I had always known that someday I'd get a second horse- it was just a matter of when I had the money and which one!

 I had started a program at our local therapeutic riding program where the volunteers could do Parelli with the therapy horses to become more savvy around horses (see http://www.equicenterny.org for the therapeutic riding program's website).  Many of them loved horses  but didn't have one of their own.  We had the perfect horses for them to learn on.  One lady, Ellen, asked if I could come to her house to help her with her own horse  as she was having some trouble with him.  I graciously agreed.  After a few trips out there she introduced me to this horse named Angel, the only mare in their herd of four and the boss.  She told me that Angel's owner was considering selling her or giving her away because she had become too much to handle and they were a bit fearful of her, not to mention she bullied and beat up on the other horses.

I, half jokingly, said I may be interested if she were to give her away but I didn't have any money to pay for her.  Never did I think she would actually become mine.  I went out in the pasture to pet her and was warned to steer clear of her hind end; it was powerful and she knew how to use it.

She seemed awfully sweet and looked nice, from what I could see of her neck and head as she had a blanket on.  

 The weather warmed up a bit and one day I went over there to help Ellen with her horse and Angel  was out without her blanket on.  She had these huge, enormous withers and a sway back.  She certainly looked more appealing with her blanket on!  I was sure that, if I had the money, I  definintely wouldn't pay money for a horse with a back like that!  A few months later they were serious- they wanted to know if I still wanted her and if I could take her in a few days!  Everything happened so fast!

 I wound up taking her on January 8th, 2006, the day before my 18th birthday.  She loaded on the trailer and rode really nicely!  I took her to the barn and played with her for a bit as I hadn't ever done anything with her.  She was really right brained- looking all around everywhere and moving her feet constantly.  I started with some friendly game but something happened and she came at me and tried to charge me, ears pinned, teeth barred!!  Yikes!  I closed my eyes and instinctually  yoyo-ed her back as hard as I could.  When I opened my eyes I was still alive and she was back away from me with a nicer look on her face!  I almost brought her back to Ellen's right then and there.  Was I crazy?  I was no match for this horse!  She tried to kill me!  I just couldn't do it.  That  day I had become her 9th owner during the 10 years she'd been alive.  I couldn't let that trend continue. 

She was at several barns before I could find one that I could afford to keep two horses at.  She was my pasture ornament until then.  When we finally moved in to the new barn I began playing with her.  She was very dominant and would use her hind legs (as described by her previous barn) when I asked her to do something she didn't want to do.  There was no way I was riding her yet! 

 When we got to the sideways game we became a sight to see at the barn!  She would kick out and squeal and buck and protest so much and then finally give me one step.  Just as with Sweet Potatoe in the early days no one wanted to be in the ring with us at the same time.  She was just as dominant in the pasture as she had been at her previous home and all of this made us wonder why her name was Angel.

 As time went on our relationship grew and she and Sweet Potatoe became very close friends.  Her trantrums became less frequent but no less intense.

 Late in February I offered my horses for lease to Emily, a 13 year old who was participating in theParelli Night I had started at the therapeutic riding center.  She met Sweet Potatoe first but she and her mom instantly fell in love with Angel the minute they saw her, and that is no exaggeration.  The relationship that girl and horse had is one many of us may never achieve!  Angel was her usual self with Emily  most of the time but they had some lovely moments as well.   Nothing that Angel threw at Emily changed the way she felt about that horse.  

 Emily and I  continued to build Angel's muscle, stamina and earn her respect on the ground via ground work and ponying her off of Sweet Potatoe.  In April, 2006 we began to ride her with many thanks to Carol Brett of Balance Saddles for helping us with Angel's saddle fit (http://www.balanceinternational.com).  Our rides were short and infrequent at first  but as time went on both Emily and I had some lovely rides.  By the summer of 2006 I rarely played with Angel or rode her because Emily just wouldn't part with her for one minute!   

Just like Sweet Potatoe, Angel also taught some kids to be confident undersaddle and on the ground with horses.  They ranged in ages from 2 to 10- I doubt her previous owners ever thought she'd be considered a kid's horse! 

We had her walking, trotting, cantering and jumping undersaddle.  On top of that we had her out on the trails and going over bridges and through water before I left for Colorado in August, 2006.  I kept in touch with Emily and her mom while I was away and they always told me of how much progress they were continuing to make with Angel. 

When I returned to New York in Mid October to pick up Ginger and Angel and bring them to our new home in Virginia I arrived at the barn to see Emily riding Angel bareback.  I wondered if she could even see through all her tears!!  I felt terrible that I was tearing away her true love but their family couldn't afford to keep Angel.  They were happy that she was going to stay in my life where they knew she'd be loved and cared for in the years to come.

We got to Virginia and weaned all the horses on to the grass.  Angel was only on for a few hours a day when she foundered the second week she was there-- just as my relationship with her was beginning to grow by leaps and bounds.  The recovery seemed long but in reality it wasn't.  Once again we were back on our journey.  She and I, for the first time, bonded so greatly!  We have progressed so much.  Her ground work has come along and her riding has approved by leaps and bounds!  I am so happy to have her!

 

In the fall of 2008 she completed her first dressage test and although her scores were not the greatest her compsure and willingness to listen was more than i had bargained for!  That alone was a success in my eyes!

I had toyed around wth selling her for the longest time and nothing ever came of it which I am glad about as she and Sweet Potatoe are the best of friends.

2009 shall bring some more time for her and I to develop our relationship.  I feel that now I may have more of the savvy and understanding that she needs. I hope to really develop her on the ground and undersaddle and see what kind of potential she really has in her.