The epiphany of a 12 year old girl...

[eponacowgirl]

One of my students is horse shopping right now. Her gelding has an old injury that makes him hesitant to jump and they've finally decided he needs a dressage only home, so we're looking for a lovely packer for her.

We went to a local hunter show today to try a horse that was in from an hour or so away. I knew she was an Appy. I love Apps. My kid loves Apps. I was warned that many found her a little... overly appy. Great! My kid LOVES color.

Her description, age, experience all sounded perfect and I was very excited to see her and ride her.

So we got to the show and eyeballed ALL the grey horses in the arena because we knew she was mostly white. We were hoping and guessing and waiting for our lovely appy to be seen.

And then we saw her... she is ALL APPY. She has leopard spots on her skin, but her coat is all white hairs! She needs a little bit of weight and was definitely on the homely side. So we watched her for awhile and she started growing on me because of her kind eye, sweet disposition, excellent work ethic, lovely manners- everything as she was described. My kids mom noted the same thing and we tried to get the kid excited, but she couldn't get past the color. We were having a hard time getting excited as we waited for her class to go so we could finally try her.

And then I saw her jump. I fell in love. What a good girl! Brave and forward and totally unconcerned- she just cruised around and was SUPER! Just a lovely ride all around. My kid was still unconvinced. :)

So, finally I got to ride her. She was certainly outclassed by the horses around her, but she has an easy, smooth trot and a fun, balanced canter. And the girl can jump! I put my kid up with a smile on my face and sent her out to ride her.

She's a timid kid- totally overwhelmed by a horse she doesn't know in a hectic hunter warmup and the arena is a mud pit. She asked the mare to trot and slowly her mouth turned up in a little smile. I convinced her to trot over a cross rail or two and the smile got a little bigger. Then I asked her to canter. We had to pow-wow and discuss because she really didn't want to. I convinced her and off she went. She was supposed to pick up the canter after one gate and canter around the corner to the next. She picked up the canter. And kept cantering. And cantering. And cantering... two full circles later, I asked her to trot and come on into the middle. She was grinning from ear to ear.

I asked how she liked her and she said the sweetest words I could ever hear from a kid- "You know, I'm starting to think that color doesn't matter so much. She's AWESOME!"

:D:D

We have to ride at least two more to get some different experiences under our belt, but we sure did love that little appy mare!!!

[RiverBendPol]

That's a story that makes me weepy. Good girl. Good coach. Good pony. Awwwwww. Please let us know how it turns out.:sadsmile::winkgrin:

[NEHunter]

Great story! You are a super coach and role model.

[Rescue_Rider9]

That mare you are talking about is Freckles, isnt it? haha She is ridden my TTU's equestrian team! She is so loving and jumps ANYTHING! Def. needs weight, but is such a fun horse!!!! I say go for it! LOL

[luise]

Pics? I want to see how appy this appy is! Sounds cute. Lucky kid!

[OverandOnward]

"No good horse is a bad color."

If she buys the horse, get some t-shirts with that slogan and pass them out. A tie-die maybe! For you and mom, too. Maybe when appy comes home the first time everyone wears their "good horse" t-shirt. Just an idea! :)

Congrats on many levels even if they don't buy!

[Rescue_Rider9]

http://www.tightfitstables.com/forsale.html

Here is a link to the website IDK if I am aloud to post this lol but her name is freckles!

[arnika]

I like that mare. Muscle her up with some dressage work and she'll be pretty, not homely. Looks like a good jumper too.

Never discount the love of riding you can get from the ones that make you smile every time you get on!

[LessonLearned]

What a sweet story! And good on her to know that sometimes looks don't matter all that much. I know you need to look at some more but I hope this girl winds up with this kid!

[Lori B]

Great story, cute mare, and a cute jump. I agree that a little dressage and a little weight could fancy her up nicely. You might be surprised what she could look like in a year. (a little Ultimate Finish is a nice way to shine up a horse and add a little weight, in our experience).

I'm glad your student 'got' what was nice about her. It means you've been teaching her well.

