I did not get the horse :( - O/T - long

ChicaChels · #1 May 26th, 2009, 08:58 AM

We went and looked at the horse I had my heart set on yesterday (we were going to go Friday, but it ended up pouring rain so we couldn't have saddled her up)..

The mare (Lacey) is just GORGEOUS! I was in love as soon as I saw her! The owners came out and we of course brought our own tack to see how she would adjust, so Sam tried to catch her (I wasn't going near an unfamiliar horse at 6 months preggo! Last thing I needed was to get kicked in the stomach!) and she would let him come up to her and then she would take off. The owner said when we talked to him she was "super easy to catch"...pffft! So he went and got a bucket of sweet feed and that was the only way we could get the halter and lead on her. Once she was hooked up she was fine though. I really think she dislikes the guy that owns her because when he was leading her around she was being kind of a snot (as mares often are anyway)..but once Sam took her she was perfect. I think she is definitely the alpha with her current owner which is something I am leery of..I would never buy from someone who couldn't take charge of their own animal!

Well we got my saddle out and I saddled her up since she was being held tightly by Sam whom I trust and I knew she couldnt kick me from the side anyway. She was perfect for that! I was really surprised but she didn't move a muscle. I gave Sam my bridle and she took it just fine and then the owner came over and she started being a snot again so he backed away and she was just fine. I grabbed her reins and made her wait a few minutes while being under the saddle to see how she behaved (I cannot stand impatient horses!!) but she stood there just as she would be expected to at my house! Finally Sam went over to get in the saddle which for some reason I was nervous about - I thought she would spook or something but she was a perfect angel while he jumped up! I was surprised! she stood perfectly still until he gave her the ok to trot. She could trot and canter beautifully. I was like sweet, she is going to be perfect!! While Sam was riding I went into her pasture and started looking at the fence, which had definitely been chewed on. There was also a tree that was pretty much barkless in one spot. She was riding so beautifully though! She would stop on command, turn to the right, turn to the left, back up, etc without hesitation. I was super impressed. I had sam bring her over to me after he rode for about 20 minutes (she did get spooked once by a couple birds and she stumbled, but she recovered nicely and kept on going)

I looked at her hooves and they were in desperate need of farrier work. The owner said she was trimmed last Oct. but if that's the true her hooves grow at astronomical rates! They were a mess..but her frog and navicular bone looked good which is really whats important to me. I didn't see any signs of previous founder and she was perfect about lifting them up for me.

I asked to see her stall - which was a total mess. The water in it was green and full of hay, and there were signs of cribbing everywhere. The owner said it was newly her stall and her previous one was the tack room, which was in perfect condition, but I don't know how honest he was (He did several things to make me believe he 1. knew nothing about horses and 2. he was just trying to get rid of her because she might be problematic)

I asked him if she had a history of cribbing and he had no clue what that was and when I explained it to him he started babbling about her hooves! He also said she chews up everything. So I told him I would think about it and call him back by 8pm last night.

Well we decided to make him an offer (he wanted $1000.00 for her, I offered him $400.00) and he accepted my offer as long as we could pick her up today. Which was fine I could drive up there this afternoon either by myself or with Sam and haul her home no problem. Then he mentioned that she needed to be off feed for a few days..my first thought is Colic of course. He said she is incredibly prone to colic and gets it about twice a year...so I said nevermind. I didn't see any signs of cribbing when I physically looked at her (She wasn't thin, she didn't have the typical neck shape, etc)..but between the pasture fence and him saying she was prone to colic I decided against it!

I am so sad...I was so excited, but I know in my heart I made the right decision. But my goodness was she just gorgeous to look at!

<sigh>....I really hate horse shopping!

so back to my sources I go today!!

mdestiny25 · #2 May 26th, 2009, 10:10 AM

Awww...while I didn't understand half of what you were talking about, I could tell she was a sure sight. I am sure you will find the one that is perfect for you guys! Good luck in your searching!

smilanatu · #3 May 26th, 2009, 10:25 AM

I know nothing about horses BUT it sounds like she was a beauty...you'll find the right one!

