Many of you know what's wrong with the ad now. One face won't be making a comeback with our show string this year. It's still a little unbelievable to me and I'm still not adjusting all that well, but Libby sold her Ace. About a month ago she went to her first show of the season. She rode pleasure in the morning and games after. And with that show she realized she was ready for a change for a little while at least. She had reached the point where she wanted new challenges and a new horse.
It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't reached this point with a horse in their past. She still loved Ace a ton and he loved her. I always got a kick out of the horse who hated his nose touched when we first got him and that would push his nose into her face for his kisses. They had come so far together and learned so much even more.
I will never forget her meeting him. Such a big beautiful boy. She worked a lot at the restaurant for over a month to finish paying him off and bought her first quarter horse that was all her own to train from the ground up.
They worked hard together that first year. Ace didn't like to make things easy. He took to the saddle quickly and then put his proverbial foot down.
When Libby pushed him, he pushed back. But he had met his match in her. She just kept chipping away at him and turned to those who know more for help and guidance. Libby and I have often talked about how the tough horses we have had and worked with make us that much better. And Ace made Libby a ton better. As she did him. I'll never forget their first win in the 2 year old pleasure class. That was a moment that will stick with her for a long time.
They had a fairly successful 3 year old season. Ace really had to step it up when Ellie got hurt he was thrust into the role of being Libby's main and only horse. He did his best trying to master English, western and showmanship, but by the time this spring rolled around, Libby was just done with working to finish him as a pleasure horse. And if you've reached that point, you know how she felt.
It's hard to explain to non horse people. How do you give up on a wicked mover who has made such progress? He had developed into a quiet, sweet horse who was able to be ridden by almost anyone that came by. He was much loved by our whole family as the sweetest, kindest and friendliest horse in the pasture. But Libby just had no desire to ride him any more. Riding wasn't fun, it was work and she was ready to change gears and try something new to make riding fun again. Through no real fault of his own, Ace needed a new address.
On Sunday we drove 2 hours south to meet some amazing new people that were recommended to us by a good friend of mine. She said they would treat us fairly, and they did. As soon as we pulled up, Libby noticed a colt in a pen outside that caught her eye. She was looking for a game prospect and Amy and Shane didn't think they had anything that would fit the bill. But then they remembered the yellow and white colt in the pen outside that might be what she was looking for. Even though he had weeks off, he saddled up and rode off with only a few hops and hesitations. Libby was excited to bring the blue eyed little bugger home.
So far he has been quiet and gentle and seems to have a great disposition. We will know more as we work with him further the next few weeks. Cannot wait to see how he learns and if he's got a little speed. Should be an interesting year of firsts and learning for all of us. And really - that's what we get for proclaiming we had our show string set for 2017 in a full page ad.
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