Echo River Ranch

Apache

This horse is very independent. He has been known to complain about the condition of the trails when he trips over roots or has to step over logs.

Statistics - A Description of Apache

Apache Apache goes by the barn name "Apache". He is a gelding born around 2008. He is 15-1 hands (or 61 inches) tall at the withers. He registration papers have been lost, so he is technically a Pinto.

Horse Statistics At A Glance Apaches main body color is light chestnut, a color more often called Dun. And he has typical Dun markings, a darker stripe down his spine, darker colored striping on his legs and over his shoulders, and spiderweb like pattern on his forehead that is hidden by his forelock. He also has
Apache stripes lots of white spots which makes him Overo (vs. Tobiano). His left and right marking are almost the same; he also has white spots on the right side of his neck, four low white socks, and a wide blaze down his nose from his forehead to his nose. Both his mane and tail are reddish that matches his stripes.

Most unique to Apache is the right side of his face. Rarely noticed at first glance, the bone below his right eye was broken as a very young horse. This bone collapse is now solid and does not affect his site at all.

     

     

The Beginning - How We Obtained Apache

Apache posing like a Beyer horse The ranch needed another good saddle horse and found Apache advertised as a follower horse. He was living in the Chehalis area on a small farm surrounded by beautiful timberlands. He was very stubborn about leaving the farm where he had lived for several years, but a few tries and he was loaded into the trailer and traveling to his new home.

Apache came to the ranch May 16th 2013. He has a personality and disposition simular to Big, but he is slightly more aggresive in maintaining a better (or higher) position in the herd. And he seems to take special enjoyment on picking on Big.

     

     

Horse Tails - Funny Things & Stories About Apache

Apache looking bored Apache has a clown type attitude, he just plugs along down the trail like he has been doing it his whole life. On one trail ride, he tripped over some roots that crossed the trail. He only stumbled a step or two, but let out several seconds worth of grumbling sounds. He has repeated his grumbling opinions about trails on other rides too.

Apache will defend himself if he feels threatened. This was first noticed when he was loaded into the trailer to come to the ranch and he tried to strike rather than go into the trailer; the following day he eagerly followed the other horses into the trailer. And at his first shoeing he tried to strike the farrier; at his second shoeing, he was so relaxed he almost fell asleep.

     

     

The Present - What We Think About Apache

Apache swishing summer flies Apache has not developed any strong bonds yet, with either ranch owner or customers. He seems to be taking everything in stride and is expected to make a good ranch horse with time. He is a lean lanky horse and it is hoped that with age, he will fill out and become a stockier mount.

Apache has sort of taken on the roll of herd protector. When the hay is wheeled out to the herd, Apache leaves the area and walks a big loop out through the far side of the pasture. When he returns, a few minutes later to the feed area, he picks an empty flake of hay and eats contently. It is almost as if he is making the rounds to make sure it is safe for the herd to eat.

With time, he will be a ranch favorite and loved as much as all the other horses.