FREE horses?! Nope, Nothing in Life is Free.

Send us a text

In this episode Sandy and Cara discuss a horse girls dream, being given a free horse! The positives of owning a horse are well worth all that they require and being given a horse is more heart warming than anyone could ever expect. Listen in as Sandy and Cara discuss the importance of being as picky with accepting a free horse as when purchasing one.

We pull back the curtain on what free really means, from farrier cycles and dental work to saddle fit, supplements, and the steady drip of training time that turns chaos into connection. We share the real math of horse ownership, the emotional ups and downs of taking in gifted horses, and how to read the story behind that enticing price tag.

We map out the red flags and the green lights: why pairing a green rider with a green horse can pile up bruises and bills, how to think about herd needs so a solitary setup doesn’t unravel a good mind, and what “trailered everywhere” actually means once you ask clarifying questions. You’ll hear candid barn-floor stories—champions given away during lean years, older Arabs who taught us patience and limits, and the quiet heroics of companion horses who kept anxious geldings sane. We talk health quirks like late gelding, respiratory issues, weight management, abscesses, and arthritis, plus the gear and fit headaches that come with hard-to-fit backs. The throughline: the horse is often the cheapest part, and the value you build is in the relationship.

To keep your head clear when your heart races, we share the essential checklist: start with why is this horse free, then dig into feet, teeth, vet history, riding frequency, trailering experience, feed and hay transitions, tack fit, and any behavioral baggage. We challenge the myth of the destined heart horse and offer a better path—months of patient acclimation, consistent groundwork, and creative problem-solving that lets a horse learn your language. With the right support from a trainer, a vet, and a solid barn community, a “free” horse can become the best partner you’ve ever had.

If this trail talk helps, tap follow, share it with a barn friend, and leave a quick review. It helps more riders find the show—and it might just save someone from an expensive yes. What’s the first question you’d ask before accepting a free horse?

Support the show

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Clip flop goes the trail, sun is rising high.
Two gals in the saddle neath thebig Nevada sky, laughing and
chatting as the desert rolls onby.
It's Saddle Talk.
Come along for the ride.

SPEAKER_02 (00:20):
Welcome, listeners, to Saddle Talk with Sandy and
Cara.
Whether you're here to laughwith us, learn, or just ride
along, you're in for a reallygood time.
So go grab your helmet or yourpooper scooper and settle in
with us as we discuss life,horses, of course, and all the
unexpected turns along thetrail.
And hey, whether you're aseasoned cowgirl or you're still
learning, remember we're sharingour own stories and opinions

(00:44):
based on decades of personalexperience.
Always ride safe and check witha professional before trying
anything new.
Now let's go ride.
Hey friend.
What's our episode today?
Today we're gonna talk aboutfree horses.

SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
Free horses?
Free horses.
There's free horses?
No.
I can get a free horse.

SPEAKER_02 (01:06):
It's not a thing.

SPEAKER_01 (01:07):
It's not why.

SPEAKER_02 (01:08):
Because free horses just aren't free.
What makes them not free?
Everything.
Time, money, energy, love, allof it.
They're gonna take it from you.
We need to have this publicservice announcement.
We do.

SPEAKER_01 (01:21):
Free horses are not free.
Because the horse is thecheapest part of the equation.
We were given some free horses.

SPEAKER_02 (01:32):
Those Arabs.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And they were a hot messexpress.
We did write by them.
But in reality, if someone triesto give you a free horse, it's a
red flag, especially if you'renew, because you don't know what
you're gonna like.
You don't know what to look for.
You don't know what to look for.

SPEAKER_01 (01:48):
And you just want a horse.
So someone says, Oh, here's afree horse.
You don't even care.
You don't even look into it.
That's what happened to me.
That's how I got into them.
A family member knew a friendwho had these horses.
We were under the impressionbeing given a free horse, and I
thought, I'm never gonna havethis opportunity again.

(02:11):
Because you didn't know anybetter.
I did not.
Yeah.
And this horse was three yearsold, a male stallion, I guess,
you know?
No, it hadn't been cut yet.
Green, not even broke.
But I was determined I wasgetting a free horse.
So I could not miss out on thisopportunity.
I was thinking about, you know,what do I do?

