Exactly! My 6 year old granddaughter, Autumn, rides my horse Max. I also paid a thousand dollars for him as a yearling.I trained him too and have shown him in our local shows. He has never won a blue ribbon but we have fun. Last year Autumn rode him in the Tiny Tot Western Pleasure class at a pretty important horse and colt show in our area. She was up against some good horses. The daughter of a reputable trainer from our area was on her mother's horse and they usually win everything. I was so proud when Autumn and Max' names were called to receive the first place trophy in that class. It just goes to show that money can't buy everything.
Posted By: Kathy Atkins
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I loved this story, and every horse, papered or not deserves to be loved and cared for. The worst thing is the horse that is ridden, groomed and cared for by another and then handed off to an "experienced" rider who goes into the show ring wins, but actually did nothing but show her expertise as a rider NOT a horseman.
Posted By: Jackie
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I thought that this was the most wounderful article that I have ever red. Sam must of have been the most wounderful horse that any child could ride, and be safe on. I wounder how the girl and her horse Sam are doing to this day? I hope that she and her horse are doing well at the shows. I remember my mom had bought herself a black and white paint horse for $1,500.00 and I kinda took him from her when I was 14 yrs old, and started him in 4-H. I showed in 4-H for 8 years and loved every min. of it. I didn't like it when most of the girls had their horses living at the trainers, and I had no trainer. I was my own, and I did well but not my first year of showing it took me sometime to get good, and I loved when most of the girls didn't know why I would take most of the classes and I have 2 things to say about that 1 horse crazy, and the love of my horse and I as a team. Earning the friendship, love, and trust between the two of us. That to me will always win a class any day. I think that if you love horses then you will do good anywhere you go. It does not matter what kind of horse you buy just as long as you have a good relationship with him or her. That is the best friendship that anyone can have.
Posted By: Andrea HTwe
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aww! that was great. I myself have bought an older QH cross gelding who is my all, though nothing fancy to many people. My experience with girls at my barn are very similar to your daughters, and while i would like to fit in with them all and their 10 000 dollar 17 hand high warmbloods, i know i have something special in my lil 14.3 hand, 1000 dolaar western pony.He is everything i need and all i really want when it comes right down to it. Thank you for sharing.
Posted By: chels
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The following two posts are from me. Please read the next one after the third. I felt it very important to tell my story so that some of you dont do something you AND your horse will regret. I don't think I made it clear in the following post that I had been in a bad car accident and after nearly a year of being in a bed, I got the call regarding adoptin MIssy. THAT was the day that changed my life and THAT is how Missy became a part of my family and taught me to go on and enjoy life. I can only post a certain amount of letters per post so please forgive my for "hogging up" three post spaces but I really needed to "get this out" of my system. I am GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY and my horse is paying for it. Hopefully, she will let me make it up to her when I get her home.
Posted By: Pamela Jo
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....CONTINUED STORY... There is so much to tell as to how she is NOT being taken care of but what you need to know is that Missy snapped me out of my "feel sorry for myself mode" after a year of being pretty much bed ridden. I got a call that she needed a home and something just clicked in my head. I slowly got back in shape and although I had more bad days than good in the beginning, I am going just fine today. Sure, there were days that I didn't want to get up but my children could get their own breakfast if I felt too bad, Missy could not. So, off to the barn I would go. It took a good year until she bonded with me but she did and now I've thrown her trust out the window. I only hope and pray that when my day in court comes, that she'll forgive me and let me be a part of her life again. YES! We are VERY lucky and truly blessed to own these incredible animals. DON'T FORGET THAT!
Posted By: Pamela Jo
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This story really hit home for me. I adopted/rescued a 20 yr. old Standardbred mare 2 years ago. As anyone who "knows" the breed, standardbreds can be "retrained" to do just about anything. The first week I had "Missy", I let her get used to her new surroundings before trying anything new. She never had a saddle on her and had never been ridden. She raced for seven years and was then a brood mare. She must have been abused in some way since she was extremely head shy and very leary of strangers. It took me exactly 1/2 hour to saddle her up and walk on. Today, she only needs a bosel and hackamore....no bit. I have back problems due to a car accident and do alot of walking and trotting on trails. Missy LOVES it. To make this story short, I sold Missy to someone, thinking they would give her a better home than I could since we were having financial problems and I was able to ride her MAYBE once a month. TO BE CONTINUED
Posted By: Pamela Jo
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A super article I will share with my daughter and grand-daughter. So many of life's best lessons can be learned on a horse. I am looking forward to more.
Posted By: Cyndi Michel
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What a wonderful heartwarming story to start out the new year. My daughter and I have been "horse crazy" all our lives. We've never been in a position to have a horse of our very own, but we have both taken lessons, shown, and fallen in love with other people's horses. I have never understood how someone could own a horse and just cast it aside when it no longer looked like, acted like, or won what they thought it should. My daughter fell in love with someone else's horse and it broke our hearts when we discovered that he was to be sold and we simply were not in a position to be able to buy him and let him become a part of our family. I guess that is the difference - to us a horse is a part of our family, a noble creature to be loved, cherished, and respected, not a piece of chattel to be bought or sold. To all of you who have horses of your own cherish what you have because there are many like us who continue to wish upon stars and dream that one day we will also have a horse to call our own.
Posted By: Debbie Snyder
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Great story. Reminded me of me. I was made fun of for not having a horse & now we own 8 horses. Not one has papers or exspensive :)
Posted By: Niki
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I loved this story.......it just goes to show you,money and papers don't make a winner.Winning comes from the heart!
Posted By: Karen
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I really liked this story. It goes to show what a little I CAN attitude can do.
Posted By: Barb
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I can relate. I currently have a 20 yr od QH Gelding and am training him in Dressage. The other horses are very expensive imported Warmbloods. When I won a local show, they were astonished. I think I'll always have QH's, they have a lot of heart. Thanks for the wonderful story. I'll be waiting for the next lesson.
Posted By: Meredith
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I loved this story - i hope you have many more wonderful experiences to write about. I only wish I could find a Sam for my granddaughter!
Posted By: Bob Lambert
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Very wonderful article. It is an excellent way of looking at life. The author certainly portayed his daughter and her horse very accurately. Please keep up the good work and the writing of articles.
Posted By: Terry Bragg
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