Have I mentioned before how much I dislike shopping? Horse shopping included. Scanning DreamHorse and Craigs List ads, e-mailing and phone conversations with horse sellers, trying to decipher hidden code words for horses with issues. Driving everywhere to meet horses and being disappointed in what I find. Bleh!
My friend Colleen and I drove down to Los Lunas, NM to check out a cute pinto mare. Here’s the photo that was sent to me from the owner.
The photo makes her look sort of wonky looking, and the tautness of the tie-down does concern me. The owner says that when she brought the mare home over a year ago, after rescuing her from a neglectful situation, the first time she tacked her up she reared up a little. The owner just put the tie-down on and never had any problems after that. If this mare does seem to be a good fit in all other ways, Colleen and I intend to get to the bottom of what caused her to go up in the front before purchasing, though. Ill fitting tack? Skeletal discomfort? Confusion? Training issues? I certainly hope it was just a one-time deal, though.
Colleen and I brought this mare up here to her home yesterday because Colleen has almost no mud and snow at her place. It’s just too messy to try and ride any horse over here at my house. bleh!
I was surprised at how easy Sugar was to catch with just a bucket of grain. The owner has been keeping her mare pastured down on a 10 acre lot in Los Lunas at a friend’s house.
She keeps halters on her horses, but still it was easy to walk up to the mare and I just clipped the halter on and she led quietly out to the trailer.
Sugar trailered easily and she calmly stepped out of the trailer and was led into her stall quietly, even though Colleen’s herd of 11 horses (not all hers, though) were all checking her out. She squealed a few times at Colleen’s pretty mare, Kitty, but was otherwise calm and quiet.
Sugar was coated in dried mud and her tail and mane were matted and decorated with weeds and burrs, so the first thing I wanted to do was to get her cleaned up. She didn’t know what to think at first and walked away from me several times, but I just stayed with her and kept brushing and she finally decided it felt good and stood still.
I lifted all of her feet and she did so calmly and willingly, so that was really nice. Colleen went back in the house to check e-mails and let me hang out there getting to know Sugar a little better and I spent close to 2 hours out there playing with her. I did alot of crazy jumping and made lots of loud noises and she basically ignored me. Nice.
I was wearing my crazy straw cowgirl hat and threw it to the ground to see what she’d do, she backed up a step and walked away, but she quickly desensitized to it when I brought it up to her back and over her head and face. I even threw it up in the air and she just looked at it. Good girl.
I also spent some time laying across her back from both sides and jumping up and down on both sides an she just stood calmly, waiting and sometimes turning her head to look at me. I forgot to bring carrots or treats and I don’t think she’s used to getting any anyway, but she does like her cheeks rubbed. Sugar doesn’t mind her ears held, her eyes covered up, or her head held in a hug either. She stands still for all.
I really couldn’t find anything from the ground that she was sensitive about or didn’t like, except when I was brushing her mane trying to get out the caked in mud balls. She wasn’t fond the all that pulling, but she didn’t freak out. She stepped away once and looked back at me, but otherwise just stood and let me pretty her up.
I like her shoulder angle. Her owner says she has a smooth trot and rocking chair canter. But this time around, I’m not buying for looks. I learned my lesson with Baby Doll.
This time I know what I don’t want, which is an important difference from when I bought Baby Doll. I also have an experienced objective opinion, in Colleen, during my horse shopping trips this time, too.
Anyway, her owner calls her ‘Sugar’ and she has trailered her to the Northern New Mexico Mountains 4 times this past year for trail rides, and has also used Sugar for her kids and beginners to ride.
Her owner said Sugar crosses water and bridges and does well on the trails. She’s ridden her on a busy road road with barking dogs on one side and cars speeding by on the other and Sugar stays calm and focused.
Her owner enjoys doing ‘extreme’ endurance-type trail rides and is wanting to buy a faster, more competitive horse. She’s moving to a new house and can only have two horses and she already has a little gelding her kids and friends can ride, so she decided to sell this mare since she doesn’t have a bond with her.
