Because I don't have enough horses...

[Michelle Clarke]

and because I can't stay off danged CraigsList....

I came across this filly that was dirt cheap and she looked like she needed to be in some fancy hunter/jumper barn, not in the back roads of central Texas. I went to see her totally prepared to ease my mind that it was OKAY if someone broke her to ride this winter and went to the rodeo with her.

Not only did I find a gorgeous, well taken care of filly, that is totally sweet and well mannered - but come to find out her dam was not just a winning thoroughbred, but an approved Oldenburg (warmblood), in the MAIN MARE book. Somehow the mare wound up at a rescue, but when I looked up her name, she came up from some fancy warmblood place in Houston and has been bred to Olympic 3-day eventer stallions.

Sooo, I am not a thoroughbred person, I am not a paint person - now I have it all rolled into one! My plans as of now are to take her in spring to some of the sport horse in-hand shows and get her shown. She is just such a quality filly for such a small price, that I could not pass it up. I don't know yet if the Oldenburg registry accepts pinto coloring, but it would be great to have her inspected and see if she could be branded.

She is 18 months old, just over 14'2 and when I measured her legs, she should be about 16'2 when she is done (still 2 inches smaller than Gringo now, who is the same age!). Large joints, great feet and moves like a big warmblood - can't wait to see her develop!

Oh, the best part is I get to name her on her registration papers. Her name is Jewel, so I thought I would call her "Jewel of Denial"...!

[sbutter]

Wow, that sounds like such a deal! Can you post some pictures if you have time?

[DianneC]

So I'm missing the piece that says how she got to be paint. I'm glad she has you and that her future will be secure.

[Michelle Clarke]

Her sire is a paint...his bloodlines have some thoroughbred in them as well, plus mostly quarter horse, not alot of paint bred to paint. So far I have no volunteers out of the gals who work here to start her under saddle....usually when it is time to start our guys, we all have to fight over who is riding who. Being as Eric trains "problem" horses, paints and thoroughbreds have been high on our list for years here, so the gals have gotten wise about wishing to ride those!!

The nice folks I got her from though, have already saddled her and let their 9 year old grandson ride her; the other day before I picked her up, they bitted her, so I got that going for me.............................

[kigerfan]

Michelle, my very first 'horse of my own' was a thoroughbred off the track. The funny thing was, he and I had an immediate connection the very first time I met him. I knew for sure before I even got on him that he was mine. He was truly a wacko. He did all sorts of screwy things. Even when he threw major tantrums, he never dropped me. It was funny, it was like he wanted to throw a holey fit, but made sure that my seat was secure while he was doing it. A friend of mine that went riding with me one time watched one of these fits and was sure I was going to die, but when Rocket calmed down, I was still fine and unhurt. He was a very strange horse. Even with my bad back, somehow, he never hurt me.

I did, sadly, end up having to sell him because he was a huge liability. At some point he was going to hurt someone. He must have had a very hard life because he would fall asleep and have horsey dreams and wake up in a complete panic. He would thrash around and be absolutely crazy. He had pulled out two hitching posts. If I was right near him, all I had to do while he was doing that is walk up and give him a smack on the behind and say Rocket! it was just a dreammmmm! and he would stop and settle immediately. But if I wasn't right near, that's when he pulled out hitching posts. I was never afraid of him, he never gave me any cause to fear him as far as danger to myself. But he was a huge danger to other people and I couldn't put them through that, as there were a lot of small kids and such around the ranch.

Funny first horse for someone to have, but I never regretted my time with him. I just wished I could have aleviated all of his fears. His registered name was Rocket Prospect. That was so many years ago, I can't remember when it was.

[stormyranch]

It will be very interesting to watch her develop. Please keep us posted with lots of pictures. She is beautiful!
Lisa

[fantasykiger]

Congratulations on an absolutely lovely filly. I agree we need more pictures

[nightangel]

Well, you know how I feel about paints, but she looks like a nice gal. And with such a sweet face! That name makes me laugh, I'm sure you understand why! More pictures please, preferably of her moving!
And there shouldn't be much fighting this spring, Caleigh and I already called dibs last year on most of the upcoming three year olds!

[Michelle Clarke]

Some picts of Jewel today:





A few picts of Bella Rosa for comparison...same age, Bella Rosa is Charro and a Thoroughbred mare.

[stormyranch]

WOW! both of these girls are very stricking. I Likey, likey. They are built so similar.
Lisa

[JoanMRK]

I like the pics of them trotting out, they are both beauties! Good find on Jewel!... Oh and I love your idea for her name too.

[stlkigers]

Aww....Can't wait it see how she sheds out..Reminds me of the American Warmblood Registry stallion(Oldenburg/Pinto bloodlines) that my daughter's english instructor has...Colored sporthorses are high dollar sellers around here.Here's a pic of a friend's colt out of that stud...



Angela

[kigerfan]

That looks like one talllll colt!

[fantasykiger]

I see Charro's head on Bella' and Jewel has that very typical TB head. Both are very pretty and are looking great. Thanks for sharing more pictures

stlkigers..that is a very impressive colt there, I only wish the pic was bigger. I love his paint pattern, pretty eye catching.