Lyric’s Story- By Christina
All of my life I had dreamed of having my own horse. I was obsessed with them as a little girl, reading anything and everything I could. I still have my favorite book- a battered copy of Marguerite Henry’s novel King of the Wind. Sham, the golden bay Godolphin Arabian in the story, was my dream horse from that first reading, many years ago now. As an adult, my riding was mostly on rented trail mounts but I never missed an opportunity to be with horses.
Maria, my partner of 5 years, knew how badly I longed for a horse. She always told me if we ever got the right place she would get me one as soon as she could, and that is exactly what she did. We moved into our home in late April and by June 9th, I owned a horse.
My search started the day we moved in. I spent hours on Craigslist looking at every single horse ad. Maria had owned horses in the past and asked that I involve her in the process and listen to her advice. She suggested I look for a gelding instead of a mare, avoid anything younger than 10 years old, and not buy the first horse I saw. Oh, and to relegate my King of the Wind fantasy to my childhood, where it belonged. Maria acknowledged the beauty of Arabians but explained that being a hot-blooded breed, they were usually not a good idea for first-time horse owners.
Well... I didn't listen. I found an ad for the most gorgeous horse on Craigslist. He was a sorrel 13 year-old gelding and a registered Arabian! The photo in the ad made my heart pound; the horse was trotting down a wooded trail with his neck arched and his proud tail sweeping the ground. The photo had a dreamy quality, with the sunlight streaming down through the trees and sparking off the shiny chestnut coat. The text of the ad said the horse was dead broke, great on trails and roads, with no spook. Two out of four; I was at least 50% compliant!
I called the phone number in the ad and talked with a woman named Alice. It turned out that Alice rescued horses from bad situations and tried to place them in loving homes; even her own personal horse had been a rescue. I launched into the story of looking for my first horse, and she told me that the sorrel gelding was already sold. Alice could hear the disappointment in my voice when I told her I’d secretly set my heart on the Arabian. Very quickly, she said that her brother was looking to sell his Arabian mare, Lyric, but only to a good home with people who wouldn’t mind keeping in touch. Alice described the mare as wonderfully calm and talented. She had been used as a cutting horse, but she was so gentle that her brother’s kids could ride the mare bareback with a halter and lead, a hackamore or snaffle, and she was perfectly behaved no matter what. Alice said Lyric was 6 years old and had never acted marish; she was much more settled and acted older than her age. I was hooked already.
We made an appointment with Alice for the following evening, which was the earliest time she was available to meet. When Maria and I got to her home just before dusk, Alice said the mare was being kept down the road at a friend’s house. I thought that was strange, but I was too excited to care. Alice got in our car and told us her brother would meet us there to look at Lyric.
We pulled in and there stood the prettiest horse I had ever seen. She was the exact coppery bay that I had envisioned Sham to be and she glinted in the evening sun. She had a long and silky mane and tail and a stunning head with the classic dished face, big brown eyes, and dainty muzzle. Alice's brother was holding her lead in one hand and a coffee can full of treats in the other. He continually handed Lyric one treat after the other as the mare stood staring down at the can. After brief introductions, they talked of how much her brother loved his horse and would only sell her to a wonderful home. I stood stroking the mare’s soft nose and told them a little about my lifelong passion and desire to have my own horse. They described Lyric’s sweet temperament and said that she had never reared, bucked or bolted in her life. Maria asked a few questions and while they talked horses I focused my attention on Lyric, who by that time was standing with her eyes half shut.
Alice said, “Chris, she looks so comfortable with you she’s going to fall asleep standing right there.”
I was smitten and asked if I could lead her around. Alice nodded but the mare tried to walk over me. I wasn’t sure what to do. Maria came to my rescue and took the opportunity to say, under her breath,
“Now, don’t jump on the first horse, Honey. This one’s too young and I’d rather you picked a gelding. And I don’t want to buy you an Arabian, remember?”
