Still Life with Camera

My good friend, Susan, is a psychologist and a horsewoman with a strong interest in Equine-assisted Therapy. (Here are a couple of links if you want more info about it. She uses her wonderful Andalusian gelding, Fiado, in this therapy. She's on her way to a Bettina Drummond clinic in Michigan right now and gave Fiado a beauty treatment yesterday as part of the prep. He's white after all and loves to roll in the dirt and whatever may be on the dirt (if you get my drift). Anyway, we thought it would be a great opportunity to take some new pictures of him and to update her website with them. He's a great horse with a lot of personality and the day was beautiful. We got some great pictures! Fiado and Susan Isn't he gorgeous? And photogenic.

I bought a new horse today. I wired the money, the owners brought the papers to Sunflower Farms where I ride, my trainer did all the negotiation. I never met the owners, I had to call the barn to ask what name I should wire the money to.  I had him vetted yesterday and I couldn't answer most of the vet's questions.  All in all a very arms-length and unsatisfying transaction.  However, I think he's going to be the right horse for me.  I say that with a little trepidation since I certainly thought that about Navaroan, too.  But I'm not quite the naive horse buyer I was a year ago.  And even if we're not right for each other, life will go on.  Like the Vet Tech told me when I picked up Navaroan's transport certificate, there are a lot of nice horses out there.  The choice itself it surprisingly complicated. Not like picking out any other piece of "exercise equipment."  More like deciding on a mate.  What's more important? Good ...