Great Horse Shopping in Lexington, KY

Part I Lexington Horse Shopping

We took a trip to Lexington, Kentucky this weekend to search for a gaited horse. Either a Rocky Mountain or Kentucky Mountain. I'd looked at several in NC and in VA. I started actively searching probably in mid-October.

I went to two places in NC that were Rocky Mountain breeders/stables.  The first one I arrived at to find that two of the horses I wanted to look at were on a trail ride. There was a miscommunication I guess that I was coming between the trainer and the trail ride boss....

I told them we'd be back in a couple hours then since we could run over to this other place to look at a horse and it was only 20 minutes away.  So I looked at a nice black gelding that was very calm.  He didn't lead well and eye balled us a little but didn't threaten to shy or react.  His trainer rode him and gaited him.  Then I hopped on.  We walked around and then I did some serpentines on him.  He was very stiff but responded well.  He needed some work and his trainer said he needed a lot of lateral work which would help.  I didn't have the courage to ride faster at that time.  The horse just felt very hesitant under me.  Not a good combo with my nerves.

We went back to the place we started at and the trail ride was over....but the trainer said she really didn't think that horse A a nice grullo gelding should be sold (even though the owners wanted to sell him and he has since been sold) and then the other horse B a black gelding (they decided not to sell, even though I had just talked to them on the phone that week about him).  I ended up riding a chestnut gelding and got to ride him and gait him on the dirt road.  The trainer was telling me he wasn't trained leg cues since he's a trail horse so when I was having trouble have him move over his haunches apparently that was part of the issue.  He kept trying to head back towards either the trainer or the barn and I was just not feeling it with him so we finished up and headed home....a little frustrated honestly.

About an hour from my house I was contacted about a Rocky Mountain mare that was coming 5 years and not ridden as much....husband horse (I know that story!).  So we tried to make plans and couldn't align until after the Thanksgiving holidays.  Then her household was sick and we went into more holidays.  I contacted her in January and she said things were just crazy at there house she didn't have a moment to get anything ready to sell.  She'd reach out to me.  I haven't heard from her but I certainly know how life can throw everything at you to the point you can barely breath.  The mare's pictures were gorgeous though so I was bummed.

Since I was going to north of the Roanoke area for Christmas with the family I posted on a Facebook group and found that a Saddlebred show and training stable on the south of Roanoke had just received a cute grade Rocky Mountain gelding in a trade. We went to see him.  He was very sweet and affectionate.  His hooves were way overdue for a trim and the seller was planning to do that soon.  She rode him and he didn't really gait, he seemed to sort of pace or trot.  The video showed that he was maybe gaiting or stepping pacing, which is four beats but not evenly timed.  The previous owner and even the one before that who I was able to reach out to apparently had never ridden gaited and really didn't know what they were doing so it seems he got into some bad habits.  As I'm new to gaited as well I'm learning that it's easy to get a good gaiting horse and then have issues if you don't really start understanding the gait and how to correct if the horse starts step pacing or pacing.  It will be a learning curve for me. I wasn't too worried, I was planning to attend an Ivy Starnes gaited horse clinic in late March if I purchased him and could work out some of those issues.  I also had reached out to a local trainer since I know I'll want to get educated on gaited horses and learn this new area of horsemanship.

Anyways, long story short, he was a great horse, I liked the connection and feel I had with him so wanted to move forward.  The vet exam showed that whatever hoof care he'd received or not received and probably just general conformation led to very unbalanced front hoof that was already causing structural bone issues. That was a hard since I really liked the gelding but the vet questioned his long term soundness and possibility of injections and I knew I wasn't ready to take that on with two old horses already in the barn.  The search continued.

I almost forgot I rode a beautiful young 3.5 year old, thought she was 4 at least. She was only 30 minutes from me  Nice little filly but way too green.  I did well riding her for a bit and even gaited a bit but then she just stopped and didn't want to move.  The trainer eventually swamped places with me and I got on her again outside of the roundpen...they said it was hard for her to gait in there....  Anyways I mounted up, she did a quick spin silly spook thing almost unseating me and I got off immediately.  Nope, too green for me.

There also was a 6 year old mare an hour away that went for sale and I planned to see her in 4 days, that Saturday.  A guy came up from Charolotte NC and rode her a couple days before me and loved her so she was under contract.  Man, good ones go fast!!!

 Steve and I headed to Kentucky this past weekend to horse shop. That Friday my first stop I saw a beautiful and sweet mare.  Her trainer hopped on her and rode her.  She wasn't the best for mounting, he'd told me about that.  She had a nice gait but was very very green under saddle and I started having my heart race just thinking about riding her.  I got teary, just remembering the experience I had horse shopping years ago.  It was one horse that bolted back into the barn and caused me to fall hard into the stall door and on a cinder block.  It is enough to make me extremely cautious around new horses.  I didn't want to ride her.  The trainer was so kind and understood.  We chatted a bit since we had to wait for my hubby to return from a Bourbon place.  He had another horse that was 5k above my limit but he said she was everything I would need in temperament and training.  I'm sure she was but I wasn't ready to raise my budget yet again.  The horse sale prices in general and now a rarer breed have really caused me sticker shock. I thanked him for his time and some advice he gave me.  I was going to several people he knew so he said I was in good hands.  I also knew who to avoid and he'd agreed on that!

