sigh Where are all the horsie AWers?

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

I went to look at a horse yesterday.

The horse was very nice. Pretty much as owner described. He had a few quirks that made me worry I could have some training headaches down the road, but nothing remotely concerning or deal breaking. Plus he'd mostly be schooling *me* as he's got more talent than I do right now. His personality was also a little on the 'pony' side of things, and he kept wanting to go back to his 'mom' or buddy, but we did click by the end and he went right past both with little issue.

Horse warmed up to me pretty fast and I warmed up to him. But at the price he was listed for, I'd want a week trial to make sure that trend continued. Plus I had to get him away from home to see how different he we be.

And I still wasn't sure about committing the money and the time and the worry of having a horse right now.

Anyways, the owner said no to the trial offer and I think that's that. Sure he could be 'the one', but I can't commit to this horse after one (or even two) rides.

I'm trying to focus on the negatives to keep me sane

Such as the horse being several years older than my ideal range.

Someone block the equine classifieds from my netbook and tell me not to look until I've had a job for 2 months. And find me a horse I can ride nowwww. Wah.

/unloading

Deleted member 42 · Aug 18, 2010

What about leasing a horse? While you shop.

Caitlin Black · Aug 18, 2010

You could always try a Used-Horse Saleyard. Just make sure to check under the hood and kick the tires. Wouldn't you know it, but a friend of mine bought a used horse and the bloody thing had an electrical fault and burned out within the week.

Not to mention that some unscrupulous business people will just sell you the shell, and there's nothing inside. A good reason not to buy a horse off e-bay (and the postage fees are ridiculous!)...

Okay, I'll stop now.

But seriously - my mum and sister used to have horses when we were all a little younger. I got on one once, and didn't feel very safe. That's about the sum total of my experience with horses.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 18, 2010

I always wanted a pony. Never got one.

Soccer Mom · Aug 18, 2010

Don't settle for a horse that isn't "the one." You know what a headache the wrong match up can be. There are people getting rid of their horses in droves because of the economy. The right horse is out there for you.

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

Medievalist said:
What about leasing a horse? While you shop.

Oh, an enabler. I like you more now :e2flowers

I did ask around a little for a free lease. Might have to look wider or do a not so free lease...

Cliff Face said:
You could always try a Used-Horse Saleyard. Just make sure to check under the hood and kick the tires. Wouldn't you know it, but a friend of mine bought a used horse and the bloody thing had an electrical fault and burned out within the week.

Not to mention that some unscrupulous business people will just sell you the shell, and there's nothing inside. A good reason not to buy a horse off e-bay (and the postage fees are ridiculous!)...

Okay, I'll stop now.

But seriously - my mum and sister used to have horses when we were all a little younger. I got on one once, and didn't feel very safe. That's about the sum total of my experience with horses.

LOL.

You can never understand me

Shadow_Ferret said:
I always wanted a pony. Never got one.

Aww. Clearly you should have bought one for yourself.

KTC · Aug 18, 2010

I only ever had one horse and I broke him myself...I never went to a horseyard or test drove a horse. Interesting.

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

Soccer Mom said:
Don't settle for a horse that isn't "the one." You know what a headache the wrong match up can be. There are people getting rid of their horses in droves because of the economy. The right horse is out there for you.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. You are wise, and I may have to request your number for future couch-therapy and council-ing when my horse friends are all unavailable at the same time!

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

KTC said:
I only ever had one horse and I broke him myself...I never went to a horseyard or test drove a horse. Interesting.

'Test driving' is the best way to drive yourself insane, I've decided.

KTC · Aug 18, 2010

Fenika said:
'Test driving' is the best way to drive yourself insane, I've decided.

i can actually understand completely. because i had the perfect match...just accidentally. if i were ever to get another horse, i would be looking for another Prince George. i'd never find him again.

Deleted member 42 · Aug 18, 2010

Fenika said:
Oh, an enabler. I like you more now

I did ask around a little for a free lease. Might have to look wider or do a not so free lease...

There are a lot of owners that could use a little $$ help with keeping a horse, especially in fall and winter.

jvc · Aug 18, 2010

I once tried to eat a horse. Only got half way through. It turns out I wasn't as hungry as I thought I was.

thothguard51 · Aug 18, 2010

As a teen, my mom got me a 5 year old Morgan, part American Saddle. A buckskin that looked like the one from the Marlboro man adds. It was late winter and he was muddy and his coat long. He was over sixteen hands and weighed over a thousand pounds. A very broad back and lots of muscle...

There was also a 3 year old Palomino and he had the looks of a fast horse, not as tall or muscular as the buckskin. My mom made me ride both. The Palomino was head strong, but a good jumper. The buckskin could neck reign and give you 9 cents change on a dime.

My mom told me to go with the Buckskin, because his breeding was from Kings Ranch in Tex so he was very well bred. I just wanted a horse, so I went with what my mom suggested.

Over the years, I never came to regret the decision. I could cut cattle, shoot a rifle off his back, ride him along the highway without him spooking and I even learned to do stunt riding. He was not the best of jumpers, or as fast as my girlfriends Thoroughbred, but he had a temperament that was very mild, and an intelligence about him that I never found in another horse. All I ever needed was a grazing bit...

When he turned sixteen, I gave him to the older lady who owned the farm where we boarded him. I knew he would be well taken care. It was not easy to give him up, but I did not ride or see him as often as I should back then and she absolutely loved riding him.

