Last year I had a brilliant idea that I'd start a new blog on a new platform. It took forever because I wasn't familiar with the platform. I did get a couple posts up but blogging wasn't easy because I could never remember how to log in. Then someone asked me if I had posted recently. I decided to practice logging in so that it would be easy. Unfortunately logging in was a hassle, I had to reset my password, then locked myself out of my page because I had attempted to log in about a million times. Then, duh, why don't I continue to use this blog as I've had it since 2003 and obviously know how to use it. All that to say, I'm back!
We went on vacation for a couple weeks earlier this month then the weekend after we returned I had a 24-hour whirlwind trip in which I returned with a mustang!
Meet Odin the Mustang!
Last fall I had to retire my Thoroughbred mainly due to arthritis in his front legs. He was from the track many years ago and there's a movement to give these off-the-track Thoroughbreds new jobs. Unfortunately they are no longer bred for soundness and longevity so many of them end of with soundness issues when they're still fairly young. There's much more to write about this topic but I want to talk about my mustang!
I know a few people who have adopted mustangs and think highly of them. Last year I went to a mustang makeover and auction but my horse wasn't retired yet. Mustang Yearling Washington Youth has a competition every year where mustangs are gathered from the range, trained for 100 days, then shown and auctioned. This year the event was in Cle Elum, WA at the Washington Horse Park just a week after we returned from a 2-week vacation. A smart person would've stayed home to catch up on laundry, rest, the garden, etc. but this auction would be my last opportunity, unless I wanted to wait a whole year.
Keep in mind that I don't have a horse trailer currently. So my plan was to drive over, bid on a horse I liked then figure out how to get it home. I mentioned that I was going to one of my friends and she jumped on board immediately, said she'd hook up her horse trailer and we'd go! There was a bit of work drama where I could go then I couldn't go due to a weekend work schedule conflict but by some miracle of timing, I was able to do my work then meet my friend at noon and drive over. We took camping gear but another friend offered to let us stay in the living quarter portion of her horse trailer as she was already over there on a riding trip and staying in a cabin with other friends. Events just kept lining up to make it all possible.
The first demonstrations were the youth division, showing their 2-year old mustangs. When a 13-year old boy came out with his mustang I admit I thought, well if he can do it I can certainly do it! Twenty mustangs were featured and available for auction. However, only 4 were in the under-saddle, adult division. I had decided on the way over that I was only going to bid on a horse that was already started under saddle.
I had to tell myself multiple times that it was okay to come home with an empty horse trailer.
The demonstrations went on into the evening and finally the auction started. I bid on two of the under saddle mustangs and quit when the price went above my budget. The horse I really wanted was the last under-saddle horse to be auctioned. The spectators audibly gasped when he came out. The pit of my stomach dropped because I thought he'd go over my price range.
I kept my eyes locked on the auctioneer and the price went higher and higher. I stopped bidding, ready to give up, but then at the last second started again. The price went up, I stopped bidding. Just as the auctioneer was about to close the sale to someone else, I raised my number 34 again. The auctioneer locked eyes with mine, pointed at me and yelled "Sold!". A great whoop came up from the center of the spectators. I hadn't really noticed but my friends had gathered around me during the auction, a circle of protection and strength. I started shaking from the stress and shock but he was mine mine mine.
What can I say but the auction was awesome, I came home with a great horse, and I have the best friends, friends I didn't even know I had, ever.
The horse's name was Thor but since I know someone with a Thor the Mustang, I decided to call him Odin the Mustang. He's been mine for a week. More on his training another time.