In June of 2006, I was at the Pioneer Days Rodeo. I was paart of the Drill Team on one of my (ex)best friend's two horses, Buddy, a 15.2hh appaloosa gelding. After the opening drill my (ex)best friend and her family left with the horses. I was at the consession stand reading some flyers. I saw one from a woman named Rene about two mares and one of them had a foal. The flyer also mentioned other horses available. I asked my mom if I could call just to get more info. I did and Rene told me she had a gelding perfect for the 4-H job. Rene is a horse trader, that's why she had so many available.
Anyways, my mom, my (ex)best friend's mom, and I went to Rene's to look at the horse she described as perfect. When I got there, Blu, whom was not Blu at the time, was standing tied to a post. He looked HORRIBLE. He was SEVERELY underweight and obviously abused. He had whip scars all over his hindquarters and some are still visible today. He was way head shy, too. I say on Blu's bony back
to ride him. I felt such a connection!! It was unbelievable. When we left I begged my mom for more consideration. I instantly fell in love with that big, white gelding not only because of his story but because of his heart.Two days later we came again. I had a nice grooming session alone with Blu while my mom and Bonnie, my (ex)best friend's mom, talked with Rene. That was the day that I realized everything...I came here for a reason...and that reason was to help Blu as I helped myself along the way. That weekend my mom told me we were going to buy Blu. He was a little pricy at $900 but you can never put a price on your new best friend. It was and still is hard for us to afford Blu, but my mom knew I needed a horse and I wanted Blu. I'll love my mom forever for that! I got to ride Blu to the fairgrounds the day we bought him. From there I realized how tough it was going to be. Blu had obviously never heard the words: STOP, SIDE-PASS, BACK UP, ETC. But he knew GO very well.
After trying long and hard to teach Blu everything he needed to know, it got a little easier. I will never be able to tell his story to the exact point. We know nothing about where he came from or what he went through. Only bits and pieces. When Blu went out to pasture for the colder months, I didn't get to ride him much at all. Maybe twice every two weeks. And boy did I regret it. When we brought him back to the fairgrounds it was disastrous. He was very naughty! I took him for a ride out at the 4-H arena later that week with my (ex)best friend. He tried to buck me off. That's when I realized that 16.1hh buck REALLY hard. I flew out of my saddle about three feet in the air. I fell back down right on the horn! OUCH...I kicked Blu hard in his gut to keep him moving so he couldn't buck. Then he reared! He found something opposite to do for everything.
I got a firmer hand on him after that. And he knew it wasn't fun and games anymore. We were seious now. It was 4-H time. Teaching Blu to race is something I regret and don't today. He gets rowdy on the track. He can go pretty fast but after his recent fall, it gets kinda scary. Well, I am kinda tierd of typing right now so if there is ANYTHING anyoone else wants to know please do ask.
Thanks guys... 
He is beautiful. He looks in much better health than what you discribed when you first saw him. Keep working on his attitude and I think he will do well. My Vida didn't know whoa when I first got her either and hadn't been ridden in over a year. We did a lot of one rein stops and I finally have her where I can just say whoa and she stops. We are working on her side passes now. Good luck with Blu :) 
