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Comment by Cassandra Dietman on March 14, 2012 at 1:29pm

Luck most certainly played a role in joining my equine partner Tucker and I!  I had just recently given away my rescued TB mare I'd had for six years to her perfect retirement home, and I was feeling the void of being horseless.  My previous TB mare was actually my first horse as my parents were not financially able to support my "addiction".  I bought her by myself when I was still in high school and paid every penny for her care.  I had decided to not get a horse right away so that I could save up enough money for a nice TB or warmblood.  However, I couldn't help but "window shop" on Dream Horse every once in a while.  I stumbled across an ad for a free OTTB who was recovering from a lesion on his sesamoid ligament.  I was very hesitant about inquiring about a horse with such an injury, but after showing the pictures the trainer had sent me to my best friend and first source for horse advice, she told me I had to at least go see him.  I drove two hours the next morning, and instantly fell in love.  Beneath a coat in need of a good curry, I could see a gorgeous 16.1 dapple grey Thoroughbred ready for his next job.  I was still nervous about the injury, but after speaking with the veterinarian who treated it (who I've worked with in the past, and I completely trust) and watching him trot on a hard surface, I felt he was the perfect new project for me!  I brought him home the next weekend, and that was in September.  We just had our first rides in the last couple of weeks, and though there are plenty of bugs to work out, I think he's going to make one super hunter!  It's been a very long, slow recovery process, but we have yet to have any sign of lameness (thanks to Smart Pak Resilience III!), and he is a very quick learner!  He has just enough attitude to give me a good challenge, but with a pretty solid work ethic.  Our match was definitely a matter of right place, right time!  I can't wait to hit the hunter circuit with my new partner and friend!

Comment by Stephanie Grier on March 14, 2012 at 1:25pm

I have waited over 30 years to finally have my own horse! I did all my research - what I wanted, what I didn't want, size, age, colour (ha ha), etc.. Then the internet search started ; so many horses and they all sounded pretty fantastic, according to their owners.... Next, it was time to try out the best sounding possibilities. You would think this a simple task, but it is not so. Trying to find a new long-term partner after sitting on him/her for a little while, maybe a couple of times, if they live anywhere close to you, if you are lucky, is very difficult.

I tired, and I tried, and I tried gain - I won't say too much about what I found, to protect the innocent horses, BUT! Finally, my coach said "stop looking! I think I may have found you a horse.". Not only did she find me a horse, that horse belonged to a woman who had a new horse boarded at the barn where I ride! She brought my soon-to-be mare for me to ride for a whole week on trial. I finally found my lovely mare right at home, right under my nose - talk about LUCK!!!

Comment by Misha Green on March 14, 2012 at 1:24pm

Luck certainly played a part in crossing my path with Diego's.  Diego was feral, 12 years old, and in a sales pen at Barkey's Auction in Claremont, Ontario.  A fellow endurance rider happened to stop into the stock yards and something about Diego caught her eye, aside from the obvious arabian traits he possessed.  She made a phone call and another member of our club went and made an offer and purchased Diego for $200.00.  Diego then spent 30 days in training followed by a number of months sitting in a field.  Eventually his new owners decided to part with him due to lack of time and money.  However, because of his lack of experience and relative feralness, they were unable to sell him.  So he ended up at the farm of my close friend.  She spent the next few months trying to convince me to come and meet Diego - my current competition horse was injured and in recovery.  After much urging, I finally went to her place, and the rest, as they say, is history.  Now my feral, grey, arabian, screams his head off with delight when I arrive at the farm.  Best sound ever!

Comment by Allison Hopkins on March 14, 2012 at 1:24pm

One day, one of the horstrottwes at my ranch haaboutfree d a foal. She was so small and dainty. I was very young then, only about 10. Me and my best friend went up to the pasture and saw the little foal starting to take its first steps. She wobbled over to us and let us pet her head. After we stroked her she whinnied and trotted away to go sit in the fees bucket. I asked my friend, what should we name her? We sat on the grass right behind the fence and brainstormed for hours. Then we finiallt found the name that perfectly fit our little chestnut foal. Lacy. Ever since then she has evolved in her training and been the nest companion ever.

Comment by Fran Doos on March 14, 2012 at 1:23pm

We have a friend in the racing business who gave us a tour of Del Mar during their meet.  Kate got to meet a horse that our friend named after one of our relatives who wrote for a racing magazine.  Kate had been riding for four years at that time and she was 10 at the time of our Del Mar visit.  From the minute she met the thoroughbreds, she wanted a thoroughbred filly/mare.  Well, we searched and searched and one day we found a picture of a beautiful thoroughbred filly who had been unsuccessful at the track.  She was absolutely stunning!  So, we went to visit her and Kate fell madly in love with her.  We were concerned about a green horse and a very young little girl.  We did purchase her and called her Doozey because that is Kate's nick name that her dad gave her as a little girl.  it took a lot of time and a lot of patience and a lot of training, but they are now one and have been a great eventing team for a long time now.  Kate is 16 and Doozey is now 9.  If it had not been for the fact that a relative passed away, a friend naming a horse after our relative, a trip to Del Mar to meet the horses at the track, well, we would have never ended up with our Doozey.  The bond between Kate and Doozey is absolutely amazing.