[albigears]

Great story. I like the horse- she's so "appy" she's cute... Sounds like she has a heart of gold.

[eponacowgirl]

I'm excited about her. We have another, older, horse to look at who has had ALOT of experience on XC and doing horse trials with all kinds of kids, so it may be hard to pass him up, but we did click nicely with Freckles. I'm loving those photos of her jumping, too. That is her disposition to a T- "I GOT IT!"

[shawneeAcres]

Go with the app! They are the most AWESOME horses (of course I AM prejudiced! :winkgrin:)

[drawstraws]

When my mom was going to buy me my first horse, we looked at two appaloosas. My first thought when I looked at the gelding was "Oh, not him. He's SO ugly!" It was February, and he was hairy and just plain icky to look at. Blue roan with blanket and spots, fat neck, big head, not much mane and tail, the typical "throwback" ugly type. He was seven or eight, had only been ridden western. They threw me up on him (had only been taking lessons for a couple of months) and I ended up popping him over some cross-rails. My mother was sold on his temperament so we bought him. He ended up being the best horse ever. I showed in hunter, western, over fences, trail, barrels and poles, and even drove him. Won a ton of stuff on him on the regional level and even placed him in the top ten at the appaloosa world and national shows as a youth. I only had him for four or five years so that I could move up to a "nicer" horse, but I kept track of him. He did some eventing and eventually ended up at William Woods University. I bawled when I found out he died at age 23, eleven years after I sold him. I thank god that my mom was able to see through the initial "ick" factor and see the diamond in the rough.

[eponacowgirl]

We went and looked at Freckles again today. She still really likes her- I think she has the "click" factor with her. She hasn't said FOR SURE yet, we rode another, more experienced horse that she liked, but didn't LOVE and she said she'd like to ride another handful- a friend of mine has three who fit the bill, so we're going to go try the three of those and see where she stands after that. I'm thinking Freckles will be "it" but I want her to be SURE. :)

She did jump her about 2' today- the biggest she has ever jumped (the kid, not the mare...)! And it was no problem!! That was fun!

ETA photos:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/murrayprincess24/frecklesamanda.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/murrayprincess24/frecklescanter.jpg ('scuse the chairseat)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/murrayprincess24/frecklesface.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/murrayprincess24/frecklestrot.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/murrayprincess24/freckleswalk.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33933236&l=b088592ff8&id=51801315

[2boys]

That gave me goosebumps! Sweet story, and a good trainer to instill such priorities in her riders. :winkgrin:

[FLeckenAwesome]

Oh, she is CUTE!!! We had a lesson horse at my barn that was a leopard App! He was like a toothpick....all angles and long and thin!!! But he CLEANED up... He knew his job and he did it... even when reins broke and the poor kid went around with only one rein!! A saint!!

And drawstraws... I had to laugh... I did the same thing! The first time I went out to catch my now mare, but a lesson horse at the time... I saw her and said "OMG that is the ugliest horse I've ever seen"!. But she blossomed into a gorgeous girl who moved so well. I always got compliments on how she was a nice mover and had such "presence" at shows! And she taught me soooo much. Still have her too and she is going on 26 years old and still likes to try to buck me off some!! But it's a buck of love ;)

Appies rule!!!!

Good luck with the horse shopping!!! Freckles is awesome!!

[Mtn trails]

What a cute appy! I love all her mottled skin. Well your little girl is going to have fun keeping all that white clean.

[jen-s]

She's adorable! Well, both of them are! ;)

[sch1star]

The smile in the first pic says it all! Can't wait to hear the update.

[lovemyoldguy]

Epona - what a great trainer you are!!!! I personally love the look of Freckles and hope that she works out for your student.

When I went to look at my gelding Rebuff, I walked up to this homely looking big brown moose of a horse with enormous flopping ears. Mom and I had a whispered convo about how he wasn't that attractive on crossties but maybe he'd be something else under saddle. :lol: And he WAS. As soon as the tack went on, he was like, "Hoo boy, let's get this party started!"

