Just Say No!

The story about how I didn't almost buy an Andalusian today.  Just Say No!  The catch phrase that is proclaimed at school conferences and it is usually refering to saying no to narcotics.  But addictions can take on all forms and my drug of choice just happens to be horses.  I figure if it is an addiction that promotes happiness, physical fitness and being outdoors then I am just fine with it.  But there is a fine line between being in control of the addiction or it controling you.  I am sure we all know someone who lets their addiction control their health, finacial wellbeing and relationships.  There has to be a balance and it is a very hard balance to keep.  It is easy to say YES to something you love so much.

All that to get to today's story.  I get a text from a friend saying she has an aunt wanting to sell a horse.  With a little communtication back and forth I found out it was a 15.2 hh, Andalusian 7 yr old mare.  She has had training in dressage but by a privious owner and since has just been trail ridden.  It was enough to perk my interest.  Not that I need another horse but for the price she was asking I thought it was worth checking out.

When we got there the place was a dump but the horse was in fair condition.  Her weight was healthy enough she just lacked muscule.  She was built well and completely sound.  Her coloring was flea bitten gray with a pretty long white mane(mind you in IN in the muddy winter she was dirty).  They had her all tacked when I got there in their western gear.  I attempted to ride her in it but I ended up switching to mine to actually be comfortable and to see how she went in just my eggbutt snaffle as opposed to the thomthumb she had her in when I got there.  I struggled to get her to give to the contact and accept the bit.  She was obviously fighting the bit but I could tell in her fighting that she knew what I wanted from her and she was just not going to give it.  It took me nearly 30 minutes of being on her and I finally got her to give to the contact.  She immediately rounded her entire back and became supple but then it would last a few moments the it was back to fighting.  So I knew she knew what she was doing but for one reason or another was struggling to give it to me.  I think it had mostly to do with the people that own her now don't have a flipping clue what she is capable of.  The woman is enormously fat and I doubt she has any riding ability besides being so damn fat the horse can't do anything but slowly walk forward so she stays on.  I am sorry if that was mean but it is the truth.  Then it happened, she gave to the contact, rounded her back and moved forward.  She was inconsistent and crooked but I really felt there was so much potential there.  After only a few minutes of her giving me lovely contact I let out the reins and she immediately stretched down and she REEEaaly stretched down.  Nose bobbing just above the ground.  It was so cool.  I had never been on a horse that did that.  It was then that I knew for sure she had done this before and done it many many times.  Considering that who know the last time someone had ever worked with her.

Per the current owners blabbing she swore up and down that she saw her only 3 weeks ago being ridden by someone who had her Piaffing and levade.  Personally I feel the woman herself is full of crap but honestly would not be surprised if the horse did do it.  I felt like she had training that I did not have the ability to tap into in that situation and time and that she needed some work to bring it out again.  But in the end, sad as it may be to leave any horse in that womans care let alone a horse with that much potential, I walked away.  I said no thanks and good luck.  If only I had the time and money I would have not hesitated to take her home and work with her.  But time and money are in short supply and I have a horse at home that needs all the attention I have to give to training and I am taking on that hafflinger very shortly, my hands will be full.  But I cannot help but let it bug me that that cute little mare is rotting away at that greedy woman's dump.  Yikes I must be in a foul mood because I am usually not that mean to people but this woman got under my skin.