Some of my greatest teen and early adult life are of memories of that horse, and I never doubted my mom again on horseflesh. Hell, I go to her to see who she likes in the Derby.

Out in Arizona, I used to do endurance racing for a lady who owned a lot of stock with American Mustang mix. I had some real interesting adventures while out west, including herding cattle, search and rescue, and taking dudes and dudettes on overnight rides. But I will save those stories for another time...

I miss my horsey...

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 18, 2010

Fenika said:
Aww. Clearly you should have bought one for yourself.

I can barely afford my dogs. And you can't keep horses in the city.

KTC said:
I only ever had one horse and I broke him myself...

You... you broke him?

KTC · Aug 18, 2010

Shadow_Ferret said:
You... you broke him?

it's a paradox, dude. when i broke him, i fixed him.

Chumplet · Aug 18, 2010

I never owned a horse. I started drawing them when I was four, and never stopped. When I was ten or eleven, my dad understood my obsession and took me for the occasional trail ride when he was around.

I almost signed up for a horse management course at college, but went for graphic design instead.

I kept painting. I took riding lessons with my girlfriends on our day off. When my daughter was old enough, I enrolled her in riding camp. She enjoyed it, but went the art route.

I still paint, and ride whenever I can. Recently, my best friend started dating a guy who owns polo ponies, and he gave her a horse. I'm immersing myself in the horse world again, if only on the perimeter. I'm doing a portrait of her new polo pony as we speak.

Maya is a rescue pony from Florida, and she's taking to the farm in Alliston quite nicely.

I still want a pony when I grow up.

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

KTC said:
i can actually understand completely. because i had the perfect match...just accidentally. if i were ever to get another horse, i would be looking for another Prince George. i'd never find him again.

Darn horses need to clone themselves, eh?

Medievalist said:
There are a lot of owners that could use a little $$ help with keeping a horse, especially in fall and winter.

I know. Too bad they don't advertise. Most of them anyways.

jvc said:
I once tried to eat a horse. Only got half way through. It turns out I wasn't as hungry as I thought I was.

Dragons. Sheesh.

thothguard51 said:
As a teen, my mom got me a 5 year old Morgan, part American Saddle. A buckskin that looked like the one from the Marlboro man adds. It was late winter and he was muddy and his coat long. He was over sixteen hands and weighed over a thousand pounds. A very broad back and lots of muscle...
<snip>

I miss my horsey...

I hear ya.

Shadow_Ferret said:
I can barely afford my dogs. And you can't keep horses in the city.

You can, acshually. Or just get out of the city and enjoy that country air

Chumplet said:
I never owned a horse. I started drawing them when I was four, and never stopped. When I was ten or eleven, my dad understood my obsession and took me for the occasional trail ride when he was around.

<snip>

I still want a pony when I grow up.

I suggest you grow up asap, whatever that means

thothguard51 · Aug 18, 2010

A lot of my buddies did not understand why I spent so much time on the farm with my horse instead of playing frizbee or football with them.

Let see, we had 30 horse boarded at the farm and I was the only male rider. Of the other 29, half were my age and as some of the girls told me, riding made them horny...

Hard decision, go play football with the guys or go RIDING with the girls... very hard decision.

Fenika · Aug 18, 2010

Caitlin Black · Aug 19, 2010

Just another reason why a horse should be your wingman.

Satori1977 · Aug 19, 2010

Aww, had to stop in here, I love horses. I was one of those girls that asked for a horse every year, never got one. (Grew up in a race horse community). Now that I am an adult, I STILL want a horse. When my daughter tells me she wants a horse, I tell her I want one too.

Then I tell my hubby we need to be rich so we can buy a ranch and lots of horses. I went to veterinary technology school, and adored my time with the horses. Also worked around some before that. Met a horse that would nibble my ear (I learned not to wear earrings about him). He was gorgeous, and so sweet.

My fave horse, a palomino. I just love how they look. Now I am going to be sad all day thinking about horses.

thothguard51 · Aug 19, 2010

The farm we boarded our horses on adjoins the Manassas National Battlefield Parks. We had lots of places to ride and not just on the farm. We could spend an entire day riding the trails of the park, and making our own, and not have to ride the same trail twice. We also knew all the hiding places where tourist did not normally venture.

Once, a young lady and I almost got caught by Park Rangers doing some experiments with our raging hormones. Our clothing laid scattered around a field, we were bareback on my horse and where there is a will, there is a way.

Long story short, word got around school that I was caught in the battlefield doing the nasty on horseback. I never admitted to it, nor was the girl ever identified, but after this event, I had girls that would not normally give me the time of day suddenly asking me to take them bareback riding.

Ahhh, those were the days of youth and lost innocence...

shyne · Aug 19, 2010

I kissed one. Instantly we both regretted the decision

Fenika · Aug 19, 2010

There's a horse I like that's a palomino.

Right now I'm wondering if I show up with cash in hand, if my friend will let me ride her mare 5x a week, even when she's not around

thothguard51 · Aug 19, 2010

I spent two years renting horses before we decided to buy. My mother wanted to make sure it was not a fad.

There was a big difference between owning my own and renting someone else's barn sour nag. Not just in the pleasure of owning my own horse, but the riding and training experiences it afforded me. Caring for your own horse makes the horse part of the family...

*sigh* Where are all the horsie AWers?

Deleted member 42

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sigh Where are all the horsie AWers?