| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 14 2008 : 2:44:39 PM
My father has decided to buy a horse. The horse he has in mind is a 10 year old half-Arab mare (for the life of me I can't remember the other 'half', for some reason I'm thinking it's a gaited breed, though). I've ridden this horse once, and she is very sensitive, seems to have a sweet temperment, and is healthy overall, but that is about the extent of our knowledge about her.
She belongs to our neighbor and coworker, who also happens to be a good friend of my dad's. The mare was his daughter's horse, but as is typical, she's lost interest in her, and he's looking to sell the poor critter. They're asking $800/obo for her, but in order to ensure she goes to somebody they know, they told my dad he could have her for $500, and they would throw in a (very nice) western saddle.
Now here's the deal--I'M the horse person in the family, but my father knows NOTHING...I repeat...NOTHING about horses. Since he knows I'm savvy in the area, I think I could influence his decision either way...
And all common sense says I should tell him not to buy her. For several reasons:
1) She isn't a pedigreed horse (I know that's 'horse snobbish', but there's a lot of activities you can't participate in unless your horse has papers, and you really know nothing of genetic characteristics).
2) She's half-Arab. Now, I own an Arab myself...and I LOVE Arabs...would love to breed them someday. But they CAN have a tendency to be very hot blooded. And my dad would break every bone in his body if he took a bad spill.
3) His general lack of knowledge about horses--to give you an example of how bad we're talking about here, he calls hooves 'toe nails'. LOL
BUT...there are also some positives I need to consider.
1) My parents have been divorced for a year and a half, and since the divorce, my father has battled depression, and it is impossible to get him motivated about anything. But he is actually EXCITED about this whole horse thing. I haven't seen him this excited about anything in a long time. It could give him an uplifting, healing past time...
2) The mare IS ten years old, and so she's mellow(er), and has been ridden for a few years. So that's a good thing. It COULD be a 4 year old--I should count my blessings!
3) He's got people around him who are horse-savvy, and he can board her next door (we wouldn't have to move her), so it's not like he'd be getting a horse, not knowing anything about them, and then totally be on his own.
So what do you think, ladies?? I feel completely undecided about my own opinion on the matter. *sigh* I guess it wouldn't hurt, but ignorance isn't a good thing with horses...
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 11:25:30 AM
Next step: Remember to re-size photos. LOL 
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 11:23:48 AM
Thanks, Alee! I saw on your tutorial that you used what is (now, anyway) the "old" upload form, so I switched to that and it uploaded the pics perfect. So here goes again, hope it works again! 
Here's Gypsy...
And here is my Honey girl...
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 11:10:06 AM
HI Jodi!
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12869
This is my tutorial. It is a screen by screen tutorial on how to get an account, load the pictures, then post to the forum. You have the posting to the forum part down- now you just need to get the photos loaded. Email me if you get snagged somewhere and I will do my best to help!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 08:19:13 AM
Lol, I have no idea what I'm doing, as you can tell.  I just tried to do a PhotoBucket account, and now for some reason it keeps telling me that the upload (for the photos) failed, and it won't let me create any albums, either... must be doing something wrong. Maybe I'll take a look at that tutorial, Alee. Have to learn to do this sometime!
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 08:07:01 AM
Hi Jodi-
You have to load the pictures onto an internet site such as photobucket and then post them here. They need to have a url of their own. If you would like more info on how to do this, I have a photobucket tutorial I can bump up for you.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 16 2008 : 07:22:52 AM
Mm, I think my initial feeling was right--he's already decided she's "just a horse". I think either you're born a horseperson, or you're not. But I've fallen head over heels for her, lol (should have known that would happen ).
I spent about an hour and a half with her last night, just basic grooming so I could get a better feel for how she reacts to things and such. Here's a couple pics of her (really need to buy her a new halter), and then I had to include a pic of my half-Arab baby, Honey
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 15 2008 : 11:04:43 AM
Jodi- She sounds like a sweet heart. I love Arabs and the Tennessee walkers that I have seen are amazing.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 15 2008 : 09:28:16 AM
Well... he did it! Bought her, finalized, all that! Even after the trip to the store, lol.
He bought her the basics for grooming, and some new reins for her headstall (calls them 'the steering wheel'). He's looking to get a different saddle this week, since the other one is a bit small for him. So I think he's jumping into it head first as far as all the expenses go, lol. I'm just waiting for the shock factor to hit! He decided he wants to train her to use a hackamore, instead of a bit, so that may be our first project. It'll be fun to see how it goes!
Oh, her 'other half' is Tennessee Walker, and her name is Gypsy (he calls her 'horse')! She's a cutie, alright, but I'm curious to see if her and dad get along or kill each other. Maybe I can post some pics of her!! I'm going to try and get the dreadlocks out of her mane tonight, and after that I'll take a few photos... 
Lol, I love horses, and I'll admit I'm catching his enthusiasm...
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| MindyS |
Posted - Apr 15 2008 : 08:11:15 AM
Jodi, what did your dad decide after going to the tack store? One of our friends just bought one of our horses and he went to the tack store with us to get tack. He spent almost $400 and was ok with it. If my husband didn't have all the tack for our horses before we got married, I think I would have rethought getting a horse.
Grow Strong |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Apr 14 2008 : 5:00:02 PM
It wasn't so much that I'm trying to make the decision for him, just trying to reach a place where I can share his enthusiasm and help him out, whatever he decides.  Thanks for the input, it helps a bit, actually. And I think his enthusiasim for this is really the important factor. I suppose if it's just a phase, and his interest fades after a while, I don't mind taking on another horse, anyway. And if he does stick with it, the perhaps it will be just what he needs. Tonight we're going to a tack store so I can give him a reality check on price tags, however. We'll see what he decides, but I think he's made up his mind to purchase her. I'm kinda excited for him!
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| bboopster |
Posted - Apr 14 2008 : 4:11:08 PM
I grew up around horses but have never owned one myself. Ridden lots but never wanted one. If he is excited $500 is worth it's weight in gold. Depression is hard (BTDT). Could he resell her for $500? Since he's right next door he could even just walk her and if it makes him feel better and he gets out gets some exercise. Great! Getting up and out is great for a person with depression. I vote for him to get her. See if horses are his thing before he jumps into a more costly horse. We all can't be pedigrees with papers. 
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Apr 14 2008 : 3:41:08 PM
Well I just purchased my first horse ever in September and it has been a wonderful expirence. She is a 12 yr old Missouri Foxtrotter and I had only 8 lessons on a horse when we purchased her. She is an ex show mare and yes she is papered. There are some benefits to a papered horse and showing and reselling is a part of that factor for me. But on the other hand it has helped me and my low days of feeling sorry for myself. I can't get out and ride as often as I would like but it's nice to go out to the barn and just sit among the horses and just watch them graze. So even if he dosen't ride, show or breed her there are benefits to owning a horse. He is an adult and can make his own decision but as the horse savvy person in the family I would suggest going over a list of the pros and cons of horse ownership. Everyone who owns one knows the initial cost is the cheapest part of horse ownership and remember if this one dosen't work out there are other horse options out there if he dosen't by this one. With the cost of hay and the flood of horses on the market right now you can find the perfect one for your dad with a little patience. I think owning a horse has been very beneficial for me but perhaps this one is just the push he needs to look for his own horse but perhaps your hesitation says just not this one.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
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