 

The next place I went to had two Rocky Mountain mares, the first was a black 9 year old.  She was very cute and had a little gait that reminded me of a Paso Fino. When it was my turn to ride I got on and rode her in a smaller round pen in the indoor arena and also tried out the gait.  She was very soft and responsive.  Then I rode around the larger arena and moved her around some poles and turned and stopped and backed etc etc.  She was great.  She did have a habit, and her owner told me about it, that when she was stopped she would take the bit and pull quick a couple times.  Dani sometimes does that but this mare did it a bit harder.  We'd have to work on it.  The trainer told me to bop her outwards with the reins when she does that.  After the I was done with riding her we discussed the other mare and trainer said that he thought she would not be a good fit for me with my fear issues and I appreciated it.  I definitely thought this mare was a contender.  Then we got to chatting with him about the eye issues that are genetic in the breed.  He showed me a normal eye and then another horse he had that was MCOA positive.  He is able to see but sometimes if a horse is positive it can be at a greater level.  Good thing is it's not progressive and the black horses I've seen so far cannot have it and do not carry it either, which is good if I wanted to breed any mare I purchased.  Which I don't have the desire (or knowledge to breed) but that's good to learn that stuff for my curiosity.

The next barn I went to had two mares and a gelding that they had just recently decided to sell.  When I got there I asked which was the calmest, steady one.  It was the gelding.  Okay then.  He had a find eye and a nice way about him. He was tacked up and then the owner hopped up on him even in the small confines of the prep stall.  He didn't bat an eyelash.  She walked him a little and then gaited him around.  He was quick to gait and went about happily.  Apparently he loves gaiting and will just go on auto pilot if you want.  I hopped up and starting working with him.  He wanted to gait right away but I told him "No not yet" and began walking him.  I felt his response to my legs to move over and at first he thought I wanted gait but eventually realized what I was asking.  I did a sloppy serpentine and changes of direction.  I stopped, I backed him. Then I gaited him and stopped him from the gait and changed direction etc etc.  He was great.  Some stuff he and I will need to work on to get on the same page for communication but he was so willing and kind. I was feeling "it".

The trip was great.  I met some great trainers I would recommend to others if they are looking for a RM or KM horse.  I was given time to see each horse and get a feel for them.  I felt like I had a great mare and a gelding to consider. 

I made the offer on the black KM gelding.  As I type this I am really excited about him.  His registered name is KO Lowrider aka "Tate".  I haven't picked a barn name for me to use but I'll need to get a better feel for what his name should be. Everyone likes making there own barn names....  I have some ideas. His owners and trainers were very nice and let me work with him and get a feel for him.  I then asked them a lot of the questions I needed.  I just had that feeling, that connection. He did well in the pre-purchase exam and will head to NC on Friday!  I am over the moon with excitement!

Micromanaging Sellers- a personal rant

Part II Lexington Horse Shopping

I had to make this it's own post....  This may have been a personality thing or maybe some horse trainers out there feel like they need to be the ones to help someone connect with a horse....like people can't do it on their own.....sure I want to know a horses past and hear about their training but to feel like I'm under complete scrutiny is not a fun feeling. If you don't want to read a rant just move on to the fun post about my Lexington shopping experience here

I had an appointment in Lexington on Saturday with another breeder about an hour out from Lexington.  I'd chatted on the phone with her before and had been stressing out about meeting her.  The way she talked about her training process, and then the selling process where she was saying I would need to spend a full day or more looking at her horses (there is only the one for sale that I was interested in.....).  Let's just put it plainly; I felt this was going to be a very particular and picky lady.  

I gave her the benefit of the doubt though and arranged to see her Saturday instead of her being the first one we saw on Friday. That was our first day in Lexington I wanted to make sure I saw the number of other horses that sounded great in the area vs. having her monopolize my time. We arrived on Saturday to meet this horse.  The trainer had told me we would take an ATV out to the 70 acre pasture to get him so I could see him being caught.  Okay fun.  But that ATV ride was up and down some really steep hills and I was clinging to her and holding on for dear life.  I was expecting the same type of rolling fields I saw in Lexington but I guess it's far enough out to be in the foothills. The huge gelding came right up to us and was very friendly. He was only 15.1 but to me he seemed huge; how 2 inches makes a horse that much larger I have no idea! The lady handed me the halter, a standard one but with the throat latch unhooked so you put in on differently, not the way I do it so I struggled and she had to help. Immediately I felt like an idiot. I don't find that an easier way to put on a halter honestly...I've always found that odd.

We then headed back to the gate with horse in tow. She had me lead him through the gate and then she brought the ATV through and I wasn't sure if she was going to drive down first and us follow but apparently I was to lead him in front of her (under scrutiny...) Immediately I was told I needed to lead him differently.  He needed to be behind me with his nose at least two feet behind me.  I couldn't see where he was, it was the oddest thing.  I should have just said hell with it and led him the way I know to lead a horse...but with her I felt like I had to wait for her instruction.

