Misled across Germany by an Arabian farm

OK I'm back from kingdom come, Germany. I drove in almost the worst conditions, a total of 8 hours of windstorm and driving rain. Snow on the shoulder, but thankfully not on the road. Just keeping the car in the lane was stressful the entire time.

Some places had snow, some didn't, but the whole journey was constant rain and wind.

Lots of different license plates as you cross three states. These two cars were from Bremen and Berlin. I have to say, I think I came further!

Sound walls on lots of streets, there were also more speed trap cameras than I'd ever seen before. One every few kilometers. Thankfully my navi warned me of them.

WASTED WEEKEND. AGH!!!!

I drove there on their promise that there are 10 young horses that are under saddle, for me to try.

When I arrived, it became quickly clear that there were only 3, and one with a bad leg. I'm so annoyed! I would not drive so far for so few prospects.

Oh but first, first impressions count, right? Do you want to know my first impression, showing up after driving through 3 states?

The owner was standing in the parking lot, and I was trying not to slip and fall in the snow and slush everywhere, until I reached him, held out my hand, said my last name like they do here, and he said, "Yah, my sister's down in the barn to show you horses. Just go down there."

He pointed down a long alleyway between buildings, fully snowed in. So....the first thing I thought was, "I guess I'm too poor a customer to merit accompaniment to his barn." I slipped and slid all the way, the slush seeping into my broken down holey Ariats, soaking my socks. I hoped I was going the right way.

I thought if I only had 5K E to spend, he'd have taken me himself. Instead, I'm nothing. I arrived and found the barn with a lot of blond chicks and they were very very nice and helpful. They all were trainers or relatives who spend their weekends there helping, out of love for Arabians. A barn full of big eyed, tiny-eared, dish-faced, drop-dead gorgeous horses looked my way. Most of them were grey. Gorgeous long forelocks, huge black eyes, tiny muzzles they strained to put in your palm as you passed.

I'm so sorry I do not have photos. It was dark in there and I thought, what's the point, they won't turn out. ***

First they brought out the chestnut from my last post, his name is Cero. Did any of you notice his wonky right front leg? Well what warned me in the photo was readily obvious in RL.

The thing is, even the owner knew, she said, "Oh yes, he's got a bowed tendon, you can feel it." I said, "I don't need to feel it, I can see it. I also see more." That horse was big and their most advanced in training for his age, but I don't want to buy a horse with a bum leg unless the horse really touches me. Oh, and it wasn't just a bowed tendon, that's no big deal, it was a totally crooked leg.



Next was Allegro. It was like being at Mikael's place -- a gorgeous, self-assured horse, striking and lovely, (think Storm) and 149 cm of chestnut loveliness. A back as long as Tennessee though. Otherwise perfect, for someone perhaps 40 pounds fewer than I have. I watched a teenage girl, Sara, work him on the lunge, actually, quite beautifully. He did his pointy-toed trot and floated around with his profuse forelock and mane, looking very happy to do the work he was asked. Then she got on and I was impressed as this three year old horse just stood there, stock still, until she asked him to move off. Then she showed us what he knew, and for 3, it's a lot.

Collection, bending, basically being on the bit at that age is impressive to me. Although she was a tiny thing, I did not like that she sat the trot constantly on that big Western saddle. When she finally stopped by us, I asked her if she always rides the sitting trot, or does she ever post. She said she does both, but later when I rode him I saw that he was easier to sit. That did not incline me to sit though, he's too young for my weight.

***

I asked to see another and Banadero was next, the ultra pretty chestnut with, omgosh, when I saw his legs and hooves I got excited. Perfectly straight, balanced, and the hooves were amazing, after so many others I've seen recently. (All horses here are barefoot, btw.)

He was strong enough for me, but looked a little homely, unlike in his sale ad. He also had this perpetual worried look, unlike the others. I asked to see him lunged and then saw how he didn't know how to. Allegro did, and Allegro did it perfectly; I'd never seen such sublte signals on the lunge that the horses read as signals. I could not see them at all, and I know about gaze and posture.

These young women are doing great work here. But Banadero, going around under saddle in his bosal, was powerful but worried, I did not like it. The owner's wife asked me to take him around on a lead line and try to get to know him, but she also said I would not be able to ride him cuz he's only 6 weeks under saddle and that would confuse him. I understand, but was he one of the 10 I was to view?

Of course..they just didn't tell me that detail. Ugh.

***

I finally asked about the two bay mares and the owner (guy with no hospitality whatsoever) went to get them from their open barn (a barn where there are no stalls, just a big communal straw-filled building for 20 horses to hang out).


He acted totally put out that he had to help with my horse viewing. I was so annoyed at his attitude, after being treated so well, so far. Even the horrible Russian Arabian farm, the snooty one, at least the owner herself showed me horses. As my readers noted, these two are just babies.

Moreso than even the chestnut geldings I'd seen, these delicate wispy girls could be blow over by me alone. And I was told they were only just started, so I would not be able to ride them. Not that I would, I'd crush them.

***

After all this I started to realize I'd been misled, there are no 10 horses that meet my criteria. I told them I would come back in the morning to take a trail ride on their most experienced horse, the 3 year old Allegro, (3800 Euros).

***

Totally disappointed I called my man and he told me I should perhaps look at the grey Arabians too. OK then. I knew it might come to this. I was back at my hotel and I must show you the photos, it was the quaintest thing I'd ever seen.

A little scary though when I discovered a knight in armor guarding my hall. And a chihuaha. I was equally afraid of knight and dog at first. But the dog cuddled up to my outstretched hand, and I saw that they hotel owners wouldn't turn loose a vicious dog. But every time I went by that knight, I jumped in surprise. My room was so ...old German I had to take photos.

Sorry that I have more photos of the hotel than the horses. If only the horses hadn't been in a dark aisleway..

The breakfast buffet was as extravagant as the dinner, teaching me new things about German cuisine (Schmalz brot!!?!?!?What is this, Little House on the Prairie!!).

I went back to the stable at 10 am. More to come soon..