Rolling Rock Titan

You know, I was just trying to explore all my options. Here was a cute prospect living basically in someone's back yard barn. He was cheap and local. All those fancy horses at fancy hunter/jumper barns have fancy prices. And I didn't relish driving to Dallas or Houston on a horse shopping expedition.

This is a 5-year-old chestnut paint with one blue eye, 15.3 hands. He's cute, stands out in the crowd, and has real potential.

His owner did not ride him first (a red flag); she said he was too big for her. Anyway, I got on him and he did fine. He rolled into a tiny little canter when I asked. He was very responsive, although he felt green. I rode him in the round pen and then out in an open field. That was my first time cantering a horse in an open field, and of course he was a complete stranger, a wild card. He behaved and seemed safe.

Then Jason got on him. As he swung his leg over, he accidentally kicked the horse in the back (Jason's signature move). The horse started, got agitated, his front legs left the ground, and then he charged forward. Jason had only one stirrup and came off. That is the first time Jason has fallen off a horse, and he can honestly say he was thrown. He was unhurt (a banged-up wrist) and bravely tried again. With testing weight in the stirrup, the horse started to do the same thing, and Jason leapt back safely.

The owner was mortified. We surmised that the horse (who had been emitting a lot of gas the whole time) had a bellyache. I touched him lightly by the girth and the horse jumped back. OK, he's in pain. An older, better trained horse would not have reacted like that. I guess it's (wait for it...) ............... not easy being green.

Priced at $2,500; owner would take "a lot less," especially now. He would be a nice project for a trainer.