Just a Sorrel Mare

During the bustle of the sale, we often have a list of potential horses. Destini and Nathaniel will handle them in the loose pens, and pull them out, hop on them, check their teeth, etc. But sometimes, we aren’t able to buy the ones on our list because they go to high, or they are going with another rescuer, or an individual. We pay attention to what the kill buyers are bidding on. That’s our main priority.

So, what happens, when we want to save another, but our list is exhausted? We are not a gambling family, but in this moment, we become the gambler. Really, any purchase from the loose pen, handled by us or not, has a risk of costing us money. We don’t know for certain we won’t get home and some sort of issue come up that will require more expenses, or possibly being harder to rehome them, etc. It’s always a little intimidating because you put money out there, hoping for the best, knowing that whatever the outcome, we will be first and foremost taking care of that horse to ensure they have a good future.

This month the gamble was a big one. A sorrel mare came through the ring in the loose pen. The horses on the loose auction side are usually only in the ring for about thirty to forty-five seconds. That’s thirty seconds to make a HUGE decision. Our list was pretty well exhausted, and she walked in and Nathaniel and Destini said, she looks like she’s broke, and liked the look of her, so they bought her. We did not see anyone handle this mare, or put hands on her ourself. We all hoped for a good outcome! For all we knew she could be a crazy untouchable horse. You never know what to expect. She was short, and needed a few lbs. Not the fanciest pretty thing out there. She was just a plain Jane sorrel mare. And a temperamental one at that, which is probably why she didn’t get handled much. Some horses, when they are thrown in a loose pen, are not thrilled about being stuck in a pen with a whole bunch of horses they don’t know, and they like to pin their ears, and back up and kick and squeal. She is one of those horses.

We gave the horses a couple days to settle in after the got home. And one by one began to pull them out to see what they knew. We had bought a handsome white percheron cross out of the catalog side. He spoke volumes to us with his temperament with a little girl riding him through the ring in a halter. Some horses, you can tell, they just try and make them look like a good horse. He was. straight up gentle horse. There was no smoke and mirrors with him. So, we knew kind of what to expect with him. Aggro Crag, the six OTTB gelding we bought, was such a pleasantly good minded horse for his first ride. First ride was bareback, and he did a nice WTC his first ride off the track that we are aware of, bareback with Destini. He is an amazing horse and will be a fantastic prospect for someone to bring along. Then there was Rock on Snaz, the older ottb we bought. He was pretty mellow. Western type fellow. And then it was the sorrel mares turn.

We walked out and caught her, brought her to the trailer and she stood nicely tied… Then we tacked her up and she stood for that. Fly sprayed her, and she did good with that. Picked up her feet. Little squirrely with her back feet… Then Destini got on her. Out in the field, just by the trailer we use for the sale, and she walked her off, checked her brakes, and then the fun began. Phoenix began to shine. She walked off, and when we asked her to turn her around, she turned right around very soft in the mouth, and surprised us with a one hand neck rein. When I say one hand neck rein, I don’t mean a little tug, or really laying the rein on her neck, but just a slight leaning of the rein against her neck and she did a nice turn around at a nice pace. She brought her back and was playing with that neck rein a little bit. And I asked Destini when she brought her to a stop, to move the rein further up on her neck, and see if she spins. Sure enough, she spun on a dime both directions. We took Phoenix out to the riding arena, and she asked for a walk, trot, and lope, both directions. And much to our surprise that plain, simple sorrel mare, we had never laid hands on at the sale, showed her amazing skills. She would lope off from a stand still, digs in with her hind for turns, spin when asked and do a quick 180 for a change of direction with a neck rein, and she was so responsive it was mind-blowing.

So we decided to take her in with the cows. We thought maybe she might have been a cow horse. I will state, we are pretty amateur at sorting around here, but Phoenix does not appear to be. We have had to push a few cows here and there if they get out, with our lazy family horse, Jester. But when you get on Phoenix, it’s a whole new ball game, sparking laughter and a smile on your face, every time. We picked a calf, pointed her at it, and she chased that calf clear to the corner we picked and stayed locked on it. She had no fear of any of the cattle, and the moment you give Phoenix a job, she will work her heart out for you and do her best. She lives for the thrill of it.

I didn’t post much about her for a while, because I was certain I wanted to keep this little redhead for myself. But I have a wonderful horse and so much going on that I decided I’d give it a couple years, and then add a second, similar to Phoenix into my group. We always have extra mouths to feed, and rehabs over the winter, and a lot going on with fixing up the property and our house, and homeschool, etc. We are busy right now, and I wouldn’t have the time to enjoy both horses. I had SO much fun riding this little mare. I found myself going to catch her a few times at the end of the day just to have some fun with her. This isn’t the end of the surprises that came from her. We figured since she seemed pretty amazing with the cows, it was pretty likely she had seen a few play days. We have barrels, but not poles, so we set up cones with pretty close measurements to what they would be at a fun show. Sure enough… Phoenix knows the barrel pattern, and knew right away what to do with poles. She is just SO much fun, and such a brilliant, fiery horse.

I don’t know how Phoenix ended up in the loose pen. How does a horse like her end up in a place like that…? Perhaps she was sold with an estate sale, or sold to a good home. She does come with a scar on her back right fetlock. We had that x-rayed this morning because of a potential home lined up for her, and it was a concern if they would be doing junior rodeo with her. Maybe that’s why she was sold. She could no longer do the job she was needed for? When I know she has worked her heart out for her people. Phoenix never does anything half hearted. I have thought and wondered, but we will never know. Whoever the person is who gave up on her, she is well cared for, but her alternative would not have been so great.

Sometimes I look at the horses that can’t be handled at the sale. The ones that are causing the ruckus and kicking and squealing, and I pity them because they have less of a chance of leaving with an individual. I think of my own horses and how they would respond in a situation like the loose pen. Some of them would not do so great and they would be too worked up to be handled, let alone ridden. Phoenix was lucky she came home with us, and we are blessed to have her with us. My kids helped me name her. They liked the name Phoenix, and I did too. She is a beautiful fiery version of the mythical Phoenix rising from the ashes shining as a brand new creature. She has her restart with us, and we are thankful to be a part in allowing her to shine once again.

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