How does one even title a post that is about realizing a lifelong dream? Every time I try to come up with something, the tears blur my vision, so a one worded title is going to have to summarize my last two weeks. Mine. MINE. MINE!!! Yes, I have a horse, registered to me, dependent on me. I can barely sleep at night.
Like a new mom, I'm thrilled and terrified. What if I mess her up, all those years of training erased by my amateur seat? What if Timothy isn't available and she'll have to have Alfalfa? When can we be ready for our first show?! Walking into her stall is like going on vacation, only better. Everything else in the world just doesn't exist, it's just me and my mare.
She rides beautifully. Needs only light rein and leg, and responds to my seat with little effort. Rides in a snaffle or a double bridle, both equally well. Non spooky (woah what's that like??), is sensible and so far was only curious about weed whackers, lawn mowers and tarps blowing in the wind. I have yet to find her vice (I'm not naive, I know it's there, but after 2 and a half weeks, not much has come up. Unless you count that she's 100 pounds underweight and shedding out like crazy.) Not show ready, but still, she's lovely. And mine. :)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
You Get What You Need...
Over the course of the last week, I've gone back to visit the mare a few times. Each time she has been sweet, friendly and so willing to work. Even though she's so out of shape, and skinny, she's shown me she has the moves to take me further than I had ever hoped for.
We've ridden in gale force winds, outdoors, and not one spook. We've ridden indoors, in the heat, and she didn't ask for a break. Her 10 meter circles are just as fluid and lovely as her 20 meters. She shoulders in before I even ask for it, I swear this horse can read my mind.
So over the course of the week, I have decided that I cannot live without this horse. I don't have one doubt in my mind and I know this is not a decision I will ever regret.
It's funny, thinking over the last few months of horse shopping, what I initially had on my wishlist: 17hh, gelding, dark, THOROUGHBRED, trained to first level. I was willing to trade off a couple of those items for the right horse, but all of them? This mare has not one of my desired traits, but has everything I need.
Pre purchase exam on Monday...I'm once again praying to the horse gods.
We've ridden in gale force winds, outdoors, and not one spook. We've ridden indoors, in the heat, and she didn't ask for a break. Her 10 meter circles are just as fluid and lovely as her 20 meters. She shoulders in before I even ask for it, I swear this horse can read my mind.
So over the course of the week, I have decided that I cannot live without this horse. I don't have one doubt in my mind and I know this is not a decision I will ever regret.
It's funny, thinking over the last few months of horse shopping, what I initially had on my wishlist: 17hh, gelding, dark, THOROUGHBRED, trained to first level. I was willing to trade off a couple of those items for the right horse, but all of them? This mare has not one of my desired traits, but has everything I need.
Pre purchase exam on Monday...I'm once again praying to the horse gods.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Underneath it all, there's a show horse...
After some horse trucking issues (tire blew out) the mare finally arrived at my trainer's barn. I strapped the family into the car, and off we went to get there as soon as I possibly could. We didn't meet her off the truck, but it sounded like she did quite well and caused no issues during the trip.
My trainer warned me on the way that she was skinny, and wooly. She wintered in a pasture, and hadn't had a body clip...at all. Nor had she had enough groceries from the look of her hips. I'm a horse-half-full kind of gal, so was able to look past that. Hubby is still trying to.
I walked into the stall, where she was facing the wall and obviously tired from the trip. She turned and looked at me, with a very kind eye. She liked being touched, so I touched her all over. Her legs looked good, and so did her feet which had recently been trimmed. Her face and ears had been trimmed as well, so at least I could tell she wasn't a yak.
We took her out to lunge, and she showed good manners, listened well, even though she was tired. I then took her for a walk on the lead around the farm. Although very curious, she wasn't spooky, even at the tarp blowing in the breeze or the chicken coop next door. She pays attention and keeps her space. Back in the stall she ate some grain and hay, and seemed to be settling in.
She's smaller than I wanted, and skinnier, and furrier, but something is still telling me that this one has potential to be the horse I'd been hoping for. This isn't exactly how I pictured I'd find my horse, I'm not sure what I expected in this process. But everyone has told me that when I find my horse, that voice inside would be letting me know. And the voice keeps getting louder.
I ride on Tuesday....I'm so anxious I had to open a bottle of 14 Hands Cab just to calm myself down enough to cook an Easter dinner for my family.
My trainer warned me on the way that she was skinny, and wooly. She wintered in a pasture, and hadn't had a body clip...at all. Nor had she had enough groceries from the look of her hips. I'm a horse-half-full kind of gal, so was able to look past that. Hubby is still trying to.
I walked into the stall, where she was facing the wall and obviously tired from the trip. She turned and looked at me, with a very kind eye. She liked being touched, so I touched her all over. Her legs looked good, and so did her feet which had recently been trimmed. Her face and ears had been trimmed as well, so at least I could tell she wasn't a yak.
We took her out to lunge, and she showed good manners, listened well, even though she was tired. I then took her for a walk on the lead around the farm. Although very curious, she wasn't spooky, even at the tarp blowing in the breeze or the chicken coop next door. She pays attention and keeps her space. Back in the stall she ate some grain and hay, and seemed to be settling in.
She's smaller than I wanted, and skinnier, and furrier, but something is still telling me that this one has potential to be the horse I'd been hoping for. This isn't exactly how I pictured I'd find my horse, I'm not sure what I expected in this process. But everyone has told me that when I find my horse, that voice inside would be letting me know. And the voice keeps getting louder.
I ride on Tuesday....I'm so anxious I had to open a bottle of 14 Hands Cab just to calm myself down enough to cook an Easter dinner for my family.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Bet on Bay
They say the right horse will appear out of thin air, or in my case out of a barn 3 hours away that didn't have a horse for sale as of yesterday.
My dressage trainer had remembered a big bay mare she had seen at a show in September, and called about her. As luck would have it the owner had been thinking of selling. After seeing some pictures, and hearing about her training and experience, we decided this mare was worth taking a chance on. The stars are so aligned that the shipping truck is only an hour away from there, and can pick her up this evening. She's going to be on trial with me for two weeks. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm boiling over with optimism. Perhaps its her bloodlines and training, or maybe it's the fact my trainer saw this horse show recently, but something is telling me to get my checkbook ready!
Thank you Easter Bunny!
My dressage trainer had remembered a big bay mare she had seen at a show in September, and called about her. As luck would have it the owner had been thinking of selling. After seeing some pictures, and hearing about her training and experience, we decided this mare was worth taking a chance on. The stars are so aligned that the shipping truck is only an hour away from there, and can pick her up this evening. She's going to be on trial with me for two weeks. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm boiling over with optimism. Perhaps its her bloodlines and training, or maybe it's the fact my trainer saw this horse show recently, but something is telling me to get my checkbook ready!
Thank you Easter Bunny!
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