Tuesday, May 27, 2008

How the Appy Became My Boy, Part II

Part I Here

I am not surprised the woman pulled off the side of the road after seeing the Appy in his pasture. Let me say that every time I took this gelding to the trail head, I got numerous compliments on him. Everyone said, wow, that is a nice looking Appy. Or, he must have a lot of Quarter Horse in him. Or, who is he by? And, what a cute Appy! We even ran into an old time cowboy on his Quarter Horse yearling (a sorrel beauty I quickly coveted) who asked if the Appy was for sale. The trainer knew that she had a horse she could sell in a heartbeat.

The trainer said to the woman, oh, yeah, he's a good boy, but he is not for sale. She went on to talk a little about his bloodlines and training. Then she gestured towards me (shaking in my Pony Girl boots!) and said she's leasing him, and she'll have first dibs when he is for sale. Then she told the woman that as a trainer she came across good horses for sale all of the time, so she got her number.

Whew, I made it through that one. It wasn't until I almost lost him that I realized how much I wanted him. But there was still the issue of saving up the money. Although not overly expensive, leasing was not helping my cause. The lease money could have gone into my horse fund. A week later the trainer and I were talking about the Appy (I was beginning to ask more questions about his bloodlines) and she said that she had a book that had been given to her when she acquired him. She took me to the house and showed it to me. It was a black binder full of photos of the Appy's dam, sire, daughter, and, pictures of him as a foal, weanling, and yearling. It also had his registration papers in. I dubbed it his "baby book." I really liked this book because it showed what a cutie this Appy pill had been as a foal. It made me forgive him for all his stubborn antics. Hard to believe he was ever this innocent! As the summer drew to an end, I began to get anxious about the leasing. I would be starting up school again in the fall. I hadn't been adding much money to my horse fund. I panicked. I felt like I was getting more and more attached to this horse. I was already thinking of him as mine, yet he really was not. It was a possibility that it might not work out. I think I took an emotional step back and began to question whether the lease was helping my cause of ultimately owning my own horse. As a distraction, I started horse shopping again. Looking at less expensive horses. I found a 4 year old unregistered greenbroke Quarter Horse for $1000. I considered going to look at him. And one day, while I was at the trainer's riding the Appy, I decided to tell her that come September, I could not lease the Appy any more. Let me tell you, it was a hard conversation to bring up.

Well, it did not go over very well. The trainer was taken aback. She was confused because she thought I wanted the Appy. I did! It had nothing to do with not wanting him. It had everything to do with not being able to afford him. She said if I wasn't leasing him, they would have to sell him. She said I could purchase him on a payment plan. Which was very generous of her. However, I was not sure I could afford to make a payment plus all of the additional monthly costs of owning a horse. She also suggested care-leasing him and moving him to my sister's place. I thanked her for working with me and giving me options. I told her I would think about it and let her know as soon as possible. I left the conversation with unresolved feelings. And more confused. I got home and called my sister. And I cried. And cried. I wanted that silly Appy more than anything. She said she would talk to the trainer and explain the reasoning for my, uh, emotional breakdown.

The next day, after a fitful night of sleep, I decided to do the care lease. It was still not helping me save money. If anything, the actual care of the Appy was going to cost more than my lease! But it was a way to hang on to him for now (and pray that I won the lottery or married a rich cowboy.) So we moved him to my sister's farm. I signed a 6 month lease. I had the option to extend the lease or to buy the Appy at any time during the lease. She did put a good sale price on the paperwork. Less than what she had originally told me she wanted. But still out of my range.
It was great to have that Appy at my sister's. He really felt more like "my horse." And it was easier for my sister and I to ride and "play" with our horses together. I was still worried the trainer might want the horse back or decide she needed the money and list him for sale. I was trying my hardest to save money.

