I became the proud owner of CallamansTwist aka Twister on June 8th 2009. I had ridden him for years strictly as "my neighbors horse". They decided a year ago that they couldnt afford to have a 23 year old with a history of lameness. "No good" is what they meant. However this horse had seen me through three years of high school and I knew it wouldnt be fair to him to leave so quickly to a new home. Not when I loved him so much. So I made a bargain with my neighbors to pay $100 dollars a month which took care of his hay and nothing else. My parents helped pay for any kind of vet check ups and I paid for grain out of my own funds (as skimpy as they were). I took care of him, got him back up to a healthy weight, then waited for the end of my senior year so he could finally become mine. The day came and I loaded him into that trailer with a smile so wide it could have covered the whole US! I signed papers and Twister became "legally" mine.

However...

My senior project had been the occupation of "horse trainer". My project horse had been a six month old Quarter Horse colt at the ranch that I had been working at. My boss was constantly elbowing me in the side telling me what a great horse "Tank" would make and how we just fit together. She finally got to me and by the time Twister became mine I had agreed to make payments on a full blood registered Quarter Horse colt. He Surfs Savannah aka Tank became legally mine not long after Twister signed on. Now a yearling I watch my two bays side by side in the pasture and wonder at how lucky I am.

I continue to make decisions that about these two that often has me wondering how I suddenly became an adult. I recently discussed gelding Tank with my boss and a fellow trainer at the ranch. We all have come to the decision that my boy is just too handsome to get gelded just yet. As much as I dislike the idea of owning a stud, Tank constantly proves to me that he has the personality of his father and knows a thing or two about paying attention to me first and NOT the ladies. If things start to go downhill then I know I will have to geld him but for now I am willing to let one of his father's last ungelded colts stay a stud a little longer.

PHEW! now that the novel is over!....Twister is doing well at his new home and enjoying the snow that he never ever has gotten a chance to play in. He and I compete in local barrel races and he has earned me my very first check in 3D. He's been wonderfully understanding (seeing how he is the former 1D horse and Im the student rider) and has taught me a lot about the barrels.

I will be breaking Tank to saddle this coming summer in 2010. As I watch him switch leads willy nilly and tuck his hindquarters underneath for flawless slide stops I cant help but daydream about the Snaffle Bit Futurity...he's growing to be just as his name suggests and I know he will make an excellent all around western prospect. His willingness to learn makes me believe he and I can do anything, be it barrels, reining, team roping or penning...hes got the potential to go anywhere and our dreams stay big!

Well well well...I hope you all enjoyed hearing about the two "boys" in my life. I hope to hear about your own babies soon!

I Love my OTTB Hunter!

"I'd rather saddle up than settle down"