Saturday, September 19, 2009

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.

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