(02:32):
I volunteered at a therapeuticwriting program, and I just
walked in and said, hey,someone's giving me a free
horse.
And this is this is the deal.
Don't tell me no.
Just teach me how to take careof horses.
The person who ended up becominga good friend of mine looked at
me like I was nuts.

(02:53):
Because you were.
Because I was.
And she just took me in.
I started to realize why a freehorse is not free and is not
what you should jump on.
I mean, it's so easy to jump onit, but you really have to take
a step back, just evaluate youas a rider, your experience, the

(03:14):
horse.
What are you being given?
And just make sure that it's theright thing.
I never ended up getting thathorse because the family member
misunderstood the opportunity.
But it it was the catalyst gotme to the barn and meeting you,
and you know, all good thingscame from it, other than the
Arabs.
Have you ever been given a freehorse?

SPEAKER_02 (03:35):
Yeah, I've been given a free horse and I've
actually given away a horse.
Really?
Yes.
I gave away my Arab showchampion.
He was amazing.
He was a national champion, butI was in college and I couldn't
afford it.
And I was getting my firstmaster's degree.
I was just strapped for cash.
And I heard about this lady whohad a daughter and she ran a

(03:56):
small riding stable.
And my horse was pretty badass.
He was an amazingly comfortablehorse.
And she had shown Arabs.
And so it was through a friendof a friend.
And I passed the horse off and Isaid, Here's my dad's number.
His number's never gonna change.
So give him a ring if you knowyou ever change your mind.
And they never did.

(04:16):
And I called back a year laterand two years later, and he was
still being ridden.

SPEAKER_01 (04:21):
Oh nice.
Now, what what was the freehorse you were given?

SPEAKER_02 (04:24):
Multiples.

SPEAKER_01 (04:26):
First one.

SPEAKER_02 (04:27):
First one.
I want to say it was probablyBob, but trying to think.
Yeah, I think it was Bob.
I think Bob was my actual firstfree horse because I think I
purchased all the horses prior.
Yeah, it was him.
And I was technically, I was sopoor at the time, or just didn't
have any money in my wallet.
We had to trade a dollar to makeit legal.

(04:48):
At least that's what the ownersaid, right?

SPEAKER_01 (04:49):
Right, right.
I've heard that.
No, I've heard that.
You've heard that?
Yeah.
I didn't even have a dollar.

unknown (04:54):
Yeah.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (04:55):
But I had enough monthly income that I could
afford the upkeep.

SPEAKER_01 (04:59):
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (05:00):
So I got really lucky.
I knew, but I knew what I was, Iknew what I was in for.
I had taken a break from ridingin college.
And when I was started workingagain, I just knew a lady and
she was looking for someone totake care of her horse because
she was herself going throughIVF treatments.
And so she found out I rode.
I went to meet her and she hadjust gotten all of her tax

(05:23):
stolen.
She was super bummed.
She said I could ride him in ahalter, so I did.
Oh.
Yeah.
He was great.
I was cantering around barebackand she's like, oh my God, I
didn't know you were that goodof a rider.
And I'm thinking to myself,like, just because I can do this
doesn't mean I'm good, but okay.
Thanks.
Thanks.
She ended up hooking me up withthe lady who gave her to me.
She had it in her mind and sheactually never asked me to watch

(05:45):
her horse.
I think she thought I was toohigh level for her.
She was looking for someone tojust like come out and beat.
She didn't need someone to likeactually come and ride.
Like that's not what she waslooking for.
But she kept me in mind, and loand behold, I got my baby.

SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Wow.

SPEAKER_02 (05:59):
I know.
He was so cute.

SPEAKER_01 (06:01):
And then what was your next free horse?

SPEAKER_02 (06:03):
After that, after Bob was Rex when you brought Rex
to me.

SPEAKER_01 (06:08):
And Rex was a therapeutic riding horse, and he
wasn't really a red flag freehorse.
No.
He was a horse that was lovedand had a job and he had earned
his retirement.

SPEAKER_02 (06:20):
He was purely going to be a pasture puff, just a
friend for Bob because Bob washaving anxiety.
Bob had been stable his wholelife.
And so if anyone's thinking ofkeeping a horse all by itself,
that's really hard on somehorses.
They really are herd animals.
And Bob had never been alone andhe was freaking out.
I know that when you watch wildhorses, sometimes you'll see
singles out there.

SPEAKER_01 (06:41):
But even they know where their herd is, and usually
they're being pushed away.

SPEAKER_02 (06:47):
Right.
I was thinking of the bachelorbands.
Even the bachelors will end uphanging out together.
So having a horse by itself isjust kind of sad.

SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (06:54):
I was either going to get a little pony or try to
find a horse, and I justthought, I don't want a pony.

unknown (07:00):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (07:02):
So then there was you.
And I feel like I've been reallylucky having the knowledge that
I have and growing up the waythat I did, that I can tell the
difference between should I getthis free horse, should I not
get this free horse?
Now I think we were given thosetwo Arabs this year.
I got a third Arab cross, anRSH.

(07:23):
She's turned out to be great.

SPEAKER_01 (07:25):
She is, but she does have issues.
She is a very easy keeper andshe gains weight really fast.
And she has those nodules in hernose.

SPEAKER_02 (07:36):
She's got goiters.

SPEAKER_01 (07:37):
Goiters.

SPEAKER_02 (07:38):
And I don't know how that's going to affect her
long-term health.
And so that's just a greatexample of not free.
Like this animal comes withbaggage.
And so when you're gifted ahorse, I think you just need to
be really wary.
And if you're not working with atrainer, there's a reason why
that horse is free.

SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
She was spoiled, rotten.
She has no spatial boundaries.
So we've had to really work withher on that.
I don't think she was ever atrail horse.
So we've really had to work onthat.
So there again, you know, youget the teeth done, you get the
feet done.
She was barefoot.
We felt that she'd be betterwith shoes.

(08:16):
So now she's getting shoes.
She's getting vitamins, whichshe didn't get before.
There again, it's not free.

SPEAKER_02 (08:23):
It's an investment.

SPEAKER_01 (08:24):
It is.
What do you think are some redflags that if somebody's being
offered a free horse and they'renot quite sure what to ask about
this free horse, other than, ohmy God, I'm being given a free
horse and the little 12-year-oldand you comes out and you're
like, yes, yes, yes, yes.
There's gotta be a checklist ofthings that hopefully that

(08:45):
grown-up brain will go, okay,little girl or little boy, you
know, chill, baby, baby, chill,baby, baby, chill.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So what do you think are somered flag things that people
should ask the person offering?

SPEAKER_02 (08:59):
I think I would take a step back and I would say if
you're someone who's green,which that's the terminology
that we use in the horse world,is if you don't know much,
you're green.
If a horse doesn't know much,they're green.

SPEAKER_01 (09:09):
And then the next step green and green makes black
and blue.
There you go.
I love that phrase.

SPEAKER_02 (09:16):
I would say that is probably like the first thing I
would think about is are yougreen?
Is the horse green?
The next step past a green horseis a green broke horse, which is
going to be something that'sbeen ridden, but it hasn't been
used regularly or it has verylittle experience.
So if you've only been riding ahorse for a year, it's
technically it's still greenbroke, even if you trailer

(09:36):
everywhere and you go trailriding and you ride in your
arena.
In reality, being ridden for ayear is not that long.
So I think I would look at that.
And if you're someone who is agreen rider, good for you for
you know joining the team.
We'll take you in the fold.
Um, but but be careful of whatyou're being offered.

SPEAKER_01 (09:56):
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (09:57):
So I would definitely find some type of
local professional.
I would either volunteer withsomeone or find a trainer and
let them evaluate yoursituation.
Let them evaluate that horsebefore it goes home to you.

SPEAKER_01 (10:09):
Well, and what are some questions that you can ask
that person offering the freehorse?
If if you don't have a trainer,you know your emotions are
getting the best of you.
Right.
If you have that opportunity toactually think, what would you
put on a list of things to ask?
How are their feet?
Right.
Do they have any medicalconditions?
When was the last time theirteeth were floated?

(10:31):
Does this free horse come withfree tack?
Because you will have to buytack.
And if it's a hard-fittinghorse, which we've had a few,
that can get frustrating becausenow you all of a sudden have
four saddles because you wentout and bought these saddles and
you don't really know how to fita saddle.
Like I really don't.

SPEAKER_02 (10:50):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
I just buy pretty and cheap.
So there's, you know, the teeth,there's the hooves, there is,
you know, how are they on trail?
Have they ever been ridden?
How often were they ridden?

SPEAKER_02 (11:01):
Right.
Has it has there been a longtime since they've been ridden?
Is there any emotional baggagethat you're aware of?
Have they had a baby?
Have they ever bred?
That would be another one.

