Re: [RC] Omigosh I just bought a horse--what a trip it's been - Sky Ranch
One thing I learned about Arabians is that they can
appear to be really "flighty" and scary at first. It's because they are
very intelligent, and have to figure "you" out. Once they trust you,
they're 100% there for you.
At least, that's been my experience with the two
Arabians I've had -- obviously, a limited experience, yes, but I've
had a very solid relationship with both horses. Good luck, Mary,
sounds like you have a good one. I'll bet the other two are good ones, as
well, and hope they find nice homes. They deserve it - all animals do,
don't they.
Subject: [RC] Omigosh I just bought a
horse--what a trip it's been
Wow. I just handed over the check for Leonardo's Night Out--a
beautiful but untrained 3.5 year-old Arabian gelding. I wound up focusing on
three horses: one beautifully trained (western pleasure) 8 year-old mare;
one untrained six-year-old black stallion; and Leo.
The mare was
perfect in every way except her thin legs bothered me. I worry that I'm
stupid for not buying her: she had an excellent early start in wide-open
pastures with other horses, and now she's had two years of gentle, sensible
training (though none of it on trails). She has perfect gaits--three clear
speeds at each level--three walks, three trots, etc. She has a great back
and straight legs, but her cannon bones are somewhere around 6 inches, and
she has really little feet. Is that a stupid reason for not buying an
otherwise well-conformed horse one hopes to take on hundred-milers? I'll
always wonder about her. She's selling for $1,800 because her owner's sick.
If you're interested in that unbelievable deal, I told her owner I'd tell
ridecampers about her. Her name is Dahly. She's on Dreamhorse in Snohomish,
Washington. I almost want to buy her for my kids so they'll have someone to
ride along with me. Verrrrry gentle, but eager and forward-moving too.
The stallion is the straightest, strongest horse I've seen in
years--and SO pretty. Romantic black curly hair hanging down over his eyes.
*sigh* He's an intelligent, kindly-eyed boy, but he's barely been handled
and hasn't been out of his 20x20 pen in a long time--years maybe. His owner
handed me the lead, then said, "don't let him move until I'm out of his
pen--and, whatever you do, don't turn your back on him." Needless to say the
experience was a bit nerve-wracking. I still wonder how he and I might have
fared had we had half a chance to get to know one another. Instead, we spent
3 minutes together with him whirling around me on the end of a 6 ft lead. It
was horrible. I kept going back and forth between thinking, "he's going to
fall and kill himself", and "he's going to smack into me and kill me."
Having said that, I think he's really a gentle, eager guy who just needs
some time in a round pen. I wish one of you
would buy him and give him a chance to be a horse. His name is
Midnight Morafic. He's on Dreamhorse and lives in Stanwood, WA.
There were a few others--Zeus in Index who already highlines and
hobbles, has a huge chest and cannon bones and feet to match, and has done a
few distance events already. But he doesn't care for puddles and doesn't
like to go first in the pack.... I hate that.
And Then I Met
Leo....
Omigosh. This whole thing is like falling in love. I walked
out to meet him and he shied away like a deer and had to be herded into his
shed to be haltered. By the time I left, 3 hours or so, something had
changed in both of us. Since then I've gone out there four more times. Each
time I come back elated by how smart and eager and warm-hearted he is (--and
impressed by what a long haul this is going to be). He's really high. She
listed him as a "ten" for temperment on Dreamhorse. When I called on him I
asked if he'd tried to kill her or something to earn that high a mark. But
she's right, he's not mean--just really shy and fresh. He seems relieved to
have someone focusing on him--I've never had a horse try to hug me
before--it's really odd and sweet. He touches his neck against my ear, then
curves his head a bit so that a lot of him is touching me. Then he sighs and
relaxes for a moment. Most of the time though, it's like working with a
cloud. He never leans or pulls or pushes--there's no weight on the lead at
all, ever--he just floats around like a super-charged electron.
Anyone who'd like to give advice about starting him well is more
than welcome to email me at lazykfarm at comcast dot net. I'm trying to go
slooooowwww because he's such a nervous thing.
It's going to be a
fabulous journey. I'm really happy tonight.
