On a summer day in 2003, a man stopped by to say he had a horse to donate to the
school. Ray and I looked at each other with a bit of skepticism. Then he said she
was an Arabian and we both had the same thought, hyper – nervous, not suitable for
a riding school. He saw our look and said he thought she would work out. If not, she
was ours to do with as we saw fit.
When he brought her to us I asked all I could think of. A few months earlier I had
purchased a new bit, which I wasn’t using on any of the horses. When we went to the
barn so he could show me what she worked best in it was that bit. He also told me
that she would drive to a cart. I tried her one time and she did.
The grandkids and I rode her about 60 days to get acquainted before putting her into
the school. I still remember the first time I rode her. It was a big time of testing as to
which one of us was going to be in charge. The good news is that she agreed (after
a couple of days) that I could be.
Her previous owner thought she was 21 when he gave her to us on June 8, 2003.
Since then he said he ran across information that indicated she might be 31 at the
time. My vet has looked at her teeth as recently as this year (2009) and thinks she is
younger than mid-twenties. Who knows? She is a cutie and very opinionated.
She has a ‘princess’ attitude and makes sure all who come in contact with her know
about it. She just has a ‘look at me’ way of moving – absolutely nothing bad. She
likes to go and the students just love that. She is a bit rough in the trot but her trot is a
good one to learn about posting. She just puts you in the right place every time.
She is one that has caused me to re-think animal communication. The first time was
when I went into a big pen to catch her (she was with other mares at the time). When
I started her way she was looking right at me. As I approached, she stood still and
turned her head to look over her left shoulder. She then turned back to me and
looked over her right shoulder. When her head turned back to me, I had to laugh and
I told her that I was after her, there was no one else even close.
Another time a mom was tacking her up in the barn and her husband was nearby. All
of a sudden I heard, “Teefa, he didn’t mean it. You don’t look like a lama.” When I
stepped over to see what was going on Teefa had her chin on mom’s shoulder and
a look of one who had been highly insulted. I asked what had happened and mom
said that dad made a comment to the effect she looked like a lama with her winter
coat.
Last summer I put a 4-year-old on her for her lesson. When I caught Teefa I told her I
didn’t want her trotting because the little girl wasn’t ready – especially not for her
bumpy trot. As we went to the arena I reminded her again. As the lesson
progressed, it was time for sister to trot her horse. Sure enough, Teefa started to trot
too. I immediately started her way and was telling her to walk and of course on and
on. She stopped trotting after the third step and when I got to her (still nagging) she
dropped her head, backed her ears and glared at me. In my mind I heard the
following words with the appropriate tone of voice, “I forgot, okay?” I shut up and
went back to my place in the arena and she completed the lesson at a walk. The little
girl handled everything just fine.
This flea-bitten gray mare is 14 hands 1½ inches tall. The Arabian is a lighter breed
so she will weigh between 750 and 800 pounds. I have one young rider that can post
on Teefa riding bareback. A few of the kids are able to ride her trot bareback and
not bounce off.
In 2011 she was put on light duty - she takes small children now. She has developed
a sway back due to age. At first she was insulted with the change in duties but after
about 6 months, she decided it wasn't a demotion and she was still valued.
school. Ray and I looked at each other with a bit of skepticism. Then he said she
was an Arabian and we both had the same thought, hyper – nervous, not suitable for
a riding school. He saw our look and said he thought she would work out. If not, she
was ours to do with as we saw fit.
When he brought her to us I asked all I could think of. A few months earlier I had
purchased a new bit, which I wasn’t using on any of the horses. When we went to the
barn so he could show me what she worked best in it was that bit. He also told me
that she would drive to a cart. I tried her one time and she did.
The grandkids and I rode her about 60 days to get acquainted before putting her into
the school. I still remember the first time I rode her. It was a big time of testing as to
which one of us was going to be in charge. The good news is that she agreed (after
a couple of days) that I could be.
Her previous owner thought she was 21 when he gave her to us on June 8, 2003.
Since then he said he ran across information that indicated she might be 31 at the
time. My vet has looked at her teeth as recently as this year (2009) and thinks she is
younger than mid-twenties. Who knows? She is a cutie and very opinionated.
She has a ‘princess’ attitude and makes sure all who come in contact with her know
about it. She just has a ‘look at me’ way of moving – absolutely nothing bad. She
likes to go and the students just love that. She is a bit rough in the trot but her trot is a
good one to learn about posting. She just puts you in the right place every time.
She is one that has caused me to re-think animal communication. The first time was
when I went into a big pen to catch her (she was with other mares at the time). When
I started her way she was looking right at me. As I approached, she stood still and
turned her head to look over her left shoulder. She then turned back to me and
looked over her right shoulder. When her head turned back to me, I had to laugh and
I told her that I was after her, there was no one else even close.
Another time a mom was tacking her up in the barn and her husband was nearby. All
of a sudden I heard, “Teefa, he didn’t mean it. You don’t look like a lama.” When I
stepped over to see what was going on Teefa had her chin on mom’s shoulder and
a look of one who had been highly insulted. I asked what had happened and mom
said that dad made a comment to the effect she looked like a lama with her winter
coat.
Last summer I put a 4-year-old on her for her lesson. When I caught Teefa I told her I
didn’t want her trotting because the little girl wasn’t ready – especially not for her
bumpy trot. As we went to the arena I reminded her again. As the lesson
progressed, it was time for sister to trot her horse. Sure enough, Teefa started to trot
too. I immediately started her way and was telling her to walk and of course on and
on. She stopped trotting after the third step and when I got to her (still nagging) she
dropped her head, backed her ears and glared at me. In my mind I heard the
following words with the appropriate tone of voice, “I forgot, okay?” I shut up and
went back to my place in the arena and she completed the lesson at a walk. The little
girl handled everything just fine.
This flea-bitten gray mare is 14 hands 1½ inches tall. The Arabian is a lighter breed
so she will weigh between 750 and 800 pounds. I have one young rider that can post
on Teefa riding bareback. A few of the kids are able to ride her trot bareback and
not bounce off.
In 2011 she was put on light duty - she takes small children now. She has developed
a sway back due to age. At first she was insulted with the change in duties but after
about 6 months, she decided it wasn't a demotion and she was still valued.
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Notice that she is drinking out of a human
water fountain.
We had finished the Relay for Life ride at
Ned Houk Park and needed to water the
horses. We had a bucket with us and there
was a spout on the stand so we could have
filled the bucket. Granddaughter Kelsea
started playing with the water fountain and I
caught several pictures of the horses
drinking from the fountain.
water fountain.
We had finished the Relay for Life ride at
Ned Houk Park and needed to water the
horses. We had a bucket with us and there
was a spout on the stand so we could have
filled the bucket. Granddaughter Kelsea
started playing with the water fountain and I
caught several pictures of the horses
drinking from the fountain.
BELOW - During the 2009 vet visit, it was
determined that Teefa needed her teeth floated.
She was put under sedation and this rig was
inserted to keep her mouth open while Doc rasped
the teeth. Definitely not a dignified look for a
princess.
determined that Teefa needed her teeth floated.
She was put under sedation and this rig was
inserted to keep her mouth open while Doc rasped
the teeth. Definitely not a dignified look for a
princess.
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| Abrazos Adventure Portales New Mexico offering family and individual recreation to Portales, Clovis, Cannon AFB and the surrounding area with horseback riding and lessons Wendy Toombs owner/instructor 575.607.7344 MEET TEEFA |
BELOW - You can see how her
back sags - this is the sway back.
back sags - this is the sway back.