--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, "Karen Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >>> That's the odd thing about Ima - I just barely got to meet her dad before he bred Bjola, so I don't know him nearly as well as I know Melnir and my mares. > > I should clarify that. I got to see Bragur be ridden. I didn't ask to ride him myself, because I was still awfully stiff and awkward from my injury - I don't know if they would let most owners ride him - he didn't seem to be a handful or anything. I got to spend a little time with him in his pasture. So, compared to how much access many mare owners have to various stallions, I guess I got to know Bragur pretty well. But, on the other hand, I owned Melnir for two years before I decided to breed him to any of my mares. I feel like I REALLY know >Melnir.
I think it is good if we can get to know the stallion and mare if we are going to be buying or breeding. That would kind of be something I would be concerned about if I were to breed a mare, I wouldn't just want to see pictures, or even videos, at least it's something, but it's much better to see them in person, or even better to get to try them out. I spent a lot of time with the breeders of RMH's from whom I bought my mule Celie and my horse Rose who are 1/2 sisters. When I decided to buy Celie, they insisted I ride Boo who is their mother. It was just up and down the barn isle, with only a halter and bareback, but that's all it took to see she was awsome, one of my favorite horses. The trainer also insisted I ride the Stallion, CJ. He kept after me for a while, finally I rode him. He was nice though. It made me a lot more confident when I bought my filly, unseen, only a picture. I am very happy with her, she is nicer than I thought she would be in personality and everything. I like how people are with their horses here, they are very proud of what they have bred and want people to experience them. I think it's important if you are breeding and selling. I've actually had people trying to get me to ride their horses in local shows, right on the spur of the moment. I didn't do it. I was still feeling nervous about horses other than my own. Celie finally fixed that for me, if I'm not nervous about her anymore, then I don't think any horse could make me nervous. On the other hand, I bought Snorri under very different circumstances. I knew something generally about the breeding, I knew there was a lot of natural gait coming out of the breeding, and I knew the dam of the stallion. That's really it. I also purchased a pony before he was born. Of course that is a pretty big risk. I think I got lucky with Snorri, I am very happy with him. I know almost nothing about his mother, other than who she is. Honestly this doesn't tell me much at all. I am having to judge what he will be like entirely from watching him. I met his father once, after Snorri was born. He did seem like a nice calm, gentle well built pony. I did ask to ride him, just try him, but they wouldn't let me. He was in training, they told me the trainer didn't want anyone to try him, except they let a bunch of other people ride him, ok not a bunch, but they didn't want anyone trying him who didn't want to purchase him. I like the Kentucky way better, even when the Kentucky people already had my money, they wanted me to try the mare, in fact once in a while Ronnie will call me and ask me on a trail ride, last fall I rode Boo and she was awsome again! Who do you think I could recommend with more confidence? I'm not sure I really understand this difference. I know Anneliese will let people try her horses, but she's in Kentucky:) Kim
