How to Remedy an Aching Heart

It was quite simple really...just get your favorite horse back!!!

Thank you everyone for your kind words in the past week...it really meant a lot to me.

I'll try to make a long story short and sweet, but Shirley at Ride a Good Horse had a pretty good idea of what happened. This pic from the Mike Bridges Clinic post...it's the last time I saw Colt.

That's Bill Berner leading Colt off
to his trailer.

I mentioned that Colt was a super star at the Mike Bridges clinic, and he really was...and I got tons of compliments on him throughout the 3 days. As I was talking with Bill about what horse I would use as "The Project" horse for the next 5 years (making a Traditional California Vaquero Bridle Horse), I mentioned that I wouldn't use Colt because he's for sale. I don't advertise him, but I bought him as an investment in my training business...to train him and eventually sell him. I felt it wouldn't work to have my 5 year Project horse be gone after the first 2 or 3 years of the Project.

So later that day, Bill asked how much I was asking for Colt and that he had a couple of people interested in a horse like him. I told him, he asked me more questions about him, and later that day a gal showed up and was quite taken with him. She came back the following day with her husband; she rode Colt...Bill rode Colt...they took off his saddle and examined his conformation...her husband rode Colt...she bought him for my asking price. But, not end of story...the vet check had to be done, but that should be a piece of cake.

I was a mess for the rest of that last day at the clinic, tearing up every 5 minutes, and almost couldn't do my last cow...knowing that this would be my last ride on him. That last ride on Colt on Sunday was very difficult to not tear up and keep focused...but I wanted it to be a run to remember. I first picked a cow that had already been worked and Mike made me quit that cow and get a different one. This new cow was nice...perfect for me to get Colt arched and looking at the cow and had just enough turn in it to make Colt think about his turns...it was awesome.

But, I came home without my lil' man.

Why would I sell my best horse so soon? Well...Colt would have the best of everything...great home, he'd have wonderful training, she loved him, and she wanted a horse to keep forever...she would be doing the 5 year Project, and I'd get to see Colt and her progress as a pair for the next 5 years because I'd be in the same Project class!!! What more could I ask for in a buyer? WIN, WIN, WIN!!!

The next day, Monday, the vet check was done and there was an issue with Colt's left hock; he was slightly off on it. Huh? Shocking to everyone, because he didn't show any signs before. So, we all think that he's just sore from 3 days of hard work. A follow-up appointment is made for the following Wednesday (that will be this coming Wednesday 5/6/09) after he's had a week to rest.

In the meantime, we didn't want to impose on Bill's hospitality with keeping Colt at his place anymore, so I gave permission for the buyer to take him to her place. He's got a nice big paddock and buddies on the other side of the fence. But, here's where some issues start cropping up.

I don't consider Colt to be an extremely hot horse, but he does have energy. She was giving him a twice daily light work in the round pen to keep him moving and leading him all around her place introducing him to the area; you know, bonding. As every day goes by, Colt is beginning to get unmanageable for her. He's spooking at things and trying to bolt and run...who's horse is this???

So, I get a call from the buyer about all of this. We both agree that Colt is probably not the right match for her. She admits that she is not as confident of a rider as she would like to be, but was trying her best to show Colt that she was his leader and the one in charge, but it just got worse every day. And I'm beginning to see that between her lack of confidence and that fact that Colt wasn't running in a 3 acre pasture with another gelding playing all day, was starting to take it's toll on Colt's lil' brain!

I agreed to take him back...GLADLY!!!!!! The last thing I want is for him to not work out and him to get passed onto another buyer...and to who knows what...my worst nightmare...not going to happen to my guy.

But, the hock issue is still of great concern for me, so the buyer is going to take him to his appointment on Wednesday for a flex test on the left hock. If there is any lameness, she will have it x-rayed for me. It'll be cheaper (fuel wise) for me than going and getting him and then taking him to Idaho Equine. Then we're meeting half way between where we live, and I get my boy back!!!

I will be so happy to see this lil' face greeting me every morning again!!


So, I'm thinking of going ahead and using Colt as my 5 year Project horse...those of you in the "horse business"...what do you think? Even if you're not in the business, what do you think?