Rose is our newest addition. Even if she IS 14 years old.
The Irish Rose Jasmine. I wish they had called her Jazzy....Rose is so lame. And the Irish Rose is a Farm name. I did call her Jazzy when I first looked at her at the sale....and she did respond to it. But she's been called "Rose" for at least 10 years, and that is the name she responds to automatically.
The Irish Rose Jasmine could be an incarnation of another horse we had, The Irish Rose Liza Jane, except Liza died in 1999. Liza was 17.1-17.2hh; Rose is 18hh or a little better. No relation whatsoever (except Farm Name) but she has the same face, same expression and many of the same mannerisms. So much, that I've called her Liza a couple of times.
Hubby took her to a drive last week, and she was driven single. The previous owners said she was broke at one time, but that they had used her as a brood mare for the last 7 years.....never even hitched her. Until just before sale time, when they hooked her with another old lady and the 2 of them just walked off as if they had been hooked the day before. And, even in the cart, which is usually more difficult than team when working new horses, she worked just fine. And she's sweet, which is a definite change from the rest of our barn.
And she "talks". Both Rose and Bill are the barn "talkers". No, not with nickers or snorts or neighs.....but with their eyes. There is absolutely no doubt about what she is trying to convey to the stupid human who is too dense to understand things right away. But, she's patient, and waits until the human "gets it".
She wears her heart on her sleeve, so to speak. One look at her and she tells you how she feels about what is going on around her. For one, she doesn't understand why there is no grass in the pasture they are in (they ate it all, most of it before the frosts, and the frosts killed the rest), and why they can't go on the other side of the fence where there IS some. Me, too, Rose. But, the stupid humans don't have it fenced yet, and we'd prefer you remain on our property rather than be shot by our neighbors who don't know the difference between a horse and a deer (even if the horse is 2000 lbs compared to maybe 400 lbs on the deer). It IS hunting season, after all. And she doesn't understand why she is kind of ostracized. Although Princess will come up and groom her, she will, just as quickly, turn around and kick the $%!# out of her. And, unfortunately, Princess doesn't just kick and quit....no, she continues on until her anger over whatever is finally vented. (Princess and K go on kicking sprees against each other and needs human intervention. Fortunately, they aren't very often). Even as Rose moves away, Princess will follow. And you can look at Rose and see that she is totally confused about why this is happening.
Even Jill (who DOES seem to be mellowing) merely pins her ears and looks ugly at her. And Rose doesn't understand why. Then again, there ARE times when Jill will break up the altercations.
It doesn't help that Rose is so obvious, so "verbal" as it were, that she gets a lot of consoling. Which only makes the others more jealous. So we try to keep it even.
I can only wonder what's going to happen when we start working with Dee and Bo this year. We'll be watching for signs.
Showing posts with label horse sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse sales. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Selling horses
Anyone who has sold older animals will tell you......they seem to know when you are "getting rid of them". Weanlings of any sort (cat, dog, horse) don't seem to have the same feel, but the older ones definitely do.
Most of the horses I sell are sold for only one reason......they do not fit in with the program.
In draft horses, most of the time it's because they don't have a match/mate; and unless they are phenomenal movers don't have a place locked up on the show thing. I have to admit, we have been very lucky in finding great homes for our "odd-man-out" horses.
But that doesn't change their attitude......or the fact that they seem to "know".
Once a horse is officially "on the market" most of them become like lost puppies.
"Don't you love me anymore?" The sad eyes....the sudden "joined at the hip" with you. They want to be petted and played with.......they "say" with every movement, "You don't really want to sell me, do you?"
I have a hard time selling any horse. I do connect with all of them.....especially ones that I bought from a sale and ones I helped into the world. After buying/selling over 150 horses, it still isn't any easier. But Athena is trying to make it easy.
It seemed that as soon as the paperwork was sent in to the sale, she knew. While Summer has done the "sweet" thing noted above, Athena is more like a child who has to go to camp; but no matter how much he wants to go, is scared of leaving home.....and begins to "act out".
Psychologists call this "making it easier to separate." It's always easier to leave when you're angry.....and it's always easier to "let go" when you're not happy with something.
Athena has never had any vices.....til now. While she has always been independent and superior, she usually went along with things, as long as they were done her way or she could "live with it". The day the papers were sent in.....she started being aggressive. She crowds when you go to feed her; she comes at you with mouth open when you try to fly-spray her; she's taken up nipping; and she doesn't want you to catch her when she comes in from the pasture. None of this was there prior to this day. Since none of this is tolerated in my barn, she has since given up such shenanigans with me....but my guess is she's going to push buttons for someone else.
