The six horses of Flying Solo Ranch
Yes, six horses. Yes it’s a lot. Yes I need help.
Dante – Quarter Horse gelding
My first horse is a 1999 Quarter Horse gelding. As of the writing of this page, he’s 25 years old, making him the longest adult and animal relationship I’ve ever had. It is with Dante that I had my first horse adventures, specifically fox hunting, kicking off what will likely be a life time addiction to equestrian thrills. Dante is now retired and living the high life as alpha horse of Flying Solo Ranch.
Nisha – Arabian mare
My second horse is Nisha, a 2008 Russian-bred Arabian mare who I purchased in 2017 as an Endurance competition horse from a breeder in Washington State. The breeder wasn’t sure how competitive a horse she would really be, but I can confirm she’s a winner. We have amassed nearly 1,000 official competition miles, took 4th place in the 2023 AERC Distance Nationals 50 mile race, and usually place in the top ten. We have 7 first place wins for Limited Distance races.
Ransom – Arabian gelding
Alshama PA aka “Ransom” is a 2016 Arabian gelding who I saw posted to a Facebook Endurance group as he’d just been sold to a kill pen in Texas in July of 2019. I eventually paid his ransom (his namesake) and had him shipped up to Washington. It was a rough go, as the shipper was an inhumane asshole, but eventually Ransom came back around. He is small but mighty, an athletic powerhouse proving good things do come in tiny packages. He is now competing in Endurance and just took 7th place in a tough 50 mile course.
Cat – Quarter Horse mare
Miss Crackers Whiz, aka “Cat” is a free horse bequeathed to me by a woman named Teri who passed very suddenly from stage four cancer. Cat is the first horse I got after moving to Texas in the summer of 2021. Like Ransom before her, I’d seen Cat posted to a trail riding group on Facebook and she caught my eye. She had a delicate feminine head, lovely frame, and dark red Chestnut mare sass written all over her. I contacted her owner, Teri, to inquire about her. Teri was protective of Cat and wanted to check me out before I tried out the horse. RESPECT! Teri came to Flying Solo Ranch and loved it. Cat and I got on well enough, but I decided I needed to pass on her purchase, informing Teri if she wanted to just keep Cat at my ranch while Teri got situated in her new life, I’d be happy to keep Cat. About six months passed and I hadn’t heard from Teri. Then in late January of 2022, I heard from Teri’s sister via Facebook messenger. Teri had passed in December from complications due to stomach cancer and wished for me to take Cat. So I did. Cat will live with me until her death, upon which she will return to Teri.
Vander – Dutch Harness gelding
Oh boy. Vander is an un-papered Dutch Harness gelding whom I rescued from the Bowie Texas Livestock in the summer of 2022. He is a giant, 16.3 hands or taller (I haven’t sticked him) with enormous feet and stocky legs. We believe he is about 10 years old now, so probably born sometime between 2013 and 2014. His origins are unknown but likely from somewhere around Ohio. He is a chestnut paint in color, has the personality of a big Golden Retriever, and is, at the writing of this page, untrained. So why do I have him? That’s a great question, isn’t it? I’m a sucker, that’s the short answer. I saw video of him and decided to save him, as he was very underweight, untrained, and big: a perfect horse for slaughter. How he will be under saddle is a question mark, but I’m hoping that since I’m 5/5 on the other horses I have chosen, that he’ll be another hidden gem.
Hondo Lane – Off the Track Thoroughbred gelding
Ever since boarding my first horse Dante all the way back in 2006, I’d wanted a Thoroughbred. I admired their frames, their work ethic, their incredible athleticism. But I had no reason to get one, since Endurance is a small horse game, mainly Arabians. Logic be damned, though. I had followed Remember Me, an off the track thoroughbred rescue and rehab group, since moving to Texas. Hondo Lane came up for adoption in early spring of 2023 and remained available for months. Why though? I had no need for a sixth horse. Heck, I had no need for a fifth horse, but there I was with five and stressed out. No matter, I felt if Hondo was still available, maybe he was waiting for me. I went to check him out and found a tall, goofy sort of dude with a left eye with lots of white around it (so he always looks suspicious from that side), a tendency to head rock when being tacked. But he was a powerhouse of a horse, with a lot of go, a rocking horse canter, and a frame for jumping. Sold, to the lady who makes bad choices. Hondo Lane and I are now members of the Cloudline Hounds, making a full circle back to my equestrian thrill roots of Fox Hunting.