Monday we went to look at some off track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) that had old injuries from the racing days. My instructor was interested in getting one, and, as I hadn’t heard from Susan in a few day, I went to look at them. I didn’t really expect to find one I liked—these horses haven’t really been ridden since their racing days, which varied from 3 to 6 years ago. We looked at the first group of horses, including the “mean” one that we were told we wouldn’t want. He is absolutely gorgeous, a bald chestnut, with socks on his feet and a few roan hairs. He looks more like a paint than a TB. Other than this guy, who I didn’t want because of his alleged attitude, I didn’t see one that caught my eye.

We then went inside to look at the one my instructor wanted to look at. He was a cute, young, little (for a TB) guy who stopped racing not long ago and was still recovering from his injury. It will still be a few more months before he is ready to go back to work. He won’t be going back to working on the track though. After we looked at him and admired a few other horses in the barn (this barn is huge, we counted at least twenty stalls and it has an arena that is at least three times the size as the one I ride in, as is the house on the same property…it looked like it belonged to a racehorse trainer or something (I hope you catch the sarcasm there…remember, I’m in Kentucky and looking at a bunch of ex-racers)), we went down to another field.

And then I saw him, an absolutely gorgeous dark, dark bay that looks practically black. When the owner called the horses over to us, he trotted our way. She pointed to the two she was getting rid of-a lighter bay and him. As he came towards us, we saw marks on his legs-pin firing marks (see this for more information, pin firing is too difficult to explain here)—evidence of his old injuries. They only added to his appeal, making him unique from any other horse I had ever seen. Adding to his pin firing marks, he also has a white star and a long beautiful mane. We asked his height, which his owner said is about 15.3 or so (a bit shorter than I want, but he’s not too short). His name is Bold Brush (what an incredibly stupid name for such a gorgeous horse) and this is what they called him. He will definitely be getting a new barn name.

If there is such a thing as love at first sight, I believe this is it.

We decided to take him and the “mean one”, Vegas (my instructor really likes him), on a trial period. These horses are in much better condition than Slew and are up to date on their shots, feet, and worming. We went and got them Tuesday. They did fine loading and unloading, though they were impatient when we stopped. When we got them to the farm, we turned them out in the indoor arena so that they could get use to their surroundings and so we could watch them. He moves beautifully.

I worked with him yesterday. I spent time getting him to walk on the lead without pushing or trying to lead me. This is something that is new to me as I’ve never had to lead a horse that behaves like that. He does a little better outside, but inside he was horrible. I took him outside and led him around (all the while Vegas was following me). After I got him to behave outside, I brought him inside to tackle the crossties. He kept stomping with his front feet and pawing at the ground. I’m not usually one for the use of a stick, but he could not be allowed to act like that. A couple thwacks and he quit for the most part. He’d start to do it, just testing me, but then I’d lightly tap him with the stick and he’d quit.

I had in mind to do four things with him yesterday—groom him and work on getting the tangles out of his mane, lunge him with only his halter, try on the bridle and bit I bought, and hose him down. But I ended up doing much more than that. First was the working on leading and the crossties. After I got him calmly doing that, my instructor (who had been working with Vegas) wanted me to try putting a saddle on him. As I need to try the bridle on him anyway, I did it all. When I saw how well he behaved when I did this, I went ahead and lunged him that way. He did fine being lunged left (that is, after all, how racehorses are taught to run), but going right was a little bit trickier. After he did this, I brought him in and hosed him off.

I can’t wait to go work him today and to see how he does after knowing what I want him to do.

This is not only my first experience owning a horse, but it will also be my first experience with doing any kind of training with a horse. I’m very thankful I have a riding instructor who also trains.