The first one that I learned was: patience. It took six months to 'catch her'.
I had asked the trader to find me some family-type ponies. One, a mare please, could be a little tricky; I figured I needed some touching-up in techniques since I hadn't ridden in years. I had never been completely responsible for care either. I wanted some challenge so I would need to reach up.
They brought me what I asked for. In the van was a thoroughbred, ex-race trained ,gelding; he would come around pretty fast since the track always instilled some manners and co-operation and whoever had owned him had thought enough of him to turn him out instead of over to the knackers.
And there was a quality chestnut Quarter horse mare. They had the back story on her: she had raced, made a great deal of money which the owner didn't report, so he turned her out into the same ranch where the gelding had gone.
I had asked the trader to find me some family-type ponies. One, a mare please, could be a little tricky; I figured I needed some touching-up in techniques since I hadn't ridden in years. I had never been completely responsible for care either. I wanted some challenge so I would need to reach up.
They brought me what I asked for. In the van was a thoroughbred, ex-race trained ,gelding; he would come around pretty fast since the track always instilled some manners and co-operation and whoever had owned him had thought enough of him to turn him out instead of over to the knackers.
And there was a quality chestnut Quarter horse mare. They had the back story on her: she had raced, made a great deal of money which the owner didn't report, so he turned her out into the same ranch where the gelding had gone.
She ran with an Appaloosa stallion for over three years, had a foal, went to some hands to work in a feedlot. They tried her patience and one day she sorted them out royal, one guy to the hospital, one guy just broken up a bit. So back she went to her Appy in the canon.
Where, apparently, she got bred again...because the yellow patched colt that jumped on the van behind her must have been her foal.
So, they gelded him for me, he might be a little sore for a couple days, best just to leave them together!
Out they jumped into the verdant ten acre pasture.
The next day, the van showed up loaded with a Saddlebred mare who someone had just pulled shoes from; she walked like a cripple but they knew the guy who had her, she just needed time to find her flat stride without shoes; she was lovely, if broken, maybe.
And...two painted Indian ponies; one dark and one leopard, over white; both fat! They needed work and to be put off the grass at night.
Money changed hands and they said if it didn't work to call them back and they would find some others to exchange.
That is the way it was done back in the sixties. You found someone who knew someone who found some horses; the traders handled it all and exchanges could be managed until the right horses were in your pasture.
When it turned to chill in the Fall; my children all knew how to catch, groom, tack and ride in the open.
And one evening Lady decided I was trustable enough to follow into the barn for feed. She chose to sleep only in the arena that Winter--no stall permitted. I was allowed to halter and groom her.
So, they gelded him for me, he might be a little sore for a couple days, best just to leave them together!
Out they jumped into the verdant ten acre pasture.
The next day, the van showed up loaded with a Saddlebred mare who someone had just pulled shoes from; she walked like a cripple but they knew the guy who had her, she just needed time to find her flat stride without shoes; she was lovely, if broken, maybe.
And...two painted Indian ponies; one dark and one leopard, over white; both fat! They needed work and to be put off the grass at night.
Money changed hands and they said if it didn't work to call them back and they would find some others to exchange.
That is the way it was done back in the sixties. You found someone who knew someone who found some horses; the traders handled it all and exchanges could be managed until the right horses were in your pasture.
When it turned to chill in the Fall; my children all knew how to catch, groom, tack and ride in the open.
And one evening Lady decided I was trustable enough to follow into the barn for feed. She chose to sleep only in the arena that Winter--no stall permitted. I was allowed to halter and groom her.
'Catching' her had taken about six months of daily showing up and whistling and talking and putting feed in front of her...etc.etc.etc.
She was the only mare I ever bought for myself; she was a fantastic lead mare; she was a beauty; she could move over trails to get me to where I wanted to go in less time than I thought it would take.
We had about twelve years together; she created beautiful Half-Saddlebreds.
She was the only mare I ever bought for myself; she was a fantastic lead mare; she was a beauty; she could move over trails to get me to where I wanted to go in less time than I thought it would take.
We had about twelve years together; she created beautiful Half-Saddlebreds.
We co-operated. I loved her while she tolerated me; we understood each other.
I learned to allow time for my work.
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