  I felt like I was just holding a rope but I "led" him to the barn.  I want to see the horse so I know where they are while leading if they are way behind me they could plow into me with no warning.  I was starting to get on edge with this lady.  We went to the barn and stood there talking while I held the gelding and pet him a bit.  I don't even remember what she was saying at that point, I was already so nervous and shutting down.  She lunged him and he was being a little silly and even plowed into her at one point like he wasn't seeing her.  She then had me give it a try.  We just had the long lead rope, no stick and string which I'm used to since you get a bit more distance between you and the horse....it's an extension of the arm.  I slid my hand down the rope and up and did a point and cluck and got him moving but he was too close and I just had the rope to use to move him out of my space. 

Immediately she said I was doing it wrong I didn't even have a chance to ease into his way of going and mine and get my self situated with only the lead rope (which is limiting at least to me). I lunge Dani all the time but I have a 15 foot lead rope and a stick and string to communicate with her. Sometimes we have moments where it looks like complete crap until we get into the groove of communication.  I've never been good at twirling the rope end for lunging. The lady drew a circle on the ground and said I needed to stay in there and not chase the horse around, yes I understand that is the goal but new horse, different equipment, give me a moment.  I'm trying to get into the groove and not being given a second to think without her saying I'm doing this wrong or I'm doing that wrong, I'm too green with ground work etc etc. I can't think straight with that type of "instruction". Tell me what to do and give me some time to figure out what you are saying.  Everyone does stuff slightly different.

I was done with that shit though and was getting hot in the face and knew the tears were coming; I was pissed.  I felt like I needed to explain but couldn't fully.  I don't know why I said stuff about my past two years of being off from riding because of my parents deaths, my horses health issues etc. like I needed to apologize to her why I was rusty;  I don't owe this lady anything!  I left.  I was embarrassed and humiliated...and I'm a pussy. Why can't I just say "Hey give me a moment to digest what you want, it's different, I have different tools than I'm used to using and I disagree with some of what you have been telling me".  Also why can't people just let you have some time to feel things out? I have to learn to ask....no....I have to learn to TELL.  I need this....give me this...or I'll move on. I would have gotten there with the lunging, there is always the second of fumbling with the tools even with my horses.  I'm furious looking back about how I should have "fixed the halter first", just led the horse the way I've been taught since age 8 and then asked for what I'm used to for lunging a horse.  It's rough looking at other people's horses.

I'll Take a Chance, Please!!

Dani  has been alone on our property since she arrived at the end of September.  Luckily the one pasture is near other horses but when I moved her to another pasture she got so upset and worked up a sweat pacing and neighing of the horses that were too far away.  We needed to do something to find her a buddy.  I contacted several people locally that had a horse for sale and even thought about a free lease on this older unrideable companion horse.  Nothing really appealed to me since I wanted a permanent friend and also a useful horse for Steve and I.  We have just under 4 acres so we'd be limited to how many horses we can keep here.

I went onto a local, well two hours west of us, horse rescue.  They had several horses in the rescue and then many others that individual owners listed to rehome.  One in particular stood out to me.  His name was Chance.  He was a handsome little Arabian, 17 years old and well trained.  He was ridden on trails a lot and sounded like a great minded horse.

His owner had a smaller property with a little donkey and a younger horse, she needed to rehome Chance since she was planning on doing more intense riding with her young horse and also the two horses didn't quite get along as well as she'd hoped so Chance was in a neighboring paddock.  I drove 2 hours to the Winston-Salem area to meet him.  The whole time I was nervous....what if he's too much, what if he's spooky....what if he's like Arabians I test rode before?  But then the thought kept coming back.  What if he turns out to be amazing like Willy?

When I met Chance there was something so soft in his eye, something soft but also intelligent.  His owner cared for him so much and told me all about rides she has done with him and how he's reacted to many new situations.  She studies Parelli and he was very responsive to her.  We trailered over to a friends home where there was a small arena.  She worked him on the ground and he was certainly feeling his beans but a good thing was there was not the redheaded mare attitude I'm often confronted with when my horse is fresh.

She rode him and then it was my turn.  I worked him on a ground for a few minutes and found him very willing and supple in his movements.  Not so much the ton of bricks I have to move when working Dani sometimes, LOL.  I was unsure and definitely nervous to mount up but I took it slow and rode him at the walk doing serpentines and many turns.  He seemed to sense the nervousness but he just hesitantly moved onward.  As we both grew more comfortable we got in sync and he moved off better with my cues.  I was pleased he wasn't going to react and run off with me, he was just calming awaiting leadership and not running off in terror.  That is a good thing in a horse for someone with fear issues.  I know being a leader is the most important thing but it's good to have a horse that is secure in themselves when their human has a little bit of nerves from time to time.

I slept on it and then emailed the lady that we would love to give Chance a home.  We agreed on the following Saturday as a good day for her to bring him over.  We worked out a contract and the day of signed and paid the rescue agency for his adoption.  All was very smooth.  Even the horses meeting was smooth.  I kept Chance in the small stable yard while Dani was in the pasture.  The two could meet over the fence at first.  Dani did her usual sniffing of nostrils and then her mare squeal.  Then, the two just chilled together.  We opened the gate about half an hour later and there was another couple squeals but then the two went on to grazing.  As they moved around the pasture Dani pinned her ears to move her little gelding around the fence line and then the two would settle into a new location for grazing.  