By that time, it was too dark to ride, and according to Alice, Lyric was getting impatient for her dinner. She suggested we could look at her other horses while Lyric ate, so we got in the car and drove back to Alice’s farm. She told us that she’d just “placed” twelve of the rescue horses because they needed to downsize. They still had four horses and since the property couldn’t have been more than 3 acres, tops, it was hard to imagine sixteen animals in such a small area. Alice also said she was so glad we were the first to look at Lyric because she really liked us.
She said, “I don’t think the people coming to see her tomorrow are as nice, but I know she’ll sell quick.”
I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Bless Maria’s heart, she tried to get me to wait, but I was scared someone else would buy MY horse. Maria argued that we hadn’t even ridden Lyric yet but I wanted her…I was already in love. And anyway, Alice rescued horses- she had a kind heart and wouldn’t lie to us about this mare. I fully believed that Alice and her brother loved and cared so much about these horses that I felt honored to have the opportunity to buy Lyric.
We put a deposit on the horse and made arrangements for her to be delivered on the following Saturday. I asked Alice to write down what she was feeding Lyric and Maria asked about shots and her Coggins paper. Alice said everything was up-to-date and she would bring the paperwork when she delivered the horse.
On Saturday, Lyric stepped out of the trailer a little cautiously and a bit wild- eyed. I thought this was normal for a horse in new surroundings. Alice didn’t stay long; she had just purchased four new horses and needed to get them settled. I didn’t wonder until later why she had bought more horses when they had so many rescues that needed help, especially when they were “downsizing.” Alice handed me a folder and told me it was Lyric’s vaccination records and Coggins certificate. I ran into our house, dropped it on the counter and grabbed the cash for our balance. I was too excited to get back to my horse to waste time looking at the papers right then. I spent the rest of my day with Lyric, leading her around, feeding her treats, and grooming her with my new brushes.
The next day I begged Maria to ride Lyric in the round pen so we could see how she behaved. Maria saddled her up and attempted to get on. Lyric jumped around, side stepped and tried to rear up. Maria was not very impressed but I said maybe Lyric just needed time to settle in.
On Monday, I finally took a look at Lyric’s folder. OMG... Here, written out on a sheet of yellow legal paper, was her so-called shot record. Alice had written “bay mare vax” and a date 11 ½ months ago. It didn’t say which bay mare or what kind of vaccinations she had received. The “Coggins” was simply the word and a date, again ready to expire, written by hand on the paper. I called the equine veterinarian we had chosen and he explained that in our state it was against the law to travel with a horse or sell one without a valid Coggins certificate. He told me it was particularly important in our state because it is considered a “hot zone” for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and the negative Coggins test would be proof that Lyric wasn’t infected. He also let us know that he had a different label for Alice; she was no rescuer, she was a horse trader.
I picked up the phone and called Alice to say Lyric’s paperwork wasn’t adequate. She told me they gave shots themselves and what she had written was all the information they had on her Coggins. When I told Alice what the vet had said, she told me that the Coggins test was only $26 and they would pick Lyric up and take her to the vet for the blood pull. I declined her offer in no uncertain terms. Maria and I had been talking and realized we didn’t have a Bill-of-Sale for Lyric. We had no proof at all that we had purchased her, other than my sister being at our house when Alice delivered her. We put a chain and padlock on Lyric’s pen, just to be sure she would stay safely on our property.
I spent every free moment with Lyric for the next week. The mare had no manners at all. When I attempted to bridle her she would bolt. She walked around when I tried to mount, scraped me off by running under trees, she threw her head wildly and reared. Maria didn’t have any more success than I with Lyric. I cried for 2 solid days. Maria felt terrible and blamed herself for allowing her experience with horses and her gut feelings to be overruled by her belief in Alice, and my enthusiasm for Lyric. She begged me to get rid of Lyric; she was terrified I was going to be seriously injured, but I wouldn't hear it. I refused because I believed love could overcome our problems.
