Though a latecomer to the Yellowstone following, I am still in awe of the genuis of Taylor Sheridan. The storyline, the character development, the relatable intricacies of relationships on the show. The whole world of it is so seemingly disconnected from typical modern life, but the people and psychology and storylines are so accurate, its inevitable to compare your own life to those dynamics. I think we project personas onto horses all the time. Who hasn’t called their OTTB a jock or their warmblood a diva? But being able to flip that around, and apply horse personas to people (ok, fictional people yes) was equally, if not more fun! I also caught myself thinking of real people who fit these types, and real horses who inspired the comparisons. Here goes!
: If Yellowstone characters were horses.
John Dutton: This is the homebred with thoughtfully selected lineage, but hardy and not overly groomed or spoiled working horse. The versatile Quarter Horse. He doesn’t rattle. Watches as other horses run by, spook, and can have a tractor back into his tail and still won’t flinch. Square built but athletic. Was easy to train, because he was smart, but let you know he didn’t always agree with what you were doing. He was 15 years old the day he was born. This is the horse who knows more than the trainer. He’s not going to be nasty, he’s just going to hold his ground until the trainer figures out what he’s doing wrong and asks correctly. These horses don’t come along often. The type to know who’s on their back, and glue their feet to the ground for a cocky showboating rider, but plod around with the family kids on bareback. This is the horse who makes horsemen. The one you’ll forever compare every other horse to.
Rip Wheeler: This is the horse who has been through life. He probably bonded to his first owner, and had a great life, until he changed hands. Then, he may have been thrown into a field for a couple of years, or just endured total ignorance by his humans. He ended up in bad shape: shabby coat, underweight, bad feet. But then, he landed with the right person. Someone who saw his potential, and who had the patience and knowledge to polish the horse inside. This is the horse whose frustration comes not from stubbornness, but from not understanding. He wants to figure it out. He wants to do what you’re asking. Once he is introduced to an idea, he doesn’t need to be taught again. He is unfailing loyal to his person, he’d walk through fire for them. He is smart enough to turn around and say “are you sure you want to walk through this fire?” But he’ll do it. He is respectful to others, and is a barn favorite for his stoic nature, but he knows who saved him. This is the prodigal horse with heart. The horse you think to yourself, ‘I’d ride into battle on this horse.’ (1. Even if you have no business riding into battle with your Voltaire saddle and sigafoo shoes, and 2. Have no idea who we are battling) But horses like these are different from the “teachers”. They are partners. The two of you learn together, and they are forgiving of your missteps. The bond with a horse like this will change your life.
Beth Dutton: It’d be too cliché to say this is a chestnut mare. Beth Dutton is far more sophisticated than that. She’s the alpha paint mare. And if you haven’t met an alpha paint mare, your nervous system is probably better for it. She is the mare who chooses her herd discriminately. Once you are accepted, her loyally knows no limits. But, until that is earned, she owes you nothing. She has confidence in spades. If she kicks, she means it. If she warned you once, the bite is next. She knows her place, and that its above you. You can work with her or against her, but the latter won’t get you very far.
She wants a mother, she wants gentle kindness, but she doesn’t know what to do with too much of it. Too much of it is a sign of weakness. Learning the rules of her games will have your head spinning, but once you’ve figured that the rule is: “she makes the rules”, life get easier. If you can’t handle an alpha paint mare, take heart. Not many can.
Casey Dutton: Casey is your grade, though nice looking, generally low-maintenance, useful and well-minded bay gelding. Though, there’s far more value than just being an easy horse. He’s the horse you can leave in the field for a month, and trailer up for a local show or cattle sorting and he won’t put a foot out of line. He can also be ridden every day, might find himself as a lesson horse because he’s trustworthy and predictable. He may have known some owners who took his easy going nature for granted. Ones who worked him too hard, or overreacted to his assessing of boundaries. He turns inward when he gets stressed, and needs his person to reassure his confidence. Once in a while, he will have enough of something and will act out. Ideally those around him will know he’s trying to tell them something, and will respond with kindness, or this is the horse at risk of shutting down.
