Calm before Desparados Storm

 I went to meet Deparados Storm in Sedalia last week.  He was a nice looking horse, a former stallion and former western pleasure show horse.  He'd been with his current owner for about 6 years.  The owner told me about his past and that he was pretty unhappy being a show horse.  We groomed him and then she mounted up bareback.  She walked and trotted him with a little try at canter.  We then got the saddle on him so I could test ride him.

He seemed very sweet and calm in the stable and while being tacked and groomed.  He was interested and curious about me.  When I mounted it was obvious that he was a little nervous so I walked him to this open area in a circle.

We circled the driveway area of the property, when we approached an overhanging tree Storm started and then raced off towards the barn. Only one door was open and I was afraid I would be scraped off. We made it into the barn with all its junk and pieces lying about in the aisle. Storm stopped quickly and turned left and I flew into the side of the stall door. There was a tree stump, some bricks, other machinery....thank goodness no circular saw! I hit the stall door hard and scraped my back along the bolt. Not sure what I landed on but the aisle way was hard even though it was dirt.

I got up and limped over to a staircase to sit down as the owner was running into the stable to get Storm and she came by me to ask how I was.  I couldn't answer, I didn't know what just happened.  She said she thought that after he spooked the dog went after his heels.  Note to self and others

ALWAYS DEMAND TO RIDE IN THE SAFEST AREA AND WITHOUT OTHER ANIMALS OR CHILDREN AROUND.

I was shaken up and dizzy.  She asked if I wanted to get back him and have her lead me around on him.  I said no thanks, she understood.  Sometimes it's not the best thing to get right back on the horse after a fall.  She even hugged me as the tears fell because I was so upset.  She also said, "why do we women always cry after a fall!".  She was very sympathetic but surprised at Storm.  I felt bad for in that sense since he seemed like a great horse but with the Egyptian blood perhaps he's another sensitive horse that I should steer clear of.

Peerless Stables

I went out to a stable today that was a little further of a drive than I was hoping for but I'm trying to look at as many options as I can.  I think having an indoor arena is more important to me than trails right off the property, also a round pen is good to have.  I have limited time frames when I can ride, mainly evenings after work and just on the weekends so I'll need to have access no matter the weather or time of day (aka if it's winter and the sun sets early).  I do also want there to be several other boarders so I can meet some more riders and have people to do horsie things with on occasion.

This stable was nice.  Lower price than a lot right now, it had stalls for stall board with turn out included in the board, you just have to provide the grain or supplements you want if needed.  The field board was decent, originally that is what I thought I wanted but then the run in shed has a foot tall drop at the entrance.  I saw it thinking that it would be a dangerous situation for horses particularly if the ground is wet or icy .  The pasture board is the primary feed in the summer, grain can be provided.  There will only be 5 horses total on that field but I'm concerned with the nutrient content of the field.  The owner said she keeps an eye on the health of the horses and that her husband who has run boarding facilities before is very aware of poisonous plants and proper nutrition.

I think  for now I like the stall board where the horse will be turned out each day, given hay and grain (grain or supplements that I provide).   The stable also has nice brick walkways, a feed and tack room and then a wash rack!!!!

There is still a lot of things that need work, pigeons are in the insulation on the ceiling but her fire fighter friend who is also a boarder will be taking that out.  The electrical is being worked on since the electric is on in some places but not in others.  The barn also has a small indoor round pen.  Outside is a nice sized arena that is overgrown with weeds but they will be tilling the ground and potentially bringing in footing if they need to.

Apparently they are from Denver and recently moved down here and have been working on the property.  Piles of lumber are on the side of a barn that is near their house, this will be used to update the fencing and improve other areas of the barn where swallows fly inside the arena.  LOL. 

I can completely see the potential though, I bought my house with it's messy backyard and 70's motif "seeing" what it would become.  It still needs work but I love my house and I can see what this gal wants to do but as it is the farm is still in very good operating order.  The fencing is fine, it's a mixture of smooth wire and pipe.  The main pasture board field has some barbed wire but I'm not planning on having my horse there as I said before.

There are just some things that make this stable look a little rough around the edges.  I think it has potential and the slightly lower price tag is appealing...particularly since my first choice is now $450 for pasture board!!!  I really want to find the best price for the features I want.  This place has several roads nearby that are dirt that I can ride on and the pastures also have riding areas.  Including the riding arenas.  She already has a few boarders and then her own horses on the property.  This will be added to my list!

