Free Horse....

[DebbieS]

Free Horse

A friend gives you a horse...
You build a small shelter...$750
You fence in a paddock...$450
Purchase a small truck to haul hay...$12,000
Purchase a used 2 horse trailer...$2,800
Purchase a second horse...$2,500
Build a larger shelter with storage...$2,000
More fencing...$1,200
Purchase a third horse...$1,500
Purchase a 4 horse trailer...$7,500
Purchase a larger truck...$18,000
Purchase 4 acres next door...$28,000
More fencing...$2,000 Build a small barn...$16,000
Purchase a camper for the truck...$9,000
Purchase a tractor...$12,000
Purchase a 4th & 5th horse...$4,500
Purchase 20 acres...$125,000
Build a house...$120,000
Build a barn...$26,000
More fencing & corrals...$14,000
Build a covered arena...$60,000
Purchase Dually...$34,000
Purchase a gooseneck with living quarters...$32,000
Purchase a 6th, 7th & 8th horse...$10,750
Hire a full time trainer...$40,000
Build a house for the trainer...$54,000
Buy a motor home for shows...$125,000
Hire an attorney - spouse is leaving you for trainer...$5,000
Declare bankruptcy, spouse got everything.
Friend feels sorry for you...
Gives you a horse.....

[DebbieS]

My husband sent me this email a couple weeks ago and I thought it was cute.

Yesterday, I get a call from a lady who got my number from a friend of a friend. She has a Paso Fino mare (6 y/o) she wants to give away! Not intending to actually do anything about it, I grab my Paso friend and I go the the barn where she is kept and snag a few pics.

Her name is Rosa:
http://www.animalstaples.com/personal/rosa1.jpg

http://www.animalstaples.com/personal/rosa2.jpg

http://www.animalstaples.com/personal/rosa3.jpg

WHY ME???
WHAT SHOULD I DO??
HOW CAN I TELL MY HUSBAND??

[lisa l aka marci]

Tell him you are holding on to her for a friend (ME! LOL)......until shipping arrangements can be made to get her here.....by the time the weather gets better etc he will have become attached (hopefully!)

[jodiTowne]

Take her and send her to Linda Y!! She is good lookin'. Whats her story??

[Helene]

Yep, I did the same thing....Should not never have looked. BIG MISTAKE!
That mare looks real good. BUT....there is no such thing as free horses...I am totally aware of that. The ones I am about to get will cost me quite a bit in farrier, vet, registration, transport, feed cost, etc....
First, I think I would ask is...why is the horse free? Does the horse have medical, behavioral problems?????
Will it hurt me? I know of another horse, I might get for 'free'...great bloodlines, gorgeous....but I think she would really try to kill me....I wouldn't take that horse if you offered me money to take it. (Maybe I would and put her down). I wouldn't even suggest it to another person....I don't want to be blamed for their injuries....

[JennLM]

Wasn't there a young man on here looking for a Paso??

[CarolU]

Debbie, before you take that horse, where is her winter coat? She doesn't looked dessed for December in South Dakota.

[PASOFAN]

WOW, another gorgeous bay!! She looks great, what is the story??

I would say she is always stalled since she has not coat yet...

[Moniece Dickerson]

I too would ask what the story is on her.Why is she being given away?What is she like?Good about,bad about??Health issues?If you know that stuff you can weigh the pros and cons out much better.Good luck,she's a pretty mare and with a name like Rosa she can't be that bad ;-) :D !Your friend,Moniece

[DebbieS]

She lives in a barn (100 stalls). I feel sorry for her.

What I know:

She was on a farm where a man raises/breeds paso x andalusians. She was bred to an andalusian stud and has had at least one foal. This guy sells off a bunch of horses each fall.

A lady bought her untrained. She found a cowboy 'trainer' who kept her for 4 months and didn't understand why she wouldn't 'trot'. So basically he had her lope all the time. The lady was afraid to ride her and the mare seemed very nervous whenever someone would get on her back (I wonder why) :roll:

So, she is with another owner who loves her but is afraid to ride her because of what the other lady said. She owns 2 QH horse geldings and says 'we don't do mares' and she needs a home with someone who has pasos and understands them.....

