HELLO?! Calling all horse folk!!!

[TikusMom]

Hey, where's all the equestrians and equine fanatics out there? I KNOW you're there!

OK, now! Lets talk HORSES!!!!!

................I'll start off.....................

How many? I currently have 6
Breed(s): 4 American Quarter Horses, 1 Grade, 1 Arabian
Color(s): 2 Palominos, 1 Bay, 1 Sorrel, 1 Dun, 1 Flea Bitten Gray
Discipline: Western, Trail
Name(s):Sunny, Cierra, Zip, Sizzle, Tomahawk, Letrero
Age(s): 4 years, 9 years, 5 years, 5 mos, 8 years, 16 years

OKAY! Now it's YOUR turn!

[KDK241]

I used to have an Arabian mare years ago but unfortunantly I had to sell her and I'm not in the position to have horses at the moment. I hope to change that soon though! I miss being around them so much. I used to work at a barn and it was the best job in the world. It doesn't feel like work when you enjoy it so much. I would have probably worked there for free, lol.

[TikusMom]

That's sooooo true! I sometimes feel guilty because I don't have any gripes about my job and actually look forward to going to work!
I'm sorry you had to sell your mare, and honestly I couldn't imagine my life with out my horses! I've had horses well over half my life, so it would be a huge hole if I couldn't have them with me.
If you would like, tell me about her; how old was she, what kind of adventures did you have with her, etc...I LOVE talking horses!
My Arab, Letrero, is the best horse I have ever known. I bought him as a weanling, and he was the first horse I trained for just me. He'll do anything I ask him to, and honestly, out of all the horses I've had, he's the only one I would ever trust my life with. I love all my horses and they're all very special to me, but Letrero is like my best friend. He's been there through good times and some very difficult times......

[KimM]

I have a 22 yr old American Saddlebred name "Handsome". His registered name is La Vanaire's Commander. He is a Wing Commander grand baby. He's my boy! I've had him since he was 3 yrs old.

[KDK241]

My mom worked at an Arabian farm and she had to go feed and let out the horses on the weekends so I would go with her (I was 12 at the time). There was this 5 year old little gray mare named Atara that was boarded there and she was a nervous wreck. Her owners never came and saw her so she was never groomed and I just fell in love with her. She paced in her stall all day long and chewed everything she could. The first thing I would do when we got there is grab the brushes and go straight to her stall and start grooming her. My mom thought I was nuts cuz I liked the only horse that wasn't calm (I figured she needed me more).
After a few months her owners had built a house and moved her. A month or two later my mom heard that she was for sale and I begged and begged to buy her and we did. She was not well broke and was always very nervous around other people except me. I was not a very experienced rider at the time so I only rode her around the pasture but I spent all day, every day with her. I even slept in the barn with her the first night she came home cuz it was thunderstorming and she was scared.
My mom became ill and we had to sell her but we sold her to a neighbor who told me I could come and visit her and ride her whenever I wanted and if I ever wanted to buy her back I could for the same price that she paid "even if I was married and had kids" (I remember it well)....SHE LIED!!! I did go see her a few times that summer but everytime I would go to ride her she said I couldn't. Then when I turned 16, was working and I could afford to care for her myself I told her I wanted to buy her back. She sent me a LETTER saying that she would never sell her to me and how could I think she would. Gee, I don't know. Maybe cuz the day I found out she was being sold she came into the barn where I was hugging Tari and balling and told me that she would! The worst part is that they lived just down the road and her kids would go riding by on her all the time. There wasn't a single time that I didn't want to go out there and snatch her away. The REALLY sad thing is that every time they would go by, Tari would whinny, even if I wasn't outside. I stopped by the pasture after not seeing her for about 4 years and all I had to do was say her name and she tore across the pasture as fast as she could to come to me. If nothing else, she loved me as much as I loved her and it was nice to know she didn't forget about me. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her. I was lucky to have worked at a barn where I could ride their horses and I did that for years. I rode a Morgan gelding, a couple quarter horses and my favorite, a Belgian named Tea. Now she was a COOL horse to ride and I had a blast with her.

Sorry it's so long...I could talk horses all day, lol!

[SallyQZ]

We've got two horses! My horse is an 8 yr old dark brown Holsteiner gelding named Courage. He's a hunter/jumper and we do the Adult Amateur classes (3 ft fences), hoping to move up to the AO's one day (3'6" fences). He's capable of it, I'm a nervous wreck in the show ring!

My daughter's horse is a 16 yr old bay Holsteiner gelding named Cordini. He's a former big shot - selected by Margie Goldstein-Engle as a breeding stallion for Hilltop Farms, used to jump the big fences & competed on both coasts. Now's he old and not as sound as a younger horse, so he's doing Long Stirrup with my timid daughter. My daughter was ready to quit riding when Cordini came along - now she's jumping up to 2'9" at home with confidence. He's a blessing!!

[TikusMom]

Originally Posted by KimM

I have a 22 yr old American Saddlebred name "Handsome". His registered name is La Vanaire's Commander. He is a Wing Commander grand baby. He's my boy! I've had him since he was 3 yrs old.

