What a week its been so far. It all started with an email from an old high school friend Elaine. She sent me a message asking me if I knew of anyone interested in an AQHA buckskin yearling and sent me some pics. Boy was he a cutie! I honestly thought about it but ended up sending her a reply saying there is no way I want to deal with 2 unbroken horses and a foal on the way and that if I bought anymore horses it would have to be a husband horse that anyone could ride. Well, wouldn't you know she had one! An 11 yr old QH/ Standardbred cross mare that was bomb proof and used as a backup trail horse for family and friends that didn't have much experience. Here is the kicker... Elaine also added that if I wanted her she was FREE! She had to many horses and needed to lighten her work load. Well I was sold without even looking at her but Elaine told me to back my saddle bags and come take her for a test ride at Zaleski State Forest for the Relay for Life trail ride.
So I did. I pulled into the Zaleski Horse Camp at 11, saddled up and headed out with Elaine and her family on a 2 hour trail ride. I was a little hesitant to ride once I saw the mare. She was a tad underweight! I checked her over though and her back looked fine so I threw some extra pads on her and made sure she was comfortable with my weight on her on a warm up trail. She did great so we headed out to meet the group of riders waiting for us. Everything was going great until we got about 2 miles down the trail and Elaines Aunt's horse spooked! Bad! I'm still not sure what happened, all I could see was a horses belly rearing up and going backwards. Needless to say her Aunt couldn't get out of the saddle fast enough and had all 1100 lbs of her horse land on her and rolling down a steep bank. We all scrambled to get to her, kept her talking and still. She complained of leg and back pain so an ambulance was called. They came out on the trail with 4wheelers pulling a stretcher on a trailer and a helicopter waiting for her at the end of the trail. We were all very shook up but were relieved to hear that she had no broken bones or permanent damage after many x-rays.
I came home that night and talked about everything with hubby. I wanted that mare! lol The only problem I had was getting her home. The project trailer still needs 1 floor board replaced and there is no way I was hauling in it until it was fixed. That's when I got a small smirk from hubby. He knows I hate that trailer and told me if I could find one I like for under $6,000 we could go pick it up by the end of the week. I got right on it and found a Sundowner 4 horse slant load with an aluminum ramp that I LOVE! (He loves it because he can fit his 4-wheelers in the back and as much camping gear as his little desires!) So Tuesday we drove 4 hours one way to pick it up, fought traffic for 4 hours home through rush hour and 3 big cities with crazy freeway exits. My nerves are still shot and I wasn't the one driving. That sucker is huge and its going to be awhile before I feel safe hauling by myself.
I came home that night and talked about everything with hubby. I wanted that mare! lol The only problem I had was getting her home. The project trailer still needs 1 floor board replaced and there is no way I was hauling in it until it was fixed. That's when I got a small smirk from hubby. He knows I hate that trailer and told me if I could find one I like for under $6,000 we could go pick it up by the end of the week. I got right on it and found a Sundowner 4 horse slant load with an aluminum ramp that I LOVE! (He loves it because he can fit his 4-wheelers in the back and as much camping gear as his little desires!) So Tuesday we drove 4 hours one way to pick it up, fought traffic for 4 hours home through rush hour and 3 big cities with crazy freeway exits. My nerves are still shot and I wasn't the one driving. That sucker is huge and its going to be awhile before I feel safe hauling by myself.
So I called Elaine when we got home and set up a time to pick up my new mare Wednesday night. Everything went well. She loaded herself and patiently nibbled her hay net while I closed her divider and tied her in. When we got home I she unloaded fine and started getting antsy while calling for her former pasture buddy's. She is a little herd bound but not bad at all once you get her attention on you. I put her in the round pen for a few minutes to let her sniff around and let her nerves settle. She is going to need a lot of round pen time. She has no idea about moving hindquarters over, backing up or looking for a cue to stop when you have her going around the pen. She loves standing right over your shoulder ALL the time and actually tried to push me out of the way when I was taking her to her new stall. No big deal really but I'm all about ground manners and my own personal space! Now time for pics...
Here she is!
(Not usually one to braid a horse's mane but it wont stay on the right side! lol)
Previous name was Katie... Any new name ideas?
She really needs come weight and muscle tone.
And of course Daya, very pregnant and very unhappy about it!She does seem to get enjoyment out of taking it out on the new mare. Shessh! That is one moody appy.
Poor girl. She acts miserable! Her back legs have been swelling if I dont make her walk in the roundpen everyday but she loves having cold water sprayed on them afterwards.Maybe my next blog will have foal pics!
