Still no ride times for Amberlea? Paula mustn't be the one doing it or she would have had it done by now.

Weather forecast seems to be improving. Fingers crossed that we have one dry Amberlea show. Of course it would be the one I don't have a horse at.

As an aside; beware the free horse ad. There is one floating around right now. Free horse ads make people who would otherwise not want a horse, get a horse. Or people looking for a horse, get the wrong one.

Here is the thing. The Free horse costs as much as the paid for horse. There is a good chance the free horse may need more in the way of farrier and vet up front as free horses tend to be free for a reason. And then there is the training or maintenance it likely needs...most free horses are either young, lame, or have a difficult habit.

So you are saving money with the "purchase"...but paying more to get the horse rideable...if it is ever rideable.

I am sure there are some nice free horses out there. Some track horses are given away. But I think people are less diligent in their prepurchase consideration when there is no price tag...but unless you are willing to dump a horse at auction, then that free, poorly considered horse could end up costing you thousands of dollars, heart ache, and perhaps personal well being.

Think about how much you would pay to keep yourself (or your child) safe, and if you have that money in the bank, that is what you should be prepared to spend....if you don't, you shouldn't buy a horse.

Just ask Amanda what cheap horses "cost" her.

So Beware the Free horse.

(although I wouldn't trade the time I had with my "free" horse Ziggy...although in the end, the amount Rob and I spend trying to save her likely made her our most expensive horse. I miss her.)

Karen