You know to be wary when you drop your farm truck off for an oil change, and the mechanic comes out and says, “do you have a minute to come on back here?” Turns out our trusty F350 needs a front end alignment. More urgently, the imbalance caused perilous wear on the far inside of the tire. It’s just like us and our horses when we need the chiropractor, and sprout compensatory problems.

But there are horse shows to attend, to give the horses experience and get them in the public eye. We need a speedy solution… and an economical one! My husband the Web Whisperer sets his fingers to trotting through Google, even as I’m tacking up for a horse training session.

Bingo! The Tire Rack has what we need. Better yet, even after shipping they are significantly cheaper than even Walmart. Mark outfitted his Subaru through the Tire Rack before and we were delighted with their customer service.

We’ll be back on the road in no time!

Contrary to the old adage, it pays to look a gift horse in the mouth. When we first looked at Mikey, I slid my thumb between his molars and his cheeks to get a sense of his teeth. YOUCH! Those painfully sharp points could well explain the bucking the only time his previous owner rode him.

Despite his sharp edges, Miley’s teeth are otherwise in good shape. The upper and lower arcades match up: no parrot mouth or monkey mouth here. The milk teeth in his corner incisor position confirm that he is indeed 4. No sign of cribbing on his front incisors.

The equine dentist will be out here day after tomorrow. ‘Til then, no bit. No sense in causing Mikey unnecessary pain or opening up a behavioral can of worms.

… As for the saying, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” it was first recorded in 1546 by one John Heywood, a court musician and playwrite. Definitely not a horseman!

The decision to buy a horse should never be taken lightly. Concerns must be weighed against potential benefits– for both the horse and human. “Is this the horse for me?” is no simple question.

The whirlwind that brought Mikey to our farm happened in the blink of an eye, but our decision was actually formed over time. Experience and education helped me create a blueprint for the type of horse I am looking for. Mikey comes pretty darn close to being a perfect fit.

My strongest experience has been in the sport horse arena. My network and the horse industry in my area both support the sport horse niche. I know my best chance to succeed in developing a green horse’s potential and reselling him as a made eventer, hunter-jumper, or dressage horse relies on certain criteria. Age, size, gender, experience (or lack thereof), purchase price and soundness all play a role.

What is your criteria? Think about it now, before you are gazing deep into the eyes of a beautiful horse you are looking to buy. What are your goals for your riding? For your partnership with your horse? How does this fit into the bigger picture of your family life?

Finding a horse that fits your criteria can seem impossible. Where are you willing to compromise? At the prepurchase stage of the game, bear in mind YOU DON’T NEED TO COMPROMISE! There is no sense in taking on someone else’s problems and amplifying your own!

I know what I’m looking for in a horse. I know my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to developing horses. My husband and I are clear on what’s important to us both short and long term. The decision to add Mikey to our family had been thoughtfully formed over time. It wasn’t ’til today that Mikey showed up to fulfill it.

Sometimes horses have a way of finding you. I did not wake up this morning and write “buy a new horse” on the to-do list, but when I checked my messages on my way to church there was a description of Mikey and his down-on-her-luck owner. The rain held off long enough for us to go look at him. By feeding time he was munching hay contentedly in our roundpen, freshly dewormed, the worst of his hoof flares trimmed down.

Another horse-human partnership takes root. Another journey begins!

Selling your horse can be the best thing for both of you. However, no matter how much logical sense it makes, the decision to sell your horse can be heart-breaking. Looking through an “Open Door” viewpoint can transform your horse-selling experience for the best. Continue reading this post…

February means mud. And ice, and snow, and freezing rain and 70 degrees days, all of which mean MORE MUD. If you’re like me and have a horse you are working to sell, you need to Continue reading this post…

… And what an adventure it is! It’s February. Gale force winds pound this windows and have the horses in tailspins in the frozen pastures. My fancy pony hunter prospect resembles nothing so much as Chewbacca the Wookie.

But here’s the secret: if you plan on selling your horse to a great home at the best price, now is the time to start the process. Do your legwork NOW and you’ll be miles ahead of other sellers in your market come spring. By then, even my pony hunter will be sleek and svelte!

Stay tuned for a simple, step-by-step plan for horse selling success, regardless of your horse’s breed or sport. And please, feel free to ask us any questions that come up. We love hearing from you!