Now here's a great story. A friend stopped me on my way home and asked if my husband and I would be interested in a free horse. Of course, when you hear someone has a horse to give away, you immediately begin to wonder what's wrong with the horse and what condition is he in. She gave us some information and, strictly based on the horse's color...strawberry roan, we called the woman who had him.
We made plans to see him and decided to take the horse trailer along. We weren't expecting to see much of a horse, but when she brought Gorgeous George up to us, we were pleasantly surprised. Here stood a beautiful strawberry roan gelding with a flowing blond mane and tail. He was well behaved, but the woman said she didn't ride anymore, her son was not into walking horses and the son's girlfriend was into showing miniature horses. They didn't want him going to waste and being unused, so they were looking for a good home for him.
DEAL! We loaded George into the trailer and took him home with us. We always re-name horses when we get them, so we decided to call him Tonka...then Tonka Tough...then I'm Tonka Tough. We call him Tonk, but hope to either sell him or try him at shows and on trails. We will probably get him registered with the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse association if we keep him.
His mane is 2 feet long at it's longest section and his tail is blond with a strawberry streak in it.
When we first tested him out as far as riding goes, I put one foot in the stirrup and knew I wouldn't even get in the saddle. When I hopped up in the stirrup, Tonka spun around wildly and I just stood on the ground out of harm's way. My husband put up the round pen and we started him off on his training more slowly. After acclimating him to the saddle and the sounds it made, I set off to lay over his back. Once I was across the saddle he began a series of short, half-baked bucks. When my husband grew tired of holding on to him, he told me to bail off. I did this twice, both times landing on my back and jarring my neck out of place (and yes, I had to go to the chiropractor to get it fixed, but I waited a couple of months before I went...dumb, huh). BUT, since I am a serious rider, I once again laid across his back and Tonka finally decided it wasn't so bad having a rider. His training has gone smoothly ever since.
Unfortunately, we may have to sell Tonka, but I trust God will reveal His plan to us in His own time. After all, Tonka is simply on loan from his Creator.
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Let me tell you the story of how Max came to live with us. My husband and his dad attended the Tattersall's sale a couple of years ago when the horse industry first began to crumble. Horses (and I mean really nice ones) were selling for no more than $2500 (we used to sell this quality for $5000). One horse in particular caught the eyes of every living soul in the place...a big, smooth-gaited walking mule. This mule just strolled down the aisle as the bidding kept going ever higher. When it reached its peak ($8500), the seller passed him out and said it would take more to buy his mule. He sold him outside for nearly $10,000.
Now here's a great story. A friend stopped me on my way home and asked if my husband and I would be interested in a free horse. Of course, when you hear someone has a horse to give away, you immediately begin to wonder what's wrong with the horse and what condition is he in. She gave us some information and, strictly based on the horse's color...strawberry roan, we called the woman who had him.