With only a couple days of having the two together they seem inseparable.  If I move one out of the field first and into a stall for feeding there is a little upset until they can see each other again, if Steve is hear we try to move them together.  I want to get into a routine where I can just open a gate at feeding time and the two will go into "their" stall for their grain/supplement.  Chance seemed unsure at first but he is now starting to understand it's okay to go into the stall since that is where his food will be and that he's not going to stay in there forever.  Chance has a senior feed he is on so he receives more at each feeding.  I want to keep them apart so he gets all his food and Dani doesn't try to steal it.  We'll see how this works and if we need to try another system for feeding we can do that.

I'm so happy though, Dani seems very content to have a pasture mate and now we can put the horses in the other pastures without any upset.  She doesn't need to see the horses across the way since she has her very own that she can boss around.  It will be awesome getting to know Chance and seeing his personality and learning how to work with him.  I'm also excited that Steve will have a pony of his own to ride!

Thanks for the Adventure, 2012!!

I wanted to do a year end review sooner but my busy end of the year overlapped into the beginning of this new year, so here I am January 8th, 2013 looking back at my horsie year. I have to say that all in all it was a good year! I mean come on! I finally got a pony!

January

I began the year frustrated with schedules and not feeling like I had enough time to see horses (I think that’s still an issue at times!). Nothing was able to be done really, my instructor had time constraints and that just didn’t mesh with my time availability. It happens. I filled my time with new horse magazines and enjoyed a fire horse museum at a meeting location for my work.

February

I fell in love with Vantage Point Farms, it became my top choice for boarding facilities. It had a nice outdoor arena, no fence, nice indoor, large paddock for geldings, and good sized paddocks for mares with run in sheds. No round pen but there was easy access to trails right off the property.

March

Quinntessential Arabians had a client get together where we made horse treats and talked about….uh, horses! Uschi tried to play match maker and have me buy the cute chestnut mare of Amy’s. I wasn’t in a position to buy but found it fun to dream.

Steve and I attended the Rocky Mountain horse Expo in Denver. We really enjoyed Julie Goodnight! I also posted an article by a gal from Tampa that wrote in her local paper about being 40 when she got her first horse. I can relate! Then during a lesson Divine reached around after I dismounted and got the stirrup caught in her mouth!! Crazy! I went to another instructor and rode a really big Arabian named Ramses. I liked the lesson but just didn’t feel we clicked. I wasn’t sure what direction I was going with horses at the time.

 

 April

This month I did some canter work with Divine and felt I made a few good steps forward! On a sad note a couple mares, Gretchen and Cleo at Fawor Foundation Arabian Rescue, whom I had wanted to meet for so long were adopted. I never got the chance to meet them but glad they found homes.

July

In late June and early July I was consumed with my job 24/7 for two weeks. We were dealing with the Waldo Canyon Fire here and I was activated in the Emergency Operations Centers. It was a busy time! Later that month I saw Esprit, while she was a beautiful little mare she wasn’t the right horse for me. Then I left with hubby to Cancun!!

August

I began my horse shopping in earnest! My first horse was a skinny Arab named Khan. I ended up calling the humane society and apparently he was already a case. So sad, I wished I could have taken him to a better home but hopefully he will be taken care of.

I viewed Whispering Winds Farm and placed it at the top of my list. I loved the large fields for my future horse!

August had some traumatic instances for me. I had three falls. First one was riding Divine and my foot got caught in the railing, Divine spooked and I went overboard. The next one was really horrible; I tried out a horse for purchase, Desperados Storm. He spooked under a tree and raced into the barn; I went flying into a stall door and landed hard on my rear on a cinder block or something in the aisle way. Ouch. Needless to say I didn’t buy him. Then I wanted a calm lesson on Divine, we were walking around the arena, we got to close to the wall post (the railings had since been taken down). I tensed and sort of freaked having my knee up to the post again, not sure how I guided Divine that direction. She spooked at my tenseness and trotted off and since I was so freaked out I ended up on the ground again. I fell REALLY hard and knocked the wind out of me. Never have done that before and it was SCARY!!!

September

I went to Kenlyn to check out two mares. Linda was very kind to me and I explained by recent falls and subsequent lack of confidence. The first mare I tried started to move off and I panicked a little. Linda jumped off her horse and grabbed the mare and had me get off and mount the other. She made me feel okay for being fearful and let me try out the other horse at my own pace. I was grateful to her kindness and understanding. The mares were fabulous but not for me.

Then I met Heidi the cute as a button, neighs when you dismount, Haflinger mare. She was too short and I looked ridiculous on her otherwise I would have probably taken her home! Next I met Brio a dark bay Arab and really liked him. I wasn’t entirely sure but he had potential. He got sick with a cough before Laurie could evaluate him....

Of course I ended up going to see a chestnut Morgan mare and there was just something about her, she was the one, I knew it. I liked her attitude her mannerisms and felt she was very kind and forgiving but not a push over. I made an offer and began setting up veterinary exams and had my trainer come out. This little mare had something special about her!

