My first horse (in a very long time)

[catwalk]

It's been seven long horseless years, but I promised myself that when my house was paid off, I could treat myself to a horse. I went without a cell phone, cable TV, resturant meals, and new clothes, but now I am without a mortgage!

The horse I chose is very similar to my last one: a nine year old OTTB gelding. This one has been owned by a 4-H girl, so I have high hopes for his soundness and sanity. I bought a new dressage saddle, because I cannot lift western saddles high enough to throw one over a 16.3 hh back, and friends/family may feel unsecure in a close contact one. I am still waiting on the girth inthe mail, so we are walking everywhere, getting some good grooming in, and getting to know each other.

I used to work at miniature and Standardbred breeding farms, so I have a lot a lot of good information in my head, but I will have a lot of questions. I'm a lot older now, and I feel like I may be in a bit over my head. It has been about 17 years since I last rode outside an arena, and I have no safe enclosed space to ride in. From the posts I read on here, everyone seems really friendly and helpful, so I hope I can pick your brains clean!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Nice horse with a lovely expression. How old is he?

Pick away!

 

[patandchickens]

Congratulations!

Wow, he looks a LOT like my 22 yr old OTT TB Berto (you can see a pic of him on my recent 'shetland sheep pics' thread). Berto is same height, color, shape, face, etc.... except your guy has better, shorter, stronger-looking front pasterns than Berto

Good luck, have FUN ,

Pat

 

[catwalk]

He is nine, and he doesn't have a name yet. His registered name is Julia's School Boy. I can't even think of a shortened name out of that! I'm great at coming up with chicken names, but a horse is more monumental, and permanant. My last horse was The Shack Bully, also stupid, but I called him The Shaq, taught him to jump, and it was perfect!

 

[lupinfarm]

Pat, Berto is 22?! He looks much younger Though I've found OTTBs to keep their good looks into their older years. Smoothie was 16 when we got her and had been a broodmare almost her whole life but looked like she was maybe 7, and when we sold her at 22 years old she still looked superb.

 

[patandchickens]

A name will come to you. I agree, it's a much bigger deal deciding what to call a horse than what to call a chicken <g>

(BTW, catwalk, I did not mean to imply he looked 22 , just that he is built the same as Berto was when he was younger. Berto's neck-set and withers actually *are* quite similar to your guy's, just not when sheep are around like in that photo LOL)

Congrats,

Pat

 

[michickenwrangler]

You'll find yourself calling him something that will just end up sticking. Ask a teenage boy, I've noticed that they come up with better names for male horse than middle-aged women, otherwise you may end up with something like

Pretty Orieo Kookie (later renamed One-Eyed Willy by a 20 yr old male coworker)
Gay Macho
Gay Parade
Pretty Poco Ashwood
Ima Lacy Gal
Mr. Ivory

"Pretty" and "Gay" have no business being in a gelding or stallion's name IMHO

It'll come

 

[ducks4you]

"Pretty" and "Gay" have no business being in a gelding or stallion's name IMHO

AGREED!!! WE're NOT naming parakeets!!!!

 

[catwalk]

(BTW, catwalk, I did not mean to imply he looked 22 , just that he is built the same as Berto was when he was younger. Berto's neck-set and withers actually *are* quite similar to your guy's, just not when sheep are around like in that photo LOL)

Congrats,

Pat

I undersdand. My last horse is 20 this year, and I'd pay triple what this new guy cost if I could find him back.

Now, let the brain-picking begin! First, does Dover make generic saddles? I answered a Craigslist ad for a new Dover drassage saddle because it was $200. The person with the ad didn't know anything about the saddle, as she was selling it for a friend (they always are). It was entirely unmarked, and she told me that her freids told her it was a Dover, and that's how she knows. I bought it anyway, because I drove a long distance to see it, but I haven't sat in it yet, as I am still waiting for my girth to arrive in the mail. My last saddle was not marked Crump or Crosby, but I know it was one of the two because Prix de Saute was stamped in gold on the inside. So, is it possible that I got a great deal on a Dover, or do I have a State Line Tack beginner's package? It came with a bridle of such low quality that I would have left it if I already had one at home.

 

[ducks4you]

I'll Bet it's a STL--I've been buying from them since 1985.

The better leather you buy, the softer and better worked it is. HOWEVER, some people never take good care of their tack. I have a few saddles that are approaching 100 years old--they are cutback, highbacked western--and I've restored the leather. They aren't supposed to creak, because that indicates that the leather is drying out. Sorry--I can't stand to lose good leather ANYTHING to lack of oil!!