Search Continues!

Yesterday I went to look at this fellow:

He is 15 years old and the first OTTB I have ridden!

He has a super good mind, though he's mostly been a pasture ornament. But he did w/t/c for me easily although he was quite puzzled by many things, thought a light contact meant "stop," and did not know what it was to move off my leg in any way shape or form! Tehe poor boy. He was fun to ride, though. Could use a lot of work in a lot of areas, but fun.

Today I called about another horse, but he was already sold. Sooo the search goes on. I'm trying very hard to hook my mom on Thoroughbreds. Easier said than done. Lol. I've already got my dad, so it's just Mom. Not that I can't buy one anyway, but I'd just like her to be as excited as I am! Right now I think she just wants me to find a horse and be happy though! Haha. :)

Oh and yay for free schooling breeches!! I just scored a pair! Lol got to save up for when I actually am riding every day again! :)

First Pony-Shopping Expeditions!

Yesterday I went and looked at this guy:

He's a 13-year-old Arab who lives at the farm I'd ideally be boarding at.

He has been doing some basic dressage training and is absolutely. gorgeous. despite being a little on the chubby side at the moment!

He was a bit spooky, not too bad, definitely something I could ride out, but I'm not sure I want to bring him home. If I were looking for a project horse, I'd probably pick him up, but as my own horse...? If I were looking for a dressage horse, I'd probably be a lot more interested. He'd be a pretty stunning dressage pony, and really relaxes and settles in when you ask him to give and get on the bit a little. Jumps on the other hand were rather fearful sorts of creations. ;)

Today I went out and looked at another potential board situation. Really, really liked it. You work some and pay some and it really helps the cost. I liked the owner/manager lady and the barn, while not brand-new and high-tech, is nice and clean and has fans (!!) and is generally a nice setup. Plus they have a humongous covered arena!!! YAY for covered arenas! And it's between 10 and 15 minutes from my house, so not far at all. So tentatively planning on that being the new home for the Mystery Horse. :) There's another potential also, but it's further away.

Getting closer, anyway! :)

Boredom and Q&A

Bored at work so I decided to do these "35 Asks"--though several don't apply because I obviously don't have my own pony just now! :) Stolen from L. Williams like everyone else is doing, because she's amazing like that. 

1: A time you've been scared for your life on horseback.
Umm...not sure I've ever been scared for my life--though I might should have been a couple times--I blank out and go into survival/hang-on-no-matter-what mode if it's really bad! 

2: There's a huge party at your friends house or you could have a lesson on the same night, which do you go to?
Lesson! I'm all about being anti-social for the ponies! :P

3: Favorite markings a horse can have.
Always, always wanted a black-and-white pinto sporthorse. Even wrote a story about one when I was younger. Maybe I'll amuse you all with it sometime. :)

Like this. Sort of. (Image from Tumbler)

4: Would you rather deal with bolting, rearing or bucking?
Umm, either bolting or bucking. Make that bucking. 

5: Agree or disagree; To have good eq means to be a good rider?
Not always. Fortunately, as my eq is not ideal! :)

Actually this picture I'm not too bad. Def. not ideal though. But I stay on!

6: If you could try any discipline on any horse for 1 day, what discipline and what horse?
Endurance! Annnd I don't know what horse.

7: 3 horses you'd want to ride/meet the most?
Secretariat
Any of Becky Holder's OTTBs ;) 
"Doc"--the horse that got me hooked on big ponies with big gaits. This is kind of a "re-meet" as I did actually get to ride him once or twice as a 3-4ish-year-old. I don't know where he is now, but I'd sure like to have him!

8: On a scale of 1-10 how good would you say your seat is?
5?

9: One of your goals for the next year, horse-wise.
Umm, get a horse?? :)

10: Would you rather teach lessons or train horses?
Train! 

11: Have you ever given a lesson for money?
No.

12: If you were a trainer, would you want to train little kids, pre-teens, teens or adults?
Little kids, pre-teens, or adults. Teens annoy me. :P

13: Have you ever ridden someone's horse for money?
No. 

14: If given the opportunity, would you exercise track horses?
YES!

15: On a scale of 1-10 what is your confidence like in the saddle?
A 9? ish? 8-9.

16: 3 things you need to work on, riding-wise?
Sitting up and tall and back (or forward in the case of jumping!). This is why I am now in a self-invented shoulder brace half the day! 

17: 3 things your horse needs to work on.
1. Meet me
2. Get a name other than Mystery Horse
3. Come home!

18. Top 3 favourite riders?
Oh goodness--can I answer this one later?

19: Is there anyone you'd say is a bad rider? (don't give names)
Yes. Anyone who cares more for how they look/what they win/what other people think than they care for their horse and what he/she needs--they're a bad rider. 