October

Vet exams went well and Dani moved to her new home, after training with Laurie for loading on the trailer. Dani has issues with trailers so I knew it would be an ongoing thing to train her but I felt she was worth that effort. The beginning weeks I worked with Dani on grooming, standing while tied and facing her fears of the wash rack which is much like an enclosed trailer. She even encountered a flapping flag and a Bobcat hauling huge hay bales quickly and loudly down the aisle of the barn! She seemed easy to teach and began looking to me for guidance. Laurie also hosted a “clinic” with a couple of us students, I don’t think I posted about it but it was a great clinic talking about communication and trying to be positive but not looking through “rose colored glasses” when it comes to working with horses. The three students each rode Divine through some simple exercises and while I was VERY fearful to get back on her I knew the fear was a bit exaggerated. The support from Laurie and the other riders during this clinic was awesome!

Dani got injured the night before I left to see my newborn nephew. Her left hind swelled up and the vet came out. She was bandaged for a couple weeks and stall bound. I couldn’t even do groundwork until the week of Thanksgiving!

November

Dani healed and when finally able to be back in her paddock raced off with tail high! I worked on getting her used to the indoor arena that was pretty scary and new to her. I also was selling items at home to start my saddle fund since I didn’t have one to fit her. Dani had her teeth floated (and man she needed it!) and her hooves trimmed for the first time under my ownership. The time change and then the beginning of friend and family visits reduced my time to spend with Dani. This is the reason she is on pasture 100%, I know she’s happy and content even if I can’t get out to visit her. I finally did buy a saddle and worked on finding the right girth and then found out my one bridle was way too big! LOL. And so it goes!

December

I did finally get the tack situated and rode Dani for the first time since I bought her. The ride went well for the most part and wasn’t complicated. Serpentines and changes of direction to calm me down and work Dani’s mind a bit. I got my cowboy hat that I love wearing, keeps my hair out of my face when not wearing a helmet and it looks cute! I also dealt with snowballs forming on Dani’s unshod feet and my hubby finally replaced his car that died in July with a nice GMC Sierra 2500!! The trucks name is Buddy and he should be a good trailer hauler! Most of December we had Steve’s parents back again in our house so it was fun to spend time with them, Cierra Steve’s daughter came for a week at Christmas. Dani got hurt again; her blanket butt bungee snapped and cut her leg. Another vet bill and some antibiotics for a few days, I got really good at giving her the pills turned to paste. At least this time the injury didn’t require too much maintenance. With lack of time and the injury I really couldn’t do much with Dani so I just visited her when I could to groom and hug her then it was off to family fun!

So....

This year was a whirlwind towards the end. I dove into the deep end of the pool of horse ownership and have loved every minute! I look forward to spending more time with Dani and getting a little closer to our goals of riding trails together. I’m so happy to have met Dani and that she’s my first horse, she’s a great first horse, challenging but not too challenging and cuteness galore!! Happy belated New Year!!

The Name Game

This mare is named Steiners Honor.  I couldn't find a beer related name that I liked, I thought that would be cute but alas no such luck.  I looked for names meaning honor like, Annora.  It just didn't fit her.  She's a no frills mare, that is laid back and a little tough meaning she's not bothered by much.  She is not a girly girl.  I'm not too fond of her current barn name, Maggie...it's not bad but I guess I just want to name her myself.  I made the mistake of telling my mom that name so she's all about it but I figure I'm 32 years old and going to be paying out the nose for my horse, I can rename her what I find the best name.  My mother will adjust!

I'm not going to worry about others opinions because at the end of the day does it really matter what her name is to anyone but me?  Horses can learn their name but they can relearn a new one, they don't have an emotional connection to it.  Even dogs can be renamed....they really don't care about their name, that's a human thing!  I actually have several names for each of my dogs and they respond to them all and even seem to know when any of the nicknames are said which dog it refers to.

Everyone has preferences in names, one name someone can love and another can dislike it because it reminds them of a mean girl they knew in high school.  LOL.  So here are some of my tops and I will let you know what my choice is at the bottom, my husband is in agreeance with the final name choice too so that's a plus even though he says it's my horse, "name her what YOU want".  Gotta love the hubby.  I just find boy names easier like my male pets so far: Spencer, Loki, Armani, Mac and Pippin to name a few.  Anyways...

Here goes:

Khaleesi from Game of Thrones was a top for a while until I learned of calici viruses and now I can't get that out of my head.

Daenerys (dan-nair-iss) aka "Dani" is Khaleesi's name before she married the Dothraki Khal, I do like the name Dani (sounds like Danny) and it fits the mare nicely too.

Kailin is a nice Irish name for the mare and rolls of the tongue nicely.  Her red coat makes me think of Irish names, this one could me nice.  

Amica means friend in Italian.  She's a VERY friendly mare so this is cute. 

Cookie would be another name I guess since she's always looking for them in everyones pockets!

Aislinn (ash-lin) is nice but getting a bit feminine for this mare.

Asha- means spirit, I like it and it sort of fits her.  Very easy to say and soothing too.

Myra- again kinda feminine, not sure I like it for this particular mare.

Aria- musical and feminine but I like it.  Again is seems like it may not fit this mare

Penny- cute and good for a chestnut mare.  I had a cute rat named Penny once so I do like the name.  My hubby keeps thinking of Penny from Big Bang theory but I don't think that's a bad thing.

So my final name choice:

Excited yet?

Which do you think it will be?

Have you ever had a hard time naming a pet?

This is getting annoying isn't it!!!???

So.....

