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A Better Brand Of Horse |
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X2D Horses is sponsored by: 
 
A well-loved photo of Dave and Macho in the "old days." Dave Shumpert began starting colts and training ranching and roping horses as a teenager in the Arizona desert, working with primarily Brahman-cross waspy cattle and thoroughbred-cross desert bred horses. As a youngster not old enough to drive, the only way to the roping arena a few miles away was by horseback and Dave made the ride several times a week just to learn to rope. This sparked his early interest in competitive team roping and training. Riding various feedlot jobs further expanded his experience with cattle and working horses. While working on a ranch near Yuma, he was able to make a trade for Sir Waggoner Deck, a young chestnut stud horse that was known to be more than a little hard to get along with. Bred on the famed Waggoner Ranch in Texas, he was one of a few to escape the property by "accident" without being gelded. Soon, "Macho" was not only earning his keep as a solid roping and ranch horse for Dave, but as a good sire of athletic foals as well--some of which are in training with Dave to this day. Macho remained with the Shumpert family until old age caught up with him after many years of faithful partnership and service. Through the years, Dave has team roped competitively in the USTRC and ACTRA, along with with local jackpots and associations. He has trained countless successful team roping horses and competitors alike. These days, although he still enjoys the roping, his focus has turned more toward a true study of horsemanship, ranch horse versatility, colt starting, and training the all-around horse (see a full description in the fees and schedule section). His philosophy is simple and formed through years of hands-on experience and continuing study. "I believe in how horses talk and treat each other. i believe that a lead mare is the one to live up to. She is the leader. The lead mare is the one I want to be. She communicates with her expressions. If that doesn't work, she will warn again with physical presence. If that doesn't work she will come after you. "Horses need to trust people, but they must also respect people. Not just because a person is taking in oxygen, but because the person has earned both. Most horses want to be led. The lead mare leads. In one way they repect her authority and place in the herd, the other way they trust her. They trust her to keep order in the herd but also lead them to water. She leads with consistency. The horses know where she stands and where each horse stands with her. She doesn't waver much in how she handles things. She leads by example and without fear. The horses around her can see it and want to get along with her. "How you get to the lead mare's postion depends on the individual horse you are working with and how you handle it. But once you get there, the rest comes much easier, but still at the horse's pace. If you go too fast, the horse will let you know, then you need to look at yourself first." |
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