tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post6417975134615303604..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: The Grey HorseJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-80236241976636424142012-01-11T08:55:08.734-08:002012-01-11T08:55:08.734-08:00Ha! Dreaming - you have a way with words, too! Yes...Ha! Dreaming - you have a way with words, too! Yes, I reached the "mortal age" when I realized I could get killed on that "stinker." Looking back over my life, it's a wonder I didn't get killed by some of the horses I rode. I guess that's where that other expression comes from: "Pride goeth before a fall."Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-1194100050734523972012-01-11T06:57:53.519-08:002012-01-11T06:57:53.519-08:00Like Alison, I enjoyed reading your post, which wa...Like Alison, I enjoyed reading your post, which was so story like! You do have a way with words! A friend of mine says that at some point in our lives we reach the age of 'mortal reasoning' - when we realize we can get killed by doing something; riding horses, working on a roof, skiing - you name it! It sounds like you hit that 'age' when you decided you had to let go of your beautiful grey stinker!Dreaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02113432418609414054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-18817767869825672742012-01-10T15:51:56.312-08:002012-01-10T15:51:56.312-08:00I agree, Alison. When a really, quick athletic hor...I agree, Alison. When a really, quick athletic horse is also spooky, it can potentially be a dangerous combination, even for a good rider. I'm trying to remember how old this grey horse was, and I think he was about seven. The perfect age to start developing some sense, I thought - but alas, it seemed to evade him.Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-20866344732449050082012-01-10T15:14:58.999-08:002012-01-10T15:14:58.999-08:00Love your post, Linda! Reads like a good story. So...Love your post, Linda! Reads like a good story. Sometimes I think those super athletic horses are the most worrisome because they know they can unbalance you in a second. I had a spooky mare, but it was always when she was in heat. UGH. Hated that!Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895574291466327332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-50953492385359471182012-01-10T14:51:16.135-08:002012-01-10T14:51:16.135-08:00Anonymous - it's funny, isn't it? If the h...Anonymous - it's funny, isn't it? If the horse in question is really pretty, we tend to give them more of a chance. Because we so WANT them to be good. Glad you found a new home for the horse before either of you got hurt, and who knows, maybe he'll behave differently in different circumstances. Hope so. But often it's better to just not take a chance.<br /><br />Laura, sorry I got your horses mixed up! (I should proof-read my posts LOL) Twister is the good one, Danny is the bucker. Got it.<br /><br />Gosh, reminds me of another horse I had when I was a teenager, who was quite cinchy. I'll write about him one day, too. ;-)Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-69735775927532140192012-01-10T14:34:06.329-08:002012-01-10T14:34:06.329-08:00Linda--Actually Twister, the grey horse on my plac...Linda--Actually Twister, the grey horse on my place, is my boarder, and a very good horse. My problem bucker was/is Danny (a bay), who was/is a sweet horse in absolutely every other way but the bucking fits (I know, its sort of a major problem in a riding horse). Danny was cinchy in an odd way, which made him quite unpredictable to ride, but he really was sweet otherwise. This is why I stepped up to give him a home.<br /><br />Couldn't have you thinking Twister is a stinker--my friend Wally, who owns him, would be upset at the idea I was maligning his good rope horse.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-55543373699284961892012-01-10T14:30:53.490-08:002012-01-10T14:30:53.490-08:00I had a palomino TWH that I'd bought for my hu...I had a palomino TWH that I'd bought for my husband. Drop-dead gorgeous, super smooth, nice on the trails, but there was something just not right about him. He'd spin and bolt quite randomly, and although my husband could hold on, it wasn't fun. I worked with him a lot, and he did it with me too, and I never could figure out quite what would set him off. We sold him to an experienced endurance rider who thought it was great fun to ride "sipping champagne" while her friends got jostled to death on their Arabs (her words, not mine!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-32019628368035290232012-01-10T14:24:41.597-08:002012-01-10T14:24:41.597-08:00Hi Laura - No, that's not a picture of the hor...Hi Laura - No, that's not a picture of the horse, but it's pretty close to his color. This all happened twenty-something years ago, and I'm not sure if I even still have a pic of him. He was not quite as keen-headed as the horse in the picture, but he did have a nice, kind eye *snicker* and a pretty head. He was a quarter horse, and although you find lots of grey arabs, not as many quarter horses.<br /><br />The man that bought him was going to use him on a ranch, and I can only hope that lots and lots of riding and work might have finally made a horse out of him.<br /><br />Sorry you got Twister back like that (and what an apt name for him.) I don't even remember the grey horse's name. I know I called him something, but forgot over the years. I've never forgotten the names of my good horses, though.Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-57096868570822713672012-01-10T12:45:41.480-08:002012-01-10T12:45:41.480-08:00I meant "Yes, I had some similar experiences&...I meant "Yes, I had some similar experiences". Should re-read my comments before I post them (!)Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-83297141904869873102012-01-10T12:44:14.832-08:002012-01-10T12:44:14.832-08:00I enjoyed your post very much--is that your grey h...I enjoyed your post very much--is that your grey horse in the photo? If so, I can understand why you bought him. My boarder, Twister, looked a bit like that when he was young (though not so pretty headed) and we all oohed and aahed over his color. Unfortunately most of those those dapple greys fade to white as they get older--which is the color Twister is now at fifteen.<br /><br />Yes, I had a similar experiences. I once gave away a very nice horse who was prone to unpredictable bucking fits--and for the same reasons you sold the grey. I had a little child and I realized it wasn't worth it to me to get hurt. Like you, my horse never dumped me, but I thought he would, eventually. He could buck pretty hard. Unfortunately my horse turned out to be a boomerang horse. I gave him to a friend who could deal with the bucking, and he made a nice horse out of this bay gelding--but the horse got hurt due to no fault of his own and was never going to be rope horse sound again. Since he would still buck from time to time he couldn't be given to those beginners who only want a walk/trot horse. My friend was going to euthanise him--and I took the horse back to be a pasture ornament (I still own him--he's turned out in a friend's pasture five miles from my house). So I TRIED to get rid of my problem horse. It just didn't stick. But I do understand/agree with the fact that there are horses we sometimes shouldn't keep--the downside is too great.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-5366612602964391292012-01-10T11:12:56.790-08:002012-01-10T11:12:56.790-08:00That's great, Imel. Sounds like you and your h...That's great, Imel. Sounds like you and your horse are bonding, and that's wonderful.<br /><br />Part of the reason I sold the grey horse all those years ago was because I was working full-time running a business, raising a daughter by myself, and did not have access to any kind of arena to work this horse. I probably shouldn't have bought him in the first place, but well, I did, and sometimes we make foolish decisions. I don't know if he ever turned around and made a good horse for anyone, but I hope he finally found his "person." <br /><br />Sounds like your OTTB has found his "person" and I hope your bond just gets stronger. Good riding to you!Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-81326933544429689052012-01-10T10:37:25.348-08:002012-01-10T10:37:25.348-08:00I currently own a horse that, at first, I had quit...I currently own a horse that, at first, I had quite a bit of trepidation about riding. After working with him, and learning to relax, and become more attuned to his behavior, I haven't given up hope. He's tossed me a few times, but it's all been part of his learning to deal with a new environment. He's an OTTB, with limited exposure to the big wide world, but we improve with nearly every ride. He's made me a stronger ride (hang on!) and taught me a lot about OTTB behavior. And I love him to death.:)lmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17517919157975053481noreply@blogger.com