Until Sunday. On Sunday, we helped some friends with a problem horse (couldn't break her) by bringing up our "rock".....Bill. Bill deals with Jill all the time.....and does a wonderful job....so naturally, he was elected to be the teacher. While his partner lunged and leaped like she was jumping no-stride 2-1/2' cavaletti, poor Bill just tried to keep up......until the mare finally settled down and decided she really could do this thing without being stupid. We had also brought along Summer and Athena, since they really hadn't had a good hitch since May.
While Bill was a star that day, Athena came in a close second. She was perfect hitching.....was actually happy being hitched and played with. While Roy worked Summer, I let Athena lunge for a bit (she's been known to be a bit "hot" if you put her right into a hitch), on her own terms (she knows how to lunge and pretty much does it herself after a few reminders). The more we worked, the more she wanted to work. She really seemed to enjoy herself, while Summer and Sheena really wanted to just go out in the pasture. Not that they were bad, they just weren't as much fun to drive.
As much as her original trainer said she prefers to be ridden, she really liked being driven in the cart. We did not get a chance to drive Athena and Summer as a team.....but then, they don't match anymore, and it would be like driving Mutt and Jeff with their size difference. And that is why they are going to the sale.....they have no matches with our black horses or even our other, very fancy dapple gray.
The sale is this Friday, and I admit I'm stressed. Hope and pray for them to find that good home.
Most of the horses I sell are sold for only one reason......they do not fit in with the program.
In draft horses, most of the time it's because they don't have a match/mate; and unless they are phenomenal movers don't have a place locked up on the show thing. I have to admit, we have been very lucky in finding great homes for our "odd-man-out" horses.
But that doesn't change their attitude......or the fact that they seem to "know".
Once a horse is officially "on the market" most of them become like lost puppies.
"Don't you love me anymore?" The sad eyes....the sudden "joined at the hip" with you. They want to be petted and played with.......they "say" with every movement, "You don't really want to sell me, do you?"
I have a hard time selling any horse. I do connect with all of them.....especially ones that I bought from a sale and ones I helped into the world. After buying/selling over 150 horses, it still isn't any easier. But Athena is trying to make it easy.
It seemed that as soon as the paperwork was sent in to the sale, she knew. While Summer has done the "sweet" thing noted above, Athena is more like a child who has to go to camp; but no matter how much he wants to go, is scared of leaving home.....and begins to "act out".
Psychologists call this "making it easier to separate." It's always easier to leave when you're angry.....and it's always easier to "let go" when you're not happy with something.
Athena has never had any vices.....til now. While she has always been independent and superior, she usually went along with things, as long as they were done her way or she could "live with it". The day the papers were sent in.....she started being aggressive. She crowds when you go to feed her; she comes at you with mouth open when you try to fly-spray her; she's taken up nipping; and she doesn't want you to catch her when she comes in from the pasture. None of this was there prior to this day. Since none of this is tolerated in my barn, she has since given up such shenanigans with me....but my guess is she's going to push buttons for someone else.
Until Sunday. On Sunday, we helped some friends with a problem horse (couldn't break her) by bringing up our "rock".....Bill. Bill deals with Jill all the time.....and does a wonderful job....so naturally, he was elected to be the teacher. While his partner lunged and leaped like she was jumping no-stride 2-1/2' cavaletti, poor Bill just tried to keep up......until the mare finally settled down and decided she really could do this thing without being stupid. We had also brought along Summer and Athena, since they really hadn't had a good hitch since May.
While Bill was a star that day, Athena came in a close second. She was perfect hitching.....was actually happy being hitched and played with. While Roy worked Summer, I let Athena lunge for a bit (she's been known to be a bit "hot" if you put her right into a hitch), on her own terms (she knows how to lunge and pretty much does it herself after a few reminders). The more we worked, the more she wanted to work. She really seemed to enjoy herself, while Summer and Sheena really wanted to just go out in the pasture. Not that they were bad, they just weren't as much fun to drive.
As much as her original trainer said she prefers to be ridden, she really liked being driven in the cart. We did not get a chance to drive Athena and Summer as a team.....but then, they don't match anymore, and it would be like driving Mutt and Jeff with their size difference. And that is why they are going to the sale.....they have no matches with our black horses or even our other, very fancy dapple gray.
The sale is this Friday, and I admit I'm stressed. Hope and pray for them to find that good home.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October Sale Time
It's October.......and for draft horses, that means sales.
It's a time that's both exciting and sad.
Exciting because there may be something there you just can't live without.
Sad because you need to send some friends along to find new homes.
It's sad this year. We need to sell some, and 2 of my nicer animals are going to be leaving.
Summer, our dapple gray 3yo, did not grow as big as we had anticipated. Her team mate, 3 yo blue roan Athena, is pushing 18hh. Their Mutt-and-Jeff appearance makes them no longer the nice team they were. It is, of course, still possible that Summer will grow more......but she will be a "late bloomer" and will not match Athena for a few years. That's a few years too many. We did not breed them......I don't like breeding 3yos.....and that will likely have a major effect on how much they bring. Both are extremely well-bred.....but sometimes that means nothing.
