My horse is a fiesty, stubborn, hard minded brat.

And I love him for it.

Yes, my horse is a terror.

 I took him on a trail ride and in the process he:
Would not stand still at the tie block.
Fidgeted and pranced for saddling.
Bucked and ran in circles around me tossing his head when I was leading him to the trailer. My neighbor was watching with wide eyes like he thought he was going to explode. (Sam gets excited about trail rides.)
Stamped and stomped in the trailer.
Immediately started to trot when we got to the trails, and then broke into a canter.
Kept going into a trot or canter without being asked.

These are all things I would not allow in my projects for 30 seconds, but my own horse does them.
My mom thinks it's because he's spoiled (he is) and because I don't want to discipline him since I got him in bad shape when I was 14. She's wrong there.

 I don't work on these issues because to me, they aren't issues.

 Nobody else rides my horse or has ridden him for, oh, a good 5 years. Nobody else really handles him- although he is perfectly capable of standing tied and leading like a gentleman and don't let him tell you otherwise.

Nobody else will ever own him because he will never be for sale- I put it in my will and informed others that if I died suddenly, my possessions are to be sold to pay for his upkeep and if no one is available to keep him, he is to be put down rather than sold. He's not a young horse nor is he a calm horse- although he's as docile as a lamb around children.

He gives these little crow hop things that feel ridiculous and would unseat absolutely nobody and I just laugh at them. They feel hilarious. He goes, more or less, what speed he wants to and slows when he wants/needs to.

 I don't have a problem with this because our preferred speed of travel is a canter and since he's as out of shape as I am, and nearly as old, he knows his limits. I let him slow down because he wouldn't if he didn't need to. When he starts to go he does is slowly- his way of asking if it's cool to go now- and if it's not I say no and we don't. Personally I'm fine with travelling fast all the time but hey, he's the one doing most of the work.

You'd think I have to ride him with a deal grip on the reins but the truth is, they're definitely a U shape when we're trail riding.

It didn't used to be. He used to have way more issues, and those we did fix. We fixed the bolting, not loading, rearing, trying to turn back on the ride and some others. Those I did not want to live with. These I don't mind.

The real reason I don't correct all these 'bad habits' is because riding Sam isn't work, riding Sam is fun. It's relaxing and enjoyable and it always cheers me up and makes me laugh. Riding Sam feels different, it feels easier and "right". Probably because I've been riding him for ten years.

Riding the other horses is unquestionably work. Even trail riding isn't very fun. It's work.

I love my brat because he's entirely separate from my projects; there is no 'what are we going to work on today' in my mind when I get on Sam. It's just being there and letting everything go. That's borrowing freedom.

And for all the nonsense that Sam pulls, he actually loves being ridden. He dislikes anytime I ride other horses- not as much anymore, now he's just accepted it, but there's a distinct (and guilt inducing) change in his expression and carriage after we ride. He holds his head higher, his ears are perked and I swear to god, he struts. Even if he was tired. He thinks he's hot stuff.

I just laugh.


 
Before you ask, yes I had a helmet. I hooked it to my saddle when we stopped for a rest break by the lake. It's why my hair's so crazy. (Shut up, that's totally the reason. It's not because I need a haircut and haven't had one since London.)




It is a little bit 'Do as I say, not as I do' but then again, who really cares?

What I say vs What I mean when talking to potential buyers

What I say:
"Well, I think a turning 5 year old is probably a little too young for him..."

What I mean:
"What the is wrong with you?! I said he's a good horse but not yet a finished kids horse, why do you want a green gelding for your 4 year old with no experience?!"

WIS: "Do you mind if I ask how much you weigh? He's just not that big of a horse."
WIM: "I've had too many people think that it's okay for a 180-220 pound person to ride a 13.2 pony, despite my saying he weighs about 740 lbs and has a weight limit of about 140-150 MAX. including all tack."


No, it is not okay for you to ride a horse his size...
I don't know why he looks so much bigger when being ridden!
 


WIS: "Well, I think you might just be a little too big for him..."
WIM: "No. You are way too heavy to ride this horse. I don't know why you think it's okay, but it's not. Stop."

WIS: "Yes, I know you can be heavy and be a 'light' rider, but at 180 you are probably just a bit big since he is smaller than he looks in pictures... "
WIM: "I know you say you understand where I'm coming from and that you'll lose weight, but I'm not selling you a horse and then having you call me in 4 months complaining that he has soreness issues and started bucking. Nope."

