In which the rain pours down and I play Yenta for Duana again

Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
Make me a match,
Find me a find,

catch me a catch
Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
Look through your book,
And make me a perfect match

Duana and Hana, February 2011

Duana and I like to tell the story about how I called her one day back in February 2011 and said, "I have your horse, you need to come ride with me."  

Almost exactly two years later, Du bought Hana.  That was a good day.  They've had lots of fun together so far, and they aren't nearly done!

But...

Happy at the finish line, but Hana didn't pass the final vet check

Hana is done with endurance.  She's 19 years old, and the x-rays show concussion fractures in her front feet.  She's sound enough...for trail riding, for dressage, for working with the crew at Renegade and hauling tools up the mountain.

But sound enough is not sound enough for endurance.  Endurance is hard...and that's why Duana made the very wise choice to retire Hana from endurance while she's still sound enough to do other stuff.  

But...

Duana and Hana, May 2015

Du loves endurance.

SOLUTION:

We're looking for another horse.  

This time of year is a good time to shop.  Lots of people are looking out the windows at the downpourings we've gotten lately, and thinking that they don't really want to slog around in the mud to feed an extra horse this winter.

Unlike poor lytha in Germany, Duana has a vast and helpful village to assist with the search.  Several of the Usual Suspects took the ferry over to Poulsbo a few weeks ago to check out a prospect.  

"Cute horse," said Dory.  And Patty agreed, "cute horse."

"Cute horse" = "No way, Jose."  Duana tried him out anyway.  And walked away.

Then somebody suggested that a friend-of-a-friend of the village had a horse that wasn't being ridden.

8 years old.  Arab/Appy cross, no spots.  About 14 hands.  Sturdy. Nice feet.  Smart, but not too smart.  Willing to learn, but he doesn't know much yet.

Dory has given the "all clear to proceed."  She likes the way he moves...which is no surprise.  The horse's sire is Dory's stallion Ballistik.

Du wanted me and Monica to take a look too. 

So yesterday we headed out in a drizzling downpour to meet Basalt.

We weren't looking for a show of skills.  

He has the basics:  walk nicely on a lead, pick up feet, accept being handled by strangers.  He's been backed some, but not ridden much yet.  

That's fine.  Our Village contains plenty of people who can add skills to a horse.

He will need to pass a pre-purchase exam, of course, but we don't expect any problems with that.

"But, will we like each other?" Du asked.

I greet you!

I don't think that will be too much of a problem.

I'll be going radio silent for a few days while I'm in the hospital for Total Hip Replacement #2. 

Santa Jim and the Usual Suspects will post updates on Facebook.  Plus, I've time-delayed a new Skookum story that will launch on the day before Thanksgiving.

See you soon!