So we're onto the subject of the runty horse.

This one gets me, over and over. The runty horse gets over looked for the bigger flashier horse. Over and over this happens, he's not this and he's not that. Instead you go out and buy yourself a really flashy thoroughbred off the track.

Here's where the trouble begins, you have this problem and that problem because that horse you bought knows he's hot and flashy and he's gonna act on it. He's been taught to run, not to ride, he's been taught to be quick and hot and not calm and easy going.

The runty horse got over looked, by everyone. He has not been taught to be a knothead, he has patiently stood back waiting his turn to be noticed and watched all his buddies leave him to new homes, over and over.

So you take the mentality of this and put some human emotions into it. What's going to happen when that runty horse finds his new home. When someone decides to take a chance on that horse and gives him a job and affection?

Well, I own a runty horse and I have several friends that own runty horses and I can tell you what these are the best horses. They give their whole heart, they are 100% devoted to the person that saw enough in them to give them a chance.

And the funny thing is, most runty babies, don't stay runty all their lives. When I brought Dancer home at a yr old, she was about 300lbs and only 12 hands tall. I didn't have a camera back then and I don't have any young pictures of her. But I do have some surprising ones of her as a three yr old and only maaaybe 14 hands tall.

The filly she's standing next to is just weaned and 4 months old, she's 3 years old.

When I first brought her home, oh boy was I picked on. That's the most worthless junk that walks, I heard it more than once. Go Man Go can't produce junk and your going to regret this! One friend of several years was so mad at me for buying her that he hasn't spoken to me since I bought her! I just stood back and kept telling people that she'd come around. Between her abuse and her lack of size and her aggression when I first got her on top of being injured, I really got razzed about her, over and over again. But I stood my ground and let her grow and loved her for who she is and not what everyone else thinks she should be.

This is her at 4 yrs old smiling for a cookie

I have a friend with a little Paint mare that's 14 hands with a slight stretch. He ropes off of her and she's quick and dedicated to her job. He has over 50 horses, she's the first one he grabs for everything he does, from roping to trail riding. He can do anything with this little mare, she's excellent with the children and devoted to him and gives her whole heart to every task he asks of her.

Dancer's the same way, granted now Dancer is 15 hands tall and about 1,200lbs. She's far from a runt anymore, she just took longer to grow.

This is her at 4 years old giving rides to some young girls

She loved those girls and treated them like eggs.

This is her at 4 enjoying her grain, she's probably close to 15 hands here. This would be about the same time I had 4 different people offer me 5,000+ for her. Obviously she's not for sale and I had to laugh behind their backs because a few years ago everyone thought she was a joke.

This is her at 3 untying her lead rope

If you can't tell she's very proud of herself and flipping the rope at me like she's saying haw haw! Did I mention that she's very smart, very willing and a real pleasure to have around?

This is her opinion of the words runty and worthless.

So you see, in my mind, they are the best horses, they are just so greatful to be loved that they love with their whole hearts and they give 100%.

Meanwhile that flashy TB is giving you nothing but trouble.

I do have to add though, at the begining, when I first bought her, she was not the sweet easy going girl she is today. She was ignored and forgotten and nobody wanted to spend time with her. Then she was abused and hurt. We walked though a lot of hurdles to get where we are now. She most definitly was not the perfect horse when I brought her home. And she's not 100% perfect, I'd be lying if I said she was, but she's pretty darn close to it.