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March 19, 2021: Horse for Sale

Icelandic mare/gelding for sale. Stands for farrier, bathing, trailer loads with ease. Is an in your pocket kind of pony. Comes with his/her own blanket and bale of hay. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll toss in tack with the purchase price. No tire kickers. If you have to ask how much said horse costs, you can’t afford him/her.

If I were to put an ad on Craig’s List or Alaskaslist, the above is how it would read. I’d also include a nice photo, maybe one of one of the horses out on the trail.

Sell a horse? I have often thought that four is one too many. Particularly when picking up poop later in the day. It’s not so bad in the mornings, but later in the day, when my energy starts to ebb, the thought sometimes crosses my mind.

Who to part with? This is the all-important question. Most certainly, not Mr. Tinni. He’s 31 and now retired. He’s my exercise companion. Not in the cards. Most certainly, not Raudhetta, now 18 and a rock-solid trail horse. Not in the cards. Most certainly not Hrimfara, age 9, always the first one I take out on the road or trail because she’s so levelheaded. And most certainly not Tyra, age 8, a very serious horse when under saddle, and the most eager to learn new things.


Frosty Tinni


And so, I’ve laid my cards on the table – it’s an inconsequential hand. To part with any of these horses would be a form of betrayal because they would not get as good of care elsewhere as they get here. I would waver if I knew they’d go to someone with a large, well maintained pasture; one with grazing runways. I’d also expect them to be familiar with this particular breed’s history and characteristics, and as well, more than a passing interest in trail riding.

This is a tall order, one too large to fill. So, I am stuck with the gang of four. Am I resentful? Hell no. I know I lucked out. I would sooner part company with children. That’s not saying much because I’m obviously more fond of Icelandic horses than I am rug rats. Children (from what I have seen) have the capacity to disappoint. They are fine until they reach adolescence (age 13), then they become surely and unappreciative. By age 13, an Icelandic horse is in its prime and ready and willing to do as asked. You can’t win with children. They either leave you bereft, or they continue to reside at your place and eat you out of house and home. And sometimes they continue to live with you and reproduce themselves. Then you, the grandparent, have to give an assist in raising them. With horses, you have a choice. You can board them or as we do, have them reside on your property. As for being breeders, this is the owner’s choice.

I once told my friend Heather that I was horse poor. She said no, I am horse rich. This is a truism that came to mind later today, when I got all four horses out on the road/trail. They were all eager to get out, and we all had a good time. It’s at times like this that I come to my senses and thus am okay with the fact that all four horses are here to stay.

Next: 79. 3/20/21: A Good Book is Hard to Find

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