The Last Straw

Most of you will probably remember that I have had trouble with Gabe being too rough with Ramsey a couple of times in the past (click here if you missed that).  I have been trying to find ways around this and have been working with Gabe as some people suggested.  As long as Gabe is on a lead, bridled, under saddle, tied up, whatever, he is good with the donkeys.  He likes the donkeys.  He especially likes Ramsey and wants to play with him, and that is the trouble.  Gabe's idea of "playing" with Ramsey is going to kill him one of these days.

I got Gabe at a time when I, and and every expert I consulted, thought that Tessa would never be rideable again.  When she proved all of us wrong last summer, I kept Gabe because he is such a nice horse and it became so convenient for Riding Buddy and I to ride out together on the two of them. The truth is though, that I don't really need or have time to work two young horses and a couple of weeks ago, Gabe got out with the donkeys and knocked Ramsey over again.  It was really the last straw for me.

This may seem sudden because I have not been writing about this for a while, but believe me, it isn't.  I have been agonizing over this decision for ages now and after discussing it with Riding Buddy and Farm Buddy as well as the woman who gave Gabe to me, I've decided to put him up for sale.

Chasing Ramsey is not not something that Gabe is going to grow out of, it gets worse every day not better.  Gabe has developed a taste for it and, like a horse who really loves to chase cows, it is not going to go away.  Gelding Ramsey had no impact whatsoever.  Building Alcatraz fencing won't help when storm-downed-tree-limbs wreck a section of fence, which is what happened last time.  This is a farm and stuff happens on farms (as today's little adventure with a stuck cow so aptly proved.  I'll tell you about that in a day or two).  I live alone and am gone to work for hours at a time.  I have to be able to leave my property with at least a fair degree of certainty that all will be well while I am gone.  Worrying about Gabe getting out with Ramsey is just getting to be too much.  If it turns out that I ever really do need two riding animals, there are lots of other critters out there who could use the help I could provide if I had an opening.

So, if there is anyone out there in Blog Land who is interested in a really good, sound, sane, well mannered and beautiful young gelding with tons of riding miles under his hooves who just can't be trusted around smaller animals, get in touch.  My email address is aerissana at gmail dot com.

Also, don't worry about Gabe.  He is not in any danger of getting shipped off to some auction or handed off to just any old warm body.  He is not going to end up in a slaughter house.  He dos not need rescuing, rehabilitating or any other such thing.  This is a good horse, a very valuable horse.  I am not interested in finding just any home for him, but in finding the right home for him.  He deserves it.  Even if he does chase my beloved little donkeys...

"Who me?"

"Do I look like I would do such a terrible thing?"

"I'm innocent I say!  I am sweet and kind and It's just a game...."