Sold!

The couple arrive with two primary school aged daughters.

Princess hasn't been ridden since our TTT Horse Trials at the end of May, but she's still easy to catch. I saddle her up, and ride her in the haying paddock. Despite the long break, she feels awesome. Just awesome. Not a thing wrong with her, all forward, and responsive enough to the single rein. I walk trot and canter her, and all paces feel very good. Am I on the verge of keeping her? Yes. But a decision is a decision, and you've got to stick to it.

The prospective buyers like what they see, and the lady rides Princess in the round yard. She has a good walk and a good trot. She stops, all smiles. "She's lovely". I suggest she ride her some more, I would prefer she have another ride, but they seem satisfied.

Back at the hitching rail we discuss details of gear, price and feeding. Later in the day I drop Princess off to them. They live just 20 minutes down the road, in a lovely valley, state forest (all burnt) out the back. They have a pony, a shetland apparently, but he looks more like a minature fresian. Gorgous. He sees Princess, neighs out, his eyes glaze over with love and admiration, and he does a quick loop in the chook yard, adding in a couple of pig roots along the way. Princess is likewise suitably smitten. He might not be a tall guy, but he is all prince and royalty to her. I set her free in the paddock. She goes off to investigate the boundaries, head carried high. Every couple of minutes she comes back to her knight and nuzzles his nose. I gulp.

On the way home, the empty float seems to rattle more than usual. We stop at Piglets for a babycino and a cappucino.