So SolitareMare over at A Good Horse is ready to get back into the horse owning swing of things. Her struggles to find a new horse got me thinking about something. She just lost her horse and is now trying to find her next “Perfect Horse”. Her frustration at horse shopping is normal and I think it bring to light a topic that is true for all of us. The idea of a “Dream Horse”. The horse that when you close your eyes pops up in the picture of the back of your eyelids.
I NEVER thought I would ever be able to own a horse. Money was the main reason, followed closely by time. I rode for years and years and had leased countless horses, always dreaming I would get one of my own someday. But that was all it was…a dream. When I would talk about the horse I wanted I knew exactly what I wanted…and for the most part this is still true. Here is my description of my “Dream Horse”
- Black
- Half Black Clydesdale (they really are a breed, but very rare)
- Half Black (Insert horse with a breed Association. It varies depending on my mood from Arab, Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Quarter Horse, ect…you get the idea)
- 7-10 years old
- A Mare
- Been there done that show horse…shown extensively in the breed association already.
- Great Mover
- Big white blaze, but no socks
- 15 hh
- Wide as a tractor trailer…at least 1,200. Short and Stout.
- Very Affectionate
- Easy to ride and train
- Easy to work around
- A very laid back personality
- Loves To Jump And Trail Ride
This picture though is of my real dream horse…the one I didn’t always know I wanted…
So that is what I would tell you if I had to describe the horse I thought I always wanted. Lucky for me fate new better. I got my pony given to me. And I LOVE my horse to BIT AND PIECES. I cannot even put into words how much I love my horse. He really is the worlds most perfect horse in my eye. And I think he should be in everyone elses eyes as well. Some times we just don’t know what the right horse is for us. And sometimes we miss out because we just know it wouldn’t work. My spotted Texas is a good example for me. I nearly didn’t try him because of his age and his color. My trainer and friends new better and pushed me, so I agreed to try him. I am so glad I did because I really like this horse. With every ride (at least for now) I am starting to love him more and more. So much so that I am day dreaming about kidnapping him and making him mine all mine…good thing I can’t afford two horses right? Or else I would be in trouble!
I think life presents us with opportunities and it is the times when we accept the fact that we don’t really know what we are looking for when good things happen. My lease with X? That came up because I was supposed to lease a little Arab/Mustang cross mare but wasn’t loving the other half leaser and didn’t want to be left alone with her while the owner was away in England. Lori had mentioned X to me as a half lease possibility for one of my friends (who I knew wouldn’t work out). As soon as the mare fell through and I was all bummed about leasing anything Lori came to the rescue with the perfect horse for me at the time. I didn’t need a big fancy mover. I needed a confidence building horse, and X was the perfect fit at the time. He showed me that some horses really do self load and that if I want to go to a show the only thing stopping me is me.
Now I know that I HATE it when people tell me to wait for something because it will happen the way it is supposed to happen. It is so FREAKING ANNOYING. But at the same time it is true. My real dream horse is a 17 year old, highly opinionated, almost all white, gelding who can’t be ridden anymore. And he is perfect. Is there anyone out there who got the horse that they dreamed of? Or does the horse you love make you change what you wanted like mine has done for me. I am not picking at SolitareMare by pointer her out. In fact, she might be proving my theory right because she is off to try a horse this weekend that did not fit into the “perfect horse” mould.
So what about the rest of you? What is your “dream horse”? How different is the horse you love from the horse you thought you needed? I know mine are POLAR opposites…but that is just another reason why I love my horse so much. He is so special that he made me learn that all those things in ads are not what is important. What really counts to me in the end is heart. And my horse has that by the truck load.
My “dream horse” has always been an Appy. And I had him for a long time. After he died, I didn’t know what to think, and three years later, here is Sonny Bunz. A chestnut- which has NOT been my favorite color. At ALL. (I am partial to bays myself…lol) So here we have this great big red goofy chestnut boy, that I would not trade for the world. He is part of the family now, and yep- he changed my “dream” ideal to fit him.
Hey- kisses to Genny from me! And big rubs to Texas too!
My dream horse growing up without horses was a small, palomino mustang mare. My first horse was a big white and sorrel paint gelding. Now on to our second horse I no longer dream of a certain color or breed. The guy we have is fantastic and should be with me for the rest of his life (if not mine). Now I think any horse that is super calm, unspooky, and is very intelligent is a perfect horse. The color, size, breed, sex no longer make any difference if it’s a “good” horse.
When I started looking for my own horse I knew I wanted a Standardbred. I’d been working around them so long and I was so involved with the breed clubs that it just made sense. I didn’t care whether it was a mare or a gelding, but I wanted either a young horse (4-8) that I could bring along my way, or maybe a slightly older horse (9-12) that had been there, done that, and could be a schoolmaster for me. I knew the latter would be hard to find in a STB but I was keeping my mind open to other breeds, too. I was resigned to getting a dark bay but I held a secret hope that I might find THE ONE in roan, chestnut, or black, since those colors aren’t as common in STBs and it would have been nice to stand out, LOL!