Colleen and I will spend a week evaluating whether this horse will be a good match for me. l’d like to trailer this little mare down to Cedar Hill Farm, too, so I can ride her in the indoor arena and out on the trails there to see how she does. We’ll have to see how the week progresses.
I really hope I can find my forever horse soon. The April ACTHA CTR event at Cedar Hill Farm is coming up quick. And Colleen invited me to join her and some other Snowy Mountain Cowgirl Club friends for the ACTHA CTR up in Farmington, NM next month, too. I certainly won’t rush into buying just any horse, but I don’t think ACTHA will allow me to ride a Stick Pony for the CTRs. lol!
I’ve lost my passion for photography ever since Baby Doll left for her new home. There are horses everywhere I look around here and at the WNCR Horse Rescue, but as beautiful as they all are, they just don’t hold my heart. It will be interesting to see, in the end, which horse will…………
35 comments :
A beautiful horse and, of course a good name (Sugar). Everything sounds good, but I'm also a little concerned by the tie down. There's an old saying, “the higher the horse’s head, the less brains and the lower the horse’s head, the more brains”. I think there's some truth to that.
As you work with her and ride her, watch her head. A high headed horse can be a signal that there's something to watch out for.
I hope it works out for you as she's a beautiful horse.
Dan
Sounds promising, she really is cute. Enjoy the week trying her out.
Looks like a solid little mare. However her neck looks a little cresty. How old is she? In the pre purchase vet exam I would check out insulin resistance if shes an easy keeper and has that cresty neck there. She does not appear to be fat elsewhere. That is the first thing I noticed and could be a possible problem down the road, if not now.
Like in my last science vs tradition post artificial aids should be a temporary solution, not a constant one. That tie down may be hiding a hole in her training me thinks.
Other than that she seems like pretty sensible mare. Try bringing something scary to her to see how she reacts to it.
I looooooooove that buckskin paint there. Ohhh how I have such a soft spot for buckskins.
Good Luck with Sugar. She seems to be a good fit for you. Can't wait to hear how the riding test works out. :) She's pretty too. :)
Thanks for allowing me to join you on your journey to new horse ownership. It is good that you know the things you don't want, that is a good start.
You want good conformation with good training and it is so wonderful that you have a friend to help.
Keep us posted, the love of horses will return when your trust is renewed.
Sugar is very pretty and seems like she's pretty laid back so far. She has a very soft eye which some think is a clue to the temperment. I'm glad you get time to check her out and put her through her paces before you purchase. Listen to your gut and Colleen! There is one for you out there and maybe it's sweet as Sugar. Can't wait to hear how the week goes. good luck
She looks like a nice, kind, sturdy mare. If she rides as nicely as she behaves on the ground, I certainly would take a chance on her. You have had the hysterics; now go for quiet and sane!!! No, she is not raving pretty(maybe when she sheds out) but like you said you had pretty and she nearly killed you. (I think I would change her name, too. Sugar????)
She looks like a nice, kind, sturdy mare. If she rides as nicely as she behaves on the ground, I certainly would take a chance on her. You have had the hysterics; now go for quiet and sane!!! No, she is not raving pretty(maybe when she sheds out) but like you said you had pretty and she nearly killed you. (I think I would change her name, too. Sugar????)
I can't wait to see the ground again.
You are going about this horse search in a very smart way. So far so good with this one! She seems pretty together and is good looking as well.
Hope you can get her over to the indoor for a ride... I have a feeling that this could be the one.
Sugar sure is pretty, love her coloring.
When you are horse shopping, there are a few things I consider important. First, if an owner wants to sell a horse, that horse should be well presented. Groomed, clean, etc. Also, I consider it a red flag if the owner keeps halters on her horses; not necessarily because the horse is hard to catch, but because the owner is either lazy or unknowledgeable.
Third, a big red flag to me is the tie down. Again, this is more often a fault with the owner, not with the horse. It usually tells me that the horse is not soft and responsive in the face, and that it has not learned to trust the rider's hands. You can't get a good feel for a horse that has it's head tied down, and I'm sure I'll hear some flack from barrel racers and ropers on this one.