20: Are you better on the flat or over fences?
I suppose over fences--my posture lacks no matter what, but flatwork is just so complicated! Fences seem so much simpler! 

21: How high do you think you've jumped?
Around 2'6.

22: How high do you think your horse would be capable of jumping?
Since I haven't met Mystery Horse yet...I can't say I know...but I hope at least 3-4'!

23: Opinion on tackless riding.
REALLY want to try it sometime! Maybe with Mystery Horse?!

But I SWEAR I would wear a helmet!!!

24: Have you ever lied or over-dramatized anything about your riding?
Not on purpose. I try to under-dramatize when possible--result of having a mildly neurotic mom, I guess ;)

25: Do you think you're a good rider?
I'm good at staying on, if that counts for anything!!

26: Ever had barn drama?
Yes...sigh...

27: Favorite things about the barn you're at?
Well seeing as I don't have a barn either at the moment...

28: Will you show next year? If so in what?
No idea. Hoping to go to combined trial in September--a lot of the show thing will depend on whether I actually get my own horse reasonably soon, and if so, how long it takes for us to be ready to show together. I'll probably just be doing some fun schooling shows for a while even once we're ready. :)

29: Plans for your horse over the next year?
Find him/her!! 

30: Would you share your tack with people?
I don't know...it would depend on who it was and how well I knew and trusted them. Then again, at the moment, I suppose my lonely cheap lil' rope halter could go anywhere and I really wouldn't care if it came back or not! 

31: Has a horse ever shattered your confidence?
No, but people have shattered my confidence in my riding. 

32: Ever been scared to get on a horse?
Yes! I was scared to get back on my rearing horse a few weeks ago every time I got back on! 

33: Do you get nervous before shows?
Well seeing as I've never been to a real show, I can't say for sure. But given my track record in other kinds of performances, and given my excited nerves in the days before the show, I'm 95% sure I would. 

34: Hunters or Jumpers?
Depends on the day and how I'm feeling! 

35: Last time you fell off? What happened? Were you hurt?
A few months ago riding a very spooky Fringe. Another trainer trotted up the hill past the arena and Fringe bolted. I stuck it for a while before coming off. I didn't get hurt at all though--no bruises, no strained muscles, nothing. Pretty amazing! 

Found a couple affordable boarding places with openings, plus a couple friends that might be able to keep Mystery Horse! So I will go looking around this weekend (I have a long weekend off because of Memorial Day, yay!), and then we can start checking out ponies for reals! I already have a couple calls in and one gal has called me back twice already, but I haven't been available to get the phone either time--urgh. I'm not sure her horse is really going to work for me, but I can't know for sure till I talk to her some more and maybe go see him. 

Meanwhile check out the ponies at this place--Pinch of Luck! It's pretty awesome! If I don't find Mystery Horse reasonably soon, I might be making a pilgrimage out there to check out some of their OTTBs! :)

Introducing....Mystery Horse!

Blogger is being stupid and not showing my previous post, so check this out before you read on! :)

That is the name of the possible new addition. Lol.

Before I go any further, there is always of course the possibility that I might not find anything. I have to remind myself of that. Or I might find it and have the board situation fall through. OR I might find it and have it bought out from under me. I must remind myself of all those negative situations, yes. So that I don't get too carried away. :D

That being said...I thought to myself, I should figure out what I want. The Coach said as much too. Heh. Smart idea.

This sounds good! :D

But not much chance of Chilli Morning being magically transported to my backyard. And maybe he's a bit of overkill anyway (maybe....). Therefore. The essentials are...

• Mare or gelding. I really like mares but have "clicked" with geldings too.
• 3-10 years old. I'd like something on the younger side, but started under saddle.
• Can jump! Or at least no indication that it shouldn't be able to jump. 
• No obnoxious traits--rearing/bucking/etc. Sure, I can deal with that, but why do it if you don't have to?!
• No health issues. Able to go barefoot if doing low-level jumping and flat work.
• Less than $2000. Yeah I don't have a whole lot of money for the initial purchase...
• Close to my area. Or be able to persuade Coach to take a long trip with me. ;)

Those are the essentials. "Like to" is...

• Forward. I like the hotter horses. 
• Not too spooky. A bit of goofiness is okay but I'd really prefer not to have a bolter.
• Something potentially show-able. 

Soo I window shop. Interesting things I have found so far is this boy from a horse rescue, this one, and this one who looks like a brother to Lass and there's GOT to be something wrong with him to be listed for this price! One of these days I'll have to get brave and go actually call my friends and talk to the farmer down the road about boarding, and then actually call about one of these ponies! Haha. :)