Cool! Handsome is definitly a perfect barn name for him! Are you still riding him? What's your most memorable moment with him? Do you ever make/bake treats for Handsome?
I tried to make horse cookies once....then found out I was better off just buying them!

[TikusMom]

Originally Posted by KDK241

My mom worked at an Arabian farm and she had to go feed and let out the horses on the weekends so I would go with her (I was 12 at the time). There was this 5 year old little gray mare named Atara that was boarded there and she was a nervous wreck. Her owners never came and saw her so she was never groomed and I just fell in love with her. She paced in her stall all day long and chewed everything she could. The first thing I would do when we got there is grab the brushes and go straight to her stall and start grooming her. My mom thought I was nuts cuz I liked the only horse that wasn't calm (I figured she needed me more).
After a few months her owners had built a house and moved her. A month or two later my mom heard that she was for sale and I begged and begged to buy her and we did. She was not well broke and was always very nervous around other people except me. I was not a very experienced rider at the time so I only rode her around the pasture but I spent all day, every day with her. I even slept in the barn with her the first night she came home cuz it was thunderstorming and she was scared.
My mom became ill and we had to sell her but we sold her to a neighbor who told me I could come and visit her and ride her whenever I wanted and if I ever wanted to buy her back I could for the same price that she paid "even if I was married and had kids" (I remember it well)....SHE LIED!!! I did go see her a few times that summer but everytime I would go to ride her she said I couldn't. Then when I turned 16, was working and I could afford to care for her myself I told her I wanted to buy her back. She sent me a LETTER saying that she would never sell her to me and how could I think she would. Gee, I don't know. Maybe cuz the day I found out she was being sold she came into the barn where I was hugging Tari and balling and told me that she would! The worst part is that they lived just down the road and her kids would go riding by on her all the time. There wasn't a single time that I didn't want to go out there and snatch her away. The REALLY sad thing is that every time they would go by, Tari would whinny, even if I wasn't outside. I stopped by the pasture after not seeing her for about 4 years and all I had to do was say her name and she tore across the pasture as fast as she could to come to me. If nothing else, she loved me as much as I loved her and it was nice to know she didn't forget about me. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her. I was lucky to have worked at a barn where I could ride their horses and I did that for years. I rode a Morgan gelding, a couple quarter horses and my favorite, a Belgian named Tea. Now she was a COOL horse to ride and I had a blast with her.

Sorry it's so long...I could talk horses all day, lol!

I could talk horses all day too!

I've noticed, at least with Letrero, that even though he's friendly to everyone I am his! Arabians seem to bond strongly to one person. I'm so sorry that you had such a difficult journey with Tari as far as keeping her in your life.

I remember when Letrero was a youngster and I would hang out with him in his pasture every day (much like you and Tari). The grass would get very tall and I would run and duck down in the deep grass and whistle for Letrero. He would come running and literally search me out. We still play that game...I'll go hide behind the cedar trees and whistle....before I know it, here comes Letrero circling every tree until he finds me!

I don't know if I'd have the guts to try to ride one of the "big-uns" like the Belgian you rode! That's just too high for me! LOL!

[TikusMom]

Originally Posted by SallyQZ

We've got two horses! My horse is an 8 yr old dark brown Holsteiner gelding named Courage. He's a hunter/jumper and we do the Adult Amateur classes (3 ft fences), hoping to move up to the AO's one day (3'6" fences). He's capable of it, I'm a nervous wreck in the show ring!

My daughter's horse is a 16 yr old bay Holsteiner gelding named Cordini. He's a former big shot - selected by Margie Goldstein-Engle as a breeding stallion for Hilltop Farms, used to jump the big fences & competed on both coasts. Now's he old and not as sound as a younger horse, so he's doing Long Stirrup with my timid daughter. My daughter was ready to quit riding when Cordini came along - now she's jumping up to 2'9" at home with confidence. He's a blessing!!

Sally, that is awesome! Many moons ago I did hunt seat, and I even still have all my tack...just not my courage! LOL! I did 3'6 fences, and I remember how much of a blast it was, but then again I was a teenager and I was fearless to say the least! I used to do all kinds of things horseback that I look back on now and cringe!!!
I'm so glad to hear that your daughter didn't give up on riding...and if Margie Goldstein-Engle hand picked this horse, he's GOT to be good! Isn't she a dressage rider? It's been so long since I've kept up with the english scene I'm embarrassed to say!
You'll have to post pics of your Holsteiners! I'm still a sucker for the warmbloods!

[red192]

I currently don't own horses but grew up on a farm where we had them. My first was a Welch Pony named Pokey. My father traded a tractor for that pony for me when I was only 3 yrs old. I was a horse lover at that age. Pokey died of old age that winter. The following summer we got Pumpkin. Another Welch. By the time I was 8 my dad bought me retired barrell racer, her name was Smokey and she was beautiful! After I turned 17 and was working full time my dad sold her to my cousins who had her til 5 years ago. She died of old age. She was well taken care of and loved! I miss riding and I go at every chance I get with friends!