Re: [RC] "pound dog" mentality for horses? - Truman Prevatt
Well lets see. My wife bought the Jbird for a song because the person
couldn't deal with him - he was a pistol. The next stop for him would
have been the auction I am sure. I got him for free because he was too
quick for my wife and she kept ending up on the ground. He's still a
pistol and still quick and we'll have 10 years riding together next
year. Before him I got the mare for 800 bucks. She was for sale because
the owner couldn't control her. I'm no sure I always had full control
of her but we had a ball together. After all she was called the "Horse
from Hell.". She is still my number one and the memories with her will
never be forgotten.
Then there was Stormy. One day we got an offer to buy the mare's
mother, Stormy for 200 bucks. It was that or she was off to the meat
truck. We did. She was 15 at the time so we just though she would be a
pasture ornament since she was "unridable." Well we breed the mare when
she was nine so I needed a horse to ride so I started to work with
Stormy. After awhile we came to an understanding. Stormy did a few
CTR's and LD and then her first 50 with me. She was a blast to ride and
one of the fastest horses I've ever ridden. After the foal was weaned,
my wife took Stormy and did a season or two of endurance rides on her.
She was "hell on wheels" but a ball to ride. She fell in a hole and
hurt her shoulder so would never be endurance sound again but was fine
for trail riding. One of the few regreats I have was not being able to
get her when she was younger before all the abuse she had to suffer.
Her crime was she didn't want to piddle around with trail riding with
the quarter horse folks or even the walking horse folks (she was a
walker) - she was born to run and loved to run.
Back before I got the Jbird I bought an Arab to repalce the mare. I was
going to retire her after the '96 season to breed. I looked long and
hard for an Arab for endurance. This horse was well bred - even
sweepstakes nominated, and looked and vetted out as a good endurance
"prospect." He was a police horse but the deputy had to sell one of his
horses because he was going through a divorce. Dan would bring the
highest price so that's the one his exwife demanded he sell. He was a
reputable owner and had bought Dan from a reputable breeder. On paper
and from what two vets said Dan should have worked but he didn't.
Bottom line was the horse would not have held up so his career was
short - one LD and 50 and a few CTR's started, one LD and 50 and a few
CTR's completed. So I got the mean old snarley, spooky, and general
pain the the butt hand me down reject - the Jbird - and have been going
down the trail with him ever since - be 10 years together on the trail
next year.
Have the "pound - hound" horses that have come my way been good horses
that I've had a lot of fun with -yep. Is there a risk in getting one -
there is a risk in crossing the street. So far the only reject I've had
from being able to go out and do endurance was the one I bought to
specifically be an endurance horse and paid the biggest bucks for.
I am sure others have found their dream horse from breeders. Buying any
horse is a risk. But as Ed will tell you sometimes you just look at a
horse and say "he is gorgeous - I want him!" And as they say, "that's
the rest of the story."
Truman
Tracey Smith wrote:
Truman, you are so right...I like your thinking!
Yes, the "pound dog" mentality (and that is not meant to be
demeaning...I have it too) can spill over into horses too!
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
