A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - Rhythm's Story - The New Home

Part One of the Baby Boomer Series

Rhythm's Story starts here

I had sold this Arabian horse with the understanding that I would always be available to help along the way. I'm not one of those breeders who sells a horse and can't run away fast enough. For me, these are my children and if there's anything I can do to make their life easier, I want to be called. Helping new owners to settle in with a horse definitely makes the transition smoother for the horse as well.

I knew sellling a horse like Rhythm those calls were bound to come. The fact that this horse was always looking for an opening to move up the pecking order pretty much guaranteed there would be issues. Combined with the fact this horse is so sensitive makes knowing how to deal with him in a way he can tolerate all the more important. Rhythm is a challenge, there's just no easy way to say it.

Sometime within the first week or so, I did get a call from Rich Baker but it had nothing to do with the horse being naughty. Surprise! Surprise! You may remember from one of the earlier posts in Rhythm's Story that Rich had wanted to dicker on the price. I had said "No" and stood firm, convinced that Rhythm was not only worth my price but much more. Well, Rich Baker called to apologize for ever asking me to dicker on the price of this horse.

Rich told me they had been looking at horses from all over the country. Horses that were priced anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000. Horses from big fancy farms and small breeders. Not one of those horses had ever lived up to what they had been told.

Then there was Rhythm. Rich said Rhythm was not only everything I had said, the horse was so much more. Rich was embarrassed that he had ever asked me to set aside my price because he knew in his heart he had gotten this horse for much less that he was worth.

That conversation with Rich did my heart good. I knew without a doubt that these new people in Rhythm's life would appreciate the horse for what he is. I knew they probably hadn't a clue of the entire gift that Rhythm is. But the fact that they saw as much as they did at this early juncture gave me the faith to believe that they would indeed see the horse that those of us here all know and love.

While Rhythm can be a difficult horse, he has a side that is so wonderful that I can't even describe it. You have to get into his inner circle of trust to ever see what he holds there. It's a journey worth every rock , bump and trial to get to the place this horse submits and becomes your friend. I didn't know how long it would take, but I was convinced that Rich and Brittany would get there.

Brittany and Rich must haul to a facility to ride. The first couple of times they had loaded the horse they'd made arrangement for the loading to be done by the trainer who had accompanied Brittany to my place Because the horse had never been in a straight load trailer, they expected they might have difficulties.

I didn't think it should be any problem. If the horse knew they were in charge he would get right in. Later I heard the horse tested the trainer a bit. She had managed to coax him into the trailer. That told me a lot. Rhythm really wasn't convinced that the trainer had a clue but he was giving her the benefit of the doubt and complying with her wishes. If she showed any other signs of "weakness" he would take charge.

About a week later came the next phone call. It was more along the lines I had expected. Now with Brittany and Rich on their own for trailer loading, Rhythm was definitely calling the shots.

Rhythm was being naughty refusing to get into the horse trailer. He took one look at that trailer and said "Not on your life." The horse was walking up to the trailer, then stopping, shaking his head and planting his feet. No way was Rhythm getting into that trailer.

Brittany tried to cajole the horse into the trailer just as the trainer had done. But the horse only laughed at her effort. In the end it required the trainer coming back out to load the horse. While she got the same response at first, she did manage to sweet talk him in but it took a while. This wasn't looking good.

To say that I was concerned would be a gross understatement. I knew the horse was already running the show. I also knew that there was much more going on for the horse to be pulling this. This Arabian horse that you mustn't give an inch was clearly claiming his mile. So I asked Rich about other behaviors of the horse and the people dealing with him.

To be continued..............

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