Pretty is as pretty does

I just got back from S's barn where she showed me videos she took of the Haegerhof sale horses. So disappointing, because they only showed horses being chased around an arena. Well, if gaits were important to me, the videos would be helpful, but honestly you can't tell much about a horse's personality by seeing it trotting around an arena, the only thing less helpful would be videotaping it grazing at pasture.

Useful videos, those that expose character and training, would be of:

• A horse being caught from pasture
• A horse being groomed
• A horse being saddled
• A horse being - gasp - ridden

I tried my best to be polite and grateful for her efforts, but the only horse I liked on her videos/photos has very little experience, as all the Haegerhof horses do. They're imported from Eastern Europe, they're broke to saddle by employees and sold as quickly as possible. Some of them are very fine quality, but none of them are what you'd call experienced.



This is my favorite, out of well, no others, cuz no others met my requirements. Hm. Dejavu with Haegerhof. This is the horse I referenced earlier on my blog, who I call "the fatty." I like him because he seems very relaxed. Relaxed even under saddle, head low, letting it all hang out, in one of his first times under saddle. He would be the only reason I'd drive 5 hours to Haegerhof.



He's a cutie, lazy in the arena, and my friend S was not at all impressed by him. She said he's correct, but obviously his laid-backness did nothing for her. He's 4300E.

She was very much in love with one of the sale horses and he was a beauty, with lovely action. But he's never been ridden in his life. She admitted, "I know, you have no arena to train a horse, and I know, you have no other horses to ride with, and I understand those two things are crucial to saddle/trail-breaking a horse." Good, I didn't have to say it. I just thanked her for understanding.



This is the unbroke horse that S fell for - and he does have a pretty face, so pretty. She took video of him running around too, and yes, he can also run around.

I said, "I see he's beautiful, but I've had beautiful, twice now, and it's not a priority. I want a horse that knows its job and loves it already when I buy it, so I know what I'm getting, as much as that is possible."

I showed her the videos of the bay Hannover gelding and she said, "But he looks so disconnected, his body parts don't match, his topline is awful, and well...he does look willing and has a wonderful walk under saddle...do you think he'd match up with Bintu well?"

I was stunned for a moment, does she plan on teaching them to pull a carriage together? Why would my horse need to match strides with her horse? I said, "He's faster than Mara, and remember when you rode her, how amazed you were at how fast she walked?" I can't keep up with him, the owner had to keep stopping and waiting for me.

Then I started showing her the photos and videos of my visit to Mara and someone came through the door and started watching over our shoulders. She said, "I like the dark chestnut! That's the horse I'd buy." S said, "That's the horse she just sold, what a shame, you would have loved her!" I said, "Are you looking to buy?" "Well, no..." OK then. So, again, everyone loves Mara, even those who have not met her. Pretty is as pretty does.

S said, "Well, for what this gelding has to offer, 5500E is way too much money." Then she offered suggestions about bargaining. Then she said I'd need to have between 12 and 18 xrays done. Really.

***

Tomorrow first thing J and I are driving back to bloody Hannover to see him again, and I will ride him *alone in the woods* to see what happens. Alone from other horses, the owner and J can come along if they like.

The owner said I may bring my Wintec Endurance Pro and see if I can find a gullet that fits him, and if it does, I'll use it. I'd feel at home in my saddle that I did years of endurance in on good horses. I'm obviously not as confident about spot-fitting a Specialized, so that stays home. My Wintec is my home, even if my SS is my security. Either way, I'll have safety stirrups so I'll be able to do whatever I want. Oh, and try to remember half chaps, they help with trotting.

I'm looking across the room at my Wintec in the living room, and filled hope. Oh, and get this - my Engel lambswool pad fits my Wintec perfectly. Who knew. That means I have three pads that fit my Wintec - the Skito, the Woolback, and the Engel. The pad is freshly washed and every time I walk by, I run my hand over the wool. Luxurious.

I'm thinking back to a CMO a few years ago, where my old cowboy friend Ross Tillotson was camping and I inspected his new horse, a Morgan high tied above where he sat. I said, "Ross, your new horse is so pretty!"

He grouchily shook his head at me, saying, "You don't ride pretty!!!"