What they say: "Well, I know your mom said that he was smaller than he looked in the pictures and he had a weight limit, but I only weigh about 185 and he looks big..."
WIS: "Yes, he looks big in all the pictures but he is definitely a pony, he needs pony tack and is small bodied. He look big in the pictures, we don't know why, but 185 is pretty heavy for him."
WIM: "We just told you on the phone and in the ad that he's smaller than he looks and you're too heavy. "

WIS: "Oh, You grew up riding a shetland about his height until you were 15? Interesting."
WIM: "No, no you didn't. Shetlands do not officially get that big."

WIS: "He's about 13.2 hands. In other measurements? He is 52 inches...  In feet? Uh, I don't know.."
WIM: "What kind of a horseman doesn't understand hands? Nobody measures horses in feet...."

WIS: "Oh you have a 22.2 hand thoroughbred? Wow."
WIM: "Wow! Call the Guinness book of world records! Why have you not reported him? That's amazing!  You know, considering the current tallest living horse is only 20.2 and the all time record was 21.2 hands.. "


Big Jake

WIS: "Oh, you found another pony? Okay, thanks for letting me know."
WIM: "Oh, you bought another pony within 5 hours of talking to me and making an appointment to come out tomorrow at noon? Okay, not sure how you even did that but okay. Thanks for letting me know! "

 WIM after thinking about it: "Somebody actually called me, the night before, and said they wouldn't be coming so I don't have to get the horse ready and just sit there waiting for hours. Oh my gosh. That never happens."

Arkansas Appaloosa Event photos.. and others

I've been getting really into the idea of pursuing Equine photography, and now I want more lenses and a better body and to learn more and take more and more pictures of gorgeous horses...

I went to go cover a a shoot with the Arkansas Appaloosa club... and discovered that my shutter speed for indoor shoots is too low, and my f stop too high. Which basically means my photos turned out 'busy', grainy or blurry, or all three.  Arg. It was very frustrating for me... also it was cold and I didn't feel like I could move around and get crazy angles like I could in France. Since the only place my shutter speed was even passable was facing the door and practice area, all my backgrounds are 'meh'. So now I'm saving up for a f/2.8 70-200 lens. Drool.

Anyway, I'd say a solid 99% of you don't care a bit what I'm babbling about so instead I'm going to post some pretty pictures and beg people on facebook to consider liking my photography page or share some pictures. Also if anyone in Arkansas has particularly pretty or photogenic horses and would like a free shoot (bonus points to Friesian or Andalusian owners) hit me up.

First, some old but newly edited (recently got cs6) photos

  

 
 






And now: photos from the Appaloosa Event



  



  


Love this mares color!








So anyway, there are a lot more pictures, so if you ever feel inclined, or you want to see more of my pictures or my horses, you can see them at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaethea-Equine-Photography/569641646495818

Beebe Auction Report! 10/10/14

Beebe Horse Sale: 10/10/2014

Number of horses: 120
Terms:
 TD: trader/ kill buyer
LT: led through
L: loose- not led through
RD: Ridden through
NRT: not ridden through, led through
BB: Bareback
M- mare
G- gelding
NS: no sale

Horses were low this month, although apparently not up north, but nobody was bidding.  It was a thunderstorm and people were apparently asleep because there was just nobody buying besides traders and KB's and even they were lack luster.

I am furious, I missed a genuine stubben saddle, and it looked good, for $85 because mom and I were talking about it and he ended it quickly. FML!  I wanted it before I heard the brand. There was another expensive English saddle that went cheap but it wasn’t as nice looking.