December rolled around. My family and I got together around Christmas to do our gift exchange. Dinner was ready, so we decided to save one gift for each of us to open after we ate. My gift was a garment-sized box. For some reason, they wanted me to go open my gift last. As I put it on my lap, my mom and sister got out their digital cameras and posed them on me. Like they were the paparazzi! Now what was this all about? Seemed awfully suspicious to me. I ripped open the cute cowboy boot wrapping paper and took the lid off the box. I folded back the tissue and stopped. There lay the Appy's black baby book. I knew it immediately. I looked up and felt my eyes well up with tears of confusion and surprise. What does this mean? I croaked. Silly question, Pony Girl! My family had tears in their eyes, too. It means the trainer gave you a really good deal on this horse! My family, at the last minute, had arranged an even better sale price with the trainer and put in a little extra funds to combine with what I had saved to make the purchase. It was the trainer's idea to wrap up the baby book for me. I could not believe it! It was unreal. My sister kept asking me can you believe he's really yours? Can you believe you have a horse again?

For the next couple of weeks, every time I thought about that Christmas moment, emotions overtook me and I welled up in tears (I am such a baby.) It had been an emotional journey. I had almost given up this great boy. I guess I had to have faith. I remember somewhere along the journey I said it will work out if it is meant to be. If he is meant to be my horse, he will be. Well My Boy, you are stuck with me now! Til the end. You big pill.


To be continued......Is My Boy my horsey soulmate? Is there one horse for everyone? I will explore this in Part III.

29 comments:

  1. What an amazing story. You are blessed! I do belive that each horse has a human that they are supposed to be with. Remember my story of the crash, we had decided to sell Abu and get a new horse. Sometimes fate just steps in and takes the reins.

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  2. Ok, I'm still crying tears of joy here. What a sweet story. And I'm sure your family got as much joy out of giving you My Boy as you did receiving him

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  3. Sis, I started to cry again reading this! It was an emotional moment and I could not wait for you to open your last present! You know how many times I almost slipped up and said something thinking that you already knew he was yours? But Thank God I didn't!
    We are all very happy everything worked out and like you said...IT WAS MEANT TO BE!

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  4. Ahh, such a sweet story! Great family you have. It's so nice to "feel" the love you have for your boy. Like I said last night, I'm so excited to have a new blog to read. I think I'm going to really ignore my children tomorrow and try and get caught up. :)

    Thanks for checking back in on my blog. I finally updated, but my post doesn't have anything on this one.

    Nice to talk to you, my new friend! :)

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  5. Dang it, I guess I do cry easily. Wonderful story! You and your boy are very lucky to have such a caring family.

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  6. What a wonderful story! You are so blessed with a wonderful family and wonderful boy!

    Now you have me all curious about what his breeding is and I want to see more baby pictures!! He is such nice appy!! And he has a tail!! Great story!!

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  7. Oh my goodness! What a touching story (and yes I did cry!) and caring family you have! You and My Boy were meant to be. And yes I do believe everyone has a horsy soul mate out there! Some of us are blessed to find them!

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  8. YAY!! Way to go Family!!

    So happy that My Boy is yours- he has such a great Mom and AUntie there in Paint Girl. ;)

    Cant wait to hear your thoughts on Equine Soul Mates. Ought to be quite insightful!

    Oh- scritch that Appy tushie from the Southland...

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  9. Remind me not to read your blog at work again! I totally teared up, I'm such a baby, too!!! I wish I had baby pictures of my horse. My Boy looks so sweet :-)

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  10. Great post! Way to go Pony girl's family! What a great gift. That totally brought a tear to my eye!

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  11. Lovely post. My eyebrows were up against my hairline so I could continue to read through the tears.
    Appys are so opinionated that I'm sure it was his choice to be Your Boy.

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  12. Got me crying ya did. Like I need more of THAT around here!

    What a great story. I look forward to seeing his bloodlines and more baby and growing up pictures.

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  13. A very sweet story with a happy ending, just the way all stories should be.

