One Wednesday evening Erin and I went out to visit with Pearl and Splashy's owner had her out in the arena. We stopped to visit and I headed off to use the restroom and when I started to walk past the arena Splashy started following me. Erin hollered for me to turn around and walk back so I did and Splashy continued to follow me. Erin then told me to get in the arena and start walking around. I did and Splashy followed me everywhere I went. We later discovered that her owner was giving her away because she didn't have time for her anymore. A few days later I ran into her owner and confirmed she was giving Splashy away. I let her know that if she couldn't find a home for Splashy to give me a call as I might be interested. A couple of weeks later I ran into her owner again and she said it might be my lucky day as the deal she was working on for Splashy had fallen through. We made an appointment to meet at the ranch early in the morning the next week.

I arrived at the ranch as scheduled and met with Splashy's owner. We talked some and got to know each other a little then got Splashy out and let her run and play while we talked some more. After about a half hour or so we groomed Splashy and saddled her up and her owner rode her in the arena for a while. It was rather interesting. We then unsaddled her and put my western saddle on her (her owner rode English) and I climbed up.

Ok, big note here. When climbing on an unknown horse don't get on outside an arena! Splashy took off with me at a full gallop around "A" barn and I barely managed to get her stopped in front of "C" barn (Pearl's barn). I immediately dismounted and waited for her owner to get to us. She then rode Splashy over to the back oval arena and rode her in there for a few minutes.

Once Splashy calmed down I got back on her in the arena and she did just great. We walked around the arena, changed directions and did some easy work for about 15 minutes or so. Her owner told me she was doing well and if I wanted to I could trot her. No way was I going to do that and told her I wasn't ready or comfortable enough to trot her. Splashy's owner then told me she was mine if I wanted her. I accepted and we filled out the paper work and Splashy became the first horse I ever owned outright.

From then on Splashy and I would play in the arena and I would ride her about once a week or so and that was pretty much it. I didn't take Splashy to ride her, I just wanted to give her a good home and let her be a horse.

I have since decided to allow Splashy the honor of just being a retired horse and now have her barefoot and no one rides her anymore. She gets out on a regular basis and we play in the arena and that's all.

She's a great horse and I hope she gets to be with us for a long time.