The name my husband and I really like is Daenerys  aka "Dani".  Dani is a cute name for a tomboy type mare.  She seems to be sort of a tomboy, really laid back and loves having her belly and teats scratched (most mare owners I know have to work with a mare in order to clean their teats of the waxy build up).  I like Dani and for a more masculine name is seems mildly feminine to me but I have friends named Kyle, Michael and Ryan so boy names for girls don't seem odd to me in the least!!!

More and better pictures will be coming once she's mine, believe me I want to document this whole process!  All the pictures I have are from the pre-purchase and evaluation.

Pre-Purchase Exam

Monday was the day for the pre-purchase exam. I was a little nervous and worried that something horrible would turn up on the mare. Laura greeted me warmly and invited me in to look over some paperwork. We both signed the sales contract and then we spent some time in one of her empty bedrooms that their canary and finches had been moved into for the winter. The canary sang such a pretty song! Someday I would love to have a greenhouse like they do with little birds flying about!

The veterinarian showed up, Doc, and went into the stable with us as Laura went to get the mare. She was wearing a cute little green sheet to keep her clean since the day before Laura’s daughter had cleaned her up nicely getting ready for this exam. So sweet!

The vet began checking her over, listening to heart, lungs and intestines. He looked at her eyes and ears, did a whole once over. The mare’s ears followed him as he moved about her. She kept searching in the vet techs pockets and the doctors as well for cookies of some sort. Doc mentioned a bump on the inside of her left hock. He said it was a bone spavin and could indicate arthritis.

We took her outside and the tech trotted her back and forth for the vet to watch her movement. He liked what he saw and moved onto the flexion tests. Each leg was flexed for a minute and a half then she was asked to trot off again to see if there was any effect to her gait. Three legs checked out fine. The last one was the leg of question, her left hind. After the flex there was only a slight change in her gait for the first couple of steps, barely noticeable and was what the vet described as a “slight positive”. He said it seemed like it was minor and he could do an x-ray but it most likely wouldn’t tell us anything more about the joint.

I discussed with him her intended use and how this could affect her in the future. He said in 5-7 years she might begin having some noticeable issues but at this time it really doesn’t seem to be affecting her. I’m not planning on jumping her and endurance riding wouldn’t really be a good option but as I’ve said on here I don’t think I really have the time and commitment level to get a horse into condition for that anyway. I really just want to work on arena work and trail riding. In a few years we’ll get a second horse and either this mare will become more of Steve’s mount if I decide I want to get into a more athletic sport or I’ll just keep riding her myself. Either way she’s 13 and has a minor flaw…not too surprised really. I think she has so many positive points to her that this issue, that isn’t even affecting her now, is very insignificant.

I’ve done research and with a couple thousand dollars there is a surgery that can fuse the bones if the issue gets worse and that usually makes the horse pain free after recovery and sound.  There are also less expensive and less invasive ways to work this issue. The bones also may fuse on their own eventually and I might just have to work with a vet in the future on pain killers as that process occurs. All that I have read, based on the two bones where this arthritis is (two bones below the hock that don’t really need to move, hence the fusing option) sounds like it’s manageable if it gets worse.  It also states in every place I've been that keeping the horse under work is best for them. The doctor doesn’t even feel like it will get to the point of needing surgery with what I plan to do on her. I think the purchase is still a go but I have an idea of what to look for in the coming years as she ages, and if we think about her age now we are looking at age 20+, I'd expect some issues to pop up anyways at that age!

Now we just need the negative coggins results and the brand inspection, then I can take her to the boarding facility!  Next post coming up will be about naming....I have some ideas and would love to hear some others!

I made an offer!!!

It was accepted!!! So now I will be setting up vet exams etc!!!! Soooooo excited!!!!!!

 

 

 

Also as a bonus....pony PJs!!

Let's see what she can do!

As luck would have it my Monday provided a perfect day to have Laurie go out and evaluate this little mare, registered name Steiner's Honor and barn name "Maggie".  I have ideas about what I might name her, and that may even be a future post.  Anyhow, I was off already and the owner was also available.  I was excited and nervous.  I wasn't sure how this mare would rate in the various tests that Laurie does when she examines a horse. 

Laurie spent a long time grooming and handling the mare in the stall.  Her back legs she did the kicking out a little bit and was corrected, the mare easily picked them up as time went on.  It will be something to work on regularly with her but she doesn't scare me in that regard as other horses have.  I just know about it and what to do about it.  This mare learned quick!

Tacking up was without incident aside from the mare swinging her body towards Laurie as she put the saddle on.  I knew that she was already a very "in your space" mare and needs to learn a little bit of respect in that regard.  I think with social horses it can be hard to push them away but it can be a bit much and dangerous so it's something to nip in the bud, a horse should only come into your space if invited.  I studied how Laurie worked with her and am glad I have a trainer like this that I can trust and work with when I need it!  I'm also glad I have Clinton Anderson DVD's coming in the mail to help me remember some of these techniques in between lessons I can have with Laurie.  A lot of things he does is much like her, a lot of the big name trainers are similar in their approaches at the root.

Anyhow, Laurie worked the mare from the ground, did various lateral flexing movements, longed her and bitted her up with her snaffle as well.  I think the mare did great and the feedback I received from Laurie was not shocking.  As the mare progressed through the various tests presented I slowly felt my nerves float away.  She's as amazing as I felt when I met her.  The biggest issues I see is the space invasion thing, the trailering issue (we'll just take it step by step when the time comes and at least I'm not wanting to trailer her all over the state right now, as I don't have a trailer just yet!) and her back legs....all issues I feel comfortable dealing with and if not I know who to call!!!

