If you noticed that our horses have a 'theme' in their name (Apparently Insane) (Shez Got a Temper), it is Temper's honor that every horse we own, and are able to change the name (with AQHA, you can change their name up to a year of age if they have not been shown), will carry a portion of Temp's name. Both Jake and Neko were purchased as babies and we were able to change their names. Birdie's nickname "Birdie" comes from Temp's nickname of T-Bird. We bought Temp when he was 13 months old for $400. He had a big head, big feet and a little body - all thanks to a thyroid imbalance when he was a baby. No one wanted him. We went to look at a horse at the farm where he was born and this little big headed big footed goofy looking foal ran up to me in a group of people (most all wearing baseball caps) and Temp reached up and took my hat and ran off for a game of chase. We asked why he was so goofy looking and his breeder said he had some issues. We left and didn't think more about it. About two weeks later, we went back to take another look at the horse we had gone to see. And again Temp singled me out of the group and took my hat again and gave me the look like 'I wondered when you were coming back for me'. He was not what I wanted or needed, a 13 month old goofy looking pony sized appy when I wanted a tall quarter horse. But what could I do? I was 'chosen'. And a week later, he was delivered to my house. My friends all said' what are you, nuts!!!" which was how Temporary Insanity got his name.
Temper had more personality than any ten horses. And so smart it was scary. He never had a trainer - just us and yet won more money, prizes and honors than any other horse I had ever known. He was the only horse I will ever trust completely. He was only 14.1 1/2 but he outran tall barrel horses at NBHA. He would win his pleasure class, change his tack and walk back in to win any game, then change tack again and win the next pleasure class. For years, no matter what discipline we tried, from jumping to pleasure to games, trail, eventing, dressage, Top 5 national USPC games in Kentucky, countless high points, and in his later years, was a star Special Olympics athlete. He taught many kids how to ride and how to love horses and earned the first blue ribbons for so many. And he could do all of this in his halter. He was never lame, never sick and was a clown you could always count on to make you smile. Even in his later years when he would so carefully carry the most beginner of riders so that rider felt completely safe, he'd still throw a buck of joy in when Corinne rode him just to make her smile. And now we know when we meet a horse that reminds us of Temp, that its Temp's way of letting us know we've been 'chosen' again. And all you have to do is look at Jake's history to see how we came to own him to see that there was an extra large pony sized horseshoe from heaven pointing at him. Check back for more - he has so many championship pictures it will take me weeks to post them. |
