IT'S FREE!! Horses for Sale, Horses for loan, tack for sale and miscellaneous equestrian items. If you have a horse for sale or loan you can add it yourself.
	Company Profile: FLOWTECH

An Instinctive Purchase at a Horse Sale -
A heartwarming story from a Stabletalk Reader.

Having read back over some of your older articles, I was touched by the girl who bought her sad Welsh pony and transformed him. So I thought I would share a similar tale. Already having 2 horses I was looking for a youngster to bring on and then sell on. Having nearly always had thoroughbreds I went to Ascot Sales to look for a suitable type. I looked at every horse that fitted my criteria and shortlisted two to bid on. One of the horses I had looked at but declined was a big flashy chestnut mare, who had nothing wrong with her, except bad feet, terrible mud fever and being terribly thin.

How anyone could have tried to race her I don't know, as there is a big gap between racing lean and just plain thin! Anyway I went into the sales ring and the lovely grey mare I liked was sold for way over my budget. Then came in the chestnut. With the atmosphere of the sales she looked more tucked up than ever, almost a 'cruelty' case, and the groom leading her did nothing to help with his constant yanking on her mouth. About to leave the ring to view some others I suddenly heard an inner voice telling me to look at how well she moved, and that big kind eye. "This mare could really have potential, she just needs TLC and time". Before I knew it my arm flew up, the auctioneer banged the hammer down and she was mine! Oh my God! What had I done.

My German friend who was with me was horrified as she couldn't see beyond the ribs and mud fever. But it was too late, I paid and we went to get her ready for the journey home. She was very nervous in the box and seemed very anxious. But she loaded fine and travelled well for the two hours it took to get home. Well needless to say that when I unloaded her, the other livery owners at my yard either diplomatically choose not to say anything or gasped at the state of her. I was determined to prove them wrong, and to show them what a great horse she would turn out to be.

The rough handling she must have had at the racing yard had left her quite nervous, and if anything frightened her, her instinct was to run away as fast as possible. And she had no idea about using her self correctly when ridden, indeed she didn't have the muscles anyway. Well 3 months later I am getting plenty of comments on what a magnificent and calm horse I now have. She has put on plenty of weight, her coat gleams, and her schooling is coming on leaps and bounds. There have been some scary moments as she has taken time to really trust me, but each time I get on her I feel the improvement. She is starting to look like the eventer I know she will be. She is sweet and gentle in the stable and comes when I call her in the field. Looks like my gut instinct was right after all.