Oops
Apparently I forgot that you all can't read my mind and don't know the recent deal with the horses in Kentucky. lol
I may have posted about 4 years ago about buying a buckskin mare (Mirasol) that my trainer thought would be a good broodmare. That was in October of the year. Then, the next July the mare's mother (Engracia), her current colt, and a ~3 yo buckskin stallion (Abacaxi) came up for sale (the lady was getting rid of the rest of her herd). So, I went ahead and bought Engracia, and Abacaxi essentially came with.
Unfortunately, Mirasol never took, so I sold her last year (well, my trainer did) as a riding horse. She has gorgeous movement, and a big thick mane and tail-gorgeous.
Engracia did have one filly the first year-and she's for sale soon. After that she also failed to take. My trainer was having trouble with some of his mares, as well, so I wasn't too upset about it. Also, I was iffy anyway about bringing new horses into the world that would need to be sold off, even if they were good quality, so I told him to just stop trying. I didn't bring her to my house because I already had three stalls and three horses. lol
In the meantime I had Abacaxi in training with the trainer. I might have posted video here of him, but maybe not. They love him, apparently. He's done really well with his brilliant movement and good attitude. Initially the trainer said he was a bit short for a stallion, so wasn't going to breed him at all. However, this year he bred him to one of his taller mares, so we'll see what comes of it. The asst trainer who is riding him has done video for me a few times, and has used him in some of her pictures/videos that she's posted on her FB. :)
Now, last year they finally started showing their horses, and did really well at the higher levels. This is the second year of showing and doing even better. My trainer asked me about showing Abacaxi, starting just at a schooling show**, and starting at 2nd or 3rd level. That's the difference being professionally trained-wow.* Then he asked if I wanted to bring Engracia home so I wasn't spending so much money on her. lolol I'm sure that means he wants me to spend the money on showing Abacaxi. Which cracks me up, but I'm fine with. Apparently he did go to his first schooling show and managed to get ?>65% even though he was not paying attention because of all the activity. ( I don't remember exactly because JP was like, he didn't deserve it, he deserved a 62%. which is still good)
So, after three days on a transport truck poor Engracia (Gracie now, according to Kate's husband) is now ensconced in a field in Canyon where she is hanging out, and occasionally being trained. (pasture board much more reasonable in Texas than Kentucky).
I'd bring her to my house, but I still only have three stalls with three horses already in them. :) Thought about enlarging the barn some, but that's looking like it's going to be too spendy. We'll see how it goes the next year or so.
*(from easiest to hardest- intro, training, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Prix St George, Intermediaire I and II, and Grand Prix. It takes years to get to GP, maybe even 8 at the earliest.)
**Schooling show-inexpensive one day show put on by a 'local' club. Usually fairly relaxed environment. You get ribbons and maybe a little trinket for doing well. Can cost around $40-60 plus gas/food as needed.
Rated show-usually put on by large club in nice arena with proper rider attire. Always two days, and requires stalling your horse there. The judges are official, and the scores are reported to our regulating body and can go towards medals, year end awards, and championships. Can cost $500 plus gas/lodging/food.
I may have posted about 4 years ago about buying a buckskin mare (Mirasol) that my trainer thought would be a good broodmare. That was in October of the year. Then, the next July the mare's mother (Engracia), her current colt, and a ~3 yo buckskin stallion (Abacaxi) came up for sale (the lady was getting rid of the rest of her herd). So, I went ahead and bought Engracia, and Abacaxi essentially came with.
Unfortunately, Mirasol never took, so I sold her last year (well, my trainer did) as a riding horse. She has gorgeous movement, and a big thick mane and tail-gorgeous.
Engracia did have one filly the first year-and she's for sale soon. After that she also failed to take. My trainer was having trouble with some of his mares, as well, so I wasn't too upset about it. Also, I was iffy anyway about bringing new horses into the world that would need to be sold off, even if they were good quality, so I told him to just stop trying. I didn't bring her to my house because I already had three stalls and three horses. lol
In the meantime I had Abacaxi in training with the trainer. I might have posted video here of him, but maybe not. They love him, apparently. He's done really well with his brilliant movement and good attitude. Initially the trainer said he was a bit short for a stallion, so wasn't going to breed him at all. However, this year he bred him to one of his taller mares, so we'll see what comes of it. The asst trainer who is riding him has done video for me a few times, and has used him in some of her pictures/videos that she's posted on her FB. :)
Now, last year they finally started showing their horses, and did really well at the higher levels. This is the second year of showing and doing even better. My trainer asked me about showing Abacaxi, starting just at a schooling show**, and starting at 2nd or 3rd level. That's the difference being professionally trained-wow.* Then he asked if I wanted to bring Engracia home so I wasn't spending so much money on her. lolol I'm sure that means he wants me to spend the money on showing Abacaxi. Which cracks me up, but I'm fine with. Apparently he did go to his first schooling show and managed to get ?>65% even though he was not paying attention because of all the activity. ( I don't remember exactly because JP was like, he didn't deserve it, he deserved a 62%. which is still good)
So, after three days on a transport truck poor Engracia (Gracie now, according to Kate's husband) is now ensconced in a field in Canyon where she is hanging out, and occasionally being trained. (pasture board much more reasonable in Texas than Kentucky).
I'd bring her to my house, but I still only have three stalls with three horses already in them. :) Thought about enlarging the barn some, but that's looking like it's going to be too spendy. We'll see how it goes the next year or so.
*(from easiest to hardest- intro, training, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Prix St George, Intermediaire I and II, and Grand Prix. It takes years to get to GP, maybe even 8 at the earliest.)
**Schooling show-inexpensive one day show put on by a 'local' club. Usually fairly relaxed environment. You get ribbons and maybe a little trinket for doing well. Can cost around $40-60 plus gas/food as needed.
Rated show-usually put on by large club in nice arena with proper rider attire. Always two days, and requires stalling your horse there. The judges are official, and the scores are reported to our regulating body and can go towards medals, year end awards, and championships. Can cost $500 plus gas/lodging/food.