1. Sad but very sweet and incredibly skinny black 15 y/o TWH mare, long backed, sickle hocked, L, very friendly in the pen. $230 TD
2. Ewe necked , black skinny TWH mare, (with the one above), nervous but friendly, L, said younger but she looked older. $145 TD
3. Chestnut gaited gelding, RT BB, long backed $275 NS
4. 16.1 stocky grey pinto gelding, Reg. APHA 2005, gorgeous blue gray, nicest horse of the night. RT, rode well but a little spunky. $850 A steal.
5. Skinny dun, LT, 6 y/o mare  $130
6. Cremello (I think) gelding, 6 months old, registration in mail. LT $130 (Came through again later, apparently he got spooked in the trailer and fell down so they sent him back through. A rider for the R& R ranch bought him the second time.) $130
7. Nice chestnut mare, LT, seriously short stubby tail, half cut mane, reg. QH 2003 $400
8. Black yearling stud colt, L, $100
9. Dark palomino mare, LT, reg QH 2004, cute $410  TD
10. Perlino weanling colt from the palomino mare, reg. Nervous. $105
11. Black and white reg. TWH mare, RT, glass eye but otherwise cute, rode well. $500
12. Chestnut mini gelding, RT, rode in driving harness $105
13. Chestnut Shetland pony mare, RT $75
14. Strawberry roan colt, runty, possibly Arabian, L, $140 TD
15. Small chestnut gelding, L, nervous, $140
16. Small sorrel mare, pregnant? L, pretty head $200
17. Chestnut mare? L, $135
18. Big dark chestnut gelding, RT, nice. Rode well. Oh course the rider stood up on him. How else would we know it’s broke?! $160 (If I didn’t have too many projects he would have been a good deal.)
19. Pinto overo, RT double riders, didn’t ride well. They stuck a kid on him. $385 NS wanted 700
20. Cute chocolate mini, 7 month old stud colt. $38
21. Chocolate mini, stud, 13, reg application $40
22. Chestnut mini, application for reg, 2003 stud L $25
23. Big chestnut pinto gelding, RT, 11. Really nasty cut under the throatlatch, said he’d just done it. $320 NS wanted $400 (R&R ‘ranch’ owned- aka traders)
24. Chestnut mare, RT, “anybody can ride” $300 NS $400 (R& R owned)
25. Bay pinto, RT, Gelding, small, didn’t ride well $200 TD
26. Big chestnut gelding, stub tail, roped off of, RT, nice build, good neck reining, tender footed in front. Honest seller. $490
27. Chocolate mini, L $31
28. Small chestnut pony, L, mare? $120
29. Chestnut small gelding, “kid horse” cute $250 Ns 350
30. Small chestnut gelding, grand kids rode him, RT, nice $305
31. Dark bay MFT mare, 12 RT. Long mane and tail. Pretty, good build. Friendly in pen. $415… to me. :D
32. Black runty gelding, RT $200
33. Bay mare, RT $255
34. Small buckskin/dun, RT, mare, green. $300
35. Light palomino gelding, 15, trail horse, big $275 ns
36. Chestnut pinto mare, L, “broke” $290 TD
37. Sorrel pony or runty horse, mare, L’ broke’ $110 NS wanted 300
38. Chestnut mare, L, fugly and huge swollen and sore front leg. $5 
39. Nice chestnut mare, finished roping horse, RT, rode nicely, big motor but kind of ewe necked, $430 NS 500
40. Snotty nosed black mare, RT, fugly,$175 TD
41. Dark dun gelding, RT, nervous, spinning, didn’t ride well. $290
42. Black gelding, L, fugly, eye infection, skinny $52
43. Bay overo and tobiano paint mare and colt. L. Fugly. ‘rides’?  ½ blind? $255 for both
44. Stocky chestnut gelding, 11, RT, $400
45. Light palomino mare, L, fugly, $290
46. Smutty palomino? (Couldn’t place the color but that’s the closest I can think of) 6 y/o gelding, L, weird looking, nervous, been rode once $270 NS $330
47. Weird, fugly, appy, L $220
48. Blanket bay appy gelding, unique, cute, L $285 (Saw him before on Fb, not broke or messed with much)
49. Black and white paint gelding, L- then RT BB as a girl hopped up on him, reg. QH 2001, $250
50. Long backed fugly Black and white horse, $320
51. FUGLY (capitals needed) appy. No mane or tail and mangy looking. 7. ‘kid broke’, RT double, very calm. $350 NS  Unique looking and thank god for that.
52. Gray horse, LT, reg. 2011 QH $400 NS
53. Big perlino TWH gelding, RT. $400 NS $500 (I swear I’ve seen him before.)
54. Plain bay, RT, G? 5 y.o.  $200 (Mom called him the ‘morse’ mule x horse)
55. Bay roan mare, nice, RT, good build, friendly, well mannered, team penned, Reg. 1997, raised colts, had tendons or something operated on before and still needed time to straighten out? I wasn’t sure what they were saying.  Had an abscessed hoof. Side passed well and just an overall nice horse.  Honest seller (Red)  $450
56. Reg QH, bay, 1990, sad looking, LT, bred to a jack $100
57. Chestnut sway backed gelding, 16 y/o, LT, parades and barrels $200
58. Chestnut reg QH, 1999 barrels 2D/4D Rt, trail horse, rode nice. $325 NS 450
59. Light palomino QH gelding, 9, ridden when younger then turned out, LT, something wrong with him?? $300
60. Chestnut reg. QH, L, good build, 60-90 days riding, 2011, mare. $295
61. Nice bay roan, didn’t know much but had a lot of try, friendly, saw her before, tended to toe over in the front. 10 y/o mare. Would have big if I hadn’t bought my project before.
62. Dappled Buckskin gelding, pretty, L, nervous $275

I left at that point since I didn’t need yet another project.
I still haven’t named the mare I got, I’m trying to think of something cool. She is sweet, they said she was a kicker and aggressive to other horses in the pen so they had to put her by herself. (I forgot to say to pen her by herself anyway).  She loaded great and is not aggressive at ALL.  Totally not a kicker.  Rides pretty well. Has some spunk and she’s starting to come out of her shell. She moped for 2 days and wouldn’t leave the corner. Well cared for and she obviously liked her last owner. Seems to like guys.  I don’t know a lot about her yet.

