I've been in awe and loved horses since the very first time I saw one in person at age 7. Loved their movement, and the way they smell, and the sound their hooves make every time they hit the ground. I never got to actually ride until I was 14 or 15, and it was on a QH ranch with dead broke horses. My main instruction had been, "Get on, you got the steering wheel, now kick!" lol. While my friends were out partying on the weekends and getting into shenanigans, I was at the ranch riding a palamino gelding, named Dancer, bareback and imagining I was a Cheyenne indian on the Great Plains.
Fast forward 25 years, I finally got back into riding in March of this year. Started at a H/J barn, but for various reason, I ended up moving to a Dressage/Eventing barn only 2 months later. I LOVE dressage and leased a draft cross for several months, but it quickly became evident that she would never be a horse I could continue to learn on in Dressage.
I really ended up with Tessa through a challenge. I wasn't seriously looking, but who can stop looking at the sale ads when you don't have a horse to ride??
A local woman was selling a 14 yr old Friesian mare for $12K. I knew her friend and she was trying to convince me that this was a good price for a 14yr old green horse that was a bit spooky and had put the seller's mother in the hospital once. I visited the horse once and she was pushy on the ground and the seller had trouble in the saddle getting her to cooperate and ride simple circles. I instantly knew she was not for me and that she was being sold on breed alone. Far as I know, she has never sold...
The girl's last remark to me was, "I've never seen a Friesian priced less than $13K!" Oh, really?? I found 3 pages of them on Dreamhorse.com, most priced under $10K, and that's how I found my Tessa D. The thread that lead up to all this is located here:
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-conformation-critique/conformation-friesian-mare-638210/
She arrived Saturday, Dec. 5th, 2015 and I was overwhelmed with joy. Yesterday has been a week since I've had her and so far, she has been everything I've hoped for and more. In the saddle, we are both fairly green to dressage, but like me, she picks up on things quickly and really works hard to figure out what you're asking her. She never gets flustered or upset, she just pushed through it, and that's what I love about her.
My trainer thinks we make an excellent team, and will be riding 1st level in no time. We already have 3 clinics scheduled at my barn over the next several months. I look forward to sharing my experience with all of you. I am FINALLY in my Happy Place again. :loveshower::loveshower:
Fast forward 25 years, I finally got back into riding in March of this year. Started at a H/J barn, but for various reason, I ended up moving to a Dressage/Eventing barn only 2 months later. I LOVE dressage and leased a draft cross for several months, but it quickly became evident that she would never be a horse I could continue to learn on in Dressage.
I really ended up with Tessa through a challenge. I wasn't seriously looking, but who can stop looking at the sale ads when you don't have a horse to ride??
A local woman was selling a 14 yr old Friesian mare for $12K. I knew her friend and she was trying to convince me that this was a good price for a 14yr old green horse that was a bit spooky and had put the seller's mother in the hospital once. I visited the horse once and she was pushy on the ground and the seller had trouble in the saddle getting her to cooperate and ride simple circles. I instantly knew she was not for me and that she was being sold on breed alone. Far as I know, she has never sold...
The girl's last remark to me was, "I've never seen a Friesian priced less than $13K!" Oh, really?? I found 3 pages of them on Dreamhorse.com, most priced under $10K, and that's how I found my Tessa D. The thread that lead up to all this is located here:
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-conformation-critique/conformation-friesian-mare-638210/
She arrived Saturday, Dec. 5th, 2015 and I was overwhelmed with joy. Yesterday has been a week since I've had her and so far, she has been everything I've hoped for and more. In the saddle, we are both fairly green to dressage, but like me, she picks up on things quickly and really works hard to figure out what you're asking her. She never gets flustered or upset, she just pushed through it, and that's what I love about her.
My trainer thinks we make an excellent team, and will be riding 1st level in no time. We already have 3 clinics scheduled at my barn over the next several months. I look forward to sharing my experience with all of you. I am FINALLY in my Happy Place again. :loveshower::loveshower: