THE HORSES OF MAPLEFEN FARM

JANGO THE ATTITUDE GUY
Jango is my current riding horse. I have had him for 9 months. He is a 7 yr. old Quarterhorse/TB (but I really doubt there is any TB, I think Mustang)flea bitten gray. I call him my grumpy old man - he sleeps (laying down - not from any foot problems - just likes to sleep laying down) more than any horse I've ever seen. Then gets grumpy when I go to get him - although he nickers when he sees me. He stays grumpy and pouting when I tack him up but when I get on him he gets to work. He history is that of a drill team horse, reining horse and supposedly a seasoned trail horse. Someone had taught him to jump so that was a plus since I want to event him. Basically, he knew nothing about dressage and certainly was green on the trails. He is doing a pretty good training level dressage test, is becoming a fun and courageous trail horse (he really moves out at the walk, which I really like). So it's time to take off the dressage saddle (which is my favorite trail saddle) and put on the jump saddle and work on me, especially riding two point, these old legs just aren't what they used to be. Prior to Jango, I had two horses that were outrageous spookers, you know the kind, they jump three feet to the side and I just cannot ride those spooks. I shoot off like an arrow. Broke my shoulder and my wrist on one of them - decided he wasn't the horse for me. That's why I bought Jango, he is absolutely spookless - he will give me a fight sometimes if a trail seems too scary to him - and we work through it - but he just doesn't spook. I will be introducing the horses before Jango soon.

SPREE QUEEN OF THE FARM

Spree was a mare with an attitude. She wanted to do things her way. The mare could jump the moon but she didn't want any help from her rider. Take off long, chip in, she would do it her way. All the rider had to do was keep a good leg on her and just set up there and point her at the fences. She had the best work ethic - but when she was done with her job, she wanted to be alone. She was a beautiful horse and stayed beautiful through her total 29 years. Sadly, she had to be euthanized this year and we miss her sooo much. The barn will never be the same without her.

MICKEY THE WESTERN HORSE

Mickey was the sweetest horse I've ever had. He loved people. I think he really wanted to be a dog. He was a very good moving horse so I had visions of him being my next event horse. WRONG. He had always been a western horse and he absolutely hated the bit contact that is needed in dressage. I worked and worked with him and he did everything imaginable to relieve himself of the bit pressure. So Mickey went to a home that loves to trailride, they ride western, and they love him and he loves them.

KOSHARI FLASH (SARGENT) THE BIG GUN

This was my first try at training from the ground up. This big (16.2H) 3 year old Appaloosa was sweet and safe to be around, seemed to have a brain, the price was right, so I brought him home. All went well until he was trained enough to gain some confidence - he had a lot more confidence than I did and he sure figured it out to his best advantage. I was too old and it was too far to the ground from the top of his back. He became very strong, cocky and way too confident. So I sold him to a young strong rider who was more confident than him - and they have been very successful. Appaloosa of the year in training level dressage, hoping to be in the North American eventing championships next year.

INDIAN JOE - THE BEST OF THE HERD

The first horse ever bought for eventing. We had no idea what we were doing. Bought him out of the Little Nickel for $500. No vet check, no nothing. Had a terrible time loading him. Finally got him in and he was a fire breathing, whinnying, stomping 1200 lbs of horse. Got him to the stable, opened the feeder doors on the horse trailer and out popped this head - eyes bugging out, nostrils flaring, stomping, screaming animal. The owner and trainer came running out to see what the commotion was about and she nearly fainted when she was told this was my 12 year old daughters new horse, and asked her what she thought. She just looked at us and said unload the beast before he unloads himself. Oh yes, it was very cold in November, and to add to this picture, big puffs of steam was billowing out his nostrils, too. LOLOLO. Indian Joe always stayed vocal, always pawed, was hotter than heck but he turned out to be a great eventer. He loved the sport. We all evented him, my two daughters and myself. All you had to do was point him to the fences and he went - you got a free ride from him. More than once he had to put his head and neck up to keep me from falling off but he would do it. We had to put him down 7 years ago at the age of 34. He was the wind under our wings.