Hello Im going to tell you about how I got my best friend Rebel.
Really it all started when I purchased a Bay, roan pony named Patriot. We bought Patriot when he was 3 and we sent him to the trainers when he was 4, while he was at the trainers he was doing perfect. I made daily visits to practice and trail ride around on him, then it was time for him to come back home!
I was so excited! My trainer and I decided to go on one last early morning trail ride. Everything was going smoothly ... we even crossed a stream! When we started to go back Patriot was starting to get restless, he was being barn sour and kept trying to grab the bit. After a while he settled down, so we kept going, we decided to take a shortcut through a pasture leading to the barn.
We had just crossed the ditch when he just exploded. I had so warning or anything... he just took off galloping/bucking. Needless to say I was thrown, hard. I ended up spraining my spine so I couldn't get on a horse again for almost 2 weeks, but by then I was terrified so that was fine with me.
My instructor put me on her gentlest school mount and I was so scared I just sat there crying. The thought of riding Patriot again made me start shaking. So we decided him being green and me so afraid to ride again would not a good match. We sold Patriot to a lady who was going to finish him and resell him.
After this I still wanted a horse to ride dearly so I began my search on the Internet and I found a Appy gelding that interested me with lots of trail experience, ect. So I went to try him and it turns out the lady was lying to us and he ran away with me. I managed to get him to stop, but I was now more scared them before.
We had arranged to meet at a Dude ranch to try him out and about 2 days later I got a phone call from the ranch owner. She said she had a horse she thought I might be interested in, so we went to try him out she led him to the arena with an older mare I had rode before. She told me to get on the older mare to get more comfortable on a horse again while she rode Rebel. Then we switched.
I was so scared I told her I wanted to just get off and leave, but she said hold on, lets strike a deal. I will be right here and lead him 1 little step. I thought for a minute and said okay so she moved him 1 little step, then she asked ready for a little more? This went on until I was riding by myself and actually enjoying it a lot! I asked her how old is her, her answer floored me she replied" 2 1/2". Normally I would have been scared to get back on a horse that young again but I wasn't at all, we came back and I rode him for about an hour.
I told my Mom this is the horse for me, and she actually agreed! While she went in to sign the papers I took his saddle off and gave him a bath. Then his owner came out and told me that she participates a lot in a therapeutic riding program, and he was a favorite among the children! She also said she had him tested by the state to get his certificate to be a dude ranch horse and he passed with flying colors!! Now I have all of my confidence back and Rebel and I go on lots of trail rides and he does some halter, in fact last year he got first place in halter!
The "moral" of this story is ... every thing happens for a reason and you do have to take the bad to get the best!!
Sincerely,
Juliana and Lil Rebel
Mabank, TX
