ok, Today is a formal declaration day about EquestrianTraining.com. This site and I are all about education. Steely Dan came home today. I do not and do not want to rescue horses. I want to educate people and horses so that fewer horses need to be rescued. Steely Dan yesterday was a 4-year-old, blue roan, unregistered stallion. He will keep his surname, moreno.
There are so many angles to approach telling you the hows and whys of buying him. Two actions came together in my life. I was gifted an amount of money because I had helped a friend with their older horse and end-of-life possibilities. I felt like I had been believed in for the first time in my life that someone would give me money because they believed and knew I would do good. I can only express my gratitude in the actions I will be taking, in the education I will be fostering and performing for people and horses.
The money was first, the second thing was the owner of Moreno nka Steely Dan Moreno, dropped his price to 2500.,00 from 4500. to me. I only can consider that an act that shows great regard for the animal’s future. SteelyDan (i’m going to remove the space) was in good condition, acted very kind, had a willing disposition and the owner felt that the horse needed more time than he was and could give him. I thanked the owner and told him if some time down the line I sell him, I will give him something back.
I have values and I need to make and act upon my value judgements. It never means I am right, just that I am putting my money where my mouth is, so-to-speak. Factually, there are more horses with sad futures than there are willing and able people to have them. Good horses who have fallen in to naive and bad situations. I want to educate and explain ways this happens.
I probably could have bargained lower for SteelyDan, but before my amazing good fortune, he just wasn’t what I wanted personally. Once money wasn’t the issue, then I decided SteelyDan needed education and opportunity. I am capable and skilled to provide his education. I have most of the infrastructure to educate and care for him. I have been gifted enough money to provide veterinay care. I have been gifted enough money to pay for improving him, like American Warmblood registration. I have been gifted enought to campaign him and market him.
My plan is evolving and this wonderous opportunity has just come to me and I want to flesh it out to do good and to do more good in a realistic, financially responsible way. I am going to track all his expenses, I am going to donate time and expertise and care. The end goal is to make him worth more than is spent, sell him and put the money back into the pot to develop and educate more people and horses, only as it can responsibly be done. There is nothing but time that makes a good horse, some take alot less time. For some horses, my belief is feeding them grated carrots giving them a shot and they just never wake up is the best future for them The important thing is quality of life, for people and animals.
Now, after spending 500.00 for gelding and vaccinations, he needs to be exercised 20 minutes 2x a day for 10 to 14 day, for starters. So, here we are, in the rain, beginning this new EquestrianTraining.com journey. picts to come