Jamie Dutton: This is the Monday/Tuesday horse. You don’t know what version of him you will get until you get to the barn and tack him up. He might have a great day, superb effort and well-minded, and the next day he is on edge and reactive. He gets into his head, and doesn’t know where to turn for stability. It’s not his rider he looks to. When he’s on, he will cleanup in the ribbons. He can hang with the best when his mind is right. But, on an off day, if the environment or his routine has become unpredictable, he cannot hold it together. We’ve all known this horse (or ex-boyfriend). This is the gaslighting horse. The one we don’t want to give up on, but a trainer or mentor finally says, this isn’t good for you! Riding is supposed to be fun! And yet, we hold onto the sporadic successes, the highs, the really good days we managed to have. This is the type of horse who needs therapy, and by the end of it, his owner does, too.
Lloyd: This is the old horse that no one really knows how he got to where he is. He didn’t come with history, barn legend has it, he just showed up one day. He can be a curmudgeon but knows his job and if you stay out of his way, he’ll do what you’re asking. He wants to eat his hay, get through the ride, and go back to eating his hay. He’s likely a lesson horse now, probably done a few camps, and tossed a few riders back in the day. But that’s all too much effort now. He’s figured out the path of least resistance, and if you barter with an apple, he’ll always remember it.
This guy probably has arthritis, navicular, cushings and a winter coat like a mountain horse. He’s 31, according to the dentist’s guess, but he’ll live to be 52.
Monica: Here is your dapple-steele gray thoroughbred filly. She has the looks and the build to be successful at whatever she does, but she needs the right environment. She trained at the track, and had promising speed but the stress of that lifestyle was too much for her. She thrives with turnout and slow processes. Too much thrown at her and she’s looking for an exit. She appeals to the eventers. She has the movement for top scores, but the heart and tenacity to finish the phases clear. If brought along with consistency, she finds confidence and is eager to please. But, if over-faced or with a nervous rider, and you’ll feel the shift immediately. Once her mind turns to fear, it’s hard to bring it back. Try to muscle through it and you’ll be rebuilding that trust for the next 4 rides. She has favorite people, and doesn’t keep it a secret. This is not the ammy restart, but she is capable of top levels with the right rider and program.
Jimmy: This is the horse you love to ride. He’s actually not great at anything, and he’s probably not good at much either. But damn if he doesn’t try his heart out every time. He probably has a goofy spook for things that make no sense, and he’s not the smartest horse in the barn. He doesn’t catch onto things quickly, but he’s predictable. And predictably is worth its weight in gold. Is he going to stop at the show? Yes. But you know that, and you also know you’re not going to come off when he does it. Is he going to pick up the left lead on the first try? Nope, never has, probably never will, but he canters with such enthusiasm, you just appreciate that he’s so excited to try. This is the horse that probably ends up with a “second round adult ammy” who rode as a kid, didn’t ride for years while she had a career and kids and life, and got back into it, and went and found this horse without her trainer’s advisement and bless her, she is just determined to make it work. He’s probably an OTTB who’s on 14 supplements and gets chiro and magnawave and special shoes that cost $300 a month, and to most people he hasn’t earned any bit of it. But this horse is a “trier” and depending on what we’ve been through in life, maybe just having a horse who meets us at the gate every day is exactly what we need.
Chief Rainwater: This is the second generation Metallic Cat. A striking buckskin, maybe he’s a blue roan. Uncut. He’s got a neck thicker than a draft, and hindquarters that the halter horse fans would drool over. He’s a reiner or cutter on the circuit. He’s made for the arena and bright lights. On a real ranch, he’d try to apply his show ring skills, but doesn’t have a skillset flexible enough to get the job done. He needs the convenience and maintenance that comes with the show life. He’s had too many trainers and too many different riders to bond closely with anyone. To him, people are providers of care and tell him what to do. He wants to please, but sadly knows he’s one pulled tendon away from ending up in a feedlot some day.
So, what Yellowstone character is your horse? And how on the mark do you think these are? Comment below!