I've Heard Patience is a Virtue

It's not a virtue I have though.  So, without much back story except to say that I tried a bunch of other horses and the first horse I didn't even want to see ended up being Mr. Right.

I am now the proud owner of two horses.

Meet Licorice.  11 year old gelding.  1/2 Thoroughbred, 1/4 Quarter Horse, 1/4 Percheron.  Ground manners of a bulldozer but heart of a Golden Retriever.  Measures 16 hands at the wither, but is probably 15.3 at the back.  I expect his body will change a lot as he gets fitter and starts using himself.  I have before photos but I haven't downloaded them from my camera yet.  It will be fun to see the changes later on.

Don't worry, the chain is NOT connected the cross ties at all.  I do have a rope halter for him as well.  He just plows right over you if he wants to go elsewhere, so we're working on that.  Also, he is relegated to wearing pink stuff until Tessa sells.  Writing a board check for two horses pretty much killed our budget.  We'll be eating lots of Top Ramen this month.


I brought Licorice home for a trial and he never left.  The first day he came in, it was a stormy day with lots of wind.  And the shavings truck showed up.  And he was screaming his head off for his friends.  But I rode him.  Walk, trot and canter.  And he did it, even with his head in the air calling for his peeps.  Then he passed his vet check and the deal was done.

It's been a week now and I've ridden him every day.  On day three, I rode him outside the arena.  On day four, I hand walked him down the driveway and up the road and back.  I had my first lesson with him last night and it was amazing.  Took him out to graze on Sunday and there were people re-roofing a trailer.  He didn't even look.  He just wanted to eat.  The goat?  Licorice loves the goat.  Mounting?  He stands like a rock.  He looks around at stuff, but he keeps doing his job.

I just...I had no idea.  I was so busy trying to make it work with the princess pony that I didn't recognize how unhappy I was.  I learned so much and for that I am grateful.  But it's an entirely different world with Licorice.  I absolutely adore him.  Every ride has been fun.

He's got a lot to learn about contact and using his body, since he's been ridden by beginning hunter jumper riders he pretty much knows how to go around on the rail on a loose rein.  His jumping is perfect as long as you want to trot into the jump and canter away from it.  Twenty meter circles?  Contact?  Not so much.  But he's a willing guy and tries his heart out.

I.  Love.  Him.  So.  Much.  This just can't be overstated enough.  I grin from ear to ear while I'm riding and can't stop smiling at the barn.  I can't wait to go out to the barn to ride him again.  To get us off on the right foot, we're starting with 30 days training but he doesn't really need it.  He's a solid citizen already.  And I'm already head over heels....