She is very friendly, from what I've experienced in her stall (which doesn't say much, I know). The owner wasn't at the barn, so I didn't take her out.

I have no info on bloodlines, etc. I would have to contact the man who was using her for a brood mare.

The current owner thinks she needs a little training, but gaits naturally during turn-out. A friend of mine who rides at this barn says she's seen her in the round pen andshe is very gentle on the ground - hasn't seen her being ridden.

I know, nothing is 'free' just like the story ;-)

[Linda Y]

Oh, she is beautiful!
Just what I would need...another horse I can't ride!

[GeorgeGuns]

Would someone PLEASE get that mare? If her only problem is that she won't trot.. YOWSA!

[DSDECKERT]

I'd bet she has some Resorte IV in her, look at the chunky body and short legs! She's a doll, wish I could have another mare!

[Mellifluous]

Yup, she looks like a real find for someone with a little know how and patience.

[Barbwire]

AND a ton of money for training. ;-)

[Mellifluous]

Aww heck...you get her for free, she would be worth the money spent on some training.

How much would that mare be worth if she was a nice saddle horse? I would say $2500 min. That would be 5 months of training at $500 a month. I bet that she could become a good riding horse in that amount of time.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Not free BUT immagine the friend you would have in her if you,understanding and loving pasos,started her all over using the right tack on her and showed her that she's a good girl for gaiting and being and doing what just comes naturally to her!It sounds to me like with love,care,and understanding she would be a WONDERFUL companion both on the ground and in the saddle.SOOOOO are you gonna give her a chance?Your friend,Moniece

[DebbieS]

I wished my schedule wasn't so crazy right now. I'd like to at least take her into the round pen there, and see how she acts. I went into her stall yesterday (she was laying down and politely got up when I came to see her). She loves to have her ears scratched and she LICKED my hand. I hated to leave her.... Right now, she's about an hour away from where I live so it's hard to get over there. I might try this weekend, if I can convince Hubby that I'm going Christmas shopping and don't want him tagging along.

What about the hair? If I (I mean whoever takes her) were to blanket her, would she then not grow winter hair? Is it too late for this season? The temps are supposed to be in the 50s this weekend, but things change so fast here.

Moneice, you're so sweet. I believe you're right about her. There's just something about her.....

My friend who came with me purchased one of the paso/andy crosses from that farm a few years ago. A beautiful grey mare with a long way mane.

I wonder how much training she would need. Most trainers around here are $500-$600/mo. BUT, finding someone around here to train her PROPERLY is an issue. Listo only needed 90 days with Lindsey and I loved the way he was when he came back.

[Linda Y]

Carol's got a trainer offering a good price. Bet it would cost a fortune to get her to Austin TX!
Please don't tempt me. Please.
Licked your hand, huh?
Stop it!

[CarolU]

Yeah Linda, you could ship her down to Carol's, have her get 90 days training with Carol's John Lyons trainer, ship her home, and still be out less then buying a good trail horse ($5K+).

She's sure a pretty mare!!!

[Pam M]

Except for the color, she looks like my Pia (It's the eyes). I think she needs either you or Linda Y! A little time with a good trainer could work wonders.

[reuben T]

how much training depends on the horse and the technique and so many variables. Gimme a few weeks, I'll drive up and get her. I almost have my truck ready to go. got all the basic running gear and brakes repaired, just need to swap engines yet. I'd absolutly love to try it. Having trained several wild mustangs and studied all training methods with diligence, training to me is no big deal, just a matter of doing it. (and if i run into paso specialties i don't know, I'll go visit Larry, I'm only 40 mi from him.) Although I want a good largo paso for long term, I'd go for any kind short term, because a good ready for trail paso should be easy enough to find a good home for.
I'm serious, if she's still availible in a few weeks I'll go for it. I think I have enough hay, probably 2000+ bales in the barn and I'm feedin 5 horses off of it, one of which (the arab) I want to sell as soon as I can find time to put a little riding time on him. However if she finds a good home sooner thats fine. I'll grab the next one to come along, it matters not how wild or how much training is needed.