Summer takes care of hubby. He is not an aggressive driver and at times loses focus......but she knows just what to do and keeps him safe. She's a super horse for someone who is new to the business or wants a safe horse for their kids. She had held her own in competition, beating older more mature horses, so she's a nice mover. She's also broke to ride (although I haven't ridden her since last year). And she's a good baby sitter. My present foal, Fire, will need to be weaned again. No vices, either. Just a real nice mare that I would keep if I could.
But I am really going to miss Athena. This blue-roan moves like a 3-day and/or dressage horse. She is the "modern" kind, which means she looks more like a warm-blood than a full-blooded Percheron. She also was broke to ride last year (again, I'm not riding them) and the trainer said she actually preferred to be ridden than driven. She also has held her own against more mature horses and placed well in her classes. She's actually jumped over me when I got knocked by another horse right into her path. I just remembered thinking "this is gonna hurt" and then seeing her feet over my head. This horse and I have quite a history together, which makes it especially hard to see her go.
As a baby, she almost didn't make it out. She got her shoulder caught on her mom's pelvis and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't make it move. Just when I figured was going to have a dead baby, suddenly, it gave, and she came out. When we lost her mother the next year, I really wanted to keep her forever. Then, while out with mares and foals, another mare decided she didn't like her and attacked her. Again, I thought I would have a dead baby......but with a lot of love and care she pulled through. She has her own personality......I gave her the name Athena for a reason......she thinks she's a goddess! And she has the blue roan dorsal stripe down her back and the dark outline of her eye......which actually makes her look more like Cleopatra! It is very Egyptian-like.
I am not looking forward to losing these two.....because that's what it is.....losing them. But circumstances force the issue. 11 horses and 2 people to care for them.....gets to be a bit much at our age.....especially since 1 (me) does most of the day-to-day stuff. I know they are not getting the attention they deserve, since it is focussed on others who need it more right now.
But still.......next week will be a sad week.
It's a time that's both exciting and sad.
Exciting because there may be something there you just can't live without.
Sad because you need to send some friends along to find new homes.
It's sad this year. We need to sell some, and 2 of my nicer animals are going to be leaving.
Summer, our dapple gray 3yo, did not grow as big as we had anticipated. Her team mate, 3 yo blue roan Athena, is pushing 18hh. Their Mutt-and-Jeff appearance makes them no longer the nice team they were. It is, of course, still possible that Summer will grow more......but she will be a "late bloomer" and will not match Athena for a few years. That's a few years too many. We did not breed them......I don't like breeding 3yos.....and that will likely have a major effect on how much they bring. Both are extremely well-bred.....but sometimes that means nothing.
Summer takes care of hubby. He is not an aggressive driver and at times loses focus......but she knows just what to do and keeps him safe. She's a super horse for someone who is new to the business or wants a safe horse for their kids. She had held her own in competition, beating older more mature horses, so she's a nice mover. She's also broke to ride (although I haven't ridden her since last year). And she's a good baby sitter. My present foal, Fire, will need to be weaned again. No vices, either. Just a real nice mare that I would keep if I could.
But I am really going to miss Athena. This blue-roan moves like a 3-day and/or dressage horse. She is the "modern" kind, which means she looks more like a warm-blood than a full-blooded Percheron. She also was broke to ride last year (again, I'm not riding them) and the trainer said she actually preferred to be ridden than driven. She also has held her own against more mature horses and placed well in her classes. She's actually jumped over me when I got knocked by another horse right into her path. I just remembered thinking "this is gonna hurt" and then seeing her feet over my head. This horse and I have quite a history together, which makes it especially hard to see her go.
As a baby, she almost didn't make it out. She got her shoulder caught on her mom's pelvis and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't make it move. Just when I figured was going to have a dead baby, suddenly, it gave, and she came out. When we lost her mother the next year, I really wanted to keep her forever. Then, while out with mares and foals, another mare decided she didn't like her and attacked her. Again, I thought I would have a dead baby......but with a lot of love and care she pulled through. She has her own personality......I gave her the name Athena for a reason......she thinks she's a goddess! And she has the blue roan dorsal stripe down her back and the dark outline of her eye......which actually makes her look more like Cleopatra! It is very Egyptian-like.
I am not looking forward to losing these two.....because that's what it is.....losing them. But circumstances force the issue. 11 horses and 2 people to care for them.....gets to be a bit much at our age.....especially since 1 (me) does most of the day-to-day stuff. I know they are not getting the attention they deserve, since it is focussed on others who need it more right now.
But still.......next week will be a sad week.
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