I like the names Dremora, Daedra, Mondolwyn. Mom likes Gwynevere, Gwendolyn and Aela. I think she needs something a little darker though. We're open to ideas! Theme is fairy, Elvish, Skyrim (lol), mythical or otherwise unique.

"Fun" horse survey

These are a few Questions I found online. Let's get to know one another! Bonding and feelings and what not!


1. How old were you when you first started riding? I got my first pony, Flame, when I was four. He was a 6 month old stud colt. It was not wise. Apparently 4 year old me wanted The Black Stallion and my parents said ' okay! well, how about a red colt?'

2. First horse ridden? ... I can't remember but there is a picture of a very tiny me sitting on a big bay horse that I think my family used to own.

3. First horse cantered on? Flame.. or my sisters horse Star.

4. Have you ever ridden a pony? Riding one right now, and he's doing great.

5. First Horse fallen off of? .... I can't remember that far back. Let's assume Flame the wonder pony.. who developed a rearing problem.

6. Most recent horse fallen off of? Hmm...  Oh, a horse in Spain named Twiggy. She was very round and we were riding bareback on the trails. I stuck it through the bareback race fine, but I slid off when the sneaky bugger suddenly swerved into the grass.  I reached down to pull her head up (bitless horse problems) and just as I did a car drove by and spooked her and off I went.  I just started laughing.

7. Most expensive horse you've ever bought? I think $2,000. Maybe? Maybe less? Either Clutch or Pepper. Now the most expensive horse I've sold would be Morwen for $5,700 total. Still wish we hadn't sold her.

8. First horse jumped with? I hopped over some logs growing up with my sister's horse Star, but an actual jump in an arena... A mare named Flicka. The one that ended up sending the instructor to the hospital in the next lesson.

9. First horse who ran away with you? Flame. He liked to do that. Amazing how many problems a horse can develop when raised by people who don't know what they're doing.

10. First horse that scared the crap out of you? Star.

11. First horse shown? Hmm.. None really, but I guess that would we can say Italy. Dressage to music in Renaissance costumes. Competitive show? Never.

12. First horse to win a class with? N/A.

13. Do you/have you taken lessons? Yes. Some truly awful ones growing up and some good ones recently in France and Italy.

14. First horse you ever rode bareback? Flame... I'm getting sick of answering with him.

15. First horse trail ridden with? Same as above... Think of better questions random survey maker! Screw this, I'm changing some of these questions.

16. What do you feed your horses? Bermuda hay (round and square) and normally purina strategy healthy edge.

17. Do you ride English or western? Both, but bareback is preferred. I suppose Western although I've actually had more English lessons.

18. Least favorite horse color?  Probably perlino or cremello. Sorry, I just don't care for them.

19. Ever been to horse camp? Nope.  Why pay to ride someone else's horse when I could ride my own? I did do two 50 mile trail rides in Montana when I was 8 and 9. Does that count? Let's act like it counts.

20. Ever been to a riding clinic? I think I've been a spectator at some. A few big names which I can't for the life of me remember.

21. What is your favorite discipline? Goddamn problem solving.  I just made it a discipline. Deal with it.

22. First horse leased/part board? Never had to. Did have to board Sam at Victory Stables, when I worked there, and then with a local horse owner after they closed down. Otherwise we've always had land.

23. What is your favorite color horse?   I'm partial to buckskins. Also blue roans and bay roans.  And true black horses. And Bays.  And some duns, oh, grulla.  Some paints... Welp, that turned out less specific than I thought. Mainly I like good conformation.

24. Number of horses you've personally owned? 38. I put this in because I actually just counted and named them all. ... I think.

25. What breeds have you owned?  Oh lord. Welsh, Haflinger cross, TWH, AQHA, APHA, MFT, Paso fino, Peruvian, Tennuvian, Friesian cross, spotted draft, Arabian, American Warmblood. Possibly more.

26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?  Only for fun.

Yes, my horse is amazing.  I know it. 

27. Worst horse related accident? Breaking several vertebra in my back. I've also broke my nose a few times.  There was the time I thought I was paralyzed, but definitely my back.