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  14. Very touching story - I'm glad I'm not the only one that cried.
    He is pretty for an app. I'm sorry but I've never been a fan of apps..

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  15. Sob, sigh! Great story. I can't wait to hear about horse soul mates. Growing up I had one named Randy, and now it is my own pill... Mustang Buddy Boo. Love your blog.

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  16. Awww-that is an awesome family you have there Pony Girl. How wonderful of them to realize how important My Boy was to you and give you something you really wanted and were obviously working toward.

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  17. Oh what a great story!! Thanks for sharing..

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  18. This was a good story! I love the fact that he actually has a baby book. What a wonderful gift your family gave you, and what a gift to have a horse like that!

    I would love to know what you did to make those pictures look like that: all blurry around the edges and sharp in the center, almost like a polaroid effect.

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  19. I probably did not express it enough in my post, but without my family My Boy would not be in my life!! So yes, they ARE wonderful and I am forever grateful, you don't even know. And I guess since they paid more than me, my parents technically own my horse, ha ha. (Dad, don't get any ideas! He's MINE! :)
    Country Girl: I have a point-and-shoot digital (sigh) so I just edit them in Picassa2. It's not fancy but it helps brighten up the pictures a bit. There is an option in "effects" to do a soft focus and you can adjust the blur. But it is nothing like all the cool elements you use. You are an amazing photographer!!

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  20. OK.. I honestly teared up reading this post. I so understand all of the emotions. WONDERFUL STORY!

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  21. I love a happy ending - and a family that loves horses. You are so lucky to share your horsey passion with your sister and your mom and your aunt. I hope that my daughter will some day look back on our horse crazy life and feel the same way.

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  22. oh my gosh!! how cool!!

    ok, i might have to STOP reading your blog because it makes me want another horse again SO BAD, but we can't afford it right now!! =(

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  23. Wow! what a wonderful story. I stumbled across your blog looking for horse information.

    My dad and step-mom, just purchased a 13 year old sorrel gelding horse, named Doc. I have not been on a horse in 20+ years, and even then my riding experience is very limited. But, nonetheless, I have always loved horses!

    I started going through your blog and came across this article and went back to part one.

    By the time, I had read the whole story, I was crying huge crocodile tears. Now, I look like Gene Simmons before a concert! You have such a great family! That would be the best Christmas gift ever! I am a big believer in what is meant to be. Congrats!

    Thanks for sharing this wonderfully touching story.

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  24. OMG, here I sit crying after reading this post what a great Christmas present your family gave you! Yes, you and the spotted pill were meant to be.........now I must read more!! I am addicted!

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  25. I hadn't went back and read all your blog yet - although on my list of "to dos". I am so glad I didn't read this while at work! I would be a crying mess!

    What a wonderful story!

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  26. That was a wonderful story of family support. Your bond with Pony Boy must have meant to be. You are so blessed.

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  27. Did you ever end up writing a part 3?? I often ponder that question, Is there one horse for everybody?
    I grew up leasing and showing a dun gelding. He was my soulmate. I could do things on him that I couldnt do on any other horse. And I could do things with him that nobody else could. He is the same age as me, 25yo. And I am sad that he will never be mine. And I wonder, was that my one chance for my equine soulmate? Will I ever find another that I can connect with as I did with him?

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  28. I absolutly loved your story!!! I am still wiping tears off of my cheeks because I know your desire, that burning passion for that one horse! How wonderful. Thank you for sharing that story, it gives the rest of us hope!

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  29. A wonderful tale, I understand exactly what you've been through, as I loaned my first beloved before I owned him, and know the emotional (and financial!) cost. But oh, so worth it! Your boy is stunning to look at, and wonderfully photogenic. I see him looking at the camera, even when he's not sure if it's pointing at him!

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I love hearing from my readers!! I truly enjoy all of your feedback, advice, helpful tips, and stories. You all make me laugh and I learn so much from you, too. I will try to post replies to your comments as often as I can.

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