So I'm starting my journey...serious journey into horsewomanhood...I love my horses...but what do I do with them? Hmmm....
Background...I grew up with horses on my parents hobby farm. I started riding a little black 20-something year old Shetland Pony named "Happy". She was blind in one eye and crabby as any little mare you could think of...she taught me patience and the love of horses...I moved on to Quarter horses and a couple POA's after I out grew her...then the teenage years came calling, I got a job, I bought a car and starting dating...horses were history.
My little black mare died when I was a freshman in college, we really don't know how old she was. The rest of the horses were sold as I was the only child that was interested in them. My mom, a horse lover since birth cried but knew there was better homes for them out there.
Jump ahead to 2003, I'm now 27 years old, I'm a veterinary technician and start riding with a few friends of mine on their extra horses...the love comes back...the smell of a sweaty horse, the squeek of the leather saddle, the wind on my face and a smile that just won't quit...I have to have my own.
2004...horse sale...$350 later I come home with a 9 year old TB that needs about 300 lbs of groceries...they rode him in the ring, calm and as shiny as a new penny. Why wouldn't I want to buy him?
Hank...my first real horse all to myself!! He's beautiful, 15.2, sorrel, and after his winter coat sheds out he is the color of a new penny. We spent 4 years of learning together. He was a little standoff-ish at first, then like a big puppy after he learned to love me. Not the best trail mate someone could ask for. His trot was teeth shattering rough, he tripped if he wasn't trimmed right at 5 weeks, he was a nervous Nelly and had to ride in the middle of the line, he hated his bits, he was Houdini like when high tied, but he never kicked, he never bucked and would jump right in the trailer going to and coming home.
Move forward 2009, my new husband needs a horse...17 year old Tennessee Walker mare should do it! Done deal...her problem? She's 300lbs OVER weight...let the riding begin! At first I thought this whole gaited thing was a joke...she was SO slow and she didn't gait she waddled, and then paced...but she didn't bounce! As the pounds melted away her natural gait came out...I was in love.
Now what? Well my husband got to ride Hank and I got to ride Storm. Until Hank tripped, throwing my husband who broke ribs. We need to make adjustments. I couldn't stand to ride him anymore, my back just couldn't take it. I made the heart wrenching decision to sell him. If we had our own land and place I would have kept him forever, but paying board on a horse that doesn't get ridden doesn't make sense in these economic times.
I've heard horror stories, I know horror stories and I had told him I would never sell him. But I can't ride him! He needs a new home with someone that wants a simple companion. That home I did find for him (I really hope anyway...) November 2009. I cried when he whinnied to me as the trailer pulled out of the drive way, no I bawled. I actually have tears running down my face as I write this.
January 2010...I talked friends of mine into selling me their 7 year old tri-tobiano Spotted Saddle Horse, JW. He's short (14.3 - perfect!) he's smooth, we've been on the trail together and he's fast! Problem, he's pretty green-broke, but has a lot of potential.
2010 we did a lot of trail riding and I fell in love with that little, short, stubborn,smooth, beautiful horse. We went through hundreds of miles to get in shape for a week long fall trip to Missouri. Eminence, Missouri was where I really learned to love him. He hauled me all over and not once did I fall off.
Jump to the present...Summer 2011. All of a sudden he's spooky, his running walk is bouncy, his flat walk is a little off what is going on? I had big plans for us, training for Limited Distance rides (maybe one day longer endurance rides), that's not going to happen until we get things figured out. That's where we will start...
