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You got me there!  Prior to Temba I didn't know what to look for in a 
horse's back. I focused on overall look (balance), legs, and personality.  
So I'm learning.  Besides, many people have paid over $2000 for their horse, 
and still have saddle fit issues.

The past medical history sure would be good to know.  But unless you buy 
directly from the breeder, it can always be an uncertainty.  Even then it 
can be sketchy.  Eddie, the horse I bought from Cal Poly has bald patches on 
his cheeks from parasite issues at some point in his life.  He was born and 
raised at Cal Poly.

I admit, I never measured and took a reactor panel on trial.  I borrowed 
one, and the ride just didn't jump out to me as "this is it!".  I didn't 
like the way it fit in the shoulder.  I hated the orthoflex, I couldn't feel 
the horse at all!  I had no leg contact until just about the knee.  Another 
maker was a vendor at Malibu, can't remember what brand.  They had a raw 
tree with the panels on it, and boy it showed how it would NOT work.  
Someday I would like to take Temba up to your place and let you fit one to 
him and give RP a dedicated try.

Yes, my rejects had other costs.  I have "fostered" a few that did not have 
as many problems but they never get mentioned because, well there weren't 
any problems to speak of.  Eddie was a gamble, but he picked me.  I couldn't 
turn him down, even though they said he would not really be a useful horse 
(wrong).  Temba did the same.  He came with a lot of mental/emotional 
baggage that we had to work through.  Was it worth the initial dollar 
savings? Not to some people, but I don't buy them to save money.  I buy them 
to save them, if they have touched my heart.  Working through the issues, if 
any, are a part of that process.  And I grow as a horsewoman and learn more 
and more every day!

Jena



----Original Message Follows----
From: Lynne Glazer <anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Jena Williams" <equus_blue@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [RC]   Why by from the killers?
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 21:38:47 -0700

I've done both.  I much prefer knowing the parasite control, dental work and 
farrier work has been properly done throughout the horse's life.  I got a 
gelding at 23 that was properly cared for, and he lived till 33.

The horse from the killers had damage from being roped and tripped by the 
charros, among other mistreatment.  She managed to get to the 50 mile level 
but had to go back to 25s because of the past damage.  She won a best 
condition award at 22.  She is 24 now.

Hard to fit horses are no bargain!  Good luck with your latest saddle!  I'm 
a little intrigued that you're "done with paneled saddles" (assuming you 
mean flexible paneled saddles.)  Which ones did you try?

L.

On Sep 2, 2004, at 9:27 PM, Jena Williams wrote:

> Why buy a horse from the auction or the killers?  I don't know, why adopt a 
> dog from the pound?
>
> My husband and I have gotten all of our horses as other peoples rejects.  
> Starting with my Kellog gelding that I bought from Cal Poly for $100.  He 
> taught me to really ride (vice go in circles), and I sure wish I knew about 
> endurance then!  My vet thought that is what we did, since my best friend 
> shared him and rode him every day between the two of us.  Boy was he fit!  
> Hmm, guess the school's vets were a little off on his usefulness.  I think 
> he just needed to get out of the ring.  He is 24 now, and still enjoys 
> going out on the occasional trail ride.  but I digress...
>
> I am afraid to think of the life my current horse Temba would have had if I 
> had not bought him off the "cowboy" who had won the original bid.
>
> I do not see the auction as that big of a "gamble" if you have a good eye 
> for a well built horse with a kind eye.  Sure, the horse you pick may not 
> turn out to be suited to endurance; but the high priced horse may not 
> either!  And you will have better luck getting your money back out of the 
> "reject" than the pricey one.  And you might just save a good horses life.
>
> My long-winded 2 cents.



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