Comment by DJ Lattery on March 14, 2012 at 1:23pm

Summer of 2006 my horse at that time jumped out of his pen but caught his front legs on the fence and flipped over on his back.  The vet suggested that he have some time off.  So I sent him to my dads place for the winter to let him heal.  He was put on a daily Asprin treatment.  I didn't want to stop riding so I was looking on the internet and came across my current horse.  I had always wanted a draft cross.  He didn't look like much and I didn't have much money to spend.  So I remember emailing my mom the AD and her response was to find out how much they want for him and where he is located.  So I emailed the owner and the price was right but he was 10 hours away from where we live.  He was just 3 at this time (fall of 2006) and had only one month of training and 2 month off since his training.  His mother is a 18HH Percheron and his father is a 15HH Quarter Horse. We struck a deal with her and agreed that we could meet half way.  So we packed up the trailer on Saturday September 8, 2006 and drove 5 hours.  When we got to the meeting place I noticed that he was still in there straight haul 2 horse trailer and they were inside having breakfast.  I was concerned because he had just drove 5 hours and they hadn't taken him out.  So an hour later we went over to their trailer and they backed him out and he could barely walk he was so stiff from being cramped in the trailer for so long.  This was a busy truck stop and there were trucks coming and going.  I started to walk him around so he could strecth his legs before we loaded him in our trailer.  We walked around for about 10-15mins and he finally started to unstiffen (if that is a word).  Went to load him in our trailer (concerned he wouldn't go in) and he jumped right in.  The ride back was uneventful.  Since that day until now we have trained in Dressage showing second level and schooling third level.  We have many championships from the years of showing.  The funny thing is that I had only intended to keep him (that fall/winter) until my other horse go better.  In the spring of 2007 I decided to sell the other one and keep Onyx (his name).  I have not regretted that decision.

Comment by Trina on March 14, 2012 at 1:21pm

In 1991 I spent one summer working for a friend at her breeding farm in Courtenay, BC.  She gave me a "summer project" starting a 3 year old warmblood mare and preparing her for the Breeders Classic in the fall.  I fell in love with the mare, who was also in foal.  I really wanted to buy the unborn baby but didn't have the money.  One day while out trail riding the mare and I had a fall and I broke my foot.  That was the end of my summer project and ability to work at the farm.  I had to say goodbye to the mare and someone else took over the summer project. 

The following spring my friend called me up and told me my baby had been born.  She gave me the foal as a University graduation present!  I have had my lovely mare Pecan for 20 years now.  She has been with me through thick and thin.  She has gone on cattle drives, poker rides, dressage shows, hunter and jumper shows and lots of fun events.  She has held my tears and made me smile.  She bucked me off on occassion to keep me humble.  She has given me three lovely babies who have inherited her sweet disposition.  I leased her to a young girl at 18 and she taught her to ride and won her a prizes and a cooler all in the same year. 

It has been an absolute priveledge to have her in my life.  She is semi-retired now - we do a few trail rides and she ponies the youngsters.  I love seeing her head over the stall door every morning and it will leave a huge hole in my heart when she is no longer there.  Hopefully that will be years from now.

Comment by Bubbletoe on March 14, 2012 at 1:17pm

I rode for a friend, who raised quarter horses and Arabs. They had one boarder, a chestnut whose owner was chronically absent. He was very neglected... Overgrown hooves, matted coat. And very loving. One day, he stuck his nose over the gate as the owner of the barn walked by. The owner was holding a broom, and swung it at that horse. I got up early the next day, called the chestnut's absentee owner. She was more than happy to "dump that horse" and didn't care what happened to him. We negotiated a price ($200 -all the money I had in the world), and he was mine. Then I went home and told my parents :)

His registered name was Lil injun joe, and he was the best friend a girl could ever have had!

Comment by kim macdonald on March 14, 2012 at 1:16pm

Hi! I got a call from a friend one day who said there was a young horse in dire need of help and would I go look at him and maybe be able to rescue him! I already had one horse and had just lost one so I really didn't want to get another one right now! My friend said just go look and if you don't want to take him just leave him,Well I went and he was the sweetest little boy and he was in such bad shape I just could not leave him there, So he was at my place the next day !! I thought he was a yearling he looked so small, But come to find out he was three !! He was so emancipated and full of lice,dehydrated and was just a mess! Well you should see him now,two years later and he is a superstar! He loves everything and everybody, He has grown to be an extremely handsome boy and is doing very well under saddle! I am so glad I went that day,I often wonder if it was just plain meant to be!! LOL

Comment by Kim Bradbury Semmel on March 14, 2012 at 1:15pm

I bought Brandy sight unseen from a uncle, after I had prayed everyday for months to be blessed with the perfect horse for me.  Paid a whopping $100.00.  She was 6 months old, small for her age and wild as they come! We learned everything about each other! 1st one I had trained on my own. Brandy and I played Tag, Hide and Seek, she liked to share my Cheetos and Dr. Peppers.  Brandy would see the bridle gladly put her muzzle into it, always looked forward to the ride we would have that day, always had her ears forward.  We trusted each other, never did she show fear when trying something new with great interest! (didn't matter if it was at a playday, parade, jumping or casuel riding). Brandy loved my blonde German Shepard "Joe" they would give each other kisses, they would watch out for me and me for them, we all protected each other. The bond we had was unbreakable even after she passed due to old age.  I think of her and miss her everyday. Thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful exsperience sharing the life of my equine friend! 

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