Newfound appreciation for Rocket.

Crookedblaze · 09-03-2008, 01:57 AM

Rocket is my most trustworthy horse. I've had him for 7, almost 8 years, and we know eachother inside and out. He really is the perfect horse, his manners are perfect, he is amazing to ride and seems to do what you think about wanting him to do. Because of his trustworthyness, I let him get away with some stuff - like I know that when I get off of him and open the gate to our property, he'll walk to the tack shed and stand infront of it until I untack him, brush him and give him a treat, then when I say "go home" he'll put himself away (and I mean put himself away - closes his stall door after himself!)

So today I had to leave early for class because of an accident (my college is about 30 minutes away from my house) but the horses were in the front pasture. Our house is situated weird, we have our barn and stalls on one side of the house, and then on the opposite side a pasture for grazing. To go to the barn area from the pasture, I have to walk the horses in the street around the house. We do this every day.

So today, my sister is getting my horses out one by one. I normally take all 3 at the same time, Rocket puts himself away, Mac just follows me quietly so Stormy is the only one that I need to worry about. My sister takes the horses one by one. As she is getting Mac out from the pasture, she leaves the gate open for a few seconds to get a hold of his leadrope, which he has stepped on. An open gate is an invitation for Rocket to go home, so he did. (It didn't help that he hates my sister, and will find any excuse to be naught under her watch.) My sister frantically calls me in the middle of class, crying, saying that Rocket ran away (you can't see around the house to the horse area from the pasture). She looked in the horse area, but he wasn't there, he wasn't down the road, he wasn't on the trail and his stall door was closed, just like she'd left it. I found it highly unlikely that he went anywhere and I was not really concerned because a.) it's ROCKET. b.) there is food on the way home, in his stall, and on the neighbors lawn c.) the fastest he goes is a slow amble, charecterized by a large perpetual dustcloud that follows him everywhere. I tell her calm down, look in Rocket's stall.

Sure enough, he had put himself away and was drinking water behind the barn out of eyesight.

Sometimes, I cannot tell you how much I appriciate having that horse. If that was any of my other horses, they'd be up in the hills. But ole faithful pulled through again.

Me and Rocket 4 years ago.

**gbarmranch** · 09-03-2008, 05:20 AM

Have to love a smart horse...

TanyaV28 · 09-03-2008, 06:52 AM

That is so awesome!!!! He is very special

Carri · 09-03-2008, 06:55 AM

What a great horse!! He knew what he was supposed to do, he just should have told your sister where he was going!

Crookedblaze · 09-03-2008, 11:37 AM

LOL Carri. That is what I love about him, he knows what he is supposed to do and (generally) does it.

Red Gate Farm · 09-03-2008, 12:03 PM

Great story!

Snazzy boots too

soft rider · 09-03-2008, 12:26 PM

Great Story,, I also have one of those horses. (Maverick) I never have to lead him in from the pasture, he just follows behind Apache and myself.

Once I left the gate open and they both got out, (unattended) Apache is running around by the neighbors, visiting with the other horses, and i have to get grain to lure him to me. Maverick just walks back up to me and says Sorry mom, he made me do it. lol.

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09-03-2008, 01:57 AM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,458	Newfound appreciation for Rocket. Rocket is my most trustworthy horse. I've had him for 7, almost 8 years, and we know eachother inside and out. He really is the perfect horse, his manners are perfect, he is amazing to ride and seems to do what you think about wanting him to do. Because of his trustworthyness, I let him get away with some stuff - like I know that when I get off of him and open the gate to our property, he'll walk to the tack shed and stand infront of it until I untack him, brush him and give him a treat, then when I say "go home" he'll put himself away (and I mean put himself away - closes his stall door after himself!) So today I had to leave early for class because of an accident (my college is about 30 minutes away from my house) but the horses were in the front pasture. Our house is situated weird, we have our barn and stalls on one side of the house, and then on the opposite side a pasture for grazing. To go to the barn area from the pasture, I have to walk the horses in the street around the house. We do this every day. So today, my sister is getting my horses out one by one. I normally take all 3 at the same time, Rocket puts himself away, Mac just follows me quietly so Stormy is the only one that I need to worry about. My sister takes the horses one by one. As she is getting Mac out from the pasture, she leaves the gate open for a few seconds to get a hold of his leadrope, which he has stepped on. An open gate is an invitation for Rocket to go home, so he did. (It didn't help that he hates my sister, and will find any excuse to be naught under her watch.) My sister frantically calls me in the middle of class, crying, saying that Rocket ran away (you can't see around the house to the horse area from the pasture). She looked in the horse area, but he wasn't there, he wasn't down the road, he wasn't on the trail and his stall door was closed, just like she'd left it. I found it highly unlikely that he went anywhere and I was not really concerned because a.) it's ROCKET. b.) there is food on the way home, in his stall, and on the neighbors lawn c.) the fastest he goes is a slow amble, charecterized by a large perpetual dustcloud that follows him everywhere. I tell her calm down, look in Rocket's stall. Sure enough, he had put himself away and was drinking water behind the barn out of eyesight. Sometimes, I cannot tell you how much I appriciate having that horse. If that was any of my other horses, they'd be up in the hills. But ole faithful pulled through again. Me and Rocket 4 years ago. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab Last edited by Crookedblaze : 09-03-2008 at 02:03 AM.

09-03-2008, 05:20 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,240	Have to love a smart horse... __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

09-03-2008, 06:52 AM
TanyaV28 Started Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,059	That is so awesome!!!! He is very special __________________ Im movin on like a sinners prayer

09-03-2008, 06:55 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	What a great horse!! He knew what he was supposed to do, he just should have told your sister where he was going! __________________

09-03-2008, 11:37 AM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,458	LOL Carri. That is what I love about him, he knows what he is supposed to do and (generally) does it. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

09-03-2008, 12:03 PM
Red Gate Farm Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,004	Great story! Snazzy boots too __________________ Wendi "Humans is sneaky" - Scotty

09-03-2008, 12:26 PM
soft rider Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IL Posts: 659	Great Story,, I also have one of those horses. (Maverick) I never have to lead him in from the pasture, he just follows behind Apache and myself. Once I left the gate open and they both got out, (unattended) Apache is running around by the neighbors, visiting with the other horses, and i have to get grain to lure him to me. Maverick just walks back up to me and says Sorry mom, he made me do it. lol.