When we began breeding horses over 35 years ago we were primarily breeding for  our own use.  We needed horses that could cover a variety of terrain, from sand in the desert to rocks and steep terrain of the mountains.  

Others began to take notice of the horses we were producing.  Jim West horses began showing up in the arena as roping, barrel racing, bull dogging and pick-up horses.  The horses also entered the show ring in both English and Western disciplines.  We have received many emails, letters and phone calls from folks all over the U.S., Canada and oversees that are proud of their horse that carries the double u brand. 

-Mary West

The following is Jim Wests words on the subject of horse training/raising.  Enjoy the read!

I believe that the recipe for ending up with a good working horse is about 80% human effort and 20% horse contribution.  Every horse breeder knows that the best raw material he can raise will not take one step toward being a working horse by himself.

The rider and trainer absolutely decide how successful the horse will be.  A poor horseman can ruin a colt's chances to advance.  An average hand will always ride average horses unless he is willing to improve himself.  A good hand will make any horse look and work better every ride.  The horse's skill will go to the same level as the rider's.

As a breeder of horses, I have the chance to produce horses that are most receptive and physically able to learn and perform what you want of them.   I look for bloodlines noted for good disposition, travel ability, quick speed, size, beauty, energy and soundness.  No one line of horses has all these things.  The most satisfying kind of work I have ever done is to acquire this breeding stock and try to develop the necessary good judgement to make the right matings to produce the highest possible percentage of good raw material for working horses.  There is no top limit for this.  Every breeder and every trainer can get better.  I personally know just enough to know how little I know.  But I am working on it every day.  As riders and trainers, I'll save my respect for the ones, at any level, who are working at getting better.

At every interaction between you and your animals, you are training, whether you like it or not, for better or for worse.  When you work your cattle, you are training them.  When you greet your dog, you are training.  When you load your sheep, you are training for next time.  Humans have the control of these animal's lives.  It is a big responsibility.  Humans spend much money and effort on these animals.  It is fair to ask your horse for his effort in return.  How good are you at asking is exactly how good he will end up. 

We handle these horses first as yearlings.  We have to restrain them one way or another to be able to show them how we will not hurt them and how much we like them and want them to succeed.  We do it with rope and a chute so we can get our hands on them.  After that, it is fast and quite easy.  We handle them all over, haul them in stock trailers, expose them to radio and machinery.  The young horse are ridden some, but they are not broke in the ordinary sense.  You buy them to finish them your way.  The ranch geldings are broke to do things our way in our country.  Don't expect them to know your ways until they have had time to adjust to their new surroundings.

All horses are looking for a way to get along with their handler.  They want to trust you and work with you to avoid conflict.  Until they do trust you and their surroundins, they will do what they can to defend themselves.  For instantce, a two-horse trailer looks like a trap until a horse has been taught to accept it.  His efforts to avoid being loaded may seem defiant to you, but to him it is simply self-preservation .  He is operating from instincts he was born with, not because he wants to defy you.  With understanding and trust, he will do anything you ask.  Absent those things you will have trouble with almost any task together. 

We breed high percentage foundation lines.  Our mares start at 15hh and many weight 1200-1400 pounds in good shape.  That is our direction, but without rigid selection, quarter horses will breed down in size rapidly and all of our uses call for size and strength.  No breeder hits his target all the time, but we keep trying.  Come and judge for yourself on our success rate.  

-Jim West