And So...

 Well, I finally rode last Saturday.  In fact, I rode two horses.  My daughter and I took the ferry across Long Island Sound to visit an old friend of ours on Long Island, N.Y.  We’ve known her for over thirty years. She has a sale barn that she has owned and sold horses successfully from for decades. My daughter used to work for her in her teen years, helping to train the horses that came in, and over the years we've also found quite a few of our future herd members in her stable. Recently, I contacted her to see if she had anything that might suit my criteria: calm, not spooky, trained in the basics, solid at the mounting block, etc..

     It just so happened she had gotten a horse in off a lease that was perfect for me. A handsome warmblood/paint, he was a kind, well-trained, and quiet gentleman.  So I decided to go down and give him a look.  Our friend has an uncanny ability to match horse and rider with great success.  I saddled him and took a ride around the arena. This wonderful horse was everything she said he would be.  The only problem I had with him was that he was just a little bigger than I wanted.  Even though I used to ride a 17.2hh Dutch Warmblood for years, then a 16.2hh paint, I felt that at this time in my life I would be more comfortable with a smaller horse.  So sorry to say I had to pass on him, although I’m sure he would have been a good addition to our herd.

     There was another horse I had seen on her website that I liked, though I wasn't sure she'd be a good match.  An 11 year old chestnut quarter horse mare out of the Zippo Pine Bar line named Good Bar Rosita.  As long as we'd made the trip, we decided to tack her up and take a look. I took her to the mounting block where she stood like a statue, something I was impressed with after all of Dusty’s antics.  Once I easily mounted up and rode her around for a while I knew she was the one I wanted.  Comfortable, quiet, and listening to cues like a pro.  I fell in love with her.  She is smart, willing, and very sweet.  I decided to talk it over with my daughter on the way home instead of committing then and there as I wanted to get her opinion on Rosie before making the deal. My daughter is an experienced trainer with a good eye for conformation and great sense of a horse's general demeanor.  She thought she was a good match for me and that we fit well together.  I decided to go for it.

     Rosie arrived here at the farm Thursday.  She unloaded and walked to her new stall without a fuss and after taking a look around started chowing down on her hay.  After letting her settle in for a bit we took her out to the small paddock to let her graze for a while.  She could see the boys across the driveway over the fence.  After some requisite snorting and cantering she settled down for some grazing and a nice roll.  The boys were very interested in this new horse.  They are a quiet, well-behaved herd and mostly nickered a little and looked at her.  When they got bored they all left for the back fields and Rosie got a little silly, calling for them and running a bit.  We took her in and then got the boys in too since it was close to dark by then.  That was the first day and it seemed to go pretty well for all.

Quote for Today
A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words.  ~Beryl Markham

Here are some pictures of Rosie and her admirers:

"What do ya think Donnie?"  " Nice mover!"

Grady..." I'll just admire from afar"

Sami..." She looks nice right Donnie"