Decision Time

My mind seems to be mush today. I'm not exactly sure why. I sent requests for information on three horses for sale. I've not heard anything back. I guess I should presume they found homes. But I know better. My basic email was to tell them I am intersted if their only other option is auction. Now if they take my email into consideration, who knows.

I have not had the chance to go to an auction as of late. Luckily the South Dakota Horse Sale isn't having an August sale so less stress for me. I have not attended the Kramers Auction in months. It always seems that I'm swamped in the summer and can only attend in the spring and fall (since winter auctions are now closed).

We did go look a horse last night. Not really a "rescue" situation after talking with the owner/caretaker. There is one small health issue that will take a few more months to resolve. He has cellulitis on his "thing" (:-)...politically correct term!) Someone else was out six times looking at Ivan the horse but the cellulitis seems to be the deterant. The caretaker was very friendly and talkative. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to ride Ivan. Mike prefers that I try Ivan out to see what he's like. He doesn't want to bring another horse in that's young and have him/her turn into a pasture pet for years.

Mike doesn't mind bringing in the oldsters that will only be a round for a few years as pasture pets. But after getting burned with Brego, we are leary of bringing in a younger horse that may or may not be usable. Brego and Dude are both young pasture pets (5 and 13 respectively), much to my dismay.

I haven't yet decided. My concern is that the owner is only asking $100. Now they are trying to screen and find an appropriate home but what's to say someone couldn't lie. But on the other hand, if I were to bring Ivan home, that's one less spot for a horses to come from an auction. But a horse from an auction I can't pre-ride (if they run through loose), and I dont' get a story of where they came from or what they were used for. So it's really a toss up. Do I pay a little bit more for the knowledge or do I pay less and save one from an auction and possibly end up with a horse/donkey like Longhorn who is dangerous or have to dump a lot of money into and still come up with a pasture pet?

So I'm really in a bind and don't know what to do or what to decide. Maybe if I wasn't faced with Joe's impending euthinazia I'd be able to make a better decision. I guess this is what rescue is about...deciding who can be saved and who has to be let go. Exhausting no matter the decision.