Maisie

When Shimmer passed away, finding a registered Foundation Appaloosa Mare again became much more complicated. I fell in love with some too far away to afford the shipping cost, and overall, the ones close by weren’t what I wanted. So, I pondered and thought back and forth about what my path with horses would be. I wanted the foundation breed to be part of my life after Shimmer, but I also needed to prove to myself and my husband that I could sell a horse. I could let go of the attachment, knowing I had done everything possible to set this horse up for a successful life.

In late July, I saw a “Haflinger-cross” mare in the Peabody, Kansas, Kill Pen and thought to myself, “She's the one.” The kill pen provided recommendations on transportation and quarantine facilities. Once I called and figured out the costs of quarantining and transporting a horse from Kansas, I looked back to see if this gorgeous mare was still available, and she was. I moved to purchase her and set up a 30-day quarantine, including vet visits and transportation home. I patiently waited for her, thought long and hard on this Haflinger-cross mare’s name, and finally came up with Maisie.

When Maisie came home, the people said she wasn’t halter-broke, despite being led in her kill-pen video by a halter. They mentioned that previous owners had sat on her, but she appeared timid, scared, and hesitant to follow the handler in her video. I very carefully applied the halter to her in the trailer, and she was jumpy and unsure, leading her with some resistance from the trailer to her stall. Maisie was initially timid and uncertain of my motives. However, that was ok. Regardless of where she stood in terms of her knowledge and confidence, I would start with the basics and work up with her.

Maise ended up being much smaller than they stated in the video, going from 14.1 h / 14.2 h to 13.2 h. Due to her size and teeth, I initially thought she was possibly younger than four, but the vet confirmed she was around five years old, indicating a birth year of 2016. Overall, she was in excellent health and just needed to learn that she was in a safe space and that this was her new home for quite some time.

Maisie slowly came around and grew into a mare who seemed to know the ropes but needed a softer hand and more confidence-building to relearn what she had once known. I had set a goal to reteach her all the ropes in 90 days, but that idea slowly began to disappear. My husband returned to working from home to the office, and I, a stay-at-home mom, realized that all I wanted to accomplish with Maisie would take time and more confidence in myself. I did many things alone and with her, which made me worry about my safety and delayed my progress toward her goals. Maisie had moments when she needed reassurance, but she was never a danger to a trained horsewoman. She showed daily that she was ready to try.

At some point in my journey with Maisie, Artemis came along as a beautiful surprise. I never suspected owning two horses at once and wasn’t ready for it. However, I couldn’t have said no to owning a part of Shimmer through Artemis. I had to realize what I could do with my time owning and training two horses. I figured at some point with Maisie, I would send her to a trainer to solidify her potential. And so, Maisie went to a trainer, and it was a wonderful experience.

With continuous training from a professional, Maisie blossomed into a confident and outstanding mare. She takes everything in her stride and is always eager to try something new. Whether it's Western or English, she enjoys every moment and is remarkably willing to do the work asked of her. One of my fondest memories is when she jumped over cross-rails for the first time; she never hesitated and always gave her best.

Today, Maisie is ready and waiting for her forever home. I am confident that she will bring joy to anyone who crosses her path. She's as cute as a button and has a personality that's impossible not to love. Maisie will greet you with a nicker, walk up to you, and demand your affection. She's incredibly willing on the ground and in the saddle. I am filled with pride when I think about the chance I took on her, rescuing a horse that was possibly bound for slaughter. I've learned so much from Maisie, and I'm excited to see where her journey takes her next.

Maise sold to a wonderful family at the end of June 2023, and I am so overjoyed for them and Maisie!