Horse Sale Hell

The weekend of the horse sale neared accompanied by rain, rain and more rain. I took Jana to Cheyenne with me two weeks ahead of the sale so that I could maybe get in some riding in an indoor arena or in Fort Collins where it had not rained as much. My neice and I participated in a team sorting clinic east of Wellington on a very cold and windy Saturday morning. Although we got cold to the bone, we had a lot of fun. Then we rode together at Singletree Stables in Cheyenne the following week. It was cold and rainy that day, also, but we were able to ride indoors until the sun came out, then we did some riding in the outdoor arena.
My niece bought a young gelding from me last fall and he is coming along splendidly in his training, which she has done herself, and she is so rightly proud of him. He is a beautiful horse. She loves to ride and I asked her to do me the favor of riding Jana through the sale ring on sale day.
The horse sale didn't go so well, however. It was raining the day before the sale, but I loaded Jana and took her to work with me, then on to Torrington, where the sale was to be the next day. I wanted to get her settled in and used to the place so she wouldn't exhibit spookiness the next day due to unfamiliar surroundings when potential buyers began to look her over. They were having a wedding in the sale pavillion that evening, though, so I wasn't able to get her in there. I camped out at the fairgrounds that night, just keeping an eye on her, wishing for morning and praying for a good price the next day.
I was the first one in the arena when it opened about 8:30 that morning. Jana was just a little snorty, being in new surroundings, but she took everything in stride like she always does. I rode her around the arena until she was used to things, but I don't like to do my own riding through the sale ring. I get so nervous, I can't even keep track of where the bid is. I would sit in the stands to yell "No sale," if need be. Need was. What a disaster. I procrastinated about getting my paperwork in for the sale, because I had been at the head of the sale last year, with poor results, so I wanted to be a little later on, but I wound up about tenth from the end--87th of about 97 horses. Apparently everyone who wanted a horse already bought one. So Jana got to come back home with me.
So it's back to trying to sell her on the internet, and taking her around to horse events where someone might see her and want her. She's a very nice horse and would make a good kid's horse right now if the kid knows anything about riding. She just wants to do whatever you ask her to do. Jana has a nice, fast little walk and should be a fast runner, although I haven't had her at full speed yet, as I've only ridden her about 50 times. There are some speedy horses on her pedigree, such as Easy Jet, Royal Charger,Three Bars and Pa Jones. She also has a favorable attitude toward working cattle, which is also in her background with Doc O'Lena and King P234 breeding. Due to her size, 15 hands, some kid or light rider would be very lucky to get her. She is the kind that stays broke. I didn't ride her from about Thanksgiving last year until I got back on her in late February this year, and she was right where I left her--no cold back, no buck. Not the kind you have to lunge for 15 minutes before you get on, just hop on and go.