The mare was really good in the snaffle.  I think it's just an instance of someone going to a stronger bit because they aren't as well trained in the proper use of the snaffle.  I'm still working on it myself so I can relate but I also am very resistant to going with a strong bit, I want to ride in a mild bit and perhaps even a hackomore for trails in the future but we'll see.  There were times when the mare was trotting on the lunge that she was getting into a very basic frame and relaxing very nicely. 

One of the tests I just have to share since it was so cool was a bag test.  There was a whip with a plastic bag attached.  The light breeze helped a bit but wasn't so much that the horse would have a heart attack.  The whip was held to the side and rippled.  The mare started but just sort of halted and jumped in place and looked at the bag, wide nostrils and ears pricked.  She eventually was watching the bag and following it.  The bag went to the side, up above her and eventually the bag moved all over her body and the mare at one point was standing there and sniffing the ground as if to say "I'm bored, is there any food here?"  I was done at that point.  This mare has confidence and is sweet to boot!

One thing Laurie found in her legs are just old splints, bumps.  They were old, didn't cause pain and shouldn't have any bearing on her soundness.  Heck I have a nice hard bump on my ankle, from the railing incident, that will most likely be there forever.  I'm still sound!  Still it will be something the vet exam can explain more about.

Coughing Brio

I'm sure a lot of you are curious about Windsong Brio the gorgeous dark bay gelding I saw a couple weeks ago.  I was planning on having Laurie look at him but his owner called and said he was coughing a lot and not himself.  It was best to wait until he felt better.

He's doing a bit better now so I could have Laurie take a look at him but I have a feeling about this mare so I'm going to see where that goes first since I felt I had more of a connection with her than Brio, though I would still say he's a contender.  He was just shy and a little cautious but I think would warm up in time.  His owner does think he has an allergy but isn't sure.  She would give him carrots and he'd cough so she feels like he's holding pieces in his mouth.  The allergy might be to hay dust since he got better when the hay was wet. 

 

I know if I bought him that I would want answers to all these speculations but we'll see how it goes with this mare.  If she's the one I'll just have to let Brio's owner know even though I never got a chance to give him a second look.  Things happen. 

Shaking with excitement!!!

I'm really liking this mare I saw today.  She's a 13 year old Morgan mare.  She's what is considered the old style Morgan.  I like this mare so much that I couldn't do the Serene Sunday post today if I tried, I don't feel serene....I'm too anxious!  I can't contain my excitement!! 

 

When Steve and I arrived the gal I'd talked with had a Michelob in her hand and was very friendly.  My kind a person.  She was very honest about her horse, in fact in the emails she said all the bad things first before saying the good things.  The "bad things" are that this mare hasn't been treated well with trailering and it sounds like she would just need a little bit of time and gentle treatment to get her to relax with the process.  The other is she needs work with softening to the bit but I can work on that.  She also said she is more than willing to do a thirty day trial if I wanted.  That's an option I won't mind working into a contract for sure but we'll get to that later.

 

 

The mare is very confident alone on the trails, doesn't get bothered by cars, dogs or bicycles.  Good start I think.  I still would take it slow to get confident myself with all these items and work on other desensitizing but it's nice to know she's a reassured horse to start.  When we went out to the stable we heard a very happy whinny and the mare came ambling into her stall to greet us.  She was very sweet and likes to lip pockets and explore...the owner says she's never bitten she's just exploring and she normally pushes her away if she's getting too nosey.

 

She also likes beer, she had a sip of the owners beer and made a cute flehmen response face.  LOL.  The stable I want to board at actually has a horse that gets a can of beer at night as a "supplement".  I don't think this mare is quite getting this supplement but the owner was just showing how laid back and human oriented she was.  She was stocky and a bit fat but not too bad.  She's never had any medical issues, only one belly ache but never a colic.  The owner walked her and the mare did fine.  Some white spots on her back I'm told are from previous owners and ill fitting saddles but the mare did not have issues with being tacked up which is good.  She showed no soreness on her back.

 

I groomed her and picked her hooves, she was easy as pie to work with.  Her owner scratched her belly and the mare made the silliest horse face she loved it so much!  She isn't bothered by having her teats scratched or washed.  She was very laid back and a sweetheart.  She was constantly interested in what I was doing around her and not nervous in the least though I'm sure she could sense I was a little nervous and cautious.

 

The owner tacked her up since the western saddle thing just makes me feel even more fumbly so I just watched how the mare was.  No problems with cinchiness or issues with the bridle either.  I even played with her mouth and found it didn't take much to get her to open up at all.  The owner mounted up and had her daughter drive this golf cart with us in it behind the mare out on the road and open fields across the street.  The cart was loud and a dog joined us, neither of which bothered the mare in the least.  Her walk looked comfortable and her trot was a bit fast at first until she relaxed like her owner said.  She even cantered her a bit and she seemed very responsive and controllable.

