Yesterday the rain held off so my husband and I went to a local ranch to look at the horses they had for sale, mostly just for fun, to see what's out there and to take pictures with my new camera. They are mostly a consignment Western barn so the expectations were fairly low, and they met them handily. For some reason they had many drafts and draft crosses, including several Gypsy Vanners. I have a soft spot for drafts, I'm not sure why, I've never been on one, but most of them seem like big teddy bears and there is something very attractive about that. We took a little closer look at a cute little Appy, but she's only been under saddle for 6 months, only been ridden Western, never been on a trail ride and is scared of the saddle. Of course this was not what it said in the ad!
Here's an ad from a different local barn, this is a 9 year-old half-Friesan gelding, 16.1hh, ridden English, Western and on trails. See, now I really like the looks of this guy.
Here's another gelding I like the looks of from the same barn, an Andulusian cross, also 9, 16hh and also ridden in all three disciplines that interest me. I'm not going to jump into anything but I am having fun shopping. I went to my barn in the late afternoon yesterday to see Missy, she is still suffering with an abcess that is being stubborn, it still hasn't broken. I had a good discussion with my trainer and told her about setting up lessons at the barn close to the office and perhaps joining a women's group lesson once I got comfortable. She is still wanting us to give it until the end of the summer before I make a decision, but for the first time she mentioned that maybe the owner might agree to retire Missy if we can't get her to where I want her. I'm trying to just take things one step at at time. For now I am looking forward to being able to ride consistently one evening a week. I'll do one lesson this Wednesday then I am off to Jordan for a week, but I was told there would be a horse (or camel) riding opportunity in Petra so I can keep my consistency program going. What do you guys think of these two geldings?
