Mystery Photo Number 3 from N/L No 9 revealed: -

Crystalwood Cheyenne (Sadie) and Paul Collier

Our story started about five years ago during my annual visit to my customers/friends in Australia.  They suggested I should ride with them on cattle ranches in New South Wales.  On the basis that I knew nothing about horses and had never sat on one, I declined but was continually pressurised over the next three years by these friends in a manner typical of Australian macho males. 

In March 2000, I found out by accident that Emma French at Crystalwood gave lessons in western riding and also bred Appaloosas. I decided to call my friends bluff by taking riding lessons.  After the second lesson, Emma suggested I might like to look at the new three day old filly foal.

 The foal, stable name Sadie, immediately came to the stable door, licked my hand, and I was hooked and told Emma that if she was for sale I would like to buy her.  Not an unusual story except that I had just celebrated my 65 th birthday!

Once my customers heard I was taking riding lessons, they sent simple messages such as - Is it true that in Worcestershire they provide free riding lessons as an alternative to a bus pass?

 By the time Sadie was 3 weeks old she would follow me around the field like a puppy, and would stand absolutely still whilst I groomed her just using my hands.  My daughter (who can ride) observed this without knowing I wanted to buy her, started winding me up with stories she could relay to my wife.  For instance - Mum I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is that dad is seeing a lot of a young leggy female; the good news is that she has four legs, big ears and a hairy chest.

 My riding lessons continued slowly and painfully.  My knees would only separate enough to ride a bicycle.  I decided I wanted my own horse to ride, and ignoring sound advice, I bought a three year old unbroken Appaloosa gelding because I liked the look of him.  This was Bloxham Commanche "Echo".

 By agreement with Emma he was delivered to her stables to be put under saddle and trained for western riding.  Despite more than a few problems, history shows that six weeks later, I was able to sit on him with full western gear and ride him around the ménage at a walk with a little rudimentary trot.

Subsequently after Sadie was weaned (at nine months old), I finally purchased her as by this time she had made it clear she had adopted me so it was only a matter of formalising things.  Two years later with both Echo and Sadie obtaining American registration, I decided to enter them both in the ApHC UK 2002 national show; Echo in ridden Western classes and Sadie in the in-hand/halter classes. 

As a two year old this was Sadie's first show.  Would she travel ok, would she be worried by all the activities of vehicles, people and horses and would she work in a large indoor arena?  She took it all in her stride and was a joy to handle in the arena including the in hand trail which we had never practised before and as Mystery Photo no 3 shows, an Appaloosa who is a solid colour was finally "spotted" by the camera!

Paul

PS  In March 2001, I spent three days with 10 friends on a large ranch in Australia riding a nine year old 15.3 Australian stock horse and similarly in the spring of this year.  This horse has now become bi lingual in both Australian and English.

From the Editor:-

Paul, thank you for sending in your amusing story.  We have certainly noticed your striking Appaloosa - spots or not!!