Even though we have a thriving horse community just minutes from our house, trying to find a horse locally was like looking for a needle in a haystack. So I asked around and multiple people suggested looking on Facebook for one. Really!?!?! To my amazement there is a page "Southern California Horses For Sale or Lease". There were so many beautiful horses, and many of them within my budget! As I started weeding through pictures and posts and descriptions and videos, I began to go blind and felt like I was losing my marbles. Didn't I already look at this one?? What is a coggins test?? Did I need one?? What level rider is my daughter?? It was so confusing!
I finally selected a few that sounded like they would be a great match with my daughter and her riding style and abilities. I sent messages to the owners to see about setting a time to meet the horse and have my daughter "try" it out. Sadly, many of my messages went unanswered. Those that did get back to me had already sold their horse. This went on for weeks and I was beginning to think it was a sign from the powers that be. But, I couldn't disappoint my daughter and give up the search. So I trudged on and decided to take a new approach. I placed an ISO ad on the page and multiple people responded with info and photos of horses that fit the bill. That's when we saw "him".
His name was Gus. The first thing we noticed was the tongue!! Look closely! It was the cutest thing we ever saw! And, he was a handsome fella! At15.2 hands he was the perfect size! Even the price was right! So I contacted his owner and set a time for the very next morning to drive out to try him. He was located out in Ranchita, which is about an hour (as slow as I drive) past Temecula. My daughter and I deemed it the land of shrubs and rocks. We even passed a place where they painted the "grass" green!
We arrived at the desert ranch at 10am. It was already over 100 degrees outside and I was pretty sure we were being stalked by vultures. The owner brought Gus out, and it was right then I knew this horse was something special. Not really sure why. It was just a weird feeling. However, I had to keep my cool and remain objective and noncommittal.
My daughter started to groom him and tack up while I cruised around him, looking at his
legs like I had a clue as to what I was looking for. My daughter's trainer had instructed me to take photos and video to send to her. I took some of his legs from all directions and sent them via text. So far, so good.
They walked him into the arena and my daughter climbed on. I kid you not, the moment her butt hit the seat she knew. She looked at me and nodded. I could see it in her sparking eyes! My stomach started to hurt. Omg. . . If this worked out, this would/could be our horse. . . I had to spend money?!?! As a single mom, preschool teacher and always just broke in general, I pushed my internal panic button. Was I sure I could afford this? The cost of the horse. The transport back home. The boarding fees. Farriers and vets. Feed. I just wanted to throw up and run away. But then I refocused my attention on my child. My happy, beaming child on a loping horse. She had fallen in love with him. I could tell.
When we finished our appointment, I had a brief moment to talk to her and she did indeed confirm my suspicions. He was the perfect fit. I spoke to his owner and set up another appointment for the next day to try him one more time. The next day was even
better than the first, not including the unbelievable heat. I sent as much info as I could to my daughter's trainer and she said he looked good. That was all I needed. A check was
written for half his price to hold him until we could arrange for transport. My daughter
was over the moon happy. Truth be told, so was I. Sort of. That panic was still brewing in my mind.
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