Guess we have to agree to disagree. I sure don't intend to get into one of those internet fracacies like a US congress.

I know lots of ropers that are ranch cowboys, most professional ropers grew up on ranches and developed thier horsemanship skills there, I did. and I have always found time to do both and I was raised on a 75,000 ac. cow ranch. When we were busy we were busy, but we still had lots of time to rope and play, and we broke and trained our own horses, still do that.

I'm out there with these guys all the time, and their horsemanship skills are good to awesome and they are for the most part damn good cowboys that live in the heart of ranch country.

Yes, I could ride my horses without a bridle, but you can bet your bottom dollar I won't do that..Too many bad things can happen when you get stupid. I rope a steer now and then with only a piggen string around his neck, just showing off my horse (in an arena,) most any good rope horse will do that. I also do that in a round pen as part of my breaking ajenda, to make them work off leg pressure and cues, but I have them confined and under control.

I'm out of here.

What percentage of horses rope for a living?

I'll give you a minute.

I just got back from a 7 hour scouting ride in the mountains of Wyoming -- 2 bitless and barefoot horses.

But think about it. We weren't needing those tools.

We're not "disagreeing" ... unless you hold to the idea that every horse ought to be treated like a full time cow horse of the early 1900s.

My son rode bitless 2 weeks ago in the Bighorn 100 -- 100 miles in 18 hours and 43 minutes, with over 31,000 feet of elevation change. The horse had boots, not shoes.

Care to tell me how that horse is somehow less than yours? (He can also be shot off of and has packed plenty to hunting camps.)

If so, we'll be there next year, too.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding this thread and for that I apoligize..I thought we were talking about riding a horse with "nothing on his head" and using only cues and leg pressure. I have no problem with riding a horse outside with a haulter or just a rope around his nose if he is a broke and trained horse..If so he should react to that as well as anything.

BTW my horses are rope horses, but they work for a living also..I round up on them, I hunt on them, I can pack a deer out in my lap on two of them and they have dragged a thousands calves to the branding fire. They are cowboy horses as well as rope horses..That is why the are good rope horses. They were all bosal broke, graduated into a ring snaffle and then to whatever bit worked best on them and thats a changing thing, they will stand ground tied and hobbled at night, and I can shoot in front of them but I never shoot off a horse, I prefer to step off walk out about 10 yards and shoot..A horse breaths and that is not consistant with good shooting IMO, my breathing and his 1100 pounds of nerve and muscle quivering is more than I can handle while shooting, and I also have to respect his hearing which is much more sensitive than mine. I keep my horses shod every 8 to 10 weeks with iron.

As to rodeo hands, I know most are good cowboys in the roping arena, some of the rough stock riders are just town boys with a lot of talent, but even those guys are good...To compete in rodeo you are way ahead of the game if you have a ranch background..The only folks I know that say those things about rodeo hands are folks that are not what they claim.

For those who doubt my ability as a horseman and claim I'm not what I say, I find that some offesive so I offer you an invite to my residence where I have a roping set up and a ranch to ride on, Horses and cattle..

Your welcome to stop by for a cup of coffee and/or a guided tour and even rope a few steers if you like. My contact numbers are below. my awards and pictures are there for all to see in my office. I'm 77 and still winning buckles and money. I'm usually training horse or two and I only ment to keep everyone safe and stating my views not trying to stir up sh--t. I feel that control of a 1200 pound animal is first and foremost, at least for me and I sure am not trying to force someone to do as I would.

BTW, I make part of my living booking hunts, I build custom guns, love to hunt, but horses in various diciplines have been my first and foremost passion since the day I was born.

Attkinson,
Why don't you go play somewhere else?

A wishful thought if ever there was one. A simple perusal of this page, and how nearly every thread ends with one of your posts says a whole bunch, much like how in nearly every thread you tell us all how experienced you are, that you rope, raised on a ranch, won money, book hunts etc. etc. ad nauseum.

I wish all of ya'll well, and do hope that you occasionally, with good sense and reasonable precautions, of course, push the envelope and get outside of your comfort zone. Otherwise, you stagnate, and is that any way to live life? Soooo much is possible with these great animals that the more you learn, the more you are humbled and see how much more there is to learn.

Hey Daniel,
You want some pictures? I can send proof to your email if you send it to me, or are you just flaming. Whatever...I'm valid and can prove it, but just stating my opinnion on a subject, and trying to help.

