Ridecamp: [RC] The Big News Flash

This will cover some territory that is on the Gaited Horse List about Buying
over the Internet as well as telling you all about my new TWH.

First, here was my Criteria:

Mare or Gelding, TWH, three to nine years old. BIG ENGINE, lots of rear end
action, smooth RW, FAST, level headed in a group of Arabs, pumped filled
with adrenline ready to go out and do endurance/ distance racing. Short
cannons, but stout. Short Back. Long, lean flat muscles, not stocky like a
QH. Some attitude and enough fire for my taste, not lazy or a plug. Has to
have Stamina, or show the ability for endurance riding. Not spooky. Willing
to cross any obstacle, must get along with all horses, not kick, bite, or be
rude on the trail 15 to 15.3hh. Nice big feet and solid. No pacing, big head
shake, long stride.Good shoulder and withers, long neck, color unimportant,
except gray (don't ask me why, just don't like them, even tho I have three
and love them)

So everyone told me I was dreaming the impossible dream, I was looking for
the PERFECT horse,and I would never find it.
For almost three months I sat glued to the Internet looking at horses. I
looked at over 1000 horses, believe it or not. Probably two dozen or so
caught my interest enough to inquire on them. I asked so many questions that
two people refused to sell me their horse, stating that I would never be
happy, or that I was "one of those racing people that cared only for the win
and nothing about the horse"

Actually I ripped that gal a new AH and explained the reason I was so fussy
was because I was concerned about the horse and would never ask a horse to
get involved in this sport if it weren't capable. If that were the case I
would just keep my darling MFT and push his lazy butt until he croaked.  I
love it when people are so judgemental. Like I told her, a little knowledge
is a very dangerous thing.

I found my dream horse in Alberta, Canada. for weeks, we went back and
forth, I was going through a friend that is a consignor, she found the horse
and she dealt with me and the seller. He seemed to be everything that I
wanted, but I was waiting for a Video, in which I asked to see  the horse
from catching in the pasture, with other horses, all feet close up,
underneath, legs, rear end, angulation of the stifles, squared up, not
parked out, close up of the eye, being groomed, tacked, untacked, loaded in
and out of a trailer, mounting and dismounting, and of course riding with
all gaits and backing and whoa.

I came back from a trip to Portland and was told that he was sold. Just like
that, out from under me. I was pissed. So I took it upon myself to write
directly to the breeder and tell her that I felt that it was not good
business to do that and I would have gladly given her a refundable deposit,
pending the video. That I was not a tire kicker and she should have had the
courtesy to let me know that she sold this boy.

She wrote back and apologized and confessed that she did not sell the horse,
but felt that I was looking for the perfect horse and I would be too hard to
please. Well, I bought the horse, picked him up in Canada on Monday of last
week, and let me tell you what I got for a unbelievable price. The US Dollar
being very strong in Canada certainly gave me an edge financially.

I have a horse that I have to keep pinching myself to see it this is a
dream. He is everything I mentioned above and more. I have never ridden a
horse with such power. He is like being on a locomotive. He is three years
old, has a stride like a dinosaur, and a headshaking running walk that
almost blew my helmet off.

Stands absolutely still for mounting and dismounting, ground ties, loves his
bubble bath, clips, he is like unreal.

He has never had shoes on and has fantastic feet, that will have shoes on,
sorry to those of you naturalist, but that is my decision after riding him
yesterday and seeing his hooves come back chipped and he being somewhat
ouchy on our hard terrain.

I took him on my spookiest new horse ride....The Dreaded Legend of Sleepy
Hollow. Cars, motorcycles, whizzing by, charging dogs, through the rows of
vineyards, past huge irrigation pumps and canals, over the river, through
dark forest, by buffalo, pronging deer, scampering squirrels coming out of
the blackberry bushes, flying geese and ducks off the river, logs, stumps,
old farm equipment, flapping tarps, old mobiles. This horse never once
spooked. I mean, he never stopped, he just looked and kept on going. He
never hesitated to cross any obstacle, went through mudpuddles, he is just
unbelievable.

When I rode him at my friends home in Portland on the journey back from
Canada, he would go anywhere in the pack, and when her arabs trotted out,
this guy was not to be left behind, he is a mover.

His standing HR is 34, He pulsed down from a short  sprint of 157 to 60
(criteria) the first time in 4 minutes, the second time in 1:40 seconds.
This was coming to a dead stop from the RW, no dismount. I am so stoked, I
can't believe it.

He has been ridden the past five months by a NATRC rider in Alberta and he
is muscled and obviously in top shape. Just think what he is going to be
like in a couple of years. Next year we will start some LD's. This horse
will top ten with no problem, is my feeling. I have just never felt anything
like him.

He has absolutely no vices, and the kicker is that I was out in the pasture
with him at my Friends place while visiting. It was close to midnight and
the moon was out. I went into the pasture with him, oh by the way, his new
Barn Name is STRIDER, because of the huge stride on him, anyhoo, I was just
petting him all over his body and he just stood like a statue and all of the
sudden I looked at him and he reminded my so much of my beloved Gigi that I
got chills.

For a few minutes he had the same look on his face as Gigi and I put my arms
around his neck and started crying and told hiim that he has come to me to
help me mend my heart until I see Gigi again. It was a very emotional
moment. I never ever thought I would ever find a horse that could even come
close to my Gigi, but Strider is very close.

He is sorrel with the most beautiful wavy mane and tail. His mane is blond
and his tail has lots of silver and black and blond in it. He has Prides
Gold Coin on the top side and lots of nice Canadian Blood on the bottom, so
he isn't all the same old bloodlines that we are all so familiar with. I
look for him to top out at 16+hh. Which for me being 5'10 is fine. He has 8
1/2 inch cannons at three years old, and weighs 1003 lbs at 15.2hh.

So there you have it. If you are going to buy on the internet, it can be
done. This is the second TWH I have purchased, Cruiser being the first. Both
wonderful horses. The "trick" which is just being knowledgeable and
determined in what you want and asking all the questions and getting videos.
If you can't look at the horse in person and you rely on all your research,
to me, you have done the job and there should be no surprises. If you don't
put your criteria out for the sellers, and even ask for some guarantee, like
this breeder was willing to guarantee that he could walk, then you are
responsible for what you get.

Next year I will be taking both Cruiser and Strider on LD's. I can't wait.
Truman, I think I know now what the "She Devil" must feel like. Awesome,
only my guy is a gentleman, grin.

I will continue this story with my absolutely amazing adventures of going to
Canada and what happened on the ride home in another post. That is really
exciting, and eerie. A little trailer; guns, alcohol, fruit, passports,
biker troll, major breakdown, and murder. Stay tuned.

amber



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