A Great Horse...For Someone You Really Dislike

After not having a horse for a few years, I am just moving back in that direction (meaning, my poor husband has spent several weekends rebuilding our paddock fence).  Of course, that entails idle moments on Craigslist, looking for that "diamond in the rough."  There is more rough than there are diamonds out there, though, as experienced horse people well know.  Sometimes I can't even believe what I am reading.  Here is the text of an actual ad I saw today:

"I have a belgian halflinger cross. I have been on her bareback a few times but just rode around the house. she is not green broke yet. I have saddled and bridaled her once. I got her when she was a little under two year old while I was in the Navy so that is why I am just now getting her started on riding. I have not took her out on a trail. When you first get on her she will burst out with speed for a few mins until she settles down so I usually tie her to a tree and let her go around the tree with me on her until she settles down then get someone to release the lead. She can be aggressive towards other horses as she is the queen of the pasture type of mare."

I can just see someone zinging around a tree, hoping this mare will settle down.  Then comes that moment when the rider apparently asks someone else to get up under the front end of this horse and untie her... but be careful!  She can be aggressive!

Anyway, I've had lots of humbling moments with horses, so I don't judge too harshly.  My book "Horsewomen in Foal and Other Equestrian Adventures" ( http://booklocker.com/books/3104.html) details my bumpy transition from barely domesticated, outdoorsy horsewoman to somewhat domestic mom who still has a thing for OTTBs (off the track Thoroughbreds, and yes, I know what a bad idea that is for a 46 year old mom/teacher).

In this blog I plan to chronicle random thoughts on riding, funny horse ads, and my journey back to the show ring... or not.  We all know that, on any given day, anything can happen.