Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Christmas in July - NEW HORSE!!

It still hasn't really sunk in yet but I have a NEW HORSE! To put it mildly my riding life has sucked the last few years. Let's see, both of my show horses were retired within a couple of years of each other. I had two very nice youngsters (Bonnie and Lexi) that I had bred to be their replacements but of course for awhile they weren't old even enough to even be backed yet. They were backed during their three year old year then turned back out to grow more. We started them up again in the spring of their four year old year (last year) and things seemed like they might finally be going my way.

Skyy

Then I had the trailer incident coming back from a cross country school which put us out of commission again . . . and the depressing saga of my riding (or should I say non-riding?) life continued on. Bonnie especially does not do well with this whole stop then start program, a consistent program is her friend. Of course a consistent program is best for any extremely green horse! Then of course you have to add my busy schedule on top of everything - I run a farm as you know! I've brought along a lot of green horses throughout the years, but I have learned there is a huge difference between a green horse and a horse that isn't started at all.

My very first glimpse of Skyy in person

Jason, world's greatest husband, finally got sick of it all. Sick of me not riding, sick of me complaining about not riding, then sick of me lamenting about how hard it is to bring along two completely green bean horses when you aren't working with them consistently. One day he looked at me and said "Why don't you just go buy a horse with more training and have fun with it?" I didn't think he really meant it at first, plus I felt guilty just thinking about getting another horse.

She has a very soft eye

But he kept saying that so I started kind of half -heartedly looking around. Yeah, you know how the rest of this story goes! Before I knew it I had seen Skyy's picture, then her video and then - voila! - I had bought her. Yes, you read that right. I bought her without ever seeing her in person or riding her. I did everything you aren't supposed to do when buying a horse! I did of course have a thorough pre-purchase exam done.

Meeting Norman. Norman has become our resident "barn pony" and is free to roam around certain areas of the farm. He comes in the barn to go in his stall and get a drink of water and check things out a few times a day. He usually ignores any other horses in the barn but he is pretty infatuated with Skyy. He stopped by to see her several times today.

The day I wired the money for her I called my favorite east coast shipper, Tapp Horse Transportation, to have her shipped to me (she was in Northern Virginia). They said they would be able to get her scheduled within a week. Then the next day they called and said they had a cancellation on one of their trucks that day and the truck was in Northern Virginia. So they picked her up, shipped her to their facility in Kentucky where she spent two days, and then brought her to my farm today.

Skyy realizing that she has hit the jackpot (in my humble opinion!) of horse homes!

So today I welcomed Skyy, my new horse! Skyy is six years old and is a Swedish Warmblood. She is nicely broke on the flat and although still green to the fences she will happily jump around a small course. Her lead change is even about 80% there already. She needs to do some more poles, cavaletti and gymnastic exercises but if I had the desire I could take her to a show tomorrow as is. I plan to do a bit of everything with her, some low level dressage (I do some training/first level dressage with all of my horses), some hunter shows and some low level eventing. I hope to do some foxhunting with her as well. She has a great brain and is the type that is game to do whatever you ask of her. The best part is she is fancy enough to be competitive at all of these things, yay me!

Like all of our new arrivals she found the goats to be of great interest

Happily grazing this afternoon


I hopped on her briefly today because I just couldn't stand to wait any longer. She was a good girl although Jason made me get off after just a couple of minutes. He said I needed to give the poor horse a day or two to rest and settle in and of course he is right. I can't wait to get to know her better. I have to say I'm not in love with her name but it would feel odd to call her something else at this point. How do you feel about changing a horse's name? In the end it is the package that matters though, not the name!

On a funny note I have been learning about what it means to own a gray horse. As I mentioned in my "name that gray" post I've never had a gray. I've always ended up with either bays or chestnuts. When Skyy was out this afternoon the first thought that went through my mind as she laid down to roll was "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" My new horse already has grass stains on her. Quick Silver here I come!

Welcome Skyy!!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

She is really beautiful - looks sane and sensible too! Ah, I could have told you about grey horses - they are hard to keep clean.

I love that picture of Norman and her together - could you sent it to me?

Ambi said...

Wow, she is stunning! Congratulations and what a great husband!