But the biggest thing about horse shopping is the connection you get with the horse. There are no perfect horses, (although Beamer comes close!) -there is always something either in the conformation or the personality. You will know what you are willing to put up with. Don't be in a hurry, and remember that if you do buy one and decide it's not what you want, sell it. There are plenty of horses out there, and don't pressure yourself up with deadlines to hurry up and buy.
Hope you find one to love as much as I love Beamer!
Sugar has pretty, wispy markings. It sounds from your post like you were hoping for a horse you could connect with more. If you decide against Sugar, try visiting a breeding farm where there are lots of choices. I guarantee that the right horse will pick you. There is this one farm I've had my eye on in Las Vegas that breeds and thoroughly trains Tennessee Walking Horses so that they are trail-safe, kid-safe, and husband-safe. The horses are expensive, but may be worth it since they come from an environment where they focus on training. I like to look at their videos of them riding the horses down the highway: http://www.dreamwalkerhorses.com/
I do like her looks, and she certainly reacted well to working on the ground. Can't wait to hear how she does under saddle.
Sugar looks cute , be careful and wise in your choices (I know you will be ) and keep us up to date on how it goes
She looks like a sturdy little lady :)
Her neck seems a bit thick but that may trim down some once she's in better shape... and I just bet whatever horse you do buy will get lots of rides and be in fine shape.
Things sound good from the ground, fingers are crossed that it all works out well under saddle too!
Lisa, I hear you about losing a horse. I've really changed since Beauty's death. Not so attached to my horses now as I used to be...She looks like a nice horse and I'm glad you get to try her out first! Can't wait to see how your week goes.
She is cute Lisa! Good luck! Sounds like she is a good minded horse.
She is cute. I hated horse shopping too when I was into horses. Once my sis and I drove a couple of hours and down a horrible, mile long, dirt driveway only to be told... you can't ride the horse you are looking at because of liability reasons.
You have enough advise to read over with out my 2 cents worth so none from me...but I think Sugar is a cutie pie. Now to the rdies!!!!
Sugar looks like a real pretty one and sounds like she is not spooky. I sure don't envy you the search for a new horse. I don't think I have it in me to do. I think if something happened to Gilly I would be horseless, only have Pokey the yard ornament.
I hope the ride on her is a good one and can't wait to hear how it goes.
There are a lot of horses out there looking for a good home hope you find the one that is for you!
Good Luck!
hugs....
Jane
Lisa, ride her,spend time with her, groom her, feed her, do what you would do with your own horse. Your gut will tell you the rest.Good luck! I'm still looking.
Lots of good advice in the comments above - just spend time with her and see how you feel. The tie down may just be owner ignorance, or because the owner didn't understand how to get the horse to be soft and responsive. Horses usually rear out of either pain or fear - but make sure there's no rearing for you - that's one you don't want to have to deal with as it can be dangerous and can be hard to retrain.
I'd probably work her from the ground in a round pen first. I'd try putting her in a snaffle and bit her back (slightly at first) to see if she gives to the pressure or resists. When I got on her for the first time I'd let her just travel on a loose rein (still in a snaffle if possible) and pick up contact only for minimal guidance. Hopefully she'll realize she isn't going to get her mouth yanked on and will respond positively.
I'd probably work her from the ground in a round pen first. I'd try putting her in a snaffle and bit her back (slightly at first) to see if she gives to the pressure or resists. When I got on her for the first time I'd let her just travel on a loose rein (still in a snaffle if possible) and pick up contact only for minimal guidance. Hopefully she'll realize she isn't going to get her mouth yanked on and will respond positively.
Sugar has soul. You'll know if she's right for you, and you for her.
She's very sweet looking, and I think she's pretty, too.
If she was a rescue, depending on how much the lady who owns her knows, one of the things that you need to do is check her teeth. If they need floating, she may have gone up a little to try to get away from the pain.