Send to me. jrd005@hotmail.com

Is that the same as riding without a BRA??????????????

I used to ride bridleless when I was a child. That's how my mother taught me to ride. Handful of mane, leg and knee pressure, soft voice.... that's how we did it. I only used a bridle and saddle for trail rides. She was a fantastic horsewoman and barrel racer. I wouldn't do it now, though. I'm not as confident in my riding skills. My butt has gotten too used to a car. Lol.
Thinking on it, I can't remember if I've ever ridden without a bra. I maybe have. Just don't remember. I wouldn't do that now, either.

I always ride bra-less...

True story. At one training facility where I worked(probably 23 or so at the time), I offered to give the girls a "Bob Dylan" Tuesday, during which I would do my best Bob Dylan impression all day, if they'd give me a no bra Friday. They didn't go for it...

Use to it on the farm with old work horses. We jumb on their backs and off we go.

It was ok but a bridle made them work better.

Many years ago I remember a tv interview with Audie Murphy and his horses. He demonstrated training and topped it off with riding a horse with a shoestring for a bridle.

use to jump on the horses quite often with just a halter and lead rope.

I also agree with the folks there is considerable difference between working cowboy and rodeo cowboy.

Amen you can look the definition of cowboy up and it sure doesnt say a thing about an arena. The relationship a cowboy has with his horses is very different than most rodeo people. As a cowboy you rely on your horse to work hard, go the extra mile when he's bleeding and sore just to get the job done and when things get wild and western you put your life in your horses hands and with out that bond that you build by being with your horse all day everyday. When it going gets tough that most horses wont care about you and what you want but when you build a horse with heart and a good relationship he wont quit till he's dead and wont want to stop working to make you happy but there is too much more to go into to explain all that than I care to right. It's only something you can understand when you do it for a living. Remember cowboy is not a style, a hobby, a sport, ect. It's an occupation.

quote:

Originally posted by PARA1977:
Ray,
As to Rodeo Cowboys being the best cowboys you
are speaking about two entirely diffrent groups.
Yes i know cowboys who can rope with open ropers
and open ropers that can cowboy but as a hole rodeo cowboys are not ranch cowboys and most will tell u this. There is a lot to learn about working cows and horses and just because you can rope dont make you a cowboy, it makes you a roper. I mean no disrespect to you I do not know you and yes what they can do in a roping pen is awesome but they do it 365 days a year
while a cowboy works cattle 365 days a year and doctors pulls calves builds fences works on eqiupment rides colts most ranches gives you between 3 and 10 a year to ride none broke maybe saddled as two year olds but thats it. Kinda hard to rope every night of the week with this work load. Oh and also most of the horses
you see these rodeo cowboys ride cost 4 times what a cowboy makes in a year.

I dont bounce so well anymore.......

The original question was Have you ever ridden without a bridle?. I answered YES. Now it seems that I must be an idiot and my horse a dink. I never mentioned the size of the ranch I grew up on or if it was a (real ranch) or not. I guess that the bigger the ranch, the better the horseman, or maybe, if you raise a certain breed of cattle or horse you are by definition a better cowboy. Whats next? Are Buckaroos better than the cowboys in south Texas? Could be the shape of your hat that makes you a hand.

I think that this thread was asking if you are willing to test your limits. Are you willing to see just how good you really are? Anyone can sit back and criticise others that try. If we all took this approch to life we would still be throwing rocks at elk and living on nuts and berrys.

Stacy Westfall is no idiot and her horse is no dink. The freestyle reining is a great test of how good a trainer you really are and how good of a horse you are riding. If you have the horse and the talent; push your horse's limits a little. Maybe not bridleless but there are plenty of things to try. If you want to stay comfortable, stay where you're at.

I had to put this video up as part of my Road to the Horse entry. It goes right along with this thread. The horse that I'm riding in this video had pretty sore hocks, and this is why there is some tail swishing and the turnarounds aren't nearly what they usually are. Hope ya'll like it. Also, the first part of the video was a ride done to "Surfin' USA" by the Beach Boys, hence the Hawaiian shirt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtP0-2O_jxY

Griz 78,
I emailed you some pictures roping and of my two rope horses as per your request. A bit late as I had not read this thread for awhile..If you want more pics just let me know, I got a lot of them.

Tip of the hat, to your video Dan'l

I have ridden bridles before. I have also ridden with just a halter a good bit. A horse really needs to know what the word "whoa" means IMHO before doing so especially outside of an arena