Introducing PHOENIX

On Saturday, I brought home my new friend. I really like him. I think I'm in love again!





A horse is not a pet, even if we sometimes treat them that way. A horse belongs in the livestock category but they're so much more than that. A horse, a good horse, is a partner. A really good horse becomes part of your identity.



If you haven't been reading long here, you might not know about Champ, the King. I got him in 1989 when he was four and I was 18. He died suddenly last summer at age 21 and I was heartbroken. You can read about it here if you feel like crying, and here if you want to laugh with your cry. I still miss him. Even though I knew he was getting old, he was fit and shiny and full of attitude. I was not ready to let him go.

But after a couple of months, I knew I had to start looking for a new horse. I found him last fall. I couldn't afford to pay for him right away and spent the winter paying for him.

And now I've got him.

He is not full of attitude....but he is handsome, stubborn, and completely clever. His nickname is "The Mechanic" because he's so curious and into things. We made sure his stall gate is not easy to unlatch with flappy horse lips.

He's not Champ, but I have quickly discovered that I really do gravitate towards a certain horsonality. Phoenix isn't haughty or arrogant, but he knows he's special. He's a pure Appaloosa and I don't think there's much Quarter Horse in his background. He doesn't have papers, so we'll never know for sure. He just looks like an ancient and wild breed of horse to me. He does have spots...when he's clean I'll take more pictures of him!



He knocks me out when he moves. He floats. I'm not kidding. The first time I rode him last fall I almost cried, he's got such a smooth jog. I'll have to figure out how to post a video because he's an unbelievably great mover.



I'm starting off on a new phase of my life, with a new horse. I think I've made a wise choice. Phoenix is younger than what I was looking for (he's only 6) and he's greener than I wanted (he hasn't yet had a bit in his mouth; I'm riding him in a sidepull bridle) but he's level headed, friendly, gentle, and healthy, sound, and well mannered. Everything else I can work on. The rest is all just handling and work.



He had a real satisfying roll in the dirt to make himself at home. I know he was feeling a little out of sorts, having just left his home of five years, but as he gets to know his new home, he settles in. I'm keeping him with the Young Lady and separated from the Ol Lady. She's kind of a grumpy old mare, and being pregnant makes her very defensive. It's better to not take any chances.


So far it seems that he and Little Lady will be a good match. They even look alike.

It was so hard to drive away from the farm knowing that I won't see him for another six days. And knowing that next weekend we have to say goodbye to the Ol Lady, who is going home to have her foal. But I watched Phoenix get to know his new girlfriend, the Little Lady, and I knew that it's going to be alllll right.

It's been 9 months without a horse of my own. That's the longest I've gone horseless since I was five years old. I feel like a crack in my soul has been mended. I feel like I can finally clean Champ's sweat off of his working bridle. I feel like I can breathe again.






The Little mare hasn't had a chance to stretch her legs and run since Champ died. The Ol Lady doesn't like to run.


Phoenix likes to run...