Changing Tides; The Close of a Chapter.

When one door closes...

Yeah, so I dropped off the face of the planet again, I know.

I have been known to get a bit intense with things in life, all at once or nothing at all. Recently I have been studying for yet another exam for my Real Estate Licence, (... and people think that getting into real estate is easy), combined with the Christmas/ New Year... erm... excitement, our real estate team opening our own Brokerage and squeaking in 3-5 rides a week has left me with very little spare time. Oh wait... I forgot work, that too was squeaked in!


Despite my abscence everyone who follows this blog likely knows what a champ Solo has always been and how he has evolved to become the fanciest packer/family type horse I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Shall I brag about this dude again? Haha. No I will spare you all.

This guy has gone from being a killer trail horse in the past year to becoming quite the serious ride. He takes everything so seriously and with 110% effort.

Though, the past eight months when I have really started to get down to business I have started to see a trend. While he loves to please and will work his heart out for me, doing everything I ask with zero qualms, he just didn't seem to be loving the job I was asking him to do.
I mean I should have known trying to turn a HUS bred pleasure horse into an eventer or serious h/j competitor was likening to shoving a square peg into a round hole. But this guy made the shoving so easy, it was more like shoving a square sponge into a round hole. Totally doable yet slightly grating... for both of us.

I have been struggling with keeping him compressed, half halt, half halt, half halt and keeping him interested. He gives his heart truly every single ride, despite the effort it takes to get there, when you get it, oh brother its lovely.
Then when it came to jumping. I got the inckling from the beginning that his heart wasn't really in it. Mind you he did it, never did he question and cute was he ever when he jumped my 'sticks'.
Yet the feeling that I was riding a saintly school horse just 'getting it done...' every time we schooled over fences came up over and over.


He was telling me a long time, I heard, I didn't want to listen. He is a family packer, not a serious competitor.

No, I don't compete a ton. Though, I want to start. Every time I ride, I ride with fierce competitiveness.

Not to mention, Solo gets picked on, HARD! He is often pushed off the hay and eaten alive. He needs single turnout or old timer buddies. He won't fight back, just simply loves the attention then goes and sulks in the corner.



I made the tough decision a couple weeks ago despite everyone telling not to, 'he is one of a kind', 'you will regret this more than ever', 'you can't sell your heart horse', 'that is one amazing horse, don't do it'.....
Yes, I totally hear you all but I dont have the luxury of owning more than one horse and he feels my emotions, I know he does. How is it fair to him that I keep pushing for something he doesn't want?


Anyhow, I had a buttload of interest, a lot of tire kickers, a lot of beginners that weren't sure what they were looking for yet, are not able to offer small turnout (though this was disclosed up front in the ad), people who are just starting to look, a cracker box full of western people after seeing his pedigree. Yes, he is bred for western but isn't, sorry.

Over two weeks over 8 people tried him, his saintly self dealing with all the different people, their different ways and the -20*c temps like no 4 (coming 5) year old horse ever has.

Bundled and trying to move in the -25*c weather

I was suprised to have two therapeutic riding schools travel FAR to come see him. The first group was lovely but wanted a multiple month, unpaid trial. No way. I don't like trials in the first place and I still have to pay board to keep my spot.

When the second called and explained their situation, wanting younger horses who can stay in their program for a long time and also needing a trial I cringed, but listened.
Thankfully they worked with me over the phone for a week prior to coming down and understood where I was coming from.
Still leary they came down and as soon as I met them I knew.

They loved him up, oogled him and watched/listened while I rode and explained where I was, where I want to go and what he is like.
I am picky, this seemed to turn some off as I explained what he needs and that I would not let him go if he got any less. These people loved it!


Afterwards, the one volunteer for the program got on and put him through a couple 'tests' to see what he would do if he had a beginner flopping about. I laughed because everyone is so big and glossy eyed when I say he won't care. He didn't.
When she was happy with him, her mom got on who is clearly a very accomplished dressage rider and amazing with the young ones. I have to say, I though no one else could make Solo go like I could. She schooled me! Within ten minutes he was doing uncoordinated, but clean flying changes and moving around in a lovely frame, all round and fancy like.


We worked out the details together, Solo leaves on Thursday to become a Paradressage horse for their specialized therapeutic program, which looks amazing! Yes, I did some spy work lmao.

They have a 30 day paid trial as agreed upon, standard for their program and due to their policy, not negociable. This ensures the horses are as they say they are... (I read between the lines ie. not drugged :P)


Solo will also be working with the volunteers mother, the above dressage rider, to get further ahead on his training.


I couldn't be more pleased, living out a life of pampering, teaching children and adults with disabilities, being able to be his quarter horsey self in a facility much nicer than anything I could afford.

What more can a horse owner ask for...