November 16, 2011

I just noticed it has been over a month since I wrote anything on this blog. It has been a busy month though. I have been spend a little time here and there with the fillies. They are both quiet and easy going. Just waiting for Casey Warren to get an opening to start them for me.

On November 5 I went to a catalog sale in Macon, Missouri. This is the same sale where I found Boonie six years ago. I had made my picks and had studied pedigrees. My first pick was a red roan (surprise, surprise) yearling grandson of Peptoboonsmal however I kept looking at this sorrel two year old colt who was also a grandson of Peptoboonsmal. Being JUST a sorrel I figured he might be the sleeper of the sale. They just had an incomplete pedigree on him in the catalog and I had been unable to find out anything about his dam line. My first pick went for more than I wanted to spend, in fact I didn't even get to bid on him. Since there were a hundred horses between the roan colt and the sorrel colt I went back to look the sorrel over again. I got to talking to his seller and found he had been started then she showed me his full pedigree. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/spear+fishing This colts great grand sires were four well known horses, Peppy San Badger, Grays Starlight, Smart Little Lena, and Doc's Hickory. All told the horses on his papers have won over $1.18 million in the cutting pen. I managed to buy this colt for way less than the roan yearling and, after studying his pedigree, I think this guy is better bred. He is as quiet as a church mouse so his barn name is Mouse.

I pulled Boonie from the mares and he is now a bachelor. Not sure he likes the idea but that is just the way things go around here. I also weaned six of the seven babies. They have been voicing their displeasure of the whole deal but are starting to settle down. They have discovered oats and are learning to eat them. It will take a bit but I am sure they will figure it out. 

Part of the reason for my returning to this blog is Mouse. Mouse seems to have a few issues that I am in the process of figuring out. The first time I rode him I used a snaffle bitted bridle, my old saddle, and a ratty old saddle blanket. He acted uncomfortable and didn't want to step out when I firsted asked but after a very short time he settled in and went to work. He has nice control, is soft in his face, and really has a nice stride. The first time I rode him in my little round pen. Yesterday evening, I decided we would work in one of the lots which would give us more room. Again I tacked up with a snaffle bit, the old saddle, and a saddle pad. When I climbed on I felt him hump up and he refused to move out when I asked. He even layed his ears back like he was mad when I clucked to him to get him to move. He then did a little crow hop or two and we discussed that situation. Some unkind words about his family tree may have slipped out of my mouth but we came to the conclusion the crow hopping was not a good thing. Once again he settled down and worked well, except for one time he wanted to run off but he discussed that subject and decided that was not the thing to do. Mouse acts like something is bothering him when we first start out but then settles down and works fine. I have also noticed he sucks air in when saddling then the saddle is loose after we ride a bit. I don't know if he is cinchy and a tight cinch bothers him, if he is used to a certain routine and I am not following it, if the saddle is not fitting him correctly, or what his issues are. Mouse starts out like a colt with very few rides but then once he is going he is soft in his face and responds well to the reins almost neck reining. He tucks his head and backs up when asked so I know he has been ridden more than he acts like when we first start out. I don't want to creat a cold back horse but that is how he is acting right now. Always something to work on around here. LOL