I had been dreading this weekend and spending a lot of time in prayer about Jayden riding the grey horse from the North Dakota sale. Jayden was selling him at a ranch horse sale. Not just any horse, but a horse that scared me. A horse that you don't get attached too, doesn't get a name, we called him "Grey". He was not safe to ride, he had a powerful motor and wanted to just run. He was a "blown up" barrel horse. He seemed to panic when ridden and would just get hotter and more out of control. Jayden put a lot of hours and rides into him and was determined to change him. She tried different approaches, different bits, hackmore, end even using only a halter. He just got so chargey. Thursday was the last night for Jayden to work him before trailering him to the sale. He recently started pawing and throwing a fit when tied, which he had not done that past 3 months. He also seemed to get just a little worse with each ride. Jayden worked on keeping him as quiet as possible, not doing anything to cause him pressure or get him hot. It didn't seem to matter, once she loped he was anxious and hard to regain control. Most of the time she would ask him for a simple lope and he would swap leads back and forth while not moving forward. He would get high in the front with his feet would pound the ground. It was the craziest thing ever. It reminded me of a horse right before they make a barrel run and are getting ready to launch. It scared me and I always made sure someone was in the arena with her when she rode him. We had been feeding alfalfa and I really hoped a diet change would make a significant difference. Not only did we change to pure grass, we added a supplement of a calming feed for nerves. We gave him a heavy amount for several days. We also gave some calming cookie treats. Nothing seemed to make a bit of difference. Thursday I had her lope him on the lunge line for an extra long time and made him go at a good speed trying to wear him down. He basically ran. He was panting and sweating when she got done. Then she got back on to ride in the hopes he would be calmer. It really had no effect. He was hot and went to fast loping. Up until now, Jayden's safety and reassurance with him was that he would always stop when she asked him too. Tonight, he just went harder and she ran him into a wall to stop. I felt terrible, uncertain and scared for the next day and didn't think we should even take him. I had been praying and again went to prayer in what to do. I called Mark and without even telling him anything that had gone on, he said maybe we should just scratch. I agreed and Jayden did too. She had already invested a $350 consignment fee, but we didn't care. I told Jayden she needed to call the auctioneer and explain that the horse isn't safe, she doesn't want to get hurt, or get someone hurt, and she doesn't want to ruin her reputation or that of the sale. This is the second year for the sale and it has a good reputation for being a quality sale. In fact you have to be selected to sell and only a limited number of 90 head. Jayden made the call while I prayed. The auctioneer told Jayden that she would have to pay the $950 draw out fee. He wasn't worried about her horse, told her people would be looking for a horse like that and to brush him up and bring him over. That wasn't the answer we were hoping for. I thought if she was perfectly honest, he would be understanding and not charge the fee.Friday morning rolled around. We had the truck and trailer packed and were on the road by 11AM. We arrived at the Ellsworth Equine Center in Iowa Falls and got Grey in his stall. Jayden saddled and rode, then we gave him a bath. He did ok, Jayden kept him at a walk and trot. He stood perfect for bathing and was calm and quiet in his stall. Little by little through the day more and more people arrived with horses. They were all so shiny and fancy. They had bloodlines, some were barrel horses, some cutters or ropers. The Schmitts, putting on the sale, had around 20 head of their own fancy horses. I was feeling pretty out of my league. Jayden recognized many of the sellers from the North Dakota sale. I recognized the Houck's, where we bought a couple horses that proved to be a disaster up in Minnesota. There were a lot of horse traders. We stood around and watched horses most of the afternoon until supper. It was cold in the arena, probably 60 degrees. It was bitterly cold outside with a light layer of snow coming down. Each time we opened the door to get stuff out of the trailer, the cold and snow blasted your face. Supper was included with a BBQ truck right inside. They also had live entertainment, a country singer and his guitar. We headed out by 7PM and stayed with Mawgee and Peepaw, a short drive to their house. Grandpa was just home from having surgery and doing really well. It was nice to visit and sit with them. It was also nice to stay close without having to stay in a hotel. Grandma was "Miss Hospitality" with the whole upstairs for us, a new nightgown for each of us, and breakfast food to choose from.
