Deseos Arabians & Miniatures LLC

Me and My Horse

Lori Torrini, November 5, 2010

May 23, 1993 I fell in love with and bought my first horse of my very own, Bey Rahflection, a bay Arabian gelding. Bey and I spent years together running, jumping, negotiating trails, competing some in Hunter and Competitive Trail, and just enjoying our time together. One day, he got old, I don't really know when exactly but time went by and my vet advised no more jumping, no more extreme trails, no running hard, do light riding because he has degenerative joint disease. Bey became a lesson horse, an outstanding lesson horse, and he still safely carries beginners around the arena and through the pastures, but he never takes his eyes off me. A word from me and he changes gait, or turns, or stops. On February 2, 2011 Bey will be 30 years old! I rode him bareback just a week ago around one of our pastures and he wanted to run, he kept going for the gate like we were going to go out and do something fun like we used to. I had to hold him to a walk and we just went around the pasture.

The rest of our herd is social, some are rescues, some are fosters, some are lesson horses, and some are retired, but not one is just mine. We have some babies that I claim as "mine": Moondust, Libby, our foster baby Illyria who I have become enchanted with. We'll see how that works out because every horse so far that I've claimed is mine has ended up carrying students, some students have even ridden some of our horses more than I have! We still have magnificent Aerilon. He was slated to me my horse but sadly has a significant heart murmur and is pretty much retired at the young age of three.

Well, today marked the arrival of MY horse. I am claiming her right from the start. Lovely and bold, "Brisa" was delivered this afternoon, along with her mother Windy, just to keep Brisa company for a few days until she settles in.

While browsing on line horse ads like I frequently do, one caught my eye more than usual for some reason. She was local, so I inquired about her, I went to see her - 9 times. I had my farrier check her hooves and legs, I had a pre-purchase exam done by my vet. She endeared herself to me more with each visit. Her original breeder still owned her and Brisa has never lived anywhere else until now. She has a good start, solid foundation lessons, a good personality, intelligent mind, likes interacting with me, and readily engages in training activities. Beginning today she is my horse. No one else will train her or ride her. If you're lucky I might let you pet her, but she is my personal horse! Brisa has her own grooming kit, feeders, water bucket, wonderful new pink halter, and will eventually have her own tack.

Her breeder, Anna Blake, told me Brisa seemed to choose me as her person. 4 other people looked at her and Brisa blew them off. Anna blew off one caller because she didn't like the sound of them on the phone. Anna wouldn't let Brisa go to someone who was going to resell her. Of course, this could have all been convenient chatter to encourage a sale, but I don't think so. Brisa is the first horse that Anna has ever sold. I was afraid the day of the vet check when Brisa did so well that Anna might change her mind about selling her. With each visit Brisa seemed to recognize me, licked my hands, nosed by jacket, stuck her face in my chest.

Concerned about ulcers and stress, I visited several times so that Brisa would know me and my smell before coming "home" to what at first would be a strange place. Anna insisted Brisa's mom accompany her on the journey and stay with her for a few days or more until Brisa settled in so that the transition wouldn't be as stressful. Brisa is a confident horse who thinks a lot of herself. 5 minutes out of the trailer she was showing the other horses that she had "arrived" and was in charge around here now!

All about Brisa

BREED: Andalusian/Appendix

REGISTRY: IALHA (International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association)(Pending)

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