Thistledown Farm

Tack Sale And A Mare


Tuesday morning. Life got me out of bed in her usual manner. I had no need to set my alarm clock.   Today I was being taken to a tack sale in Twinbrook. Goldie lived there, perhaps our paths will cross.

Thistledown Farm

Bill and Hillary told me I could get some real good bargains if I went early enough. So we all set off in Bill's truck just after seven thirty am. We arrived just after eight am. 
Hillary was meeting a friend to go clothes shopping, while Bill followed me around giving me tips on what to be aware of when buying second hand tack. Making sure the stitching was intact, and haggling, I bought two headstalls, a box of assorted bits, a side-pull bridle with a curb bit, numerous saddle blankets and two western saddles. I also bought a selection of brand new grooming brushes. We took these back to where the truck was parked.
 "You'll need saddle soap and may be neatsfoot oil too."
 "Oh yeah, almost forgot." I disappeared for a while then found Bill again. " I think I have more or less all I came for Bill. Sorry I was gone for so long, I've been talking to Goldie Horne. She was telling me about a horse sale at Hidden Springs in two days time, I might go and take a look, see if there's a horse or two I fancy." I didn't realize I was scowling. "I really need to get things moving."

 Bill raised his eyebrows, and reminded me that it was time to meet up as planned with Hillary at 'Frankie's Diner', as it was around noon.....I checked my watch, and tapped it. Sure it must be wrong. 

 Bill and I ordered a double whopper with fries and a glass of beer, while Hillary chose a cheeseburger and fries with a glass of soda. The sun was out and we all got into the truck. As we went along home we started singing to ' Ring of Fire', that was now blaring away on the truck's radio. We drove through Pleasantville town.

The Driveway To Thistledown Farm Stables

 Hillary got dropped off and Bill carried on up my drive to Thistledown Riding Stables. Bill helped carry all the things I had bought into the barn. I thanked him. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Nice when you have neighbors like him ! I set to work cleaning the saddles etcetera.
 It was now....four pm. I fancied a pizza so dialed out for one. I ate it, switched on the television, and settled down to watch 'Dallas' with Life besides me on the sofa. A knock on the door made Life bark and I woke up with a start. I turned off the television set and went to answer the door. A youth stood at the door as I yawned and ran my fingers through my hair.
 "What can I do for you missy ?"
 "I heard you were buying horses for your riding school you're gonna start up"
 "You heard right, um you want to sell your mare over there ?" I noticed that now her eyes were beginning to fill up with tears. She explained that as she was going to university, she needed a car more than her horse. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she managed to get the words out that she hoped I would buy her with the proviso of buying her back if and when she was in a position to do so. 
 I had to wipe the....the dust out of my eyes....really, it was just dust and we went over to the mare. She looked sound and well cared for. I gave her the once over. Her teeth matched up with the age of eight that Poppy had conveyed to me. She had had Lady, the mare, since a young filly and had trained her in the english manner and wore an english saddle and bit. Poppy lunged Lady for me. Wiping her nose with her sleeve, Poppy asked me what I thought. 
 With the english saddle and bridle still on the mare I said, "Hop on, show me what she can do." This mare was good as Poppy easily took her through her paces, and over the jumps I had got.
 "Okay, Poppy, she's just what I need, and Smokie will be pleased to have company too! How much were you thinking of selling her for with the tack ?"....I gave her $1200 in total. I just hoped and prayed that I would get clients who would want to try out riding in english style.
 Poppy scurried off down the drive, blowing her nose and dabbing her eyes on a tissue. I had told her to write me, when she got settled at Uni, and I would keep her updated on her special mare, her first horse, Lady.

 I brushed Lady, talking to her all the while then put her in in the stable next to Smokie.
 Night fell and I tapped away at my laptop how much I had spent and my thoughts of the day which included words like this....one more horse and I would open my school !