Here’s what Maria and I suspect now, after we’ve had time to mull it over and put the pieces together.
*Alice and her brother call themselves a “horse rescue” to help them make sales. People trust them and think they are good people, but they’re not rescuing horses at all.
*We don’t think Alice ever owned the chestnut Arabian in the ad; he was too good to be true but we’re pretty sure his picture brought a lot of business Alice’s way. We think it's a sales tactic called Bait & Switch.
*We think that Alice’s brother probably gave Lyric a drug to calm her down when we saw her that first time. Maybe the treats were drugged or maybe they were just a diversion to keep her calm until the drugs took effect. Thinking back, her head was hanging down and her eyes were half closed. We also believe they made our appointment late in the day so it would be too dark to ride.
Another interesting thing we noticed- we started reading the Craigslist ads again. Alice and her brother have horses listed all the time in lots of different towns, but they also run ads offering to take unwanted horses into their loving homes. So many things Alice said and did made no sense to me until I found out about horse traders. Then everything made perfect, sickening sense.
Here’s what happened to Lyric- I took to the Internet and read everything I could on teaching respect, and ground manners. I, who had never even saddled a horse, slowly began to work with Lyric. Slowly she began to respect me and do what I asked of her. I taught her to back, and move her body away, and to lead respectfully. She learned to stand still to mount, and not to rear. People are amazed at how much she’s changed. She is absolutely beautiful to watch with children and allows our 22 month-old to lead her around for hours but does appear to be afraid of men. She is nervous in new situations and will spin around if she doesn't trust something but we are still a work in progress. Maria has grown to love and trust her, too. Thankfully, someone at some time loved this mare and put time into her. She neck reins amazingly well and responds to the slightest leg pressure. She is now current on vaccinations and worming and has a valid Coggins test.
I wish I knew something of her past. It's sad to me, not knowing. It's a pathetic shame that horse traders put the lives of people and animals in danger only to make a quick buck. I may not know Lyric’s past but I know her future, and that's all right with me. :)
All of my life I had dreamed of having my own horse. I was obsessed with them as a little girl, reading anything and everything I could. I still have my favorite book- a battered copy of Marguerite Henry’s novel King of the Wind. Sham, the golden bay Godolphin Arabian in the story, was my dream horse from that first reading, many years ago now. As an adult, my riding was mostly on rented trail mounts but I never missed an opportunity to be with horses.
Maria, my partner of 5 years, knew how badly I longed for a horse. She always told me if we ever got the right place she would get me one as soon as she could, and that is exactly what she did. We moved into our home in late April and by June 9th, I owned a horse.
My search started the day we moved in. I spent hours on Craigslist looking at every single horse ad. Maria had owned horses in the past and asked that I involve her in the process and listen to her advice. She suggested I look for a gelding instead of a mare, avoid anything younger than 10 years old, and not buy the first horse I saw. Oh, and to relegate my King of the Wind fantasy to my childhood, where it belonged. Maria acknowledged the beauty of Arabians but explained that being a hot-blooded breed, they were usually not a good idea for first-time horse owners.
Well... I didn't listen. I found an ad for the most gorgeous horse on Craigslist. He was a sorrel 13 year-old gelding and a registered Arabian! The photo in the ad made my heart pound; the horse was trotting down a wooded trail with his neck arched and his proud tail sweeping the ground. The photo had a dreamy quality, with the sunlight streaming down through the trees and sparking off the shiny chestnut coat. The text of the ad said the horse was dead broke, great on trails and roads, with no spook. Two out of four; I was at least 50% compliant!