SPEAKER_01 (11:10):
When were they gelded?

SPEAKER_02 (11:12):
When were they gelded?
Was it a late geld?
There's all kinds of questions.
And basically it it boils downto like you need to know as much
as you possibly can about thatanimal.
Because as soon as you get thatanimal, you're probably gonna
sever ties with whoever gave itto you, or there's gonna be like
a quiet time and you're gonnahave to sort out that animal's

(11:32):
life.
And how do you merge your lifewith that animal's life?

SPEAKER_01 (11:35):
Also, too, to add to your list, you know, what kind
of supplements are they alreadyon?
What am I gonna have to continuethat you're doing?

SPEAKER_02 (11:42):
Transitioning the food is also something to
consider.
Yes.

SPEAKER_01 (11:45):
What kind of hay are they eating?

SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
Can you have a bell of hay when you leave the
property or two bells so you cantransition to whatever you're
feeding or whatever your barn isfeeding?

SPEAKER_01 (11:55):
So, what are some other things do you think
somebody should know?

SPEAKER_02 (12:01):
I can't recommend a free horse unless you are
working with someone or you aresavvy at the situation.
Do you have a friend that willhelp you along?
So, like if you really are closefriends with someone at the barn
who's a badass, like and knowstheir stuff, absolutely get that
free horse.
Just knowing that there's gonnabe hiccups along the way,
because if they could sell thathorse pretty easily, they

(12:24):
probably would.

SPEAKER_01 (12:25):
Right.
If they can get$5,000 for ahorse, why are they giving it
away for free?
There's a reason.

SPEAKER_02 (12:31):
There's a reason.

SPEAKER_01 (12:32):
And you have to put the emotions aside and you have
to ask.
Your very first question shouldalways be why is this horse
free?
That's your first question.
Even if you're excited andyou're jumping up and down and
all of a sudden you're 12 yearsold again, the first thing you
have to make sure you ask is whyis this horse free?

(12:53):
And they may feed you a load ofshit.
Like they may, oh, this was myheart horse.
And I just want him to go to agood home.
I don't care about the money.
I just care about where it'sgoing.
Okay, well, that leads us intohard horses.
Yay or nay.

SPEAKER_02 (13:10):
When it comes to heart horses, I also don't
believe in heart horses.
Like I believe that youpersonally could have a heart
horse.
I'm not saying that you can't.
For me, I don't know if I'llever have a heart horse.
For me, every horse is a hearthorse.
Yes.
Yes.
I think that when it comes togetting a free horse, that
everyone's perspective isdifferent.

(13:30):
If the person who's giving youthe free heart horse that was
their heart horse says to you,Oh, we trailered everywhere,
okay.
Their version of I traileredeverywhere and your version or
my version of I traileredeverywhere is totally different.
Because if you're traileringeverywhere, you're trailering
out two, three times a week.
To me, that's traileringeverywhere.
But someone could think that twoor three times a year is a lot.

(13:53):
And I'm not exaggerating that.
Right.

SPEAKER_01 (13:54):
And it's okay if you only trailer two or three times
a year, but ask clarifyingquestions.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (13:59):
Be very direct, be very clear, because the animal's
not going to be free for noreason.

SPEAKER_01 (14:05):
Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
Right, which is a double negative.
I said it.
But yeah, I don't know.
When it comes to soul mates andsoul horses, I just don't think
that it's a thing.

SPEAKER_01 (14:17):
I don't.
I don't see it everywhere onFacebook, though.
Everyone on Facebook is alwaystalking about their hard horse.
And it just breaks my heart whenI see someone partying with
their hard horse at no fault ofthe horse.

SPEAKER_02 (14:30):
I couldn't do it.

SPEAKER_01 (14:31):
No.

SPEAKER_02 (14:32):
I couldn't.
When I commit, I go all the way.
And I think that's one of thereasons why, like, you're gonna
find a lot of riders, someonelike me, who is on a budget and
not necessarily super successfulright in the show ring.
Because my horse had crazyarthritis.
So we were never going to besuper successful in the show
ring.
Once he hit about 10 years old,that was it.

