Not Too Spicy

By popular demand - I am pleased to introduce to the blogosphere/internet at large: Not Too Spicy aka Spicy.

It's kismet that I met him. In my hunt to rehome Indy I met a lot of people who are fantastic, old school horsewomen who adore Thoroughbreds. In particular, I connected with Thoroughbred Placement Resources (TPR). I heard through the grapevine about one horse there named Spicy, who supposedly was really something special. I made an appointment to go see him. Of course we got rained out a few times, interrupted by shows, local guests and more, but eventually I did made it out to see him.

Always ride other bloggers horses when they offer. ALWAYS.

That same day incidentally I did a drive-by and hopped on Austen's Bast for literally ten minutes. I wish I had planned my day better (derailed by a much longer story not for the internet's ears) because I would've loved to stay longer and frankly ride her pretty damn broke horse around. With too long stirrups and no gloves I bopped around on him and enjoyed his softness and how easily he came off each leg.

I dismounted practically straight into my car and headed out to TPR to meet Spicy.

TPR has been rehoming racehorses before almost anyone else. She did direct to trainer connections before CANTER even existed. She's another old school, skilled horse woman who knows what she's looking at. Her horses are all impeccably cared for no matter how briefly they stay at her farm they get All The Things done (teeth, feet, etc).

At three years old and straight off the track, Spicy initially went to a 'temporary' companion home because he had to leave the track in a hurry. Then he hung out just.... being a horse. At some point his owner was no longer able to care for him so he came back to TPR as a green broke twelve year old ready for his next adventure.

This guy went from racehorse, to companion horse (for nine years), and then had his entire life turned upside down to where he's in full training, being shipped up and down the East coast, and still taking it in stride with a good attitude. All he wants is someone to look to, someone to tell him what is expected of him.

TPR gave him a fantastic restart, doing exactly what I would have done if he were mine. It's hard with sales horses, people want to see them walk trot canter and jump but usually the horse just isn't ready for that. I watched what he had been doing so far (mostly walking and trotting). He had a tremendous amount of presence. He's a plain brown horse on the ground. Quiet, unassuming, plain bay without a single white hair. But when she got on him and started asking him to work even at the walk he definitely had 'that thing'.

Having 'it' - not with me up.

Even after I went home I couldn't get him out of my head. He was just so cool. And I knew he would be kind to me. He has a generous heart. Of course I brought him home. Because I have an addiction it's fine I can quit whenever I want (hint: I can't).

I have no idea what I want to pursue with this horse yet. First I want him to trust me. Then I'm going to let him tell me what he'd like to do. And this quote, from Jimmy Wofford's Gymnastics book, pops into my head every time I walk into the barn:

"My ideal horse is the horse I fall in love with again every morning when I see his face hanging over the stable door, looking for breakfast."

I so look forward to whatever journey he takes me on.