So, today. Long day. Cold day. Upstate NY in the snow squalls, middle
teens and a whipping wind cold day. Yeee HAAWWWW.
First, I had no sleep. I really mean that. We got to bed around midnight
and The Dogs Were Restless. Cassie woke me up barking at Sam's computer
game noises, then barking because she wanted to go downstairs and wished
me to turn on the light, then barking/squabbling with Tipsy, then Ms Two
Eyed Blind bumped and felt her way up the stairs and got stuck in the
hall with Cassie barking so I had to separate them and help Lliira into
the bedroom about 3:30am; Lliira would not settle, came over to my side
of the bed to pant and poke at me with her foot (sometimes dead on,
sometimes clawing the covers, sometimes the bedside table) until I gave
up and walked her at 4am. Then of course at 5:45am my alarm went off to
feed horses and dogs and hit the road for Many Hours of Driving,
punctuated by freezing my butt off and climbing on various horses. Carl
was tired and grouchy, but somehow managed to have a big nap in between
the house and farm one, farm one and farm two, farm two and farm three,
and farm three and our shop stop on the way home. :-) At that point,
with 10 1/2 hrs of driving under my belt, I made him drive.
Horse One: Palomino mare, 15.3, well built, rising 9 going onto 10 yrs
old, two nice foals on the ground (we saw one--fancy! Verry nice colt.
From her advert I thought she had more saddle time on her than she does
(said broke to ride, would make good trail horse, has relatives who
event and do parades, etc). The photos on her advert show her under
saddle, so I just sort of figured she was broke but not polished. Well,
her owner is basically someone who just breeds and stands her stallion,
so owner does not ride. The mare had 30 days of training about 4 yrs ago
and has done next to no under saddle work since (although some people
got on her and rode her while trying her out a few weeks ago and she
didn't act stupid with them or toss them into next week). I declined to
ride her without someone else riding her first, although she longed and
had nice ground manners. She's obviously not going to be a horse for
Carl any time soon, although with 6 months under saddle work she would
be a cute addition to the Mare's Nest, that's not what we are looking
for. She really would be a steal deal for someone who was experienced
and wanted a lot of bang for their buck and didn't mind putting some
work into her--she's only 1500.00 and I bet you a monkey the owner would
come down lower if you offered her cash. The photos do not do the mare
justice, she's cuter:
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-703949.aspx
Off to horse #2. Little pinto mare, very cute, good mannered. Up a
mountain and in 4 inches of snow, more coming down. Owner's husband is
the rider, she's a timid novice and they got her this mare to ride with
the hubby. She then never really rides the horse, since it isn't her
thing. She has a friend who rode the mare all summer, but she's sat
without being ridden but once last month since September. Owner not
about to get on. I liked the mare on an eyeball, and said 'let's toss
some tack on her and I'll climb up.' Owner swore horse was lovely but
said I was very brave, she had intended to have the friend to show the
mare under saddle to me but friend had been called in to work. Tacked
her up, went out and I did a little walk, jog, and lope. Very smooth,
very sweet, very pleasant and willing. I put Carl up for a little walk
and jog and they did very nicely. Obviously a good little mare. I think
Carl felt she was a little small for him. Anyone looking in NY might
find her a nice ride--with a little more experience she'd be a good
kid's horse.
And now to the final horse, a cream colored appy with no spots, just
some freckles. Out with a buddy when we got there a little early, caught
nicely and came right in, mannerly for grooming even though his pal was
being a nerd. We tacked him up and the high school kid rode him on a
snowy, slick hillside, no fence, no ring. They have a spiffy little
natural meat farm (poultry, pigs, goats, sheep) and sell all kinds of
meat from a little store there at the farm, plus have a farm restaurant
once a week with a prefix farm meal of fresh foods. Since it is the
weekend before Thanksgiving, basically the whole time we are trying out
the horse the dad was slaughtering turkeys and processing on the hill
top in a little shelter. Normally they would be able to haul to a local
indoor arena where she boards her equitation horse during the show
season; she's also done Pony Club. He's 12, 15.2 hands, solid built with
good feet, has an opinion but corrected nicely. Was in work all summer
doing Western stuff with a girlfriend but has been home getting hacked
once a week or so for the last few months. We liked him, but could not
get a real feel given the footing and distractions (turkey noises,
friend freaking, windy as all get out, hillside of icy footing).
So, here he is and here is the question--check out the little thingie in
the corner of his eye. Had it for many years, seems a little more
irritated when he eats hay, less when on grass, so she thought allergies
stimulated it some. Their vet didn't have a clue, other than seeming to
respond to hay it has not changed much. Anyone have a clue? Is this a
****tent of evil? He is a very solid, reasonably priced horse and
probably the best educated of the horses we've seen so far from the
small amount of work we could do with him (never tripped or slipped once
on that hillside, although he would break back to trot and was reluctant
to canter up the hill, especially on the right lead).
Here:
http://cbsnet.smugmug.com/gallery/6626519_ceRhZ/1/422457267_ycndR#422457267_ycndR
Thoughts?
Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest
http://www.themaresnest.com
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