Team of Horse Crazed Blogger-Buddies!!

It's a well known by both my friends, family and fellow bloggers that I tend to stalk horses online.... I peruse the sale ads sites, sniff up deals, bookmark favorites and then go back time and time again to see if my chosen few have sold. However, rarely do I look at horses locally (as to avoid temptation) and I have a rule about not contacting sellers unless I'm in the market...

However, I'm not great with rules.

And so, when in summer of last year I found a local mare online that really liked and despite the fact I was in no position to buy a horse.... and despite that she was vastly inappropriate- not being the right size, breeding, conformation, training or having potential in any discipline I'm interested in- and despite my golden rule, I contacted the owner and immediately starting scheming how I might get her....

However, eventually logic did win out and after watching some video and getting the advice from Cheli's Team of Logical-Minded Friends I talked myself out of pursuing her any further....

I told myself to forget about her and never looked back.

*hysterical laughter* Oh my! As if... A rabid dog with a juicy bone aint got nothin' on me baby!

I didnt forget about her. But I did move on.

*snort* Oh, I crack myself up.

Less than a month later I was e-mailing the owner again to see if we could work out a lease but the owner needed to get her sold and I couldnt commit to a lease to purchase. I knew it was for the best.... and so I actually resisted temptation for a second time!

But the story doesnt end there! I had to resist her yet again when I discovered that she had come back up for sale or lease early this year by the lady who purchased after I crapped out! I contacted the new owner but quickly discovered that a lease wouldnt work due to an issue I'll not get into here (to due with bad bitchy blood with a related party).... and so I let her go once and for all....

Of course that didnt stop me from lamenting over her, watching her videos and going back to moon over her picture a few times a month... or week... (not everyday, I promise!) I just couldnt put my finger on why I was inexplicably drawn to her, why I was infatuated with a horse I've never met and would never allow myself to buy....

Okay, so it's not exactly unheard of for me to obsess over horses I want. But this one was more inexplicable than most!

And so I went out and found Jewel, the horse I am currently semi-leasing- a nice, broke, quiet and sensible mare.

Anyways, yesterday I went out to the barn for the first time in a month, looking forward to a nice little ride to get back in to the swing of things before my lesson (also the first in a month) on Monday. The barn where Jewel lives is a small private farm with just 6 stalls and a few run-in sheds, and just two boarders. The two paddock/sheds had been empty for some time and so I was a little surprised when I went to grab Jewel from the field to find an unfamiliar sorrel mare staring back at me from across the fence. I walked up to greet her, clucking softly and cooed "Hey there stranger, who're you?" when a rustling from the dark confines of the adjoining shed brought me up short. I squinted into the blackness to find a faint white stripe bobbing in tune with the rustle of hay in a plastic trough. I clucked again and a head shot up. A black mare, bright eyes glinting in the faint light huffed a breath to take in my scent. A chill ran up my spine as I took in a thin white blaze both distinct and familiar in shape. The mare. My mare. The one I'd never met but lusted after for months! She had found me.

"Damn it!" My brain piped up, "Step away from the horse Chelsi. Dont go to her. Dont! Stop! No, if you pet her you're going to want her! Oh man! Her muzzle just touched my cheek! Oh no! It's so soft! Run! Get away before it's too late!" And then... *sigh* I gave up. I gave in and loved up on her. I let myself "feel" her.

And then I phoned DB (Darling Boyfriend) and the rest of the Chelsi's Team of Logic-Minded Friends and let them talk me down.

I cant have this mare.

No way. No how.

I'm almost ready to accept that.

So I'll now address my Team of Fellow Horse Crazed Blogger-Buddies...

*motions towards the floor... or in the case keyboard*

Tak'er away!

PS- I'm pretty sure she's not sound and wouldnt stand up to hard work... just a minor detail, really...

The Pull of the Project Horse

(Aztec stallion Brio)

Last night I was having supper with DB and chatting, as usual, with the wonderful folks who staff and run the restaurant when one of the girls there gave me the latest update on her mother's horse, Cisco. Now, this is a gelding is one I've been intrigued with for some time as a few months ago the Mom and I were having a chat and she expressed how she doenst have any time for Cisco and wondered if I wanted to spend some time with him, (she also lent me a DVD of him showing a very cute four-year-old Andalusian QH cross (Aztec) gelding with a pretty way of going and a decent yet green handle under saddle.) At that time I had a lease horse and was taking lessons and so after much (inner monologue) debate I resisted the temptation and declined her offer.

