Journey Part 2

I decided to name "Lester" ---> Bogey because of his registered name, A Chip Off the Tee. And golf is cute. So Bogey's his new name. When he came home on the day after Christmas we didn't have a lot of time to get to know each other. Here's the journey of how we are getting close and growing together:

During my Christmas break, I did get a few things taught and worked out with Bo. First of all, we're pulling his shoes, he has had all four for quite some time and I feel that he needs a couple months to just let them grow. They are really nice right now, so I have to be careful finding a new farrier, since mine lives in Texas now. If anyone knows of any really great farriers in south-central, MN just let me know.

Secondly, we have to work on his "buttons" and cues. He had a slight spur stop started on him and I don't ride with one, so we are having some stalling periods with cues and my assertiveness.

He does have some awesome points that I don't need to fix or do anything with:
- He w/t/c on a lunge line very well, nice and slow and respectful
- He leads really well
- Ties/Clips awesomely (I did his bridle-path and rubbed his ears with the clippers without a flinch!
- He does everything so awesomely on the ground (so what do I have to complain about!)

The things we need to work on are:
- Undersaddle, we are still working on cues and well sometimes he becomes stubborn and I don't understand so, that should work out with time. He's very gentle, but oh so big! We just need to grow together.

What I am working on with him when I go home is showmanship work. I love showmanship, it's my favorite event because you do not need a 10 grand horse to win it, you just need time and your own precision. Bogey and I are working on this. We are getting the trot offs and gaging the speed down pat, but the set ups are a little slow and pivots are just started. He's such a big horse that moving that whole body around takes a little effort, which he does not like.

He's a really awesome horse, and tomorrow I get to see him and work with him!



Here's a picture of him trying on his new to him show p-j's. I had to see if my old geldings slinkies would fit.

Start of a Journey Part 1

This is a start of something new. Oh, those old cliche' lines! I decided to start this blog to journal about my trials as a college student that lives 2 1/2 hours away from her brand new horse. Also, I wanted to log our training journeys together. This will just be a journal for myself, to get my thoughts on paper, and if people read it, why not? Now, onto the beginning.

It all started with an ad for a horse.

Well it probably started earlier than that, and I'll have to do some back-tracking later to tell my story completely, but my journey with my NEW horse started with that ad.

I just noticed it one day and he just struck me as something special. He was out of my price range at the time, (the price dropped $2000 in 2 months of watching the ad) but I just couldn't stop going back and looking at it. Another reason why it kept pulling me in is because I know a horse that is by the same sire, same color and everything that I just "clicked" with this past summer. After watching the ad and emailing the owner, I kind of felt like this one was the "one".

I called the owner multiple times and after the price drops I decided to make an offer.

Now, you all must realize that I am probably one of the world's worst horse buyers (or maybe the best from my perspective). I am the person that emails multiple times (not the same questions, but a TON of questions). Calls multiple times asking different questions, calls the trainers multiple times, and searches the internet for every scrap of information I can find on the trainers, owners, and the horse itself. I want to know EVERYTHING about the animal I'm purchasing before I even begin to think of an offer. I collect this information on folders on my computer as well as a hand written manilla folder I have in my files. I did this with the first horse I bought when I was 15 and it really works well for me because I was prepared and knew exactly what I was getting into. (That first horse was also my best friend, but we'll get into that later.)

After all of that anal knowledge based research, I made an offer on the horse. Now, the owner had disclosed that she really needed to sell the horse since her daughter couldn't ride him and she couldn't afford the training bill each month, so I knew I could get a deal. I also had an "ace in my pocket" in the respect that I could and would walk away from the sale if it wasn't for me. Then I did a lot of praying about it and asked God, that if this horse wasn't for me to just have him sell or my offer not work out, but if it is let me get him for "XXX" price.

Well I called and made an offer right before Thanksgiving weekend this past year. I really really low-balled it, and I'm so horrible for doing it, but hey, I'm a cheap broke college student who goes to a VERY expensive private school. I offered 1/2 of their final drop in price $1500. I know, I know! Only offer 10-15% off the asking price, I did read Bob Avila's Be a Smart Horse Buyer book. But, it just felt right to me.



Well, of course the owner would turn down that offer! I would! The thing I had going for me was a re pore of phone calls, a solid offer (albeit cheap offer), and the ability to walk away! There are tons of horses in this world you don't have to settle for the nag when you can have your very own Trigger. That's the trick folks, don't settle for anything but what you want exactly, because it may take a while, but you'll find your dream horse.

Time passed after my offer, I think about 3 weeks, and I get a phone call from the owner. I am very VERY VERY bad about answering my cell phone, just ask my roommates, but I will get back to you eventually, just leave a message! Well, the owner left a message on my phone stating that she had talked things over with her husband and was wondering if I was still interested in the horse. HECK yeah! I was, but as a buyer - never be to eager. Well I didn't get the message till the next afternoon because I had 2 orchestra concerts that day to play for (more on that later as well). And, then it ended up being a Monday afternoon after class. I checked my email and she was still wondering if I was interested and if I got her message. Buyers, watch out for this, this is the classic I want to sell you my horse. Remember, never be too eager to buy.

I called her back that afternoon and chatted a little, keeping things light. She then told me she had talked things over with her husband and was wondering if I would be able to buy him for $2000. I said I couldn't, but my offer of $1500 would still work out. She TOOK it! YAY for me! I was so excited, but then don't get too excited buyers. I still had to talk things over with my family and find a ride for the horse. Well it all came together and I found a ride for him from an awesome gal named Jodie check her out if you need a horse trained and you're in southern MN.

Bogey arrived home on Christmas Eve to Albert Lea and then I got him on Christmas and hauled him over to the boarders the day after. He was a true Christmas present to me.



Part 2 Coming right up!

(Dang, I use too many cliches' haha!)