(14:53):
He had so much arthritis, therewas nothing I could do but turn
him into a trail horse, which heloved.
But it's not the same as beingsuper duper successful in the
show ring.
So I don't have like that sortof credit with him, but was he
the my most favorite best horseever?
Absolutely.
He was.
He was.
He was amazing.
But I feel like if you put timeand energy into any horse, they

(15:18):
will be spectacular for you.
It's kind of like anyrelationship.
If you put time and energy andlove and you really do spend
quality time with someone andyou learn that person, almost
anyone truly, you can lovealmost anyone.
I mean, not anyone, anyone, butyou know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 (15:36):
Like I do, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (15:37):
People just don't feed relationships and then
those relationships fade.
And I feel like it's the sameway with your relationship with
a horse or a dog, you know,whatever it is.
If you don't put effort, it'snot going to pay off.
So then that's the differencebetween a heart horse and not a
heart horse.
Well, I mean, that's easy.
Go spend more time with youranimal.

SPEAKER_01 (15:58):
And I think a lot of people are disheartened when
they get a horse and they bringit home, and all of a sudden the
horse is not acting the same wayas it was when they went to pick
it up, and they think, oh, maybethis isn't my heart horse, and
maybe we don't have aconnection.
You have to give that horse atleast a year to really acclimate
to its new environment, to you,to your cues or non-cues.

(16:23):
I think that so many people justdon't give horses that time to
regulate back to their normallearn about each other.
I have a horse that the person Ibought it from only had for
maybe a month.
And she was like, he's a littletoo much for me.

(16:43):
He carries his head high, he's alittle too forward.
And if anybody ever met orroadmax, you would know this is
the slowest horse ever.
Literally, he's so pokey.
He holds his head high becausehe has a high headset, and
that's what you need to look at.
Of course, he's gonna be alertin his new environment.

(17:05):
So this person, I'm still intouch with her.
I'm not judging her becausethank you for selling your horse
because I bought him and I lovehim.
You know, she had her own thingsgoing on in her world, which is
why she made the decision shemade to sell him.
But I don't think that they hadenough time together for her to
learn his true personality.

(17:26):
Because when I got him, hedidn't know how to lunge.
He was very head shy around hisears.
Now, if I had only given him amonth, he would still be that
way.
But I didn't.
I he we're going on five yearsnow, and and his his ears are
fine, he doesn't care anymore.
He doesn't care, he's so hedrops his head, takes a bit,
actually moved over to ahackamore, which I love.

SPEAKER_02 (17:49):
I know, I'm so glad we did that.

SPEAKER_01 (17:50):
Yeah.
So I just think that even if youare offered a free horse, don't
feel like, oh, I just got what Ipaid for.

SPEAKER_02 (17:59):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (17:59):
Because you didn't.
You can turn that free horseinto a heart horse.
Into a heart horse, into asoulmate, into an amazing trail
partner, and not worry about oh,I got what I paid for.
I think that's kind of a stigmathat comes along with a free
horse.
Because everyone around you isgonna say, why is it free?

(18:20):
And now you're gonna startsecond guessing yourself.
And the minute that horse doessomething wrong, you're gonna
think, oh crap, free horse.
Which sometimes we think becausewhen we got the Arabs, because
we got the Arabs together, andyou took one and I took the
other, but they were sisters,yeah.
And they were in their mid andlate 20s, and they had been
together forever.
Yep, but we separated them.

(18:41):
We live around around the cornerso they could even hear each
other if they needed to.
But we had to get their teethdone, we had to get their hooves
done.
The one that I had had thisreally weird head shaking beyond
Arab head shaking.

SPEAKER_02 (18:56):
Yeah, there was something wrong.

SPEAKER_01 (18:58):
There was something going on.
I got that looked at.
I mean, there's going to bemoney involved.
Please set aside budget orsomething that you can spend on
this horse.
Because when you're beingoffered a free horse, you don't
think about a pre-purchased vetexam.

SPEAKER_02 (19:14):
No.

SPEAKER_01 (19:15):
All you think of is getting a free horse.

SPEAKER_02 (19:18):
Right.
And then you take it home andyou realize, like, oh, it's lame
and will always be lame.
Wasn't your first horse likethat?
She had Well, I bought her.

SPEAKER_01 (19:26):
She wasn't free.
Okay, she wasn't free.
Yeah.
And then and she wasn't lamewhen I got her.
She really wasn't.
Yeah.
I I worked her.

SPEAKER_02 (19:34):
Okay.

