A Huey Update

img_9412When I got Houston back at the beginning of the year I was so happy. I was pretty heartbroken when I quit riding (which as you know didn’t last long). The woman that had him mentioned that it wasn’t a good fit anymore so home he came. img_9442I brought him to a local clinic and had a full work up done. He was very over due for his annual maintenance and needed his teeth done but otherwise he was in good shape.img_9438

Initially he got some time off and got to hang out. After some time to reset I started riding him and slowly tried to jump him. Needless to say it did not go as planned.Β The past few months I have come to accept that Houston really doesn’t want to be a jumper.Β img_1541We have been dressaging, trail riding, and hanging out. He is so much happier when he knows he won’t be asked to jump. AfterΒ varying opinions and efforts I finally came to accept that Hue wanted to be a dressage horse.

Here’s the thing though… I don’t want to show in the dressage court outside of events. Because Houston is awesome and I love him dearly I planned to keep him indefinitely. He is a very sweet horse with oodles of personality. img_0754I wanted to maintain control of his future and have a say in where he ends up so I just assumed I would have him indefinitely. He was on a semi half lease for a bit but that ended and it was back to just me. Not exactly how I saw things panning out but I love this horse. I would be lying if I said it didn’t occur to me that I could be spending money on another horse I could compete though. Especially with all of the baby horses (unborn and IRL at my barn) in my life.img_0166

Until a friend posted about how a student was looking for a horse just like Houston those things were all just thoughts… Β they ended up trying him and then there were some negotiations. What was originally going to be a lease ended up being a sale with a detailed contract about my rights to buy him back first or their responsibility to give him back to me if he needs to be retired and they can’t/ don’t want to care for him down the road. I have to say that I feel so much better about this.

I will share updates as I get them but for now Houston is lapping up attention from a lovely family and he will get to dressage to his hearts content. Bittersweet but I think he will be really happy getting more attention and getting to strut his stuff. πŸ™‚

23 comments

  1. Rhiannon says:

    Aww. Definitely bittersweet. I will miss seeing Huey’s adorable face via the blog and instagram, but it sounds like he will have a great new situation with someone who will enjoy fancy prancing with him.

  2. Olivia says:

    Good for Houston! I’m glad he’s got his own person to do dressage with him. And it sounds like your wrote up a hell of a buy back so he’ll have a good life. I know you’re missing him, but congrats on the happy solution.

  3. KateRose says:

    Wow, that sounds like a great fit! Good for you about being honest about your goals and finding your horse a home where he will be happy/participate in a discipline he’ll enjoy πŸ™‚

  4. Karen says:

    Horray!!! Sounds like a wonderful situation for the Houey! … Am I just making assumptions or are you hinting at possibly buying/breeding/somehow acquiring a foal in the future?! hmmm? lol!

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