He was the 1) biggest and 2) most advanced horse I'd ever ridden, bless my little Pony Clubber heart, and I was schooling him in an open ring mowed into a 10-acre field. The possibilities for a screw-up on my part were endless, but he was a gem. It ultimately came down to Rebuff (15) and another great young TB (6 and also super talented). On paper the younger horse seemed like the right choice; but I just couldn't shake the fact that Rebuff was MY horse. So we bought him, and he was.

Oh, and the big brown moose had apparently never grown and shed out a complete winter coat. The next spring, after looking like a moose with mange during shedding season (we even called the vet out, he looked so bad), he transformed into a beautiful mahogany bay. :D

[Lori B]

I totally love your story of Rebuff the Brown Moose. Love it.

[magnolia73]

I think she and Freckles are a great pair. Freckles looks kind.

Yet another...homely horse story. My trainer growing up had a schoolie named Red Robin. She had no mane and even less tail. She looked like a salami, was chunky and had a giant head. Robin was ugly, and on top of that, rather lazy, but took. care. of. business. Robin could have taught riding lessons without an instructor.

I had a nasty horse, who was, by the way gorgeous. Big, fancy shiny chestnut, lovely conformation and neck. And a complete nut case. A pro could not show him. So I was loaned Robin for a fairly competitive show, big divisions, and low and behold, that dumpy appy perked up and showed her heart out and got me some success and confidence when I needed it most.

A lot of people won a lot of ribbons on Robin, even in fancy company. And I always smile when I see someone on an ugly horse at a horseshow....

[SevenDogs]

There are no ugly horses.... just nearsighted people!

[gooselover]

I love this thread. I truly hope your student ends up with Freckles. They look happy and her smile.....

Reminds me of when I had a trainer tell me about a mare in her field that was for sale. I went and got her out of the field (dead winter). She was fat and SOOOOO hairy. I brought her in the barn and just kinda looked at her - she wasn't ugly, just hairy, unkept, neglected and fat. I couldn't see thru it....and I remember the trainer stating, she is a LOVELY mare - you will see. I trusted the trainer - her eye for a horse is amazing and sure enough.......

She turned out more lovely than I ever imagined. In everything we went in, especially dressage, we always got a comment - "lovely mare". Unfortunately, she was a witch, but boy that mare could jump - I trusted her in the jumper ring with my life - she took care of any mistakes I might have made.....and quick, too, in the jump off's, she was unbeatable.

During the ten years I had her there were SO many things I could NOT do with her. Trail ride? Forget it After about 15 minutes, she would throw a fit! Load her on a trailer - maybe in an hour or so it took to get her on, she was claustrophobic. In a nutshell, I could WIN ribbons on her, but I could not ENJOY her. I was envious of other's who do could anything with their horses. Before you ask, we had everything checked out - this and that....she was a Buckpasser mare and from what I read, all the mares from him were witches. But oh, so talented.

After I sold her, (divorce) I quit riding for a number of years. While I loved her with all my heart, during the time I had her and her witchiness, owning her destroyed something in me. A fear was instilled that I didn't want to realize and a passion burned down. All this took place AFTER we purchased our farm for the specific reason of keeping our horses/animals at our OWN place.

After about 5 years and alot of soul searching, I realized what happened and why. My fear WAS justified, she was a WITCH but that didn't mean another horse would be the same. Enter my three OTTB's. They are SO different than her. They are calm, willing and trusting. I can ride ANYWHERE! I can LOAD them! And most of all - I CAN ENJOY THEM!

The moral/reason for the post is to try to help a potential buyer understand what IS important in choosing our next partner. A horse that you feel comfortable with, safe with, trust and one that is willing to try and please you. A horse that you can ENJOY. Color? Who cares? Maybe not the prettiest? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don't let that flashy gelding/mare with a possible bad attitude ruin your passion for riding. Don't overmount yourself thinking that you can fix things down the road. Your love of riding/passion could be destroyed with the horse that didn't fit, all because the one that DID fit - well, you didn't like the color. Choose the horse that FITS you and your capabilities, one that will definitely become your next "partner".