Stable on Vessey Drive

I'm still continuing my horse boarding search even while I'm looking at horses.  It seems every evening after work I'm either looking at a horse or a stable!  I'm a woman on a mission!!!

I've called many numbers of stables from older flyer's (I'm guessing) and have come to dead ends for a lot of these farms.  I did get to go out to one place on Vessey Drive in Black forest.  It was a nice facility, 14 acres that is mostly fenced off for pastures.  The only riding area on the property is a round pen and a back paddock that has some rolling hills.  The property is very close to Black Forest park where there are a lot of nice trails and then of course there is section 16 which has tons of trails.

The stable was very open, it had a handful of stalls with runs that is only used when the horses are being fed, the rest of the time the horses are out in pastures with compatible friends.  It was horse heaven to me though I was a little disappointed at no arena and of course and indoor would be fantastic.  I worry in Black Forest with the snow that stays that I may be restricted with riding and since I can only go after work during the week if it's rainy or what not I can't really ride when there isn't an indoor.

I do like the facility and the atmosphere seemed very laid back, the gal that owns it is very nice and knowledgeable and has my philosophy for just letting horses be horses.

It's on my list but not on the top since I really think my biggest priority should be an indoor arena, I need to be able to ride anytime I can make it out to the stable.  It doesn't even have to be a nice indoor, it can be small and simple.  Just good enough to get some work done on icky days.  But still when the time comes we shall see what is available.  I've put this stable on my list!

Grullo Mustang Colton

Oh my goodness I'm in love!  I went to this rescue to check out a paint mare and an Arab cross mare.  The paint mare was adopted and the Arab cross has a fused bone in her fetlock.  She's sound but wouldn't be the best option for trail riding and certainly not competitive trail.

We walked around the facility which was just gorgeous!  Nice indoor arena, lots of large paddocks, outdoor arena and round pen.  It was horse heaven!  None of the horses did much for me though some were very attentive.  I just don't want a 16-17 hand Thoroughbred!!

The last two horses I saw were two Kiger Mustangs born in captivity.  One was 3 years old, buckskin and only had groundwork done he would be a project horse.  The other was 6 years old, grullo with a blaze and was under saddle and worked regularly.

 The rescue trainer said when she used to ride him (she's recently had an abdominal surgery) he was great but would test occasionally and try to "make an issue" if he got bored.  She said with consistent riding or work he would chill out and get into his work.  That might be something I could work on him with or perhaps not, certainly will be a horse I would have Laurie look at if I'm really serious about him.  He intrigued me since I do love mustangs and he was a nice size and well put together.  I'm trying not to be persuaded by the pretty face!  These pictures really suck and certainly do not show him well at all.

Need zebra striping on his legs.

When we were hanging out with him in the field I didn't think to take any pictures so the ones I got were when the horses had just gotten their hay and he was all involved in eating it.

The time constraints that this trainer had prevented me from asking to work with him that day, particularly since I knew she couldn't ride him.  Hopefully this week I can go back to see him when this other volunteer is there that rides him fairly regularly.  I can then get a sense of what he's like and perhaps give him a try myself.

The founder apparently is attached to him and so he's sort of for adoption but not.  The main trainer said that she had a good feeling about me and would talk to the founder to see if it even could be a possibility.  Of course if we aren't a match then that is that. 

I have the means and desire to give a horse a good home.  I know that any horse I end up with will be spoiled just like my other critters and hopefully will have a lifetime home with me (you never know what can happen with job loss etc).  Who knows maybe he and I will hit it off?  We shall see.  I still I'm excited to try him out and get to know him.  He sounds like he could be a neat horse to work with.  Hopefully I can get back up there soon to work with his regular rider.  I'm awaiting a reply to my email and text message about this.

I have two horses I'll be seeing this coming week.  A 14 year old chestnut Arab gelding and then an 11 year old bay Arab gelding.  Both sound awesome!  I can't wait!

Little bay mare

The little bay mare I went to see was very sweet.  She wasn't too bad in size, around 14 hands but she was filled out nicely.  She was a bit fidgety during grooming, we can work on that.  Her hooves were difficult to pick up, she didn't lift them very easily but she wasn't kicking out or any of those behaviors that make me really nervous. 

For the most part her conformation was pretty good, there wasn't really flat ground to stand her on but she seemed to have a level to uphill build.  I just couldn't get a picture to really show that.  I did notice her offside front hoof is clubbed.  Darn it!



 I did some work with her on the lungeline and she was really reactive even to me just lifting my arm up to get her moving.  It seemed a young horse type of thing because she only flipped out for a bit then settled and wanted to come in to me.  She seemed like a social/fearful type personality. 

