Post by Synthia on Apr 27, 2009 18:45:20 GMT -8
Monday, April 27th... Horse killer Manny Phelps says he has a thoroughbred gelding who is drop dead gorgeous. And then Manny Phelps says if I fail to come rescue the gelding, he will soon drop dead.
The gelding is inside his stock trailer, parked next to Wal Mart in Natomas. Horse killer Manny Phelps had gone inside to buy socks. More than I needed to know.
A Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot is packed. Lots of other stores and restaurants. The tall gold stock trailer is easy to find. 11 horses inside the trailer, all destined for slaughter in Mexico. I hear a little girl say mommy look at all those horses. Can I pet one? The girl and her mom come close for a better look. 22 eyes staring back at us through tiny slots. I could see a huge white blaze. A runny nose. There was an older quarter horse, at least 25. A lady walked up and began with the kissing sounds. She said I bet all these horses are going for a nice Sunday trail ride.
Um, how much would you like to bet?
Horse killer Manny Phelps appears with his bag of white socks. The only thoroughbred in the bunch is indeed good looking. Maybe 16.1 hands, and there is no racing tattoo. Inside the trailer is amazingly clean. Horses tied in a line. A young appendix filly with bad feet. The huge white blaze belongs to a young quarter horse mix.
Horse killer Manny Phelps wants $350.00 for the thoroughbred, and another $60.00 for delivery.
Ridiculous. An otherwise nice day. Families and shopping and smiles all around. And here I am, buying a doomed horse from a sleazy guy with new socks. Like those old movies where the gangster rolls up his sleeve to reveal a dozen watches.
Driving back to my ranch, and I start making phone calls. Someone has to want the quarter horse with a white blaze. What a cutie he is. Horse killer Manny Phelps says the gelding came from a family in Placerville. He knows very little under saddle, and the family became scared of him.
There is a lady in Davis who fostered 3 of our horses, but all 3 have recently returned to us. I know how much the lady loves quarter horses. On the phone I tell her about the white faced young gelding. He is 30 cents a pound. With delivery horse killer Manny Phelps is willing to round off the purchase price to an even $300.00. The lady said sure, but she is in San Francisco, and will not get home until after dark.
So the white face quarter horse gelding and the tall handsome thoroughbred gelding were both unloaded in our driveway. The quarter horse goes to his new home this morning. The tall handsome thoroughbred gelding we have named Janoah.
And I wanted to tell you the groom position at the fancy event barn in Sacramento has been filled. More than 40 calls from horse savy young people wanting that job. If you have an opening for summer employment at your barn, let me know. I will be happy to send applicants your way.
And that about sums up a Sunday. The Red Sox have won 10 in a row. Later today could be a brisk 72 degrees...
Joe
The gelding is inside his stock trailer, parked next to Wal Mart in Natomas. Horse killer Manny Phelps had gone inside to buy socks. More than I needed to know.
A Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot is packed. Lots of other stores and restaurants. The tall gold stock trailer is easy to find. 11 horses inside the trailer, all destined for slaughter in Mexico. I hear a little girl say mommy look at all those horses. Can I pet one? The girl and her mom come close for a better look. 22 eyes staring back at us through tiny slots. I could see a huge white blaze. A runny nose. There was an older quarter horse, at least 25. A lady walked up and began with the kissing sounds. She said I bet all these horses are going for a nice Sunday trail ride.
Um, how much would you like to bet?
Horse killer Manny Phelps appears with his bag of white socks. The only thoroughbred in the bunch is indeed good looking. Maybe 16.1 hands, and there is no racing tattoo. Inside the trailer is amazingly clean. Horses tied in a line. A young appendix filly with bad feet. The huge white blaze belongs to a young quarter horse mix.
Horse killer Manny Phelps wants $350.00 for the thoroughbred, and another $60.00 for delivery.
Ridiculous. An otherwise nice day. Families and shopping and smiles all around. And here I am, buying a doomed horse from a sleazy guy with new socks. Like those old movies where the gangster rolls up his sleeve to reveal a dozen watches.
Driving back to my ranch, and I start making phone calls. Someone has to want the quarter horse with a white blaze. What a cutie he is. Horse killer Manny Phelps says the gelding came from a family in Placerville. He knows very little under saddle, and the family became scared of him.
There is a lady in Davis who fostered 3 of our horses, but all 3 have recently returned to us. I know how much the lady loves quarter horses. On the phone I tell her about the white faced young gelding. He is 30 cents a pound. With delivery horse killer Manny Phelps is willing to round off the purchase price to an even $300.00. The lady said sure, but she is in San Francisco, and will not get home until after dark.
So the white face quarter horse gelding and the tall handsome thoroughbred gelding were both unloaded in our driveway. The quarter horse goes to his new home this morning. The tall handsome thoroughbred gelding we have named Janoah.
And I wanted to tell you the groom position at the fancy event barn in Sacramento has been filled. More than 40 calls from horse savy young people wanting that job. If you have an opening for summer employment at your barn, let me know. I will be happy to send applicants your way.
And that about sums up a Sunday. The Red Sox have won 10 in a row. Later today could be a brisk 72 degrees...
Joe