Steven entered the pen to meet Sage for the first time. Most of them were gathered around the hay feeder, still working on the mornings breakfast, unconcerned about the new people standing at the gate. They were all very aware we were there. Some quietly just watched us, and one smaller filly approached, stopping several feet from the fenceline. Eyes bright and expectant looking. These are 'wild' horses, I thought? Neither of us knew what to expect upon his entering a paddock of 'wild' horses. Afterall, most of the reading we had done on various websites led us both to believe that they were really, truly wild. Wild to the degree that a trailer delivering your mustang must back up to a chute or gate as you would not be able to lead your new friend out.....we were prepared for a scattering of the foals....
There was a parting of the sea of horses, but it was brief. Sage turned to look at him, she looked inquisitive, and only slightly unsure about this new guy approaching her: hand extended, softly speaking to her, saying her name. He has a normally quiet voice. She took a step towards him, poking her nose out for a sniff, and let him touch her. Her body condition was as Robin had described. A little bit ribby, her mane, tail and coat were in good condition. She was clean, except for the smearing of ointment, administered by Robin after a bath, on various little bite marks. The souveniers from her former pasturemates. Having previously had a horse with weight issues, and being used to viewing an undermuscled horse, she didn't look bad at all by comparison. It struck me that it would be very difficult to have the ability to envision what she could look like, fat and muscled, had we not seen photos from the previous summer and had less experience with horses, in an auction or adoption day setting. I was thankful we had made the effort to take the trip to meet her prior to the actual adoption day.
Within a minute or so, the rest of the young horses approached Steven. They were looking for a scratch, a rub, and a treat. They were so friendly! A couple times, Sage, being the elder, sent one away from Steven and herself. No dramatics, just a friendly go away look from her face. We were pleasantly surprised! I entetered the paddock, smirking to myself. I recall thinking how nice and loving it was of me to send this relatively new horse person into a paddock of wild horses.....by himself. Sort of like some kind of bait.
Robin came in as well and we had a long discussion, standing amongst happy little horses, that wanted nothing more than attention. Steven was unconcerned, and continued to pet and touch Sage, and the others, while we all talked.
Sage has some really neat markings. Her mane looks like it was frosted, lighter hairs on top of darker ones. She is a buckskin, what I had been looking for when I bought my Appaloosa, who I kiddingly refer to as an Appa Loser. She has a very small fetlock, just covering her poll, and a long dark tail. {{THANKS ROBIN: for letting me know I said "fetlock" and not forlock, indeed: a fetlock in the middle of her head would certainly be a major conformational flaw! LOL }} Her body color was similar to my red dun's at home, and she has a beautiful dorsal stripe. She has 2 white forefeet, and white hairs extend up the back in light feathers, striking. Her front hooves are striped, uh oh, appy trait I warned Steven, he turned and gave me little smirk: that is a good thing in Steven's eyes. We noticed the bars: the zebraish darks stripes near her knees: way cool! And of course: her freeze brand.
Still not completely legible due to remnants of her winter coat. Sage looks like what one should look like in my mind. Her face has a slight bow to it, some may call it a Roman Nose, I wouldn't: it's a noble feature in my eyes. The shape of her head reminded me of Durango: the mexican trained ranch horse Steven rode out in New Mexico at a working cattle ranch, The Double E Ranch, where we vacationed just over a year ago. Now he was some horse, knew his job and was the horse of choice for the ranch hands if they had an absolutely must do job. That kind of dependancy carried Sage in my mind as dependable and noble, yep, based on nose alone....
Sage's feet were slightly concerning. Her forefeet showed signs of a small crack, and evidence she had spent a good deal of time in some mud, her hinds looked better.They were due for a trim, which Robin told us was scheduled for the following week, a few days before the actual adoption day. All in all: she passed inspection with me, and I was just busting waiting for Steven to ask me of my first impression. This was Steven's gig....I had to keep reminding myself that it was ultimately his decision. It was a struggle to keep my thought to myself and reserve comment until he asked or had a question for me. It was torturous, I am not one to stay quiet, so I kept thinking of questions for Robin who obviously knew Sage well and was very clear with her answers, even when Steven and I barraged her at the same time.
When we'd made this date to meet Sage, I had offered slave barn labor to Robin. It seems, no matter where Steven and I go, we both have this personality flaw that we need to be helpful. Afterall, here we are in NJ with absolutely nothing to do, except hang out with Sage and the mustangs and learn as much as we could in a little bit of time. We helped Robin with cleaning the paddocks, Steven took the long walk to empty the wheelbarrow at the designated location. We filled waterbuckets and got a really good look at all the mustangs in the process. Robin brought Sage into the barn. She had told me via email that she tied and crosstied, and she sure did, like a trooper.
......
In the crossties, Robin demonstrated how Sage was taught, as they all are in her care, to pick up the feet. She simply touched the hoof and said: "foot". That was it, and very impressively the hoof was lifted and presented for cleaning. She took the time to explain how useful that technique is for her with her history of endurance riding. It would be ( and is) annoying that everytime you touch a leg, a hoof comes up. Made absolute sense to us both.
We more closely examined her freezebrand, and Robin explained the basics of how to read them. It's a whole new language, but we get the jist of it. Next came the brushing. had I not known she was a mustang, I would had thought she was just another horse: completely uneventful. Robin was all over her with a brush, even standing behind, and later, on a step stool up above her: no theatrics. Then the saddle. Robin had told us that Sage has accepted a saddle before, and has had a body laid over her, but no one on her. She stood quite still for the saddling and the girth, to her, was unconcerning. Lastly, the bridle. Sage lowered her head and accepted the bit like a veteran. She started to wiggle a bit forward and back in the crossties. I watched her body position and was surprised and pleased to see what Robin had told us about her: she has great work ethic. Her entire body position was one of readiness. She stood square, eyes bright and calm, but expectant. Her chest was out and her rear legs postured as if she was asking to go out and work in her new clothes. She was quite a picture of readiness, and I couldn't keep my mouth shut: " wow, she is ready to work!"
Robin leaned up on her from the stepstool. No reaction, the body stance was still one of eagerness, willingness, and calm....very, very calm. Very impressive. After all the fuss of what a good girl she was from all 3 of us, and the appropriate treats, the tack was removed and she went back to her paddock to enjoy more hay. I was very, very pleased, and Steven was smiling
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