[Andrea G.]

Debbie - she is beautiful!! You should go for it...look at the wonderful job you did with Listo. She sure is pretty!
At least go and spend some time with her to find out what her issues are.
Remember my Cupid - he never really grew a winter coat - just put a heavy blanket on her - or two blankets.
She is really worth checking out!
Good luck...keep us posted!

[PASOFAN]

Ruben I bet shell be gone!! If other paso people hear about it she will be.. Debbie, she sounds like a diamond in the rough, her eyes are so kind. Lick you hand, come on!!lol Yeah, we shouldnt temp you right, another horse like a hole in the head, but if you could work w/her yourself, sell her in the spring?

[PasoJoy]

TAKE HER.... 8-)

[Carol Nelson]

Well..Linda, hate to do this to ya, but if you really wanted her, I'm sure we could work out a deal to go meet Debbie somewhere halfway, for expenses only! ;-) I think we could do a halfway trip in a day.
Or if it would be easier on the mare, someone on this board who might live somewhere in between Debbie and I...ie., Texas and South Dakota, MIGHT volunteer to board her overnight for you, and we'd pick her up the following day.
We've got three stalls open for horses coming in, one is filled. At $400/mo, for 90 days, you'd only have $1800 into the training, and frankly, it might not take that long at all. :D How's that for temptation??? ;-) :lol:

[DebbieS]

I talked to hubby last night. He didn't say no 8-) , just that we need a bigger barn. Well, if my horses wouldn't all cram into the same side of the barn it would be fine. They leave one entire side of the barn empty :roll:

Anyway, I'm going over tomorrow morning to see her again. Her owner said I am welcome to take her out into the round pen. So, we'll see what happens.

Rueben, I'll keep ya in mind if she's a total nutcase ;-)

[Carol Nelson]

Aw...Debbie's gonna end up with her...you just watch! ;-) :lol:

[Camilla]

well Debbie,
you have me on the edge of my seat!
She looks lovely, sweet, well-fed, nice mane, nice colour, nice price.... what is not to like?
I know I have an over-sized gambling streak, but if I were you I would definitely not be able to resist this girl.
She's already been started, just needs to be allowed to be a paso fino.
I can't wait to hear how your next visit goes. take a saddle (and helmet)... just in case it goes really well.
I am a little prejudiced in her favour as she looks like a very sweet bay mare we have here also named Rosa (actually Rosanna Royale, daughter of Rapido del Paso - but we call her Rosa)... and she is awesome. The smoothest Paso I have ever ridden.
Here's our Rosa...

http://www.finavistafarm.ca/Rosalie-1-mares.jpg

[Fuego]

I talked to hubby last night. He didn't say no 8-) , just that we need a bigger barn. Well, if my horses wouldn't all cram into the same side of the barn it would be fine. They leave one entire side of the barn empty

What are you waiting for? Go pick up your new horse. You still have an ENTIRE empty side of the barn to fill ...... :lol:

[cristy]

If I lived closer I'd take her, what's one more? She looks like my Ensueno granddaughter.

[reuben T]

Go for it!!!! If she's crazy wild and nobody can handle her I'll get her in about a month, but it sounds like she'll be an easy case, (besides I don't want to drive up north in winter if I don't have to, but i will if nobody else takes her.)

[reuben T]

Go for it!!!! If she's crazy wild and nobody can handle her I'll get her in about a month, but it sounds like she'll be an easy case, (besides I don't want to drive up north in winter if I don't have to, but i will if nobody else takes her.)

[Helene]

That is a very nice looking mare! She reminds me of two that I own and really like....But, be very careful....my two have excellent ground manners and are incredibly sweet "on the ground", BUT are VERY HOT and difficult under saddle and are not for everyone.
I'd have a trainer check her out.

[CarolU]

What are you waiting for? Go pick up your new horse. You still have an ENTIRE empty side of the barn to fill ...... :lol:

I like the way Mitch thinks! LOL He's a lot brighter them my husband. I had five horses and built a 7-stall barn. Now WHAT did he think I was going to do with two empty stalls??? (I'm up to nine now!)