RT32669 · #4 May 26th, 2009, 11:11 AM

aww! I'm sorry Chels... but good for you for making the "smart decision"!

my.estrella · #5 May 26th, 2009, 11:16 AM

It sucks it didn't work out, but I don't think I'd buy her either. Between the cribbing and the colic, the chances of her being a problem are just too high.

ChicaChels · #6 May 26th, 2009, 12:35 PM

yes thats why we didnt buy her...but oh my word was she beautiful!!! if she was free and even just as a pasture mate....she would be mine! I was just leery as to why they accepted such a low offer to begin with..then with the cribbing, colic, unknown number of foals, etc...i had to walk away!! sigh!!!

#7 May 26th, 2009, 12:54 PM

Im sorry she didnt work out! It sucks butt!! Youll find the right mare soon!

ChicaChels · #8 May 26th, 2009, 01:00 PM

i actually would prefer a gelding over a mare anyday, but she was pretty and I was told she was dead broke and very sound...and knew the barrel pattern...so I guess it wasn't meant to be!

#9 May 26th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Your right..cuz everything happens for a reason!

kruff79 · #10 May 26th, 2009, 01:34 PM

I would be leery of all the unknowns too, and especially with colic and cribbing. Even if it just started as boredom it's such a hard habit to change. And it's so damaging to both the horse and the surroundings. I took on a mare in high school as a favor to the owner and gave her back after he never had a farrier come out, even after her shoes were falling off! She had a lot of the same habits, and she bit too. Once she was saddled she was an angel, but in the pasture or the stall she was like a different horse all together. She even knew how to grab the plastic handles on the electric fence to unhook the fence, she wandered the neighborhood at her leisure most of time because I couldn't keep her in. As pretty as she must have been it sounds like you made the right choice.

BCRNJO · #11 May 26th, 2009, 01:41 PM

Aww... I feel so sorry for the poor horse... I hope he'll take care of her and she will be able to find a forever home one day... he sounds kinda shady though...

BCRNJO · #12 May 26th, 2009, 06:04 PM

whoops, already posted...

Samantha777 · #13 May 26th, 2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCRNJO

Aww... I feel so sorry for the poor horse... I hope he'll take care of her and she will be able to find a forever home one day... he sounds kinda shady though...

I was thinking the same thing . . .

Declyn&Me · #14 May 26th, 2009, 06:59 PM

oh thats so sad.
everything you mentioned are things that are easily prevented.
i mean she could be colicing because of the cribbing. ...so get her a cribbing collar. if she chews, you can paint your fencing with creosot (SP?) or other foul tasting on the market chewing products (lol though it looks.. not so pretty). atleast she had good feet. i mean of everything thats pretty much the most important thing.
but thats alot of work (and possibley money) to be dishing out when you got a baby on the way.
youd definatley have to have a vet out to find out for sure the reason she colics. thats just neglect shes living in now.
unfortunatley the cost to care for a neglected horse is quite high.
i hope you find yourself a perfect mount.
do you think it might be a good idea to wait until baby is born?
i mean your going to be riding her.

ChicaChels · #15 May 26th, 2009, 07:59 PM

I know they're all easily treatable..our pasture fence isnt wooden. It's electric rope, but our pasture is full of trees. I just didn't want to take on a high risk horse, especially one prone to colic as I won't be with her as much once brylie is here.

the guy sold her to someone else - he said as soon as I hung up with him last night he was calling the other offer and giving it to them. I know in my heart it was the right decision.

one of our best friends is our vet and she is an equine specialist and we did talk to her about everything before making our final decision...She also looked to have something going on with her front hock..possibly tendonitis or something, the guy said it was always "off" looking.

There are millions of horses in Iowa that are for sale, so if I'm going to spend our money I am going to buy one that doesn't require a lot of work. My Bo that died was the only horse I will ever drop tons of money into - he had cancer and I kept him alive as long as I could.

We are looking for a horse now because we hate only having one in our pasture, he is lonely, and we always have younger family here who wants to go riding - another reason I am being picky about this horse. I need a bombproof one and with the way she spooked over a couple of birds, had there been an inexperienced rider on her it could have been disasterous.

I still cant get over her physical beauty though. SIGH!

we are going to look at another horse next Wednesday though. hopefully we have better luck!