Instead I got Willie. While his one saving grace was that he was a light bay, he was 11, several hundred pounds underweight, had raced for 222 times, and had been ridden a grand two or three times by my friend, who was working with the rescue. But she said she thought I’d really like him, and even though the first ride was understandably frustrating, he showed enough improvement that I thought he might be worth it. There was something in his eyes that convinced me; here was this old washed-up racehorse that someone had been so unkind as to toss him out in a backlot and starve half to death, and he was still so sweet and trusting. And when something surprised him, all he did was snort, and then go back to his nap.
At 15.3 hh, he was the perfect height for me. I didn’t really have a preference for that; I just figured something in the 16-hand range would be a good fit.
This summer will be our fifth together. His personality is uncannily similar to mine, and even though I know — because several trainers have told me — that I could have gotten so much further through the levels on a younger, sounder horse, Willie has been worth the challenge. I’ve learned a lot about horse management and care because I had to, for his sake. I can trust him with my life, and I have on occasion.
With my next horse I would like to get something younger, and more competitive, but Willie’s still my perfect horse. I found a 4y/o mare that was almost EXACTLY like him in personality last summer, but they adopted her out from underneath me. :[ It’s probably just as well, as she’d come off the track with a hock fracture and while her prognosis was good, there was no guarantee she’d hold up for what I wanted to do. I figure it wasn’t meant to be; like Willie, the next “perfect horse” will come along when I’m ready.
When I read your first two sentences and tried to think about what my dream horse would look like, all I could picture was Ace’s face. Cheesy, I know. But also true. I’ve always wanted a thoroughbred. I always figured I’d rehome an off-track TB like my mom did with Penny. I got my thoroughbred, but he never raced. Instead of fighting with a horse who goes too fast, I’ve got one who doesn’t go at all. And had a western background. But he’s got that thoroughbred fire and energy hiding in there … I just need to draw it out!
I’ve been a silent reader for awhile, but this hit home for me so I thought I would post. My dream horse actually became a real horse! I’ve always wanted a bay warmblood (dark bay or blood bay–it varies on the hour) with four white socks and a huge blaze. I wanted her to be Welsh in appearance but have the height and the ability of a warmblood. I didn’t want anything over 16h and I definitely didn’t want a gelding, I wanted a MARE.
All those things I wanted are characteristics of my horse, Emma. She looks like an overgrown Welsh Pony but she has so MUCH ability and talent. Like the cherry on top, she’s got a GREAT mind!
So yeah, that’s my dream horse… Her name’s Emma.
I have to say that I have always loved paints. The chunky ones. I fell in love with my little guy on looks alone and he has turned out to be a real dream horse. I wish he was a little more brave and a little less sensitive, but he is a great guy. I have not been able to ride for 3 weeks and I had a lesson last sunday and he was wonderful.
My chestunt TB is not a dream. He has had so many ailments and injuries and issues that he has taught me a lot about horse care and doctoring. He really trusts me, and that is what makes him special. He hugged the Chiropractor after his last adjustment and I almost cried. He really is a very special horse… just not a dream.
Hey! Love the blog! And yes, you guessed it, my dream horse is of course Tucker. At least once or twice a week I have moments where I am riding him and he canters quietly down to a jump, or does a soft, fluid lead change before the corner without me asking him to, or just trots around in his lovely, light, perfectly balanced way and I think, “This is exactly the way I like a horse to go. This is the horse I have wanted my whole life.” I think probably because I started working with him as a two-month old gangly little monkey, I have been training him to be my dream horse since shortly after his birth. But I also like to believe that fate somehow brought us together, and when I am feeling really optimistic, I like to hope that he thinks I am his dream person too. All I can say is that little black and white filly of mine has a lot to live up to! I love her to pieces… but Tucker is the love of my life.
Well, I will say I never like old grey Arab mares! Tee hee – they seemed so common and I have never liked the ordinary/common. God sure did have fun with that one. Mira did turn out to be such a blessing, though, and I am REALLY glad I got her. Andolu is just about exactly what I was looking for when I went shopping again, and even more, actually!
My ultimate dream horse though is probably still a flashy cutting-bred paint that is very responsive and stays sound at all times!
my dream horse… hmmm.
-an arabian of some kind. purebred egyptian would be my number one pick, but even a beautiful arab cross would be awesome.
-15 to 15.2hh
-grey is my number one color choice… maybe a pretty black with a blaze and four white stockings, or a chestnut with a blaze and four white stockings.
-amazing mover, insanely talented at dressage
-gorgeous thick mane and tail
-sweet personality. not insane. but not a deadbeat either. something with some spunk!
surprisingly, as i wrote this, i realized that i pretty much described my current horse, havanna. she’s an 8 y/o national show horse mare, chestnut, one white sock and two white partial stockings, with a blaze, about 15hh… she’s a gorgeous little mover with a TON of talent in everything she does. i love her to pieces!!