I called the phone number in the ad and talked with a woman named Alice. It turned out that Alice rescued horses from bad situations and tried to place them in loving homes; even her own personal horse had been a rescue. I launched into the story of looking for my first horse, and she told me that the sorrel gelding was already sold. Alice could hear the disappointment in my voice when I told her I’d secretly set my heart on the Arabian. Very quickly, she said that her brother was looking to sell his Arabian mare, Lyric, but only to a good home with people who wouldn’t mind keeping in touch. Alice described the mare as wonderfully calm and talented. She had been used as a cutting horse, but she was so gentle that her brother’s kids could ride the mare bareback with a halter and lead, a hackamore or snaffle, and she was perfectly behaved no matter what. Alice said Lyric was 6 years old and had never acted marish; she was much more settled and acted older than her age. I was hooked already.
We made an appointment with Alice for the following evening, which was the earliest time she was available to meet. When Maria and I got to her home just before dusk, Alice said the mare was being kept down the road at a friend’s house. I thought that was strange, but I was too excited to care. Alice got in our car and told us her brother would meet us there to look at Lyric.
We pulled in and there stood the prettiest horse I had ever seen. She was the exact coppery bay that I had envisioned Sham to be and she glinted in the evening sun. She had a long and silky mane and tail and a stunning head with the classic dished face, big brown eyes, and dainty muzzle. Alice's brother was holding her lead in one hand and a coffee can full of treats in the other. He continually handed Lyric one treat after the other as the mare stood staring down at the can. After brief introductions, they talked of how much her brother loved his horse and would only sell her to a wonderful home. I stood stroking the mare’s soft nose and told them a little about my lifelong passion and desire to have my own horse. They described Lyric’s sweet temperament and said that she had never reared, bucked or bolted in her life. Maria asked a few questions and while they talked horses I focused my attention on Lyric, who by that time was standing with her eyes half shut.
Alice said, “Chris, she looks so comfortable with you she’s going to fall asleep standing right there.”
I was smitten and asked if I could lead her around. Alice nodded but the mare tried to walk over me. I wasn’t sure what to do. Maria came to my rescue and took the opportunity to say, under her breath,
“Now, don’t jump on the first horse, Honey. This one’s too young and I’d rather you picked a gelding. And I don’t want to buy you an Arabian, remember?”
By that time, it was too dark to ride, and according to Alice, Lyric was getting impatient for her dinner. She suggested we could look at her other horses while Lyric ate, so we got in the car and drove back to Alice’s farm. She told us that she’d just “placed” twelve of the rescue horses because they needed to downsize. They still had four horses and since the property couldn’t have been more than 3 acres, tops, it was hard to imagine sixteen animals in such a small area. Alice also said she was so glad we were the first to look at Lyric because she really liked us.
She said, “I don’t think the people coming to see her tomorrow are as nice, but I know she’ll sell quick.”
I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Bless Maria’s heart, she tried to get me to wait, but I was scared someone else would buy MY horse. Maria argued that we hadn’t even ridden Lyric yet but I wanted her…I was already in love. And anyway, Alice rescued horses- she had a kind heart and wouldn’t lie to us about this mare. I fully believed that Alice and her brother loved and cared so much about these horses that I felt honored to have the opportunity to buy Lyric.
We put a deposit on the horse and made arrangements for her to be delivered on the following Saturday. I asked Alice to write down what she was feeding Lyric and Maria asked about shots and her Coggins paper. Alice said everything was up-to-date and she would bring the paperwork when she delivered the horse.
On Saturday, Lyric stepped out of the trailer a little cautiously and a bit wild- eyed. I thought this was normal for a horse in new surroundings. Alice didn’t stay long; she had just purchased four new horses and needed to get them settled. I didn’t wonder until later why she had bought more horses when they had so many rescues that needed help, especially when they were “downsizing.” Alice handed me a folder and told me it was Lyric’s vaccination records and Coggins certificate. I ran into our house, dropped it on the counter and grabbed the cash for our balance. I was too excited to get back to my horse to waste time looking at the papers right then. I spent the rest of my day with Lyric, leading her around, feeding her treats, and grooming her with my new brushes.
The next day I begged Maria to ride Lyric in the round pen so we could see how she behaved. Maria saddled her up and attempted to get on. Lyric jumped around, side stepped and tried to rear up. Maria was not very impressed but I said maybe Lyric just needed time to settle in.
