drumroll please...Spirit comes home today! no pics yet

[Mellifluous]

Today is the day, as soon as I can get Kevin moving we are heading for Don's to fetch my redheaded child. Yes, believe it or not, Kevin is going with me on a horsey errand for once. He really enjoyed the company of Don and crew last weekend and wanted me to wait until today to get Spirit until he could go with me. Hmmmm, maybe if I leave Kevin with Don a while he could teach him to like horses.

I am excited!

I will post pics when I get back this evening.

EDIT:
MEN!!!!

Kevin just came in and told me that he is not going. He wants to stay around the house and get stuff done. Oh, well. Off I go without him!

[SandyMM]

So - you can stay longer... see you this morning some time... ;)

I think Kevin was pulling your leg.... today is the 'High Holy Day' of car racing, if he's a fan.... maybe he just wants to stay close to a TV today!

F1, Indy 500, and Charlotte 600 - if I understood Greg's list of 'must watch's' for today....:D

[Mellifluous]

Yesterday was great. When I got to Don's Shawn was riding him around outside bareback with just a halter and leadrope. Don tested out one of the firecrackers I brought with me and Spirit just stopped and looked. We saddled him up and got him in the ring, Shawn rode him first and Don shot a roman candle across the ring. We did not realize that the ones I got also pop like a big firecracker as they get to the end of their arc. Spirit kept his wits about him just fine and Shawn let him move his feet and he was fine. No bolting, rearing, bucking or acting stupid. He might just make a good mounted shooting horse. Imagine that! The little sucker is fast and can turn on a dime too. All sorts of things have been running through my mind about his possibilities.

After that, I rode Spirit and Don gave me some good pointers to help me with my riding. In the past week, he had gotten Spirit used to my riding style (I ride with more leg than they do). Spirit was much happier with me and just had a relaxed happy go lucky attitude the whole time! The best part was that we *gasp* trotted and I realized that it was not that bad and was much much much easier to ride the trot with my dressage saddle. I think the combination of a more secure seat and having my legs/feet under me thanks to the placement of the stirrup bars. It was sooooooooooo much better than trying to ride with with my western style endurance saddle! I know that I still have a lot of work to do on my riding, but I feel much more comfortable trotting. Spirit even got to me a little yesterday. When we were trotting, Don told me to reach up and rub Spirit's neck. I did and I swear Spirit did the horsey equivalent of purring. He arched his neck up to me and looked so happy. It was sweet. He really does like his humans.

When it was time to go, he loaded in the trailer like a pro. Don worked with him on getting in the back compartment of my trailer. It is a bit tricky and I have a very hard time getting horses to ride back there. Spirit got the hang of it right away so he gets to be my back compartment rider when I have another horse to haul. He stood on the trailer quietly for over an hour while I chatted with everyone. He never budged even with all of the commotion of roman candles and m-200's going off outside. He is a very very very good boy.

He is home and all nice and settled in. The girls were very happy to see him! The cutest was the goat. She came up to Spirit as I was leading him to the stall. He reached down and sniffed her and ruffled her hair she bleated and he nickered back at her. I think he might have missed his pet goat a bit. I will be keeping him in the stall for a few days to let him settle in a bit more and get to know Vala in a more controlled environment. Phoebe and Vala both stayed at the stall and chatted with him for a while. When I went to feed them, they were out of Spirit's siteline from the stall. He whinnied and Phoebe kept eating. Vala left her food and ran over to the stall to check on him. I guess she remembers what solitary is like and understands. The unattended food made the goat very happy.

Here are the first pictures, more to come later.

Phoebe says "where find him at, I knew he disappeared a few months ago?"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/legado/horses/P1010042.jpg

Vala says "Ooooh, who IS that?"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/legado/horses/P1010046.jpg

Spirit is going to have to find a niche with tweedledee and tweedledum. Or Phoebe and mini - me, whichever better describes the girls.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/legado/horses/P1010048.jpg

[motorgypsy]

So where is Spirit???

dum and dee sure are cute:biggrin:

[Abejita]

Spirit is going to have to find a niche with tweedledee and tweedledum


kinda sounds like Spirit is no longer on the "for Sale' list huh...:p

[baileyholc]

I hope your are right, Abejita. :biggrin: I have always believed Mel would never really let Spirit go. Even when she hated him she loved him that much more. He is her baby. Am I right Mel?

[Pasogirlz]

Always good to hear a report like that. Congrats on a great little horse.

[Mellifluous]

Spirit has turned out better than I ever imagined. Riding him by myself here at home has been one of the most fun riding experiences I have had in a while. He is so happy and interested in what is going on. All he wants is to be out with me seeing the world. It is like vacationing with a kid that sees something fascinating around every corner. His positive energy is amazing. I honestly never thought I could enjoy him like this!

THANK YOU DON AND SHAWN!!!!!!!!!!

[Cindy]

All he wants is to be out with me seeing the world.

THAT is a very cool statement.:D

[baileyholc]

Yep, Spirit is off the sale list. :v:

[Blameitonbrio]

Mel, I am so happy for you and Spirit. Nothing like a good horse trainer, huh? We sent Marisa to a trainer last year, and although she wasn't rascally like Spirit, it was all money well spent. You and Spirit have fun!

[GregM]

Great news, Mel! See both of you on ride somwhere soon.

[motorgypsy]

Spirit would have been my "to die for" horse when I was much younger. I totally love the breed for their intelligence, heart and brains and I hate the fact that because they are so beautiful too many bad examples of the breed have been produced for the "almighty dollar". It's like have two really different children - just because they are very different does not mean that they are not equally LOVED!