Untitled Post (for lack of a better name)

There are some days when I have more respect for animals than I do for people. Last Friday was one of those.

Some people came out to see FaLize, (you can read other stories about her here, here, and here) for their daughter who had seen her ad on Horseville and really liked her. So the Lady (I can't even remember her name) and her Fiance come out and immediately this big, red, warning sign starts blinking on and off in my mind as I notice their foot gear (anyone who is around horses knows that tennis and sandals are NOT safe for riding--and for all the rest of you who didn't know that, please take note) and the Lady's show-offy-"horse-expert (NOT)" attitude, but what could I do? I knew that, laid back, patient FaLize wouldn't act up and try to buck her off so I just decided to not say anything but make sure that the next prospective buyers at least bring some riding boots.

Anyhow, without hardly a how-do-you-do to me or FaLize, Lady is going to get on right away. Ok, no big deal, FaLize is saddled and ready to go. On she goes and almost before she's fully seated she's kicking to go. FaLize stands there, blinking, probably wondering who in the world was on her back and how they suddenly got up there. Lady finally gets FaLize going (at a walk) and then gets nervous because FaLize is getting "annoyed" at her.

...Um, question, since when does a mild swish of the tail--at a bug-- mean she's getting mad?...

So she gets off and Levi gets on to show that FaLize is cooperative and does, in fact, move. Ok, all's well, and Lady gets back on and has a little more success with getting the horse moving.

Now, I could tell FaLize was unsure of this lady and really didn't blame her when she kept wanting to come back to us. Most horses can read your personality, and confidence-level very well and react likewise. FaLize is no exception. She is the type that if she knows her rider is timid or overbearing, she will start worrying, scared that this person won't take care of her. So she tries to stay in her comfort zone; usually where ever she is familiar with, or knows she will be safe. And in this particular case, it was by Levi and I because she trusts us.

Anyways...

The lady kept talking about how she used to ride horse when she was little and broke her arm after getting bucked off, and broke her tail-bone another time. After two seconds of meeting her, I couldn't help but wonder how those were the ONLY times she got hurt!

Then the Lady's fiance, a calm, laid back, dairy farmer, got on (second time on a horse in his life) and rode FaLize around fine. Even had her trotting!

Well, then Lady had to get back on saying "Oh, well she's better now that she's warmed up." and got her to canter (and just about fell off).

Finally, she said "Well, I don't think FaLize will work for my daughter because she needs more training if she's going to show (I agree with that) and I don't know how to do that."

After they left, Levi looked at me with a half-bewildered-half-relieved look on his face. I just laughed, rolled my eyes and gave FaLize an extra pat and hoped that whatever horse that family got, it would be a complete dead-head for it's own safety as well as the owners!