Since then I've heard off and on that the distention between her Mom and Cisco continued....the longer he sat not being used the more the distance between them grew until everything came to a head one day when her Mom met and fell in love with a Mini... a mini who Cisco met and instantly decided to kick the crap out of. Anyways, last night I hear that Cisco is for sale. Of course I havent stopped thinking about him since.

(Diesel the Beagle hanging out at the barn, looking at Roxy's paddock)

Next horse, Roxy. A solid bay four-year-old bay mare I met a few weeks ago. She isnt clicking with her owner either... a difference in personality types we'll call it. Well, her and I got along just fine. She has a pretty head, nice big solid body and a sweet eye. I didnt ride her but I did spent a good while hanging over the fence loving up on her. Roxy will come up for sale next month. I havent stopped thinking about her either.

(My friend's Arab cross mare, barnmate of Roxy)


What is it with the pull of the "reject"horse. ("reject" meaning the horses the owners dont want for whatever reason.) Is it Flicka Syndrome? Is it just that I have a soft spot for to the misfits? Is it that I want to make a good horse, instead of buy one. Pride? Greed? Scottish thrift? I want to buy both of these horses.... even though neither of them really suit my needs.

I can not buy them.... but that doesnt mean that I have to stop dreaming about what I'd do with them if I could!

The horse I think I should love + update- more on Willy

I found a gelding today that I think would make a sound prospect for many riders. He isn't, to the best of my knowledge, killer well bred or totally finished out in a specific discipline but he moves beautifully, freely and with a nice frame and he appears quiet, sound and very well broke.




I am going to be a little presumptuous here and suggest that Willy is the kind of horse that we women should buy the first time around but often dont... not until we've over indulged our "Flicka Syndrome" one time to many and have come to appreciate a safe steady Eddie (or Willy)... to for go all of that wild fire and romance for a consistent, safe and enjoyable companion.

I dont find the prospect of buying this gelding necessarily exciting... but he is the kind of horse that would be smart to look at!

Willy's ad says that he is a 12-year-old, APHA gelding, 15.2HH tall with experience in reining, cows, clinics and as a schooling horse. He hauls, ties, clips, bathes and has placed in shows. The ad claims his video will tell the story and I believe it does.

I could take Willy today and show him at some level of reining, Western Pleasure, Trail, Cattle Penning or throw a rope off of him and then throw an English saddle on him and show him on the flat or try some dressage. He really could be a Jack of all trades.

I think he's priced well at $4500us.

(FYI- I dont know the owners of Willy and havent actually sent them this post (but will). I cant say if Willy really is a good prospect or not but he is the kind of horse I'd personally travel to see. Willy is in NW Washington.)

I left the following comment (or I should say, a less articulate version of this comment) on Story's All Gear No Skill blog in an effort to offer my advice on the subject of giving up a good horse who just isnt working for it's rider. Also, my opinion on how we, as horse lovers, are often inexplicably drawn towards certain horses, a "love at first sight" phenomenon, even though that horse isnt necessarily the best fit.

My comment....

"I am a hopeless romantic who leads with her heart and has bought many horse after "falling in love" at first sight (or even at first sight of their ad!) On paper a few of those horses even worked on paper too but in end many caused me a lot of heartache when I was forced to sell them because they were not a good fit. What I had to learn was to respect good, solid horses and to have faith that, given enough time, I will fall in love with any horse, especially one who make me happy and helps me follow my dreams.

It is SOOO unemotional sounding (and I am anything but) to say that you should only buy a horse that fits your needs on paper...
.... While I want to instantly fall in love, (when I first meet my future horse) I know now that it is more important that the horse works for me and that she be sweet and willing....
... I know that it is possible to find both at the same time (because I've had it happen) but I had to learn to stop leading with my heart. Think of it as falling in love with that friend you've known for ages, the one who's always been there for you but you never felt romantic towards until one day something changes."

Dont hold me to it or anything but I think that when I go to buy my next horse I'll try really hard to focus first on whole "respect" thing and not put so much stock in my level of attraction towards a certain prospect.

It's much easier to sell a horse that does everything you need but who you dont love than to sell a horse that you love but who doesnt do anything you need.