Stones

Onyx was no impulse buy.  I've been playing with the idea of bringing a youngster into my life.  I wanted something with a sense of humor, a stable, sensible mind, and a conformation and attitude for endurance.

I can take no credit for discovering the him--my friend emailed me a picture of him months ago, firmly planting the seed in my mind.  I contacted the breeder to find out more, and was encouraged by her description of him.  She described him as curious, confident, a leader.  She described him as being extremely smart, very people-motivated, and with a sense of humor.  I was also sent a video of him trotting across the arena.  I kid you not, I gasped when I saw it--he took my breath away.  He had endurance written all over every stride, every move.

Unfortunately, I was unable to meet the fellow until this past weekend.  I knew the chances of me taking him home were about 95%, and even that is a low estimate.  When we drove up, my friend had prepared me to meet him. 

"Remember, he's a slow to mature line.  And remember the yearlings he's with are all GIANT."

I was anxious and expected Onyx to be a small thing.  He was not.  He met my standards for height immediately--I did not feel like an Amazon standing next to him.  We got the youngsters to move out and I got to witness his breathtaking trot first-hand.  Honestly, though, I was not completely convinced I wanted to take on this project until the breeder suggested I take him out and spend some time with him alone.  That's when I realized what a phenomenal mind he's got.  He let me do just about anything I wanted with him.  I don't think our challenges will be fear--I think they will likely be channeling his mind and energy in a positive, constructive direction.  But he's eager to please, so I think even that won't be insurmountable in the least.

When Wayne and I went to pick him up the next day, he loaded in the trailer without much ado.  Just a can of COB, a rope halter, and he hopped on like he'd been doing it all his life.  He didn't make a peep during the trip--just ate his alfalfa hay like an old pro.  I could see his pink-tipped nose looking around during the trip (I have an awful habit of keeping one solid eye on the noses in the windows when it's warm enough to have them open--Jasper spends the whole trip sniffing and looking out the windows).  

We arrived home amid whinnies from Jasper and Callie, almost as if they'd been expecting our return.  I pulled Callie out of the pasture and turned her loose (she got turned in with Olive, eventually), and let the dogs out of the truck.  One goat was running back and forth ON TOP of the horse trailer, and the other jumped in the back the moment I opened the door.  Callie decided she wanted to see what the commotion was about, and Sammy was barking at both Callie and Onyx from just outside the back of the trailer.  Onyx unloaded well despite the commotion, thank Goodness.  I figured it was trial by fire for him--our place is a definitive zoo.  I turned him out with Jasper, and they became instant friends.

Today, when I FINALLY got home from school, I visited with the boys for a few minutes before putting a halter on Onyx and pulling him out.  I brushed him for a bit and took him for a quick walk down the driveway (accompanied by two goats and two dogs).  He was very interested in the goats, but didn't blink an eye at the devil-possessed garbage can.  When we returned, I fetched the bareback pad, threw it on him and cinched it up.  Not a flinch.  We again walked down the driveway, me expecting him to be a little goosey at the new thing on his back.  None.  We returned, I loosened the girth and proceeded to throw it back and forth on his back.  Nothing.  So I put it on his butt and walked him.  No reaction.

Again, I believe our hurdles will be channeling energy and brains, not fear.  I'm looking forward to our journey, that's for sure.