Call from a potential buyer:
"Is your horse bomb proof"
....no, I am pretty sure if a bomb went off he would incur damages....oh, you mean is he spooky? Well, if a bomb went off I am sure he would get the heck out of there....and me right there with him asking him to go faster. Things like big trucks, wild life, plastic bags and such that we are more likely to encounter he is fine with. Are you looking for a horse to take to Afghanistan?

"Could I ride him in bailing twine"
...you could ride him in a mini skirt for all I care, but jeans/breeches would be more comfortable. Oh, you mean "using" bailing twine? Why on earth would you want to?
"Because it means he is easy to control"
...Seriously? Perhaps TACK or a halter and lead rope even would be more appropriate and safe (bailing twine won't break as easy if something goes wrong, but is fine enough to seriously cut a horse)....although this horse could likely be ridden with a dandelion necklace and still be fine.
"What is the lowest you will take for this horse"
....Seeing as you have never seen him, $500 above advertised is now the lowest price I will take for this horse. Jeez. If the horse is out of your price range, TELL ME THAT. Such as, I only have $4000.00 to spend on a horse, would you consider taking that amount if I get along well with him? I have no problem with wording it that way. That is how Sam I Am's owners got him even though he was above their budget. I liked that they were upfront about it, and didn't do the annoying "what is the lowest price you will take". As soon as someone types that, it annoys the heck out of me.

On another note...PINTOS!

Crescent's two babies are here! Cara is two, and Lady Rose is a yearling. Same mom, but different dad, and you can tell. Lady Rose looks almost Arabian, whereas Cara is much bigger/thicker. Clare....you wanted a pinto right? And down the road you could breed her to a friesian!

The kids are here to be halter trained and looked after in general. LR is pretty good, but Cara is halter shy and not handled that much of late, so she has regressed. Still, with Rob and their owner's help, I was able to tie a make shift rope halter on her to get her into the trailer today, and once in the trailer and at our place I put a halter on her and dewormed her. Now she likely hates me...so here is hoping I can get the halter on her tomorrow! I think she is a very sweet horse, who just scared herself one day, and isn't sure how to trust...but once caught, she liked the attention Rob and I gave her while trying to load her, and we were able to do it with no whips or bum ropes. Just lots of grass, scratches, and Rob picking up her feet and placing them in the trailer. Certainly easier to take the time/patience to load when it is sunny out!

Before picking up the kids, we stopped by the owner's house to pick up their truck and trailer (nice 6 horse, with the back two sections set up as box stalls). We hadn't been to their house in about 4 years, as they have been slowly redoing it. It is the nicest house I have ever seen. Gorgeous open wood beams, concrete made to look like stone, big rooms, every appliance conceivable in the kitchen, horse statues and pictures everywhere, and a view of their own little lake. My favourite part though is their deck; it has gargoyles on the deck fence looking out onto the yard. Not sure why, but they highly entertain me! If I ever build a house, it will have gargoyles.

Karen

(oh, and in case it swells and bruises despite the ice, I think I broke my nose today by a certain impetuous 3 year old. Ouch. Not him being mean...just short attention span. Feeling a little concussed too. My first training related injury of the year! It is funny how most people are afraid of the first ride...it is the ground work that tends to cause me more injury!)