Selling Out

I believe that all situations provide a chance to learn, either about ourselves or our horses.  Yesterday I learned a lot. Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I sold one of my horses.  Prior to this I had only returned one to the BLM and had to put down my old horse which is to be expected.

I never thought I'd have the courage to sell a horse.  It's only something I would do in an extreme situation, I thought.  I truly love all my horses, including Tequila, the horse I sold. If you follow this blog you know that she was up for sale and probably read about her.  I have had her for ten years, how could I let her go?

Here it is: one thing this taught me was that even with the best of intentions we get caught up in our ego and pride often takes over.  I constantly told myself that I needed to finish her training, get her going, etc. But things kept interfering.  We were both caught in circumstances not of our choosing.  Tequila never got the time from me she deserved.  I felt guilty, which brought a sense of urgency to the training.  "I need to get this done!  I have to ride her NOW".  It's difficult to have patience under those conditions - I gave myself too much pressure. Then  I put it on her - she  had to perform well for me.  When she didn't, when she got nervous I got frustrated.  It only made things worse. 

When we moved out of our house in Rifle, losing our pasture and facing the fact of having to board five horses, we took an honest look at them.  I knew that the broke horses would sell more quickly and so I bravely suggested selling Angel and Snickers.  My husband kept silent, for many weeks.  Finally he said, "I think we should sell Tequila." At first I thought "NO! She isn't finished!" Then I really thought about it.  We both really enjoy our other horses.  In spite of their beginnings, Angel and Snickers fit us and our lifestyle. They are easy and a pleasure to work with.  Since my new job will take a lot of time, I know that I can be productive with them in the short time I will have with them this summer.  I can also make time for Luna, who really needs me.

So, with a clear conscience we put Tequila up for sale.  It wasn't that easy, though.  It's hard to let go of something that you have worked on for so long.  Yet it is also letting go of a burden that you have had for too long.  She always hung over my head and all this time I felt guilty.  It actually feels good to turn her over to someone else.  

Here is what happened yesterday.  A young couple showed up to look at her and since she was to be the husband's horse, he took the lead.  He started trying to bond with her right away.  He spent a good two and a half hours with her, riding her in the round pen and out and about.  At one point he fell off because the saddle slipped and she freaked out.  He had patience though and as I watched them together I saw that she was wanting to trust him but really tested him too.   At one point I tried to step in and help him with her and Tequila gave me this look that said "Butt out, Mom.  This is my thing."  

Doug having a talk with Tequila

So I stepped way back and watched someone else take over.  I saw his patience, I saw how she tried things and when they were ignored or caused no reaction she relaxed.  His confidence gave her strength and although she acted really badly yesterday I think it made him want to take her and work with her.  They knew that they were buying a cheap horse and why she was cheap and accepted that. 

In the end I was so pleased with everything.  She found the right home and I felt good about letting someone else take over.  As I made the long drive back to Grand Junction, I realized that the guilt was gone.  Tequila had let me know she agreed with the situation, too.  Everything is right and never in a million years did I think it would turn out this way.  

Recently I was trying to accomplish many things at once - selling my horse, moving and looking for a horse property to rent, perhaps looking to buy a horse trailer and certainly rent one.  I went to all the places I had gone before, but that had been about 6 or 7 years ago.  Why would anything be different?


Oh, but it was...!  My good old go-to, the Thrifty Nickel, was no longer the place to find pasture to rent, or horse property or much else it seemed.  I wanted to buy an ad to sell my horse but it was going to be about $35 dollars without a photo.  I cringed - it didn't use to cost that much!  I couldn't find any horse property to rent, either.  


Somehow we worked around the lack of information and I posted an ad for the horse on Craig's list, found pasture board for the others, finally found a trailer to rent, and then we moved.  While poking around on-line looking for other ways to post my horse ad, I discovered many, many horse selling websites.  They weren't there a few years ago, from what I remember.  I hadn't bought, sold or looked at horses on-line for a while.  Yes, I'm an old lady!  Way too conventional, I guess...


So, here I am, sharing with those who might care, what I found.  Below is a list of horse websites where you can buy and sell horses, trailers, property, tack and everything else.  I have found these sites very useful and easy to use. If anyone has even better information, please share!  


www.equinenow.com
(Free to post horses for sale)
www.horseclicks.com
(Free to post horses for sale)


www.giddyupflix.com
(Horse movies and nothing but horse movies! Very cool!)


www.newhorse.com
(Great at listing boarding places too)


www.dreamhorse.com


www.equine.com

Horse for Sale - "Tequila"
Asking $800

"Tequila" is a 12 year old mustang mare, adopted from a herd collected in Nevada when she was 2.  She is a cute little buckskin, about 15h. She will trailer load, lunge, is good with her feet and has had quite a bit of general ground work. Also outstanding on the trail and generally fearless when out and about.  She ties and has been started with the clippers. She is very loving and will give hugs once she trusts you. She has had both English and Western saddles and ridden with a snaffle. 

Overall she is very healthy and is the dominant horse in the herd. She has a very smooth trot - it's a gaited trot like a Paso Fino (it is not a two beat trot) so she is very comfortable to ride for long periods. She is well started, but needs someone with confidence and experience to bring her along.

She is also a very self-confident horse that will fight back if pushed aggressively.

  

That said, she would make an awesome trail horse, her feet are great and she really wants to bond with someone.  Unfortunately, we have to scale back on the horses and I will be working at a job where I just can't give her the attention she needs. I hate to have to sell her, but don't have a choice at this point. 

I would really like her to go to the right person more than anything.  If you would like to know more or would like to come and see her, she is located in Rifle. Please leave a message on this post or contact me at:


carizanc@gmail.com