On Monday, I finally took a look at Lyric’s folder. OMG... Here, written out on a sheet of yellow legal paper, was her so-called shot record. Alice had written “bay mare vax” and a date 11 ½ months ago. It didn’t say which bay mare or what kind of vaccinations she had received. The “Coggins” was simply the word and a date, again ready to expire, written by hand on the paper. I called the equine veterinarian we had chosen and he explained that in our state it was against the law to travel with a horse or sell one without a valid Coggins certificate. He told me it was particularly important in our state because it is considered a “hot zone” for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and the negative Coggins test would be proof that Lyric wasn’t infected. He also let us know that he had a different label for Alice; she was no rescuer, she was a horse trader.
I picked up the phone and called Alice to say Lyric’s paperwork wasn’t adequate. She told me they gave shots themselves and what she had written was all the information they had on her Coggins. When I told Alice what the vet had said, she told me that the Coggins test was only $26 and they would pick Lyric up and take her to the vet for the blood pull. I declined her offer in no uncertain terms. Maria and I had been talking and realized we didn’t have a Bill-of-Sale for Lyric. We had no proof at all that we had purchased her, other than my sister being at our house when Alice delivered her. We put a chain and padlock on Lyric’s pen, just to be sure she would stay safely on our property.
I spent every free moment with Lyric for the next week. The mare had no manners at all. When I attempted to bridle her she would bolt. She walked around when I tried to mount, scraped me off by running under trees, she threw her head wildly and reared. Maria didn’t have any more success than I with Lyric. I cried for 2 solid days. Maria felt terrible and blamed herself for allowing her experience with horses and her gut feelings to be overruled by her belief in Alice, and my enthusiasm for Lyric. She begged me to get rid of Lyric; she was terrified I was going to be seriously injured, but I wouldn't hear it. I refused because I believed love could overcome our problems.
Here’s what Maria and I suspect now, after we’ve had time to mull it over and put the pieces together.
*Alice and her brother call themselves a “horse rescue” to help them make sales. People trust them and think they are good people, but they’re not rescuing horses at all.
*We don’t think Alice ever owned the chestnut Arabian in the ad; he was too good to be true but we’re pretty sure his picture brought a lot of business Alice’s way. We think it's a sales tactic called Bait & Switch.
*We think that Alice’s brother probably gave Lyric a drug to calm her down when we saw her that first time. Maybe the treats were drugged or maybe they were just a diversion to keep her calm until the drugs took effect. Thinking back, her head was hanging down and her eyes were half closed. We also believe they made our appointment late in the day so it would be too dark to ride.
Another interesting thing we noticed- we started reading the Craigslist ads again. Alice and her brother have horses listed all the time in lots of different towns, but they also run ads offering to take unwanted horses into their loving homes. So many things Alice said and did made no sense to me until I found out about horse traders. Then everything made perfect, sickening sense.
Here’s what happened to Lyric- I took to the Internet and read everything I could on teaching respect, and ground manners. I, who had never even saddled a horse, slowly began to work with Lyric. Slowly she began to respect me and do what I asked of her. I taught her to back, and move her body away, and to lead respectfully. She learned to stand still to mount, and not to rear. People are amazed at how much she’s changed. She is absolutely beautiful to watch with children and allows our 22 month-old to lead her around for hours but does appear to be afraid of men. She is nervous in new situations and will spin around if she doesn't trust something but we are still a work in progress. Maria has grown to love and trust her, too. Thankfully, someone at some time loved this mare and put time into her. She neck reins amazingly well and responds to the slightest leg pressure. She is now current on vaccinations and worming and has a valid Coggins test.
I wish I knew something of her past. It's sad to me, not knowing. It's a pathetic shame that horse traders put the lives of people and animals in danger only to make a quick buck. I may not know Lyric’s past but I know her future, and that's all right with me. :)
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