SPEAKER_01 (19:34):
I I rode so much, and I think she just started to
break down.
Because even when you saw herand reached out, I think I had
already had her maybe a month,maybe.

SPEAKER_02 (19:46):
Okay.

SPEAKER_01 (19:47):
Um, but in that month, I saddled her up
immediately and I was riding herbecause Darlene looked at her.
So I even had so she wasn't lamewhen I went to pick her up.

SPEAKER_02 (19:57):
I hear you.

SPEAKER_01 (19:58):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (19:59):
I think when you go to get a horse, what can make
your heart horse a heart horseis that you click.
You have that emotionalconnection where you can think
something and then they do it.
I tried to explain it to myhusband one time.
And I said, you know, I'll beriding Bob and I could just
think about turning left, andthen he turns left.

(20:20):
And he didn't really believe me.
But when him and I weretogether, meaning Bob, when Bob
and I were together, we reallydid compliment each other in
every way.

SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
But then didn't he ride Max one day and came home
and said, I think I get it now.
I thought I heard you tell me.

SPEAKER_02 (20:37):
I think he did.
Yeah, he did say that.
He ended up understanding what Imeant by the time.

SPEAKER_01 (20:41):
Because he's he started to connect with Max.
And then he wanted a fasterhorse.

SPEAKER_02 (20:45):
Yeah, because Max really is pokey.

SPEAKER_01 (20:48):
Max is pokey.

SPEAKER_02 (20:49):
But I think I think one of the things that separates
someone from being a riderversus being a trainer, like in
actuality, you train a horseevery time you're around it.
But if you are actively tryingto be a better equestrian, I
feel like those heart horses canbecome a heart horse when you
make that deeper connection withthem.

(21:10):
And when you're trying to solvetheir problems, when you think
to yourself, okay, this isn'tgoing right, how do I fix it?
If you can think outside the boxand be creative and figure out,
like, how do I solve thisproblem with this horse, that's
what's going to make that hearthorse and that relationship
better.
And you're just going to getcloser and closer and closer.

(21:32):
And it takes years plural.
Like it really does.
Like if you have a great horseand you love him and that's your
heart horse, awesome.
But when you get to your nexthorse, if you still want to have
a close connection, you have tosolve the problems that come at
you.
And I feel like that's what wedid with the free horses.
And it didn't work out always.

(21:54):
You know, it's worked out withaspen.
But our two little Arabs werejust so old.

SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (21:58):
And one of them was just, she broke down and I had
to put her down.

SPEAKER_01 (22:03):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (22:03):
It was sad.
She had an abscess in her footthat was awful.
And then she had the melanomas.
And she had, oh, terriblemelanomas.
I took such good care of her.
And then one day I got home andshe was just lying down in the
arena and I knew.

SPEAKER_01 (22:15):
In the sun, in the direct sun.

SPEAKER_02 (22:17):
I just I knew that was it.
I was like, oh no.
Right.
This ain't happening.
It ended up that she justcouldn't get up.
I thought she was colicking, butshe wasn't.

SPEAKER_01 (22:26):
But her arthritis was so bad.

SPEAKER_02 (22:27):
It was so bad.
She could, she could barelywalk.
And like sometimes if she wasout and someone bumped into her,
she would almost topple over.
So I was like, okay, this is it.
If you can't get up, I'm notgonna come home.
No more in the sun.
Yeah.
I that's I'm not watching thathappen.
I'm not watching that, you know,pain.
I've seen a horse die ofdehydration and it was awful.

(22:49):
And I'll never, I would neverput that on an animal.
And I kind of figured that wasthe path we were going down.
Sadly, she was free, but wasshe?
I mean, she cost me so muchmoney.
And even in death, they cost alot because you have to put them
down.
Right.
And then the truck has to comeand pick them up.
You know, that's an expense.
So they're just an expensiveanimal, which is why it's such

(23:10):
an exclusive sport.
It's so hard to afford.
Living, dying, all of it,everything.
Diagnostics, everything costsmoney.

SPEAKER_01 (23:18):
Well, because autumn has something we believe is an
abscess in her back foot andit's so high, it's just not
dropping.
She's probably gonna be out forthe rest of the season.

SPEAKER_02 (23:28):
Uh, such a bummer.
I know, I know, I love her.

SPEAKER_01 (23:30):
But you know, she's not ready to go.
I'm not gonna put her down forthat.
But if her riding days are overand she's just a retired pasture
puff, that's fine.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
Yeah, Valdis braid her hair.

