Can't Do Sorrel

I happened to be puttering on Facebook and came across a video. I'm not sure if it was real or totally fake and only there to make a point but it's been on my mind ever since so figured I'd bring it up here.

A woman was looking for a 1D horse for her daughter so that they could win. For me, it was a bit odd anyway because instead of working on their own horse and getting it to 1D, they simply wanted to buy a horse that was already there. But that means someone else has done all the work and you simply want a "turn key" as I call it, horse.

So the video continues on where the woman states she has a budget and that they are about ready to make a deal, or at least ready to schedule a time to come out. The next question out of the woman's mouth, "What color is it?" (first, not he or she but a "thing" like it's an inanimate object and then the absurdness of needing color.)

The next thing out of the woman's mouth "oh, we can't do sorrel. We need something flashy. We can't do sorrel." And that was the end of the conversation. All based on color. To some degree, I've had the same experience. I have Maverick who is a superb trail horse and I would trust my kids on him but he needs more training for drill team. So instead of putting the time on him, I went in search of a different horse. Some of it was, he wasnt' flashy...but mostly because he is a horse that I trust so much with my kids, I don't want to possibly jinx his trail riding skills and make him hot getting into an arena.

But it did make me think. People don't see sorrel. They want the flashy, they want the chrome, they want something that will catch the eye of others. It's all about the flash. So I wonder how many horses head to slaughter that are sorrel. How many broodmares are never posted on the kill pen sites because they arent' flashy enough? I wont' go into discussions about the kill pen/feedlot sales but it does make me wonder how many sorrels arrive and never get posted because they arent' flashy enough.

What of the 20+ year old gelding or mare with a little bit of gray around the eyes and muzzle. Will anyone notice them? What of the late teens broodmares who've "served their purpose" and can no longer make babies? Who will notice a sorrel?

Maverick is sorrel and yet, he's one of the best horses we have on the place. I trust him with my kids. I trust him to take care of his rider even though he doesn't necessarily have a lot of hours and miles on him.

But maybe instead of overlooking a sorrel, you may discover that a sorrel is really your next diamond.