A Solid Mind and Kind Eye

To continue my dive into the world of the good 'ol stock horse, I want to bring attention to something that makes the foundation breeds shine.

This photo was obtained legally on Stock Xchange.

While the stocky legs are important, good legs are nothing without the mind to control them.  A treasured trait of these animals is their solid mind, accompanied with their soft, kind eyes.

I know there are horses in this breed, like any other, that don't fit the bill.  But everyone knows the old cliche... The exception makes the rule.

Thanks to my time at Virginia Tech and general experience in the horse world, I have encountered many different breeds.  Quarter horses, Paints, and other stock horse breeds are some of the most level headed animals around.  The soft eyes on either side of their bold, yet refined head provides a quality image.  But the image isn't simply a pretty picture, it is the trademark of a willing creature who wants nothing more than to please.

The smart cowboys who mount the best of the stock horses know that their job is to communicate.  With a horse like the average stock horse... when there is a break in communication, it is typically the rider's fault.  A good rider not only knows this deep down, he admits it to his horse.