Woah

I am in shock.  Why?

Can't believe it

This adorable and gorgeous horse is now mine!  What? Yes, this is Prisoner (while I'm not one for changing names I think he is in need of a new one), he is a 6 year old gelding, of nearly no racing fame.  I feed him and his barnmates breakfast and groom them for our friends/barn neighbors at the track.  He has been a slow runner forever and I've always said he was too cute to not be a riding horse.  Well finally he ran last or next to last and his owner said, 'ok find someone to buy him.'  Enter sprinklerbandit's friend Ellie of photographing fame, she was looking for a horse and we thought he might fit the bill.  It was killing me to not be getting him myself, but I wasn't really looking and had no budget.  I rode him around at the track on the 4th of July and the next day he went to C-rage and company's barn.

He looks great, not sure what I'm doing

I rode him again on Monday and he was again a rockstar, we walked and trotted all over the arena.  Ellie came and liked him, but it wasn't love.  After her final decision Friday to not bite the bullet it was a nervous two days of trying to figure out how I could get him.  Let me tell you I have a lot of amazingly supportive friends!

Third ride, First jumps

I kept telling myself no, but then on Saturday I jumped him over a wee tiny crossrail, OMFG!  He was beyond amazing (there is video on instagram @redheadlins)!  Also Wednesday and Saturday he cantered on the correct leads, around the arena and on circles.  Needless to say I had to figure out a way to make him mine.  Sunday morning I was getting ready to head out after finishing chores at the track and husband gave me a crisp 100$ bill and I mumbled something about needing several more of those.  He stops and looks at me, 'what ever for?'  I may have employed classic charlie puppy dog eyes, and started spouting off about how amazing Prisoner was and that he was the best horse I've ever taken off the track and blah blah blah.

Just try to say no

Well, turns out he had already tried to trade the owner one of our slower but still good fillies but she is a little looney and they weren't interested.  Not ten minutes later he was on the phone and I caught something about 'bringing his paper's down' it was totally one of those moments that you know exactly what was going on.  He hung up and looked at me and as I opened my mouth to ask what he was doing on the phone, he just shakes his head and says, 'the things I do for you.'  Ha, squeee, OMG, I was having an internal freakout moment/30 second dance party.  He pretended like he wasn't happy, but that is his MO, now he asks me how my new horse is with a big grin.

First ride in an arena, me trying to not get attached

The deal is husband has to find a racing replacement for the old owner while he is in Phoenix this winter.  Well, I headed out to the barn where the barn owner promptly screamed (in a good way)!  My phone has been blowing up ever since and I can't stop smiling.

First ride out in a field

You might be shaking your head, 'what are you thinking redheadlins, you have too many horses.'  Well, that comment I made a while back about Mojito breaking my heart is still true, Prisoner is doing his best to glue the pieces back together.

So stinkin' cute!

No worries Diva is still amazing, but afternoons of 108 degrees are still cramping my riding time, bleck!