Shadow sold

February 25, 2023

This is one of those hard moments that just makes so much sense.  Jackson sold Shadow to a lady from SW MO for a very good price.  It was kind of melancholy to see Shadow leave Willis Creek Ranch, but in recent years he had required being in a lot all by himself (due to his poor behavior around the other horses which began after a failed attempt to be the lead horse in the herd.)  That sounds kind of snarky and I both laugh and cry when I type it - but it is exactly what happened to the stinker!  At this point, with the work that Jackson is doing in breeding, raising and selling horses, we just don't have that kind of room to spare.  Plus, Shadow wasn't getting ridden like he needed to be (again, no time) so it made sense to sell him to someone who will be happy to ride him and work him and give him a lot of attention.  So he needed to go.  But as Marvin pointed out, we are running out of the horses that Marvin started.  How can that be?  We and the horses are getting old!  Time goes by.  But to think of Willis Creek Ranch not having any 'Marvin started horses' hurts my heart.  (we do still have Runner and Annie, so we aren't quite there yet...)  Also, the whole process of finding and buying Shadow was so important with Grandpa Jack, Grandma Sue, and Jackson... so many memories.  But, that is the way it goes.  And it was 100% the correct decision.  

Shadow

loading Shadow 

Jackson was feeling pretty good!

bye Shadow - thanks for the memories! 

Sold!

Jackson sold two horses in July.  He was quite pleased with the whole process - a good reward for his hard work.  The horses he sold were Gus and Jim.  Here are some of the photos he took of them for their sale flyers.  (You may remember the day he was doing the photo shoot of Gus and Jim.)

Jim

taking some new photos of Gus...

Here are a couple of those...

You may remember that Gus is a young stallion.  He is a Cremello and a very interesting looking horse.  But Jackson determined he wanted to go a different direction with the bloodlines so put him up for sale.  He ended up delivering Gus to the buyer (for a transport fee) - meeting her halfway in Topeka, KS.  This was him coming home after that long day (my view from the pool).  :) 

Just a 'view from my pool' video that includes Jackson's return from delivering Gus.  :D

But the man who bought Jim drove up here from south Missouri.  He has a huge ranch and uses a lot of horses each year working his cattle.  He appreciated the work Jackson has done and the bloodlines he is focusing on - I think there is good potential that he will be a repeat customer.  

Jackson hears the man arrive...

Jim wasn't too sure about that horse trailer (it was definitely unique).

Giving Jim a chance to check it all out...

 

Sold!  

He may not look it, but he is feeling good.  :) 

Officially scratching Jim's name off the chart.  :D

How do you celebrate your second horse sold in 48 hours?  
Take a ride on the first horse you ever owned... Shadow.  

First ride on Bailey outside

November 6, 2020

When Jackson got Bailey in late July she had never been ridden.  He started working her and progressed from ground work to round pen work to first riding her inside the barn in a smaller round pen.  Then it was time to give her a try outside in the octagonal pen.  It was a successful ride.  She did really well for it being the first time riding her outside the barn.  She stayed under control and for a horse that has only had a few rides she did really well.  She didn't buck or cut up.  Marvin and Jonathan also rode in the pen with Jackson and Bailey.  Shadow and Bella helped Bailey feel more calm and comfortable in the new setting.  

Jackson getting ready to ride Bailey

Jonathan is riding Bella and Marvin is riding Shadow

everything is looking good!

Bailey is doing great!

I sure love seeing these three fellas out riding together...