Saturday we were up early and headed for the sale by 7:30. The crowd got bigger as the day went on. There were so many people at the sale many people I knew., rodeo friends, College friends, and horse people of all kinds. I think for a lot of people it was a social event, something to do in the middle of the cold nasty winter that involves horses. Jayden rode her horse early and then during the preview which started at 10:00. Each horse was promoted in groups of 3. We all guessed the highest selling horse before the acution started, Mark $17,000, Jaydem $15,000, and I guessed $27,000. The highest selling horse was Riley Schmitt's barrel horse and it sold for a whopping $31,000 to someone in Georgia. During the preview, Jayden had a hard time getting into the arena, her horse wanted to pop up and it took a few attempts. That horse sees a gate and instantly thinks he is barrel racing. She did fine riding during the preview, however never loped her horse. From a buyers point of view, these are all red flags. When it was getting close to her number in the sale, Mark and I were both reluctant to help Jayden. I was reluctant because I knew how incredibly nervous I was and I felt sick to my stomach as it was and it would only make matters worse for Jayden. I did not want to even watch, let alone be there when she went into the arena. I had so many scenarios playing out in my head of what could go wrong. Mark was hesitant too. I think he was nervous too, but he claimed he wasn't dressed right and I know more people. We argued it back and forth and finally turned to Jayden and said who would you rather have. She knew Dad is the strong one in a tough situation. Jayden needed us and we were there, I just knew Mark would handle it better than myself. Wade was there looking at a horse Carina had picked out for Alivia. I was watching the horse and the bid was so crazy high. I glanced over to the small back pen and saw Jayden's horse pop up with front feet in the air. My stomach dropped and all my fears were becoming real. It all made perfect sense to me. This was a blown up hot barrel horse. He was just waiting to run barrels. In his mind, we had done our warm up and next was barrels. Going through a gate was his anxiety. I couldn't watch, I felt sick and I walked around in constant prayer until she was up and didn't stop praying until it was over. She later told me he popped up 4 times. I wondered how she would get the horse in the sale pen. She told me he was dancing all over on the concrete by the stalls. She got off and led him behind the announcers stand to get on. Mark helped lead him, which caused him to pull back and scare a large group standing. He went in the little pen, made a half circle and took a high leap back out the other side. At that point Jadyen got off and led him around. The bid dropped so low I didn't think she would get a bid. The announcer said he would give $1000. He ended up selling for $1900. I was so thankful she did not get hurt and happy he sold. Jayden was fighting back tears when I went back to the stall. She told me she had never felt so scared on a horse before. She wasn't mad or embarrassed, it just really scared her. I am sad she had to go through all of this. She put a ton of time into that horse. She rode him several times a week, kept him under blankets to slick him up, put shoes on him, and feed him special feed. It was a lot of work and she lost money.Brianna and Morgan came right to Jayden afterwards to be there for her and cheer her up. That is true friendship. I am thankful for those girls. As we gave Grey another flake of hay and a bucket of water, we started feeling bad. Where would this horse end up? was he going to another horse buyer or worse? Then the buyers walked up, a middle aged couple from Wyoming. The wife bought the horse while the husband had gone to the bathroom. That was funny in itself. We told them all that we could. We explained he is a hot horse and not to run any barrels. The couple told us they were heading 16 hours to Wyoming and he would be riding a lot of miles on trails. They weren't worried at all about him and the man said he likes to fix horses. The woman said he will get spoiled. We walked away feeling very reassured. My hope and prayer is that he will like his new life and be a safe horse for them. This was all a tough life lesson, but I know she will learn from it and will only be stronger and wiser from it.
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