Seven years ago while working at a Performance Horse barn, three year old Friendly Bandit Bar, an American Quarter Horse, came up for sale. I never even considered him as a horse that I would love to own. This sassy fellow was a piggy in his stall and had just started his training. To me he was the Wal-mart greeter of the alley way. His stall was the first one through the walkway door and he seemed way too interested in greeting people and being a clown.
Yup, I bought him.
Bandit and I tried showing in reining for a couple years and we both new from the start this was not a happy match. He was so resistant, nervous and down right unhappy. I’d get so frustrated with him. I was told to keep going. “Push him. Push him.” I was told it was my fault why he was the way he was in the show ring. But always in the back of my mind I felt he was just not happy, and to me an unhappy horse in his job was the worst thing to have.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq538Yk4QBxQweoNlkgsEodJb3i06TQlHHllQ0kvecKdnU9f5x73MbGVHMohZgcmF7aBaU7zhzjkxSopWnAvmc11OEUKJveBC7PPGXKb6U1RTFySX_MyeTljpyrvauKXWpaI3rc_kUdnI/s200/3.jpg)
I took Bandit home that night! I turned him out with other horses for a year. No riding. Time for him to learn that there was life outside of a stall and an enclosed arena. That was the magical moment that his personality started to shine again. All his personality came back. The clown, the boy who only wants to make you laugh, Mr. Inquisitive, the horse that loves children, the horse that truly loves people.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKybLQexry_NDcjg5ZuQsmpCMR30I43OnynicdL4-XuX11n-9VbuowY8IGM4y_UZ1pNjMueCL-vWvRROpWMTvgPGszBwGh8P1jn3SoGIFuesYLyiCeOsn8ozqb1j5V8Q6yTbxH8WG2maK7/s200/1.jpg)
In May of 2010 Bandit and I signed up with ACTHA. With no trail riding experience we attended our first trail ride in July of 2010 at The Flying Bee Ranch in McGrew, Nebraska. Bandit took fourth place and did every obstacle. I was so proud of him. That was the day I fell in love with my horse. We had found what we’d been looking for! ACTHA was what Bandit and I both needed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O1jk7rFtgYgMKqA-s_zua60ddeuSeJYJxCVpDN0hzn4bDBYZA8Yeis7FutnJQSL4KD4ovhtsnzqaY-uYecbDCQQ7wP7yVhi8oKELBC01y2wchyphenhyphen6LGnXstETJ_Xa8saR1xzj3ctvo5rB3/s200/2.jpg)
Many
thanks to Durvet Apple Wormer for sponsoring "This is my Trail Horse". Bandit
will receive a gift from Durvet. www.applewormer.com
Share your "This is My Trailhorse" story with ACTHA Facebook by emailing laurie@actha.us
Share your "This is My Trailhorse" story with ACTHA Facebook by emailing laurie@actha.us