This blog chronicles my explorations of the relationships we have with horses – and on this page is a short bio of the horses I mention in this blog.

P.S. If you need training advice, check out my companion journal: Common Sense Horsemanship and for riding, see my blog Common Sense Rider.


Big Guy, Big T, T-man - A 16.2 h TB, flea bitten gray.

Originally, bought to be part of a lesson program, he evolved into my personal horse. He suffered a pelvis fracture incurred in the pasture and that recovery is documented in the blog (an often comes up in searches). Now 19, he is retired, with only occasional riding.


Z, LadyZ or Little Girl – a 14.2 h, Appaloosa x Arabian cross.

Z has a bold and brassy personality. To say she’s afraid of nothing is an underestimate! She eats panthers for breakfast! Strong willed, dominant and curious, Z has been green broke to ride and will be continuing her riding education through the summer and fall of 2011.

 

Pandora – my little pony, MiniatureXShetland.

Pandora, a 39″ tall mini-Shetland cross mare, was bought for my lesson program. Now she is retired in her early twenties. Whenever I think I know it all, Pony brings me back to earth.

Horses no longer with me….

Dear One – 15.2 h Appaloosa X Warmblood. My dear Shadow Sister passed away November 2007 after a three month long battle with laminitis (complicated due to Cushings). I have journals of our entire relationship, though no longer have them online.

 

 

Beautiful Boy – 14.2 h Arabian. After Dear Ones’ passing I realized my time with the horses would be short and I needed to downsize. Thankfully, his former owner wanted him back. A horse easy to dance with – yet extremly untrustworthy under saddle – I contribute some of this to in-breeding on his Arab side, but also to the poor start in training he received from his original owners’ sister (who broke him under saddle).

Dee – an Appaloosa X Dutch Warmblood cross that I leased for eight months (Fall 2010 to Spring 2011).

Sarah - 12 h Pinto Pony mix. Used in my riding program, she has returned, after spending a few years with an out of state family, to a friends’ farm where she is well loved by her daughter.

Red – Foundation QH. I bought for all the wrong reasons, it was clear that I had made a huge mistake in her purchase. I also made a huge mistake by trusting her breeder. Sold to someone for breeding but I greatly fear her future was not sunny.

Looking back, I wish I had just swallowed the financial loss and had her breeder pick her up. She is the primary reason why I no longer “sell” my horses – because people you sell them too can’t be trusted to care for them in the manner you can.

Buddy – 15.1 h QH. A horse I leased for about 18 months after the birth of my first child. A fantastic horse who was not appreciated as much as I thought he should have been. He was later sold by the lesson barn to become a one-person horse. I often think of him too and wish him the very best as he deserves an awesome retirement.

TZ – 15 h QH. A leased horse who brought me back after a horrific riding accident. He taught me the amazing bond horses are willing to give as well as how they can have a very sneaky sense of humor. He was later sold by his owner and I often think of him and wish him the very best.

MD – Appaloosa. A young mare, totally misrepresented by her breeders and the trainer who faciliated the deal, that I bought early in my marriage. Due to finances we were unable to keep her; I was also overhorsed with her youth and inexperience. This is one of two experiences, that have taught me to listen to my instincts and not to a trainer who is receiving a percentage fee for the sale.

Teddy- QH. A horse I owned during my college years. Bought in a partnership, it taught me that partnerships don’t work out.  Years later I was able to catch up with his current owner due to registration papers and found that he had a first class, quality home.