Meet Duke
So, about two weeks ago my friend Kelly sent me a text with information on a 13 yr old TB gelding she found that was supposed to be dead quiet and beginner safe. (the Fjord didn't work out at all) It perked my interest, so I hopped online and found the sales ad. The pictures did NOTHING for the horse, so I emailed the lady and asked for more information on her horse. We exhanged several emails, and I decided the horse sounded like what I was looking for. I set up a meeting time, and when the weekend came along Kelly and I made the trip to go and see Duke.
We met the lady at a decrepit looking cattle barn, and I took a mental note of the poor fences and lack of shelter. All the horses came trotting up happily when the lady whistled and they all allowed her to catch them. Duke came right up to her, stuck his head in the halter, and followed nicely to be tied to a tree. (she had trees lining the driveway and that's where she tied all the horses- each on a differnt tree)
The first two things I notice about Duke is a) he's about 250 lbs over weight, and b) he had terrible feet. I started asking the lady about her farrier schedule and she proudly told me that Duke's shoes had been on for over 5 months. He even threw a shoe while I was looking at him and the lady proclaimed, "Ooo three more to go and I can get the farrier out!"
Duke stood quietly while the lady chatted our ears off, to keep her on track Kelly told her she'd like to ride him. The lady then proclaims she forgot all his tack and pulled out her small TWH's tack. The saddle was waaaaay too small on Duke's back, and the bridle had a shank bit with a 2" port on it. Needless to say, but the horse was misreble. Kelly only did about 4 laps around the "ring" before hopping off. Duke was honest in trying to do everything Kelly asked, but he was very unhappy about it. His head was stright up in the air, and he kept wringing his tail. We untacked him and then I took the horse for a walk to see how we meshed. He's horribly head shy, so that's a bit annoying- but other than that I liked him.
I told the lady I'd take him, and it turned out they could deliver him to me on the next day. So, Duke is happily at my parent's farm now. My 30 yr old mare, Ginger, is so in love with him and pines away at the gate that seperates the fields. I had the farrier come out and work miricles on his feet, and he's on a dry lot right now to try and get some of the extra weight off. I've cleaned him up, scrapped off all the bot eggs, got the burrs out of his mane and tail, and gave him a cute hunter's bob. I've got a friend of mine who is going to come out and excercise him for me until I am ready to get back in the saddle :)
Here he is with his new halter and new hair cut. Hopefully I'll be able to get some better pics soon :)
We met the lady at a decrepit looking cattle barn, and I took a mental note of the poor fences and lack of shelter. All the horses came trotting up happily when the lady whistled and they all allowed her to catch them. Duke came right up to her, stuck his head in the halter, and followed nicely to be tied to a tree. (she had trees lining the driveway and that's where she tied all the horses- each on a differnt tree)
The first two things I notice about Duke is a) he's about 250 lbs over weight, and b) he had terrible feet. I started asking the lady about her farrier schedule and she proudly told me that Duke's shoes had been on for over 5 months. He even threw a shoe while I was looking at him and the lady proclaimed, "Ooo three more to go and I can get the farrier out!"
Duke stood quietly while the lady chatted our ears off, to keep her on track Kelly told her she'd like to ride him. The lady then proclaims she forgot all his tack and pulled out her small TWH's tack. The saddle was waaaaay too small on Duke's back, and the bridle had a shank bit with a 2" port on it. Needless to say, but the horse was misreble. Kelly only did about 4 laps around the "ring" before hopping off. Duke was honest in trying to do everything Kelly asked, but he was very unhappy about it. His head was stright up in the air, and he kept wringing his tail. We untacked him and then I took the horse for a walk to see how we meshed. He's horribly head shy, so that's a bit annoying- but other than that I liked him.
I told the lady I'd take him, and it turned out they could deliver him to me on the next day. So, Duke is happily at my parent's farm now. My 30 yr old mare, Ginger, is so in love with him and pines away at the gate that seperates the fields. I had the farrier come out and work miricles on his feet, and he's on a dry lot right now to try and get some of the extra weight off. I've cleaned him up, scrapped off all the bot eggs, got the burrs out of his mane and tail, and gave him a cute hunter's bob. I've got a friend of mine who is going to come out and excercise him for me until I am ready to get back in the saddle :)
Here he is with his new halter and new hair cut. Hopefully I'll be able to get some better pics soon :)