Jill
Aspiring Cowgirl
Just wanted to let all of you know, not only am I "good at" buying horses, I also can let some go when the time is right. This is some kind of major milestone for me... I've never given away or sold an animal ever in my life.
Earlier today, two of my mares went out on an extended (hopefully permanent) free-lease to a friend, Missy, who lives about 5 minutes from me. She has a little mini gelding and wanted a mini or pony to keep him company since she smartly didn't want to turn her mini out with her big horses.
I offered to free lease her both Morningstar and Tinkerbell. I didn't feel right about sending Morningstar out without a friend she knew (she has always been with "her herd" since a foal) and I am interested in cutting the numbers back some since I have some new horses I will do more with coming in.
They loaded Tinkerbell first but the ramp on the trailer doesn't hit the ground until the horse stepped on it, which scared Tinkerbell. She slipped out of her halter out in the driveway and we live RIGHT on a road! I had wanted them to load them in the fenced yard but they were scared they couldn't get the trailer in and out (not used to driving a trailer). Thank GOD one of the men who came with Missy was able to hang on to her like a rodeo pig and guide her to the gate and then we got her fine once in the fence.
Morningtar was loaded by the time we got back with Tinkerbell, and that was shocking. She's not been loaded since a foal and is 36" and STRONG! However, she was terrified once tied in the trailer and ended up busting her chops on the divider.
Missy rode in the back tack room thingy to keep Morningstar quiet which I guess is not too dangerous being only 5 minutes down the road. Missy called not long after they got home to say they were doing fine and Morningstar loves her gelding and Tinkerbell loves one of her big horses through the fence.
Missy is a dog groomer and owns a "boutique" in Fredericksbur and is a real animal person. She spends a lot of time learning and applying Natural Horsemenship on her two biggies. There are two little girls who live next door who have been spending most of their free time loving on her mini gelding, Mingo, and will do the same with Morningstar and Tinkerbell.
I feel good about this. I wasn't sure how I'd feel when it happened but I wanted to do it. The horses will be happier since now they will be "the special ones" to someone and here, I love them, but they are not "the special ones". This gives me more time to spend with the horses I enjoy more, gives Mingo some friends, and the horses more love.
I can get them back anytime I want and check on them anytime I want. I think this is all a good thing!
Here is Tinkerbell, who is the first mare (big or small) I ever owned. I trained her to drive in 2000:
And here is Morningstar, who is the first baby animal of any kind that came out of an animal I owned (not my breeding, bought her mom in foal, but hoped she wasn't pregnant):
Earlier today, two of my mares went out on an extended (hopefully permanent) free-lease to a friend, Missy, who lives about 5 minutes from me. She has a little mini gelding and wanted a mini or pony to keep him company since she smartly didn't want to turn her mini out with her big horses.
I offered to free lease her both Morningstar and Tinkerbell. I didn't feel right about sending Morningstar out without a friend she knew (she has always been with "her herd" since a foal) and I am interested in cutting the numbers back some since I have some new horses I will do more with coming in.
They loaded Tinkerbell first but the ramp on the trailer doesn't hit the ground until the horse stepped on it, which scared Tinkerbell. She slipped out of her halter out in the driveway and we live RIGHT on a road! I had wanted them to load them in the fenced yard but they were scared they couldn't get the trailer in and out (not used to driving a trailer). Thank GOD one of the men who came with Missy was able to hang on to her like a rodeo pig and guide her to the gate and then we got her fine once in the fence.
Morningtar was loaded by the time we got back with Tinkerbell, and that was shocking. She's not been loaded since a foal and is 36" and STRONG! However, she was terrified once tied in the trailer and ended up busting her chops on the divider.
Missy rode in the back tack room thingy to keep Morningstar quiet which I guess is not too dangerous being only 5 minutes down the road. Missy called not long after they got home to say they were doing fine and Morningstar loves her gelding and Tinkerbell loves one of her big horses through the fence.
Missy is a dog groomer and owns a "boutique" in Fredericksbur and is a real animal person. She spends a lot of time learning and applying Natural Horsemenship on her two biggies. There are two little girls who live next door who have been spending most of their free time loving on her mini gelding, Mingo, and will do the same with Morningstar and Tinkerbell.
I feel good about this. I wasn't sure how I'd feel when it happened but I wanted to do it. The horses will be happier since now they will be "the special ones" to someone and here, I love them, but they are not "the special ones". This gives me more time to spend with the horses I enjoy more, gives Mingo some friends, and the horses more love.
I can get them back anytime I want and check on them anytime I want. I think this is all a good thing!
Here is Tinkerbell, who is the first mare (big or small) I ever owned. I trained her to drive in 2000:
And here is Morningstar, who is the first baby animal of any kind that came out of an animal I owned (not my breeding, bought her mom in foal, but hoped she wasn't pregnant):