SPEAKER_01 (23:42):
Of course.
And she can walk, so she can beused for groundwork training.
And you know, for people, you'vegot some people that are working
with her that are learning abouthorses and how to hand how to
handle them on the ground.

SPEAKER_02 (23:53):
Yeah, yeah.
How to be around them and groomthem.

SPEAKER_01 (23:56):
How to groom and all that stuff.
She's still very viable, veryand vibrant.

SPEAKER_02 (24:00):
She's love for Sassy, and she is.

SPEAKER_01 (24:02):
She's a good girl.
So, do you have any otheradvice?

unknown (24:07):
People?

SPEAKER_02 (24:08):
Good luck.
Good luck out there.
I think getting into horses isone of the best things that's
ever happened to me, obviously.
You know, 40 years in is a longtime.
And I think I mark my life, mylife milestones by what horse I
had or what I was working on,what goals I was working on with
my horses.
Lifetime with horses has beenthe best thing that ever

(24:31):
happened to me.
True.

SPEAKER_01 (24:32):
And just so everybody understands as well,
we're not saying don't take thefree horse.

SPEAKER_02 (24:37):
Right.
Because here we are.
I we've counted, I've counted,and between the two of us, we've
had nine free horses.
Right.
Which is unbelievable.
Yes.

SPEAKER_01 (24:44):
So we are in no way saying do not take the free
horse.
We're just hoping that we can belittle angels on your shoulder
that when somebody offers you afree horse, you at least hear
our voices going, wait, wait,wait, I've heard this before.
I've heard this before.
Okay.
Free horse means why is thehorse free?

(25:06):
And if you're happy with theanswer, then ask these
questions.
And if anybody would like anactual list, you know, we're
happy to put one together thatwe would come up with and we'll
post it on social media so thatyou have access to it.
We'll absolutely do that ifthere's a new horse, because you
have to have that in your handso that when the emotions kick

(25:29):
in, there's gonna be somethingthat tells you, okay, wait,
wait, in your brain, hopefullyI've heard this before.
And you at least ask the rightquestions.
And then there's gonna be thosehorses that you're not gonna
give a crap what Sandy and Karasaid.
You're gonna be like, F you, Idon't care what you have to say.

(25:50):
I'm getting your free horse.
And if you are, that's great.
Right.
Have fun.
Have fun, that's great.
Be safe.
But when you get home, do yourresearch.
Find people that can help you.
Reach out to trainers, reach outto some professionals, and give
the horse a chance to acclimateto your new environment.
And she's great.

SPEAKER_02 (26:11):
That's a great tip.
Yeah, yeah.
Because they're gonna know thelanguage from their last owner.
That doesn't necessarily meanthat it was the same language
that you emote.
You're not necessarily doing thesame body language and words and
sounds.
And so they're gonna have tolearn you as much as you're
learning them.
And it takes time, and they areprey animals, so they're just
gonna be scared at first.

(26:32):
New environment, new stuff, andthen new language.
That's a lot.
It's like going to a differentcountry and being like, oh ha
ha, good luck.

SPEAKER_01 (26:38):
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (26:38):
Navigate.

SPEAKER_01 (26:39):
So go forth and get that free horse, but do it with
a little bit of extra knowledgeum in your tool bag.
Yeah.
And uh use the tools that youhave.

SPEAKER_02 (26:49):
So you have our blessing as long as you ask
clarifying questions.

SPEAKER_01 (26:52):
Good luck, everybody.

SPEAKER_02 (26:53):
Toodles.
Toodles.
Hey friends, that's the end oftoday's ride.
We hope you enjoyed listening.
Don't forget to follow SaddleTalk with Sandy and Cara
wherever you get your podcasts.
Please leave us a review, shareus with a friend, and saddle up
with us next time as we ridethrough more stories, questions,
and our wild tangents.
Till then, friends, keep yourboots dusty and your hard hats

(27:17):
on.
We hope to see you out on thetrail.

SPEAKER_00 (27:19):
Dandy and Kara stir up swinging free, talking about
life and love and mystery.
From coyotes to coffee, they'llcover it all with the sagebrush
blowing and the wild birds call.
So cinch up your boots.
We're hitting the track, saddletalks on, and we're not looking

(27:39):
back.