 

Next it was my turn; the owner was sympathetic when I asked her to restrain the pup.  She knows of my Desparados Storm incident and I felt no judgement.  She'd had a similar incident when trying out a horse and ended up with a banged up knee.  We shortened the stirrups and up I went, albeit awkwardly since you have to throw your leg over a bit higher with a western saddle and avoid getting stabbed in the stomach with the horn.  I tried to keep the loose reins on her but as you can see in the picture below it's probably not as loose as it needed to be but the mare still did great with the contact.  I mainly walked her and did a few circles and turns to see how she moved off my leg.  I was happy with the response at a first ride.

 

We did a trot a couple of times and I tried to relax since the mare did short fast steps but eventually relaxed into it, so did I.  Then I brought her down to the walk.  I was mainly concerned with how she responded to me, how she turned, stopped etc.  I think I could build a relationship with her fairly easily.  I'd seen enough, I liked her.  I told the gal when we were done, untacking and grooming her that I was pretty interested and would try to see when I could get my trainer out to see her.

 

I'm really excited about her, I feel something about this horse.  I first off felt safe on her, like she wouldn't do something really silly or hurt me.  Granted you can't 100% trust a horse, they are still animals but this mare felt pretty safe.  Secondly, I enjoyed riding her much like I enjoyed Heidi.  This mare could be the one!  I want to get Laurie out asap and I've even postponed a couple horse viewings since I felt it wouldn't be a fair assessment of them to go out and see those horses with the way I feel about this mare. 

 

She is wide backed so I'll need to definitely be careful with picking a saddle for her.  The trailering issue can be worked on slowly, perhaps Uschi or someone else with a trailer would be willing to work with me until Steve and I have our own.  I figure by the time we have a trailer there will have been tons of groundwork done and a relationship built that I can work with her slowly and reassuringly.  The owner said it was mainly force that the mare has had in the past trailerings, that she wasn't beaten to get in the trailer but whips were used and that just upset her more.  This was her previous owners, the current owner has had a trainer work on her but just hasn't had the time to be consistant with her.  I think it's something I can deal with and perhaps that is something Laurie would at least like to observe during her evaluation, I'm not sure.

 

So I'll keep you all posted...and just so you know I didn't plan on finding a great horse that was chestnut, guess it was just luck of the draw!!

Sweet Pea

I met a cute mare on Friday.  Her name is Uskalith, aka Sweet Pea.  She's a 11 year old Arabian mare.  The issues the owner said she has was being a little herd bound. I just rode her in the arena while her herd mates were in the field nearby and she didn't seem to be too upset.  I think taking her further away would show more what she might do.  The owner said she would just plant her feet and not move forward.  I know there is ways to work a horse in regards to that so I'm not too worried about it.

The other thing about the mare is you can see she is a bit overweight.  Her neck is cresty with a fat deposit, there are also areas on her shoulder and hips that I felt some fatty areas.  It's something I'm not too concerned about but would have a vet guide me in getting her back in shape.  She also had a droopy lower lip but not an issue that I can see with her bite.  Makes her look pouty!  LOL.

She was very sweet and easy to work around but her owners just went about tacking her up right away.  Hmm.  She didn't have any issues but the first bridle they tried was too big for her and the bit hung low in her mouth.  The owners friend mounted up and the girth wasn't very tight so the saddle slide over.  They were saying it was because she was so rotund.

The mare did fine with all the wiggling the gal did to straighten out the saddle.  The gal rode her around both directions at the walk, trot and canter but Sweet Pea didn't seem very happy with the bit.  I suggested to the owner that I had a couple bridles in my trunk that might fit her but she had another option in her trailer so she went and grabbed a bridle that fit better and the bit sat in a better position.  The rider asked if I wanted to try her out but I asked to see her ride again in the new bit.  Sweet Pea did much better, she didn't toss her head or fiddle with the bit so much.

As you can see above, the bit was low in her mouth.  Again you can see her droopy lip.  Next I rode her, I didn't think to check the stirrups before getting up but the owner and her friend were more than helpful in adjusting my stirrups for me, one on each side.  I wanted to laugh so loud I felt silly!  Sweet Pea had a nice walk but was sensitive to leg pressure, I did a pseudo serpentine with her to see how she responded.  Sometimes when I used my leg to turn her she would start into a trot but at least wasn't getting ridiculous and I could pull her back to a walk easily.  Collection doesn't exist but I'm not expecting that on any horse I find.

After the ride I asked if I could groom her.  I ran the brush all over her body, on her stomach toward her teats and under her tail near her lady parts.  She was very easy going and didn't have issues.  The only thing was she didn't want to pick up her feet.  I asked the owner if she used a different cue, and she did.  She would squeeze her chestnut and the mare would lift up her leg easily.  I tried the same and she was fine.  Sometimes it's just a matter of the horse learning new cues from another person.

She has fine lines on her hooves, like really shallow cracks.  I don't know if this could cause infection or why her hooves have this, I've not seen this before.  Her hooves seemed fine though.  Only thing with her legs was windgalls/windpuffs.  They didn't feel hot at all and the owner said she'd always had them and so had her mother.  I know they usually aren't a worry, especially if there is no heat or gait abnormalities.

I told the ladies I liked her and that I needed to think and perhaps have my trainer take a look at her sometime if I'm still interested.  They completely understood, they just wanted to find her a good home with someone that would spend time with her.  She's cute and has trail experience so we shall see.