The pictures of you riding will be forthcoming, right?

ZionFarm said...

She is gorgeous! Congrats on a very beautiful girl.

As far as her name change...I would say go for!:) Im sure as you get to know her you will come up with a fitting name.

jill said...

I think Jason was right on! My husband, Chris, said the same thing to me a few years ago and I ended up with Scout. I'm so glad I did. Hope you have a blast with your new girl!
Jill

raphycassens said...

That is one GORGEOUS mare...

Cate said...

She's beautiful! Congratulations! I hope we'll be kept updated on your adventures with her. :)

As for name changing, I've always been torn on that. In most cases, people I knew kept the barn name but would change the formal fancy pants show name to something they liked better. I think you'll figure it out as you get to know her. Maybe she's just not a "Skyy" kind of girl (makes me think of vodka, personally...), or maybe she is. You could always keep it booze-themed like Corona or Cosmo. ;)

Catherine said...

She's beautiful! You are a lucky woman and she is one lucky horse!

I have changed every single one of my horses names (the last one came with the barn name Brownie so the name change was a no brainer!) You'll fall into the perfect barn name for her.

Java's Mom said...

AWESOME!!! Yay, how exciting!!! Can't wait to hear how your first ride goes. She is beautiful and I like her name. Personally I might drop the second y, but Sky or Skyy is a lovely name. I'm so glad for you!!

Spotted_T_Apps said...

That is sooo exciting! She's a knockout of course. How happy for you!

I came to post a link to my blog because I had excitement of my own, but I'm so happy for you now!

www.freewebs.com/spottedtridingblog

Brooke (FBX Adventures - In Parenting) said...

Wow! She is beautiful!! I love Swedish Warmbloods!! I want your husband to give my husband some tips! I guess it would be different if we lived on our own property.

I like the name Sky, it looks like she has clouds all over her, but I know that a horses personality can not meet their personalities. I named mine (sight, but pretty much unseen at an auction) Lillian, but quickly learned that she was NOT a Lillian, since I couldn't name her cat food we went with Denali. It fits her perfectly!!

Best of luck, I'm jealous and she's beautiful!! Can't wait to see pictures of her!! Congrats!!

Brooke (FBX Adventures - In Parenting) said...

Opps! I meant a horses name can not meet their personality!

www.wildponybeast.blogspot.com

maggie said...

WOW! She's gorgeous. You're having to have such a blast together!

Vivian, Apollo's Mom said...

Congratulations Melissa! I am soooo jealous! Skyy looks beautiful and has a lovely kind face. I am sure you will love her and have a great time with her. I wish you both all the luck. Please keep us all posted. Her neck in that one pic is just perfect for dressage! As for the name, time will tell.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your new mare! I follow your blog regularly and always find it hard to believe your pictures are those of a bunch of geriatrics! They look so young and healthy! Kudos to you and you deserve something you can enjoy!!! I would consider it horse karma!!

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

Melissa,
I don't know how I missed this post! Congratulations on Sky! I thought she was another retiree coming in when you had here picture on previous post (I think) As far as the name change, we have changed barn names only on two. Maduro's was Axle and Derby's was Sis. I would like to change Maduro's papers as his Registered name came as Haley's Axle Rose. It was the previous owner's husband horse. I have a "Tango" theme going on here. of course, but I always look at the registered names and come up with one. My hubby is into fine cigars and that's how he came up with Maduro (meaning dark brown). I thought it was good since he's a dark brown on his papers. My husband is not as generous as yours, I have complained for more than 5 years now but he said I would have to sell all of them to get one to ride and I just cannot do that! You're very lucky! Hopefully we'll get some riding on these "green horses" but it's very frustrating to not have a "finished" horse around!

SchipperkeReferee said...

Beautiful.. now for the grey part :) They like to be dirty. The only color in my barn for over 20 years has been shades of grey (Andalusians) you get used to the dirt and every so often a big bottle of Quick Silver if they have a date. A good bottle to have on hand and it's easy to find at the grocery store.. Mrs. Stewart's bluing. Oh so cheap and just a cap full in your handy bucket of rinse water washes away grime from a workout or what ever .. happy riding! You lucky dog LOL! Give that hubby a big kiss for being wonderful.