She might have been one I'd be willing to work with, I was planning on riding her but with the club foot I knew it would just be wasting the owners time and I didn't feel right so I talked to the owner and explained my reasons.

Sorry cute little filly, the club foot is a deal breaker. You are very sweet though!  Sniff.

Anticipation

I'm so excited!  Tomorrow I will meet this pretty 5 year old Arabian mare who sounds like she's pretty calm, was a kids horse but I don't know for how long and the full extent of her training.  We shall see!!!  She's a dark bay with dapples, very pretty!

Have no idea what the ground is like to really see how she
stands.

Then I am going to Zuma Ranch Horse rescue.  There is a black Arabian cross mare, 12 years old.  We'll see what she is like.  I'll also take a look at a pretty buckskin paint mare who is just gorgeous! 

I know I say gorgeous a lot.  My husband tends to respond more when I talk about the training of the horse etc.  I totally understand, I know that's the more important thing but I can't help but going "ga-ga" over the pretty faces.  But I do have a practical side.  I'm not gonna get a horse because they are pretty.  Although a lot of times if I say a horse is pretty it's because they have good conformation. 

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Criteria

What do I want in a horse?  That's an amazingly easy and yet extremely difficult question all at the same time.  Of course throughout this blog I've discussed my love for the Arabian but I'm not going to hold myself to just that breed, though I'm planning to concentrate on Arabs and Arab crosses unless another horse crosses my path that intrigues me.  So I've developed a list of what I want in a horse.  Please feel free to recommend additional thoughts, particularly those of you that already own horses.  What did you wish was on your list but wasn't?  What may have not been on your list that you have discovered your wonderful has and is now something you would always want to look for in a future mount?


Breeds:
Arabian, Arabian Mix, Morgan, Morab, Mustang, Fjord, Haflinger, Pinto, Saddlebred, Lusitano (like I can afford!), Andalusian (like I can afford one!), Friesian (like I can afford!!)

Gaited Horses I’d like to try and who knows may consider:
Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino, Missouri Fox Trotter, Icelandics, Rocky Mountain Horse


Checklist for my first horse

Already Under saddle

W, T, C consistently with ques

Been in a trailer and loads reasonably well

Trail ridden- at least once or twice

Sensible

Responsive

Curious

Friendly/Sweet

Trustworthy

Brave/Not fearful

Trusting
Willing

Forgiving of rider mistakes

Patient
Forward-I don’t want to have to keep kicking a horse but I want one that is responsive and won’t run off ignoring me!!

Flexible

Agile-for collection and trail riding


Of course I don't have drop dead gorgeous and heart of gold listed but I believe any horse that I fall in love with will have those traits without a doubt!!!

Phoenix

I got to meet a very nice 10 year old chestnut Arabian mare today (the pictures below were taken by the owner and sent to my phone, I didn't really have time to take pictures while working with her).  The owner had three horses, two were in their twenties and she just didn't have the time that the younger mare needed.  The other horses were more pasture pets for her.  One was a chestnut mare and the other was a grey (white) gelding.  Gorgeous boy!

Phoenix was very nice looking and seemed to be in good weight.  She didn't interact with me too much, she smelled me but wasn't exactly too sure of me.  She enjoyed getting groomed and was a perfect doll for hoof picking.  She wanted one hing leg back sooner than I was ready but she wasn't reactive and upset over her feet being touched.  I've learned that's an area that freaks me out, I need a horse that is good with having their feet handled and she was good in my opinion.  There were small children that were running around the area and she seemed interested in them, obviously she knew them and was comfortable, perhaps if she got to know me she would react with the same interest.

We brought her out of her pen and I went to get my saddle, lungeline etc.  I wasn't sure I was going to ride her yet since it had been a year.  The one lady who rode her a lot has said she was really good under saddle and didn't shy much at all.  Sometimes on the bridges she would jump a little and snort.  We got the saddle on with little fuss but the girth was too long for her!!  Nope, not gonna ride!  I was tight enough to move her around but not to ride her.

We had issues with the bridle, she moved her head away and stepped away.  After a couple tries we go the bridle on and she was calm as we tried to adjust all the straps.  The bridle was way too big!  The big really low in her mouth.  We decided to take it off and just lunge her with the halter.  I asked the younger gal to lunge her first and watched her move.  She was very spirited and raced around in a circle.

When I lunged her she raced around a bit but I eventually got her to a trot and even a walk at some points.  I changed direction a couple times and had success with that.  Her owner was pleased with how she did since she hadn't been worked with in a year or more.  I actually was too but I'm unsure. 

