Here are some more pictures of the day we brought home Barbie Doll:

Finding the Right Horse

  After teaching and saving my money for about a year, we started looking for horses for sale on Craigslist. The very first horse that we wanted to buy was Pepper, a Gypsy Vanner x POA cross. Pepper was 2 years old at the time and 13.2 hands high. Camille and I really loved Pepper, but we realized that he was just too small for us, and we did not have the experience to train him.

The next horse that we called on sounded great, and I had high hopes for her. Brandy was a 15 year old Mustang mare that was about 15 hands high and had previously been used for 4-H. But she had a lot of energy, and I did not like the way the owners handled her. Not that that was bad, but there could have been potential problems later.

The next two horses were Pecos and Abisha and had been buddies for years. Camille and I got to ride both and really enjoyed each one. Abisha was a Tennessee Walker mare that was 14.2 hands high, and was 18 years old. She had a very prominent sway back, and she seemed like the kind of horse that we might have health problems. Pecos was a Quarter horse gelding that was about 14 years old and 15 hands high. I really liked Pecos because he wasn't completely trained and really was very eager to learn.

Straight after meeting Pecos and Abisha, we went and met Ken Bateman, who owns J and K farms. J and K Farms breeds Pony of the Americas. We met Ken about 2 years ago because he is the neighbor of some friends. Ken introduced us to Barbie Doll, a POA mare that he described as 'cinchy'. We rode Barbie around the pasture with only a little twine around her neck. I was amazed at how obedient she was and really loved her disposition.

We went back and rode Barbie several more times before deciding on Barbie Doll. I was actually leaning more towards Pecos, but we were concerned about his health. And Camille was in love with Barbie!

A Life Long Dream

am·bi·tious  

/amˈbiSHəs/

Adjective Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. (of a plan or piece of work) Intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve.

I guess you could describe me as ambitious because I've made my dreams happen.  For most girls, dreams will only be dreams, but I've never thought of myself in the 'most girls' category.
    One thing most people know about me is that I have always dreamed of having a horse.  After watching the movie Spirit, I was in love.  I started taking riding lessons when I was 5 and didn't really ever stop, even when we moved to Idaho.  I remember thinking, about when I was 9, that I didn't want to wait to have a horse until I was a teenager.  I never really thought far ahead, so I thought my life would be half over by that time.  My dad told me that I had to pay for the horse myself; I was sure that that would never happen until I was out of the house.  So I hunkered down and made myself wait until I was 17.  Dad told me that he could pay for a horse by that time, and I was sure it wasn't going to happen until that exact date.
    I had been taking piano lessons for 5 years when the opportunity came when I was ready to teach piano.  As soon as I saw the chance to buy a horse myself, I pounced on it!  I taught about 6 months before I had saved enough money and had gained 9 students. 
   I wondered what I would dream about next after I bought a horse, but now that I own one, I've realized that I haven't stopped dreaming and horses are still the same to me as they were when I was 10, but more real then ever.