Finding Rosie

I found a Craigslist ad for a free 14 hand Arab cross pony in Woodinville. Too good to be true, right? Right...I emailed Maya back and forth and it seemed legit. Jake was totally on board for a kid pony and we went to get Connor from school and told him he could hang out with dad or go to Seattle with mom to pick up a pony. He was so excited and promptly wanted to go for the drive.  

First thing in the morning, at 9:15, we drove up to the dead-end of a prestigious address. Rosie walked up to the fence of her paddock and made eye contact with me.  She flashed me back 25 years, when I walked up to Mirkhan the first time. Same huge, intelligent eyes, teacup nose, huge nostrils, polish Arab body. She was very curious. 

 Rosie came right up to me and nickered. Poor girl was skinny, about a 2 on the scale for body fitness. She had no muscle at all, but she was regal anyway. I couldn't leave her there, no way. She easily loaded up and away we went.

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 Here is information about her from the girl that posted the ad:

Before we had her I got her from a friend who ran a summer camp and did lessons. Rosie was used for both. I can give you her contact info, she had Rosie for her little girls 15 years ago.  

No history or colic, no trauma. 

What do you feed her and what are her feeding habits? Is there feed she should not have? (I feed an alfalfa mix for my TB's.)

1 flake AM and PM. Plus 1 lg scoop of grain AM and PM. I have her on senior but she does well on any grain. In the summer we cut back and let her in the pasture all day. 

Why do you keep shoes on her? Have you tried bare feet and what happened? She gets ouchie. She might be able to go with out shoes but would have to be watched carefully. 

Does she trailer well? Yes, very well. 

How is she out in the open or on trails?  Great! We have had many fun days on the trails. We have spent hours out there exploring, she will cross water, bridges, dogs, bikes, ect. Rosie will canter when asked however when the girls were smaller and learning to canter she was very careful to only go as fast as they could handle. 

How is she with other horses? Good on trails and in the ring. In the field she gets picked on. She has been beat up and we let her out w my mare during the day but they can not be fed together. We kept they separated for the first few months. 

Is she mare-ish? No. You will see right away she is a sweet girl. 

What are her favorite treats?   Rosie seams to like apples, carrots and any packaged treats. Rosie loves attention more than the treat. 

Is there anything we should know about her to make her a happy and healthy girl?  

I have blankets, tack and some other things that fit her well. She has a daily aspirin, that I buy from the tack store for about $13 a month. 1 scoop a day keeps her happy. I have tried anti-med and some natural remedies but I am not around to monitor it so I have reverted back to the aspirin. In the past we have also just given it to her on days we ride and that has been fine too. She has not had any other care like injections, ect that could help but I have not found a need for since she is happy and comfortable. 

Here are her old photos:

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Connor's first ride: