Jack was a pretty good rider: if he got thrown by a horse with a low startle point, by a horse which crow-hopped, that's par for the course. He handled that crow-hopping horse very well, up on Brokeback. EVERYBODY gets thrown eventually. I say i'm a good rider, but i'm not, I just try very hard--my first horse here in CO was a trickster, he had this knack of looking behind at me, turning his head. if he did that i knew he was goin a either rear up or buck. Forewarned, i didn't get thrown...until one day i was looking at the view, didn't see him turn and there i am lololol flyin through the air without wings.
This past week i was riding Archie out in California, he is the most stubborn horse alive. i was kicking his side, pulling reigns and hehe refused to move and then ...walked backwards. His whole attitude was no way dude. Go Walk.
On the other hand, I got so ticked off i rode Melissa, who does not like to be ridden by men. She crow-hopped, i stayed on and we had a chat, she stopped crow hopping. It was NOT easy to stay in that saddle and when i did my fiance's cousin was quite impressed.. So i think we shortchange Jack--or at leastshortchange JAK: even if AP says he was marginally skilled, the man was at least good on a horse. But that's about it.