28. Worst horse related scar? Hmm. Well, I've got a gross purple hypertropic scar on my knee from falling on asphalt after trying to stop someones horse from bolting... I was missing a nail on my broken big toe after my horse stepped on my foot and pivoted... and yes, I was wearing shoes.  But  I have to give it up for the painful keloid scar on my back. Sam tossed me into some old barb wire. One cut  went keloid. People kept asking me if it was a tumor. I had it surgically removed and had to have a years worth of steroid injections to keep it from coming back.

29. Have you ever barrel raced? Not seriously.

30. Least favorite horse breed? I've always said appaloosa, but lately I've had a 'craving' to buy a flashy appy. Who knows.  Otherwise I don't know that I really have one. I prefer to stay away from Arabians and Tb's but that's mainly because they can be harder to sell and I like my smooth gaited breeds.

31. Favorite gait: I love a nice canter or corto.

32. Ever cantered bareback? Yes

33. Have you ever done dressage? Only lessons

34. Favorite gaited breed?  Peruvian paso

35. Have you ever mucked a stall? Are you freaking kidding me? Do I even have to answer this?

36. Ever been bucked off? Yes.

37. Ever been on a horse that reared? Several

38. How many horses do you have right now? 4. Well, 3 if we consider Nora to be mom's. Hopefully it'll be 5 tomorrow... knock on wood.

39. Do you wear a helmet? All the time.

40. Favorite breed?  Probably going to give it up to Friesians on this one. Morwen was just such an awesome horse. But I do also really love Peruvian Pasos.

41. Have you ever ridden at night?  Sam and I enjoy night riding.

42. Do you watch horsey television shows? No, same with horse movies. They're terrible. I cant stop yelling at them. "WHY THE HELL IS YOUR GREEN 7 YEAR OLD RIDING A WILD MUSTANG?!"

43. How many saddles do you own? Uh, 5?

44. Have you ever ridden without anything/tack? Yes. It usually doesn't end well.

45. What horse breeds do you currently own? A Heinz 57 or a "Good horse" (Sam), Welsh pony (Rambler) Paso (Nora), Spotted Draft (Brea)

46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse? Unfortunately.  I was leading a big TWH across a creek, stupidly I tried to pull him across it. I tripped just as he jumped. He landed on my back, right where I'd broken the vertebra.  He was a champ and made sure to not put his whole weight on me though. I think I still have a hoof shaped scar on my butt. Very sweet horse. He was the one who big lick ruined.

47. Have you ever been bitten?  Yes. And I have a zero tolerance policy on biting. We do not bite. We also do not charge or kick.

48. What kind of trailer do you have if any and what do you use to pull it?  2 horse stock trailer, big suv.

49. What kind of saddle do you ride the most in?  My Abetta stealth manta flex tree saddle. Extra cushion seat.

50. Preferred bit? D ring snaffle or  full cheek snaffle.

Alright fellow horse bloggers, it's your turn. Let's learn about you. Or something.  Feel free to tweak questions.. I sure did.

Head exploding...

Kaboom!
Hear that sound?
That is the sound of my head exploding. I am frustrated

Why is it exploding you ask?
Well, that would be peoples complete and utter lack of understanding about why a started under saddle/ very green horse is not a immediately suitable mount for their young and inexperienced child.

I don't know why I bother writing out ads with the horses good points and flaws, I really don't. Nobody reads it. I don't know what part of "needs more saddle time with someone who knows what they're doing before becoming a mount for youth or inexperienced riders" is possibly unclear. But apparently it is.

I also don't know what part of "we have only walked and lightly trotted him, with lots of ground work" makes people ask how his lope is and if he would ever bolt?

I don't get what part of "started more than green broke, 15-20 rides on him in the arena" makes people think that he is a finished trail horse that's ready to go without ever testing their child.

Honestly, your inability to pay $1000 for a trail broke youth safe horse (and yes, it is possible to find some cheaper than that) is not going to change the fact that the horse I have for sale is not a child safe mount. I am not going to change my answer and say "ah heck, sure you can put your 8 year old on him. It'll be fine, what could go wrong? That's totally safe."

Why am I not going to say that?
Because I don't consider having someone sit on a horse for a day makes a horse "green broke". That horse is backed, not broke.

Because sitting a small child on a horse and leading them around once does not make the horse child safe.

Because a green broke horse is not a safe horse for a child. Period. It needs more training.

I honestly do not understand how I could possibly be any clearer.

So why the hell, do people not seem to get Green Horse + Green Rider= Black and Blue all over, through their heads?!!

Just because it's a pony, does not mean it's already  kids horse.