I truly hope Freckles is the "one".

[brii7]

We got an appy for a middle aged woman at my barn this past spring from a sale barn. We were sold when we first saw him, he had just come in and unloaded from the trailer as we got there and we got right on to try him, he wtc quietly around the ring and a field with a nervous rider and hopped over a crossrail a few times. We took him home and he's stayed ever since! Although he had no formal jumping expirience, he's learned so fast and is now a big brave eventing appy going BN! :] He's also an awesome school horse. [I ride and train him for his owner and show him, as she's only interested in riding at home and doing a bit of jumping but sees his potential!] My barn has had AWESOME expirience with appys! We also have one who evented until he was 26 :] he is now happily retired. Here is the appy from the first story! http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/competitionphotos/2009%20albums/KO-091309/HTML/index.htm [yes his name is jalapeno and yes those are jalapenos all over his saddle pad!]

[K.]

I happen to think that she is super cute. I rode a lot of appys when I was little.. in fact one of my favorites when I was small was an appy pony named freckles :) she had small brown spots .. at the time we also had another pony that was brown with white spots.. it was very cute..
the first horse I ever evented was an appy gelding.. who I am thinking of buying so that he can retire ..

[gully's pilot]

My first horse--whom I bought myself at age 23 so can't blame anyone--was physically, drop-dead gorgeous--a bright shiny chestnut TB who could run like the wind. And who was a dreadful witch child. After 5 years of struggle I finally gave her away (to a good home--she's there still at age 24). The first horse I went to look at after her, was absolutely the homeliest animal in all creation--underweight, cow-hocked, just dreadful. But he was the kindest, most trusting animal. He restored all the fun of riding for me--we could and did do anything.

[kimbrawner]

After looking for a new show horse for 6 months with no success, an associate of mine mentioned they had "a really ugly QH for sale" if I was even interested in looking. My mother and I went and found she had an Appendix (7/8ths TB) that was horribly underweight. (She was used to QH's that lived on air.)

After a few hundred pounds, remuscling, and some brain reconditioning, he was a beautiful black gelding with a blaze and two hind socks who won a couple of preliminarys.

It is amazing how "ugly" horses can change our lives!

[retreadeventer]

L, she looks great.
But be sure to check for the usual Appy things if you vet -- including moon blindness, it would be terrible to get that far and be disappointed.

[eponacowgirl]

L, she looks great.
But be sure to check for the usual Appy things if you vet -- including moon blindness, it would be terrible to get that far and be disappointed.

Oh, no worries there. My one-eyed horse and my two years of every-possible-uveitis-treatment vet and I are VERY WELL VERSED in moon blindness. But the owners know that Appies are prone to it and thats one our list of app vs non-app! :yes:

But I will remind mom of that again- I sent her a long email of pros and cons last night and forgot to throw that specific one in there!

[rennyben]

I love Freckles! They are so cute together - the grin on that child is so genuine.
I love me some appies! :cool:

[carrie_girl]

A story about my ugly appy when I was a teenager. I did my first prelim on him when I was 15. I got an ugly spot at the down bank into the water, and completely lost my reins. I mean, up by his ears nowhere to be grabbed LOST. I swear that saint of a boy knew what color numbers to look for. How else could he jump up the correct out bank, to the bounce and make a hard right turn three strides to a skinny all by himself? He then slowed to a trot so I could grab my reins and we continued on to go clean. That is what I call taking care of your rider!

Ugliest horse you ever saw but worth his weight in GOLD.

[Seamus]

Love this whole story.

Bless you trainer with your good head and wiseness. This horse looks like a wonderful mount for this little girl. May she not make the same mistake many of the rest of us have with "beautiful" poorly suited mounts.

I am an owner of the number one App in the world (sorry all you other Apps). He has renewed my love of horses and horse sport. I wouldn't trade him for an olympic level mount.

Best of luck to you all - and keep us updated!