Mondeuse

Friends of the blog, I'd like to introduce you to a new face: Mondeuse (2018, Big Brown x Toga Tiger, Hold that Tiger). Barn name TBD, leave your ideas in the comments. 

hello, little star

I don't really know what to say, to be honest. And --- to be more honest --- there isn't a whole lot to say yet. She won't be home for another week. 

her one and only posted sales pic, all the rest are from when i met her 

There's a whole lot about this that's.... kiiiiinda impulsive. And a whole lot that decidedly was not. 

link to source: https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=10450880&registry=T

So let's start with the 'impulsive' bits, yes? For starters. Mare bc of available room at current boarding barn. That's the beginning and end of that story. Red mare with sketchy race history for... not such specific reasons. 

link to source: https://www.pedigreequery.com/mondeuse2

I dunno, ever since Bali (old timers might remember), I've wanted something with Danzig in the pedigree. That's becoming increasingly less common, and naturally farther up in the tree... So ya know, shoot your shot?  

all pics are from the video below, this is a walk-trot transition

More impulsive bits.... Let's see. Not great hair. Like, actually, really bad coat. Charles has been blessed with svelte panther genetics. Mondeuse is basically a leper at the moment. Leave your favorite coat health products (nutritional or topical or whatever) in the comments too. 

if you watch the video for no other reason, let it be to enjoy the adorable playfulness between horse and doggo

I also didn't ride her. Uh, nobody did. Again, see aforementioned "skin basically exploded" comment, plus "oh and she also recently went thru a fence" as explanation for no restarting. Eh, it's worked for me once before.... (hai, Charlie!)... maybe I'll get lucky again?

seriously, every pic is like a "find the dog!" puzzle
also, yea, she has head to toe rain rot, plus, um, scabs from a recent fence encounter, oops

Honestly... I really don't know a whole heckuva lot about the animal. But... I like her. She's pleasant and easy to handle. Got to observe a whole spectrum of care work being done (including bathing and a dex shot for obvious reasons) when visiting. Plus obvi the round pen work in the video below. 

neck retraction game is strong

She appears to have a strong desire to connect. Both with the dog participating in her liberty work.... but also with the person doing the driving (who, it should be known, also sold me Charlie). 

shark fin wither = check

I'm ultimately pretty agnostic about the finest points of 'talent' or 'potential' or 'fanciness.' Most reasonably built + sound thoroughbreds can jump 3' and do 2nd level dressage. And in my experience... Getting beyond that is obvi easier with a schoolmaster, sure, but also requires quite a bit more from the rider. Which..... ya know. Charlie helped me understand better. 

needs about 200lbs

Obvi this is not a Charlie post, but it must be noted: Charlie remains the big star, here. And I do still hold out hope that maybe we can do 1m things in one way or another when he's sound again. He's the big guy, my #1. But I'm not convinced he loves lessons, loves a lot of purposeful methodical practice. Ok ok ok, he's really spoiled and I enable the shit out of that. 

link to video

And it got to the point where I'm so protective of Charlie that I'm really selective about what sort of lessons I'll take, and what I'll allow us to be instructed to do... Which.... Uh.... Ya know, kinda defeats the whole point of continuing education. And as a consequence, it's been a long time since I've felt like I'm really developing in my own education as a rider. 

must love dogs <3

So that's the decisive part of this whole crackpot plan. I want an understudy. I want a warm body to grow and learn with, while preserving all that is wonderful and amazing and confidence building about the sweet capable superstar of a gelding we've all come to know and love. 

Will Mondeuse be perfect for that role? Who knows! For all we know, maybe I just doubled my vet bills and still won't be able to ride LOL (but, srsly universe, plz no!). It's a step in a new direction tho. Maybe a leap. I dunno. We'll see. I promise to write about it tho!