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My entire life I have loved horses and since I could say "horse" it's all I ever asked for. What did I want for my birthday? Christmas? A horse, always a horse. I began riding at 18 months and I was determined that I would, indeed, get/have a horse!

And after loving several horses (that weren't mine) I finally got MY horse!

My father owned his own business and my parents decided he could trade with a client who was "a horse trader." They bought horses from auctions and sold them. They also took them back if the home wasn't a good fit.

Anyway my parents took me there and I got to pick any horse I wanted. And I chose Luke. A 16.2 quarter horse, with more a racing build than the typical cow build. He was bay with black legs and black mane and tail. He was gorgeous. However it wasn't meant to be with Luke. I went to ride him for a second time, and he was gone. Luke had an accident that left him lame and they wouldn't sell a lame horse.

So the search began to find a different horse.

As my dad continued to do his job I scoped out horses. I rode several and none seem to grab my heart the way Luke had.

One day two new horses showed up and were in a round pen. I inquired about them and they said they were picked up from a sale in Montana (we were in Washington) and one was hurt and they were quarantining them. I continued to be curious over the sorrel quarter horse gelding.

Then he was finally out in the pasture. I was told of his history. He had marks from his cinch rubbing on him continually (he was the horse who was injured and needed to heal) as his previous owner was apparently out of shape and dint know how to mount a horse, or see they were hurting him. That owner had bought him from an auction, where previously he'd been a hired trail mount for two years. Before that he had been said to have been born on a working cow ranch, however no one knew if that were true or not. No other information was given when the bought him from that sale in Montana.

So I went out to him in the pasture halter and lead rope in hand. I waited an hour for him to approach me, to no avail. He watched me as he grazed. He'd listen and watch. Finally I gave in and walked up to him. He had no care. He didn't lift his head, just kept grazing. I petted him, talked to him, felt him all over. Still he only grazed. So I put the halter on him and we walked out of the big pasture and got ready to ride.

Now when I went to cinch him he spooked/jumped. I was warned beforehand he would. So I didn't have him tied so he could move freely. I allowed the traumatized horse to have his moment while being cinched. After all he'd had sores for who knows how long and obviously wasn't treated appropriately.

And I rode him. And he was probably the 50th horse I'd ridden, at that point. To say the least everyone was eagerly awaiting for me to pick my horse. This horse didn't grab my heart the way Luke had, but in time he captured my soul.

I came to call him Montana, and Tanner for a nick name. At first he did his duty, but had no care for people, no passion for life. He'd been a horse who'd just been used by people, and never loved by someone. At least that was my take on it, based on his behavior or rather the lack of it.

So I started from the ground with him. Hundreds of hours. And man did Montana have a personality! When he finally opened up, he was opinionated, had a sense of humor, and definitely would test a rider if he didn't think you were paying attention. He was perfect!

He was my sweet 17 birthday present. Complete with all his tack and grooming supplies. Everything else I had to provide, and I didn't mind a bit!

I had Montana for nine years. ♡ Until it was time to have him "put down." By that time he had very few teeth, was on a massively specialized diet and I mostly just loved on him and played games from the ground. He told me he was ready to go, and I agreed.




*MyMontana

I like an Appaloosa called Stud Snyder, so I use that name another for black Appaloosa horses. I also use Bar and Doc too. These are names of real life bloodline of AQh and TB horses. Also use Harlan or Rowdy, there are names of my own real life horses I use own.