Well your story is very reason I say a every kid should ride one. That is a great way to be introduced to horses! I had a black appy with big silver dollar spots when I was a teen. Hoss was his name. Can ya tell I liked Bonaza? haha. He too was a tough little horse. Like a timex watch. But he also taught me to ask nicely when I wanted him to do something and he never took my teen guff. I rode him all over the mountian and hills in Montana. My dad sold him when I left home.