Friday, September 08, 2006
PEPSI STAYS HOME!
After all of my torment over not wanting to sell her, but also wanting to be willing to do what's necessary, it all came to an end last Sunday. I spent the weekend fighting tears anytime I thought of what leading her and Padre into the sale ring would mean. Then, I'd have to focus on the future - how we'd be able to provide an even better home for Snickers and we'd eventually get more horses - to make the tears subside. That didn't work but about half the time. The other half I had to rely on God - repeating scriptures and reminding myself that God has a good and prosperous plan for me. Ultimately, Padre sold for $1800 (half of what I bought him for), and I P.O.'d Pepsi at $400. $400!!! If I wasn't so happy I could cry over knowing she was still mine, I woulda been just plumb insulted.
I was halfway expecting I would P.O. (pass out) her even if she brought a good price, but I was tormented by not knowing what I would or should do. Jeff and I agreed that $1,000 was an acceptable price, but it hurt to think that I might lose her for such a measly sum. Jeff told me later that he had already decided that he would have to step in and "save the day" if it came down to a $1,000 bid. Not only did he know my misery over the prospect of selling her, but he felt it himself as well. He is just as impressed with her as I am. Fortunately, God answered our prayers and made the decision to P.O. her an easy one. And, keeping her definitely lessened the blow of losing Padre. I believe he is carrying some little girls around now. I do pray he is in a good home and well taken care of.
Padre made a very good showing in the warm-up pen and in the sale ring. However, while waiting in line in the alley he was very, very nervous. He wouldn't stand still, kept throwing his head up and down and his heart was going a 100 miles an hour! I could feel the pounding of his heart through both of my legs. However, Pepsi was a poster child for calm, cool, collected while waiting in line, as well as in the sale ring. I really expected alot of trouble since it was her first time in a crowd... and let me tell ya, it was a C R O W D!!! The vendors were set up right along the back of the alley to lead them in, and people, dogs, vehicles were everywhere. Folks oblivious to the horses. Oh, I just kept praying she would remain calm and no one would scare her and get hurt by her. But, like I said, she was fantastic.
However, that was pretty much all negated by the show she put on in front of her stall and in the warm-up pen. The previous night I had stayed up till midnight (we didn't get back from town till 10pm) riding Padre, saddling/groundwork with Pepsi and bathing both of them. They both were great and I fell into a contented sleep that night with a game plan in place. Some time after Padre sold, I saddled Pepsi up, led her out of her stall and immediately some potential buyers walked up and asked about her.... they were ropers, so I made sure to tell them that you could throw a rope all over her, and I commenced to doing so. I had also told them that she had been saddled 6 or 7 times and hadn't offered to buck. Well, she decided to buck right about on the second throw of my rope. She didn't get away from me... during the whole ordeal I just softly laughed and talked to her, pulling her back to me, and she turned back to me and quit. It was over. She was actually pretty durned well mannered about it all. Well, by then they'd walked off, but another roper came up to me and started asking questions. Don't know if he was more interested in her or me, but he was nice and seemed to really like her. So, on we walked to the warm-up pen. She was fantastic, once again, until we walked through the gate, and she busted in two again. She caught me by surprise that time and I lost the rope, but she just bucked in a little circle, I stepped on the rope and she stopped when she felt the pressure. Well, I led her to the back, into a smaller pen and unsaddled her. I reckon it was just all too much for her to process, being out in a new place, so many people, so many things she'd never seen, heard or felt before. But, she was still so very impressive to me because she never got out of hand, and then later she stood amongst the crowd and in the ring like a halter horse.
Now that it has cooled off I'm feeling really motivated to get outside and work with her. I saddled her the past two days and she did buck right after being saddled, but true to form, she quits when she feels the lead rope. Actually the first day I left her unhaltered while I saddled her .... when she took off bucking the dog got after her and I raised my hand at the dog .... Pepsi thought I was signaling her, so she stopped stockstill, waiting for my next cue.
I think we're in a good situation. Two horses are a heck of a lot easier and less expensive to care for than 3 or 4. And, I was a little concerned over Snickers not having a pasture buddy if we were to own only her. So, finances are a little freer, Snickers has a buddy and I have no other horses to distract me from working with Pepsi.
As good as Pepsi is now, I am uberexcited about her future.
"Yesterday is in the tomb, tomorrow is in the womb, and what we are intimate with right now is what we will birth in our future." - Paula White
