There was a bit of a lull around here for, you know, a few weeks. But, lots happening now! We (I?) bought two new horses in one of those "too good of deal to pass up" moments.
The farm that Penny and I have LOVED for years (Solomon Farm in South Dakota), has an annual online auction. We ALMOST bought a horse from them the fall before we bought Cachet in January of 2014. It's a move we have regretted at times, seeing as how Cachet was a semi-feral/social-retard/hard-to-start baby.
Obviously, in years prior we really have not been in any position to get any horses and CERTAINLY not more than one, once Little G was purchased and being boarded. Now, with the farm we eagerly anticipated the fall auction and what stock would be available and
just maybe, in our price range.
Our "short list" was about 10 horses. The auction runs for two weeks, and during that time Penny and I narrowed, debated, and changed our minds multiple times on which ones we wanted to bid on. Some of our favorites were, unfortunately, in bid categories that were automatically out of our price range. Category A was for reserves UP to 4,500. That pretty much narrowed our list down, as anything NOT in Category A was too much!
Interestingly, the mare we thought about getting before we bought Cachet was available again this year, after being a broodmare and recently having her foal weaned. The horse, Driving Miss Daisy, we have talked about multiple times over the last couple of years as perhaps an opportunity that we missed. Thus, we have said many times lets get "this years Daisy."
Another one we liked is a 2 year old, that, being the fan girl I am about Solomon horses, have loved since he was born. A giant orange dork of a horse named Julius.
There were a couple of ponies that mom and I liked, as well, but towards the end of the auction, went over our mental "price range", or, were never in the cheap category to begin with.
So, here is how I "accidentally" got 2 horses.
First, I bid on Julius at the start of the auction. $1,000. Just for shits and giggles. About midway though, someone bid $1,500. Meh, whatever, I figured I would get outbid on him.
Daisy shows up on the auction list a couple days before the auction ends. She was NOT on the early list, and it was a good laugh to see her listed, as instead of getting "this years Daisy", we could actually bid on the girl herself.
I put a bid in on Daisy that was low-ball, but not ridiculous. It said "Reserve Not Met." :-(
Brendan came over with some craft beer and made me sit and talk and drink it. I was feeling pretty good. I never drink "real" beer. Miller Light these days about kills me, so this was just too much. MAYBE I was a little buzzed....
So, after Brendan left, in the last few minutes of the auction, I bid on Julius again. (Just for fun!)...Reserve Not Met. Okay... ONE more bid... Reserve Met....... WHAT?!?!?! Freak out!!! Very exciting and ridiculous price! Great! .
When the auction ended, I was the highest bidder on Daisy, but the reserve wasn't met. What happens a few minutes after the auction ends? It tells me I won BOTH Julius AND Daisy. Tee-hee-hee. Whoops!
But really, great prospects at an amazing prize? It's pretty much what we need in order to get some horses training and ready for sale in the next year. I am VERY excited.
That being said... we are working on ANOTHER turnout, behind the barn. This time, with Electrobraid. Brendan came out and dug the holes for the corner and gate posts. Then, a few days ago, we set them together in concrete. I worked on setting some t-posts on Sunday, before I ran out of time and strength. That job sucks.
We also found some stalls on Craigslist that are a good deal, but weigh A TON! We initially said "no" to them, because they told us we needed a one ton truck + flatbed to come get them. Sorry, we don't have that laying around! They eventually said they would deliver them for a little extra. BUT, we found out, yesterday that the "only" time they can deliver them is 7:30 (AM!!!) on Saturday. And, of course, we need "4-5 strong guys" to unload them. Um, I have friends, but 7:30 on a Saturday, after a holiday is ridiculous.
So, we have no idea what to do about that.
And the horses are getting picked up Saturday in South Dakota, and will be here Saturday night (delivery in the dark, yay!!!), or Sunday morning.
I could feel a little overwhelmed if I thought about it......
