So, Joe, Whaddya Know?

 Back in 2008, when I was fresh out of the first makeover with Sandy, Darling and I made a trip to Molalla Oregon where I picked up three geldings for TIP (trainer incentive program.)  One of those was a gelding that became known as Joe.

Joe was a pretty little bay with a sweet disposition.  He was easily gentled and enjoyed attention.

For some odd reason, Joe was the last of the three geldings to find a home, despite being the one we felt was going to make the easiest transition.  You can just never tell about people and what they want to adopt.  Joe was here for three months before a woman came along who fell in love and wanted him.

Joe was sent to a trainer and started under saddle.  His adopter loved him, but there was a little accident that set them back a few months.  Joe went to another trainer and again did well, and the adopter still loved him and rode a little in her yard and round pen at home.

Then the adopter had an accident, and Joe has been sitting for the past ten months.  She'd really like to get him out on the trails, like she's done with her halflinger, but she's not sure Joe has the confidence out there just yet.  So Joe is here with Darling and I, and we'll be getting him going so his adopter can enjoy him even more.

Isn't Joe a pretty boy?  We sure think so!

The Great Mystery...Part 1

Quiet Storm

After spending the bulk of the summer just hanging out with us, I finally felt compelled to find Quiet Storm a new home. Things are getting damp and all those horse hooves are creating more mud than I need. I placed an ad and began screening the replies.

One young woman stood out. Early 20s, not too tall and a strong rider, someone who could finish up Quiet Storm and get her going really well under saddle. She was looking for a third horse, one to keep her older mare company when she took off on her gelding, plus something her younger cousins could go trail riding on. It seemed like a perfect fit, so three weeks ago today, Quiet Storm loaded up and headed off to her new life. I tried hard not to cry like a baby this time.


I now needed to concentrate on Joe. I'd had a flurry of applications, but no one ever seemed to take him home. One day my neighbor gave me a call and wondered what it was I'd been doing over here all summer. She'd seen the adoption banner hanging on my gate and normally didn't seem to have any interest at all in my animals, so it took me by surprise when she felt compassion for Joe as I told her his story.

"Well, I might know of someone who wants him. She just bought a place and..."

How long do you think it took me to get into contact with them? That's right, not long. And this woman was over the top excited, emailing her application in before even meeting Joe face to face. In fact...she signed the care agreement, too! It would be another week before he could come home, but with all the paperwork signed I was happy.


All was looking mighty good. That is...until I got a message from Lady of Chaos. She'd spotted an ad in Craigslist for a 3 year old mustang filly. Could it be Quiet Storm, she wondered?


I took a look, and sure enough, our fears were confirmed. I emailed promptly, asking to have her back. They agreed. I had to deliver Joe that weekend, but on Monday night after the gal was off work I drove out to pick up our little girl.

To be continued...

Joe meets his new pasturemate, Special