart. You are so lucky to have been allowed to follow your dreams. May thanks for sharing your story. Happy trails.
My sister went here yesterday to go bird watcher. She saw no birds, but she didn’t see this new horse that I’ve never heard of called the Stonewall Sporthorse. Very cool. I just mentioned Man O’ War to my boss a couple weeks ago. It’s pretty neat that this fellow as a baby had one of his progeny through War Admiral’s son.
This man has the best karma ever ! Speaking as someone who has had 5 surgeries on my back I can truly appreciate what he’s done! My original injury was caused by a bad fall with a horse. I landed on the bottom instead of the other way round and broke some bones. It was entirely my fault as I chose to ride. An old instructor told me “ when it’s good it’s the horses doing when it’s bad it’s the riders fault” lol.anyway the horse was absolutely fine as l broke his fall. This was 50 years ago and I’m still doing the horse thing lol.I’ve come too the realization that horses are magic. I don’t know exactly why they just are! I’ve seen people Down’s syndrome,all sorts of muscular illness,and mental and emotional illness bloom on a horse! I can walk in a barn and my blood pressure goes down. Most people breed horses for money or fame and that’s alright but this man is doing it to help people that need them. I thank him for that very much!
These are beautiful horses and their markings are so different from what we usually see in North America! They remind me of the Knabstrup breed from Denmark. You should include them in your list of horses to ride, if you haven't done so already!
I am privileged to have a Leopard Appaloosa. She is also Native American registered in the Appaloosa registry. She is literally the strength of my herd, which I promise you is very eclectic. However, I am not sure I completely understand the breed and what made it. I am so sorry if I missed something that you may have explained.
Absolutely love the leopard coloring from the first time I saw a picture of one! What perfect horses! Who would think a man with MS so many years would accomplish what he has! Thanks!
I'm very grateful to have found your channel. I have multiple chronic illnesses, which prevent me from riding regularly, but if I'm ever well enough to travel to the USA, I would love to meet & ride one of Michael's beautiful Stonewall Sporthorses.
So glad you found the channel as well! Thanks for joining me on the adventures. Sending healing thoughts your way, with hopes of lots of fun horse time in your future! 💜
I was drawn to your enthusiasm and have so enjoyed all your videos. The horses are amazing and beautiful, but so are the wonderful stories. Thank you so much for doing this. I wish you all God's blessings on your journeys.
