Topaz Gold

Registered 1/2 arab, palomino mare, born circa 1968

I've been browsing horse ads for decades now. It's just something I do on a daily basis. Forget the headlines, comics & sports pages. Forget watching Wall Street jump up & fall down. Just give me the classifieds & I'm happy.

That day in the early 1970's when I found an ad in the paper for a 6 year old, palomino mare for $100.00 was just like any other day. I was bored & needed something to do so I was barn shopping (my version of window shopping). I called, got directions & off I went to check the horse out. When I got to the place I was met by a family desperate to get rid of their horse. They hadn't had the mare long & no one had been able to stay on her. She was a shaggy, cream colored horse with long feet, a few ribs showing, & her expression was a defensive one with constantly pinned ears. They told me I could have the bridle, complete with its upside down hackamore, & what turned out to be a bareback pad. They said she always bucked when the pad went on. No wonder! They were putting it on backwards so the cinch strap was sliding into her flank. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing. That poor mare. Even though I didn't want her or need her, she needed me so I handed over $100.00. It was a pleasant surprise when they handed me registration papers that identified her as Topaz Gold, a 1/2 arabian.

I brought Topi home later that day, having a friend haul her for me. She stood about 14.2 & had a cranky disposition. At feeding time she was like a piranha, pinning her ears & snapping at anything or anyone coming within reach. What had a I done bringing this nasty mare home when I didn't even need another horse? It took a week to convince her no one was stealing her feed & that I was to be allowed in her stall. As she started to fill out she started to look surprisingly decent. Then she began to shed out the dirty yellow coat & what was underneath was a stunning, golden dappled mare with an almost white mane & tail. Topi the ugly duckling turned into a gorgeous mare. She was extremely green under saddle but learned quick & was a nice mare to ride on trail. Her gaits were smooth & she enjoyed getting out. Her only bad behavior under saddle was an occasional buck, but we were working that out. After a few months I decided Topi was ready to go to a new home. She had become a nice mare & I had no doubt an intermediate rider would do well with her.

The first person who came to look at Topi was looking for a show prospect. She declined to buy her because Topi was greener than she wanted. Later this gal called to say she'd like to buy Topi because she was the best of the worst that she'd looked at. If she had to settle for less than she wanted, Topi was at the top of that list. I told her in no uncertain terms that Topi was not then, or ever, going to be for sale to her. She deserved better than someone who didn't value her before even owing her. HUMPH!

I had advertised Topi very specifically as NOT a beginner or kids horse. She was still green & had some quirks. She still didn't like people all that much either. There were some people who called looking for their 9 year old daughter's first horse. I hated to disappoint them but had to tell them I wouldn't even let them see Topi. They called again, & again, & finally I agreed they could come look. They had looked at over a dozen horses & none had been right for their daughter. When they arrived I had the daughter put the halter on Topi & lead her around. I was ready to grab the lead if needed. I then saddled Topi & rode her some. She was on her best behavior so against my better judgement, I let the daughter get on. After placidly walking around for a few minutes Topi began to buck. The girl dropped the reins & grabbed the saddle horn. I yelled for her to pick up the reins & pull back. Luckily she did & Topi immediately stopped. Whew, that was close. While I talked with the parents I had Topi tied to a hitching rail. I was explaining all the reasons why Topi was not the horse for their daughter. I even offered to help them find a suitable kids horse. As I looked over at Topi, I was horrified to see that young girl climbing up Topi's leg to get back on. To her credit that mare never moved a muscle & allowed herself to be mauled. The parents practically begged me to sell them Topi & after her incredible hitching rail behavior, how could I say no.

A few weeks later I got a phone call from the girl (I wish I could remember her name) to tell me how much she loved Topi. She said Topi had run away straight back to the stall, throwing her, but she still loved her. Every year for the next few years I would get a call on Topi's birthday. I had to send Topi my birthday wishes & get an update on how they were doing. That scruffy yellow horse blossomed into a beautiful golden mare who taught a young girl how to ride. I NEVER would have thought of Topi as a kids horse, but she proved me wrong. I have never again underestimated the desire of a girl to have a horse; nor have I underestimated the understanding a horse can have towards a young girl.