She's a nice mare and seemed tolerant and seemed to have potential, she slightly calmed down during the lunging but was quite warm afterwards, she was pretty excited.  I think I may have Laurie take a look at her.  She has tack that might fit and perhaps she would be willing to back her.  Perhaps I should not consider a horse that is this rusty.  I don't want to get hurt and I don't want someone else to get hurt either.  The one gal did say that she wouldn't ride her regularly but when she did Phoenix would pick up again pretty quickly.  Perhaps after a few weeks of regular working with her she'd be at a good place?

Another thing about her is her name, Phoenix.  Apparently when she was born she was a still birth and they rejuvenated her.  Also her stripe on her face looks like a phoenix bird in profile.  I thought that was really cool and wouldn't see a need to change her name in the least.  I need to think on it and discuss her with Laurie.  At least she is right in Falcon so it wouldn't be a long trip or time commitment to have Laurie take a look at her.  She is about 14 hands and I wonder if that is just a bit too small for me, I'm still working on losing some pounds I'm 5'4" and yadda yadda pounds, hopefully I can get 30 of that off by the end of the year.  Hmm.  Lots to ponder.  I will hopefully have a couple more horses to meet this weekend.  I think for me seeing a lot of horses is becoming a good experience and helping me figure out what I want in a horse...even if it takes me longer to find "the one".

Khan

I visited an 11 year old gelding named Khan.  From the pictures the lady sent me he looked to be pretty well put together.

When I got there the realization that those pictures were taken from when this lady first "rescued" Khan was apparent.  The first horse I saw was an appaloosa.  He was very skinny, you could see the vertebrae along his rump.  The pen area was filled with manure almost a foot deep.  Khan was a little bit better but still you could see the outline of his ribs and his spine a lot more than I think you should.  His whithers were very prominent from lack of muscle.

I groomed him and tried to pick his hooves but he didn't want anything to do with that.  His feet had not been trimmed in who knows how long.  I longed him a little bit and he moved nicely but he ended up clipping his front pastern with his rear.  He had a nice stride and really stepped under himself but with his long toes he couldn't help but clip himself. 

We stopped there since he was bleeding a little.  I felt terrible and a bit angry that for one, this lady did not take care of his feet and for two I wondered if he normally stepped like that she should have known and had bell boots or some sort of protection on him.  The long toes certainly did not help.  I did not want to ride him since it had been a year she said since she last rode him and because he was so skinny and now had a little injury from clipping himself.

Steve and I left frustrated.  I did eventually call the local Humane Society and found out that this was a case they still had open and were set on going out this Wednesday anyways.  Apparently it sounds like the situation for the Appaloosa has not improved and who knows about Khan but in my opinion he needed more weight and energy.  He didn't seem too good.  Such a shame.



You can see the spine line on his rump.  I've never seen it so
defined on a horse but the appaloosa you could make out
the vertebrae.  So sad.



The search BEGINS!!!!

 I started my search for horses with one mare, Prizms Esprit.  She is owned by a friend of Laurie.  A Russian bred mare, 4 years old and untrained.  She has issues with her feet and doesn't like them worked on so her feet are not in the best condition.  One or two trims will get them perfect.

Amy was working with her in picking up her feet, she seemed to be doing okay.  Not much different than when I tried to pick up Pstars feet (aka pulling them back and kicking out a little) but Esprit knows Amy and apparently for the farrier it's a big ordeal...Pstar is not skittish with Laurie picking her feet nor the farrier.  I'm not comfortable with horses that are that abrupt with their feet.  She's not mean or trying to "get you" she's just young.

I didn't know how to evaluate an untrained horse, she doesn't even longe but that's simple enough she could learn.  So I just led her around.  I also discussed later with Laurie what a training program would look like.  I think personally she'd have to be in training at least two months for me to feel comfortable and then with the upfront vet costs this "cheaper" mare would be pricer than some horses I've seen that are under saddle.  Sure those horses are maybe an arab cross, older by a few years and not so fancy looking but I think in the long run it's a safer bet that I'll be happy with a horse that has a few more years and some experience.

But just LOOK at that pretty face!  I tried so hard not to fall in love, she is a sweetie!  Luckily my husband reminded me of what would really make me happy, a horse I can relax around and enjoy trails with.  Maybe in a few years that would be Esprit but I do want that now, I've waited 32 years to get a horse I should be able to enjoy them as fully as possible right away.  Sigh.