Zephyr - Anxiety - Houseplants. . . Those three words seem to more or less sum up my life lately. Today its Zephyr that will be my main focus. Zephyr is my dream horse - the epitomy of horses, in my eyes. Freisians are my very favorites, along with Arabians. But alas - I can't afford a $20,000 horse, and I have my 20 yr. old Arabian gelding, Saber, who I have decided is not only my first, but my last, Arabian. That's just the way it is. No other Arab could even come close to the kind of horse he is. He is that special, once-in-a-lifetime horse, and I could not ask for more.
Back to my focus - Zephyr is a gaited horse, a Tennessee Walker. I looked long and hard, high and low for him. It was an exciting, almost surreal search. Online, newspaper ads, visiting stables. . . the whole bit. Many rejected horses in the process, but when I came upon him, I knew he was the one for me. I'm not getting any younger (I'm 51 this year) and 16 years of my Arab's choppy trot convinced me it was a gaited horse or nothing this time around. The man I know who trades gaited horses for the last 15 yrs. just happened to be in the town next to mine the following weekend, and I had high hopes. He sells horses that are guaranteed for 30 days - none have health or behavioral problems. I knew I could trust him. He showed me several horses, but there was something that wasn't right for me with each of them. (One was green broke, one was terribly head shy and yet another was too old). When I told him what I wanted, he said, "Well, this next horse I'll show you has all your requirements except for one - he is too tall for your specifications). I decided to look anyway.
There stood a 16 hand high, 1200 lb. gelding who was 7 yrs. old (nearly eight). I was blown away. A red and white tobiano (spotted!) with a long, thick mane and tail and a forelock that covered his eyes. Well trained, according to the man, even shown in the past. Smooth gaits, gentle as a lamb, no vices. My head was in the clouds - was this real? The horse was taken out of his pen and tacked up. The man rode him first in only a halter and lead rope, to demonstate how well trained he is. Then I hopped on (a bridle had been put on him now) and rode him around and around the property. HEAVEN! Pure, sweet heaven. The horse was a bit nervous, having just arrived here the night before on a 1500 mile journey, so was very alert and "forward," yet at the same time, perfectly controllable. I like a horse with some spirit, but I don't want a maniac either. There is sometimes a fine line between the two. I felt as if I were on top of the world. He spooked once at some scary stuff piled in a garage that we passed, but it was no big deal. No spinning or bolting. Just a bit of a sideways jump that was easy to sit.
I was sold. It was the beginning of a new way of life for me at that moment. The horse wasn't cheap - he has impeccable breeding - Triple Threat and Paint the Town. etc. on the top (sire's line) and Merry Go Boy, Sundust, etc. o n the bottom (dam's line). But he's a gelding, so he can't be bred. Just a nice, well trained trail horse and also great for showing, although I'm not interested in that. Still, he's not your garden variety horse. When you go down the street on him, his head held high, with his showy, animated glass-smooth gait, people really turn their heads. His size and beautiful coloring just add to the picture of perfection. More later. . .
Back to my focus - Zephyr is a gaited horse, a Tennessee Walker. I looked long and hard, high and low for him. It was an exciting, almost surreal search. Online, newspaper ads, visiting stables. . . the whole bit. Many rejected horses in the process, but when I came upon him, I knew he was the one for me. I'm not getting any younger (I'm 51 this year) and 16 years of my Arab's choppy trot convinced me it was a gaited horse or nothing this time around. The man I know who trades gaited horses for the last 15 yrs. just happened to be in the town next to mine the following weekend, and I had high hopes. He sells horses that are guaranteed for 30 days - none have health or behavioral problems. I knew I could trust him. He showed me several horses, but there was something that wasn't right for me with each of them. (One was green broke, one was terribly head shy and yet another was too old). When I told him what I wanted, he said, "Well, this next horse I'll show you has all your requirements except for one - he is too tall for your specifications). I decided to look anyway.
There stood a 16 hand high, 1200 lb. gelding who was 7 yrs. old (nearly eight). I was blown away. A red and white tobiano (spotted!) with a long, thick mane and tail and a forelock that covered his eyes. Well trained, according to the man, even shown in the past. Smooth gaits, gentle as a lamb, no vices. My head was in the clouds - was this real? The horse was taken out of his pen and tacked up. The man rode him first in only a halter and lead rope, to demonstate how well trained he is. Then I hopped on (a bridle had been put on him now) and rode him around and around the property. HEAVEN! Pure, sweet heaven. The horse was a bit nervous, having just arrived here the night before on a 1500 mile journey, so was very alert and "forward," yet at the same time, perfectly controllable. I like a horse with some spirit, but I don't want a maniac either. There is sometimes a fine line between the two. I felt as if I were on top of the world. He spooked once at some scary stuff piled in a garage that we passed, but it was no big deal. No spinning or bolting. Just a bit of a sideways jump that was easy to sit.
I was sold. It was the beginning of a new way of life for me at that moment. The horse wasn't cheap - he has impeccable breeding - Triple Threat and Paint the Town. etc. on the top (sire's line) and Merry Go Boy, Sundust, etc. o n the bottom (dam's line). But he's a gelding, so he can't be bred. Just a nice, well trained trail horse and also great for showing, although I'm not interested in that. Still, he's not your garden variety horse. When you go down the street on him, his head held high, with his showy, animated glass-smooth gait, people really turn their heads. His size and beautiful coloring just add to the picture of perfection. More later. . .
posted by seaecho @ 11:07 AM
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