Her neck is a little thick, so she may not be able to come on the bit too easily, but, if you want her for trail riding and low level stuff, that's not really a big problem.
I hope that she turns out to be "the one" for you.
I know how hard this journey is, and how fraught with peril. Don't worry too much about a heart connection - a horse that has been sold many times takes her time making a connection - that's the case with Lily. Sometime in the last few months she figured out that she's home. And she's let us in. It's wonderful.
Tie downs are lazy and bad, or so I've heard.
Sometimes beauty reveals itself in such a gradual way, it suddenly rises up and takes your breath away from a place you never thought you'd see it.
You are taking this on in a very thoughtful way. There is no perfect horse, but taking your time is critical. You'll find the one you can grow with.
Good luck on your horse adventure, but I do have to echo some of the same concerns others have brought up.
1. The tie down could be a problem.
2. her think and cresty neck could have hidden issues.
3. do get her teeth checked as that may be part of the issue with her high head.
Additionally I had a mare one time that the former owner rode in a monster high port curb bit and complained left and right that she was high headed and bad for rearing. The lady was basically scared of the mare because of her actions. I changed the bit and put the mare in hackamore and the mare totally changed, dropped her head and walked out easy as pie. So try the mare in a wide variety of bits to see how she will react in each.
Some people never test a new horse in a variety of bits to see what is comfortable for the horse. They just use what they have and then try and correct the horses reactions with more equipment.
Sounds like you are getting lots of advice. My two cents ....check this one out for the week who knows maybe she is the one. I think you need to have the knowledgable friend along to help with the things you don't know and the rest will be half your heart and half your head listen to both....and your friend. I think you will know when you have the right one. Good luck checking out Sugar.
Ph how fun, thanks for taking us "along" on your horse shopping adventure! Good advice in the comments here.... I have to agree with Shirley about the owner. Who would present a horse for sale without cleaning it up? Now, I do like an owner to let the prospective buyer catch and halter the horse themselves, because this is an important insight into the horse.
I think this mare has nice coloring and a pretty face. The biggest yellow flag for me is the rearing. Solving a rearing problem by just putting on a tie-down is not solving the problem. I am sure Colleen will help you get a good feel for Sugar under saddle. I hope she pushes her a bit. That is why I will take a trainer with me on my next horse purchase. A trainer can push a horse out of it's comfort zone a bit, really test out what it knows, and see how it reacts. I'm not sure I would have the confidence to do that on a horse I was trying and didn't know at all. It's different in a riding lesson, I know the instructor wouldn't put me on a horse that was dangerous or too much out of my league.
p.s. Have you looked at any geldings??? :)
Sounds like your on the right track!! It's really good to hear how well she handled all of the noise and motion around her! I know you with the help of Colleen will thoroughly check Sugar out! Can't wait to hear more!!
She looks like a nice, stout little mare. Sounds like she's got a good head on her so far...hope the rest of the 'test drive' goes well. Maybe she's the one!? :)
No advice fromme, Lisa ~ just a prayer! 'Sugar' is a beautiful looking horse though. I see her shape and her colors are awesome. Very striking! I also see that Heart on a ribbon ~ on her left side. The ribbon circles her neck. Do you see it? It's like she's wearing a Heart 2 Heart tag. Absolutely no reason to buy a horse though!!!! Just couldn't not see it! I thot it was a sweet embedded design that the Lord created on her.
I pray that she's as sweet as ~ and lives up to that God-created 'tag' ....
Blowing Blessing your way
Patrina <")>><
I'm not even a fan of paints and I LOVE that face! I hope she's the one Lisa! Glad you have expert help in your buying endeavor! I did EVERYTHING wrong when I bought Jackson, you know my story, but thank GOD he has turned out to be my forever horse! Or one of them might I say! Can I say again I love that face? What a cool blaze!
~Mindy
I think she's nicely put together. She looks like a nice sturdy mare with some flash to her. She's got a kind eye and was a good girl on the ground. I hope you find what you are looking for in her!
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