It must be Fate!

How does one explain something that just happens. It is really fate or chance. Well, I like to think of it as Fate.
I started riding horses in 2000, which is mid way through my life.
In October of 2008, a friend and I were traveling down to Reading, Michigan to check out some horses. I have had four horses in my life time, but never seem to be a team or partner with any of them. They all were good horses, but the shoe just did not fit the foot. Most of the time fear was in my gut. The fear of falling and becoming injured or even being killed, laid in the back of my thoughts. But that one day in October changed how I would ride a horse in the future.
As we travelled down the free way, we laughed, joked and talked of the type of dream horse we each wanted. Her dream is to win versatility, and mine was just to find a good horse I could trust. During one of our many chats, I had blurted out the statement,'"What the Heeelll?" I had to explain that this came from a character which I had seen on television and had fallen in love with the being. That being was Jeff Dunham's puppet, Peanut. I just love how this man can bring the puppet to life. Well with that brief description in place, I told Janet, wouldn't it be funny if I found a horse named "Peanut".
Well, we arrived in Reading and were prepared to ride as many horses as we could in two days. It was like going into a use car dealer and test driving all the hot rods the owner had on the lot. There were horses of just about every color, size, age, and level of training, that one could think of, or at least of what I could think of. Janet had her heart on wanting to ride this one little buckskin gelding named "Daisy Does Hollywood". She told me he has a confirmation to die for. Janet was told by the owner that she would not like the horse, as it did not have enough cow in it for her. Janet wanted to try him. As she was tacking up this little gelding, she asked what his barn name was. The owner said "Peanut". Janet and I just looked at each other and laughed. What would be the chances of one moment making a statement, and then later, hearing that the place you had traveled to, had a horse named Peanut.
I got to try a little buckskin mare, who did not like me at all. Pinning her ears at me while I removed her from the stall was the first indication. I tried not to take it to heart, but once in the saddle, this little mare, just was not wanting to work for me. As Janet rode Daisy Does Hollywood, a.k.a. Peanut, around the arena a few times, she soon expressed that besides his confirmation, there was nothing she liked about him. She asked me if I wanted to give him a try. I said sure. Of course I had in mind that if Janet did not like how this horse rode, neither was I. So, up in the saddle I go. First thing I noticed, I sat different on Peanut than I have ever sat on any other horse I had rode. I first walked him around the arena, then to a trot, and then to the lope. WOW, was all that came to my thoughts. Janet even noticed that I was actually sitting in the saddle and not getting dislodged every step the horse took. I had never had this feeling before, and thought that something was not right. But the more I rode him, the more I liked the ride. But I had many more horses to try. Janet and I rode several horses that Saturday, and on Sunday, I had came to the conclusion to give four out of the many a second ride. Peanut was on the list. I rode the chestnut mare, the buckskin mare, the sorrel mare, and Peanut.
I called my husband at home, six hours drive from where we were and told him about this wonderful little guy and how I was feeling while riding him. In fact, I was riding Peanut while I was talking to him and taking Peanut through some things that I am sure he had never experienced before. He conquered the obstacles like a champion. I so wanted to bring him so bad, but my hubby said no. I could only exclaim that while riding Peanut was like putting on your favorite pair of jeans. Peanut just felt so right. But Ron still said no. So, Janet and I left the farm with her new horse and headed home. My eyes were red and swollen and I was very disappointed that I had to leave that wonderful little ride behind.
Well, once home, the discussion began and the following Saturday, at 4 in the morning, I was on my return trip to Reading with my trailer in tow. I was going to go get my Peanut. Once there, I rode him again, my youngest daughter, who had traveled with me, rode him, and she found she liked the way he rode as well. I told the owner that riding him was like becoming melted chocolate on his back. I just melted on to Peanut. I knew he was the horse for me and I was going to take him home. I signed the contract and loaded Peanut in the trailer for the trip home. He traveled like a dream. Once home, I unloaded him and introduced him to my husband Ron. Ron could not believe how much shorter he was than the horses I normally had. I had my little Peanut. He settled in nicely with the others, and it appeared like he had been a part of my herd for the most part. Of course there was the ranking of order to deal with, but that only took about 15 or so minutes. That also was easier than any we had in the past.
Peanut was fitting right in.
As the weeks went past, I would haul Peanut up to Janet's to ride in her indoor arena. No matter what task I put this little guy up to, he performs well. The first time was to see how he would handle crossing a blue tarp on the ground. Of course most horses think that anything laying on the ground that can not be ate, has teeth and will eat them alive. Well, Peanut, just looked at it, and then decided, if I step on it, it can't bite me. He did awesome. Then came the twin size mattress, same thing, right over it, no problem. Then the tee tee-totter. OK, I thought, he might react on this. It moves under them, but Peanut just took it stride. As long as it was only with his front feet on it. But that soon changed. Peanut was soon crossing it with all four feet, and then I could get him just to stand on it, like a top on a trophy.
Well now the deep of Winter is here. Hauling and riding are just not as easy, but when we have good roads and I have the evening, I haul up to Janet's and ride.
I just love this little horse. He has brains and a super temperament. He allows me to do so much more than I would have every thought of trying on any of my other horses. He will let me swing a rope over his head, lope around the arena with a large tarp floating behind him like a cape, lay a 12 foot long piece of PVC pipe across his rump and ride him around with it balanced there, carry a flag, drag a light log on the ground, drag the PVC pipe on the ground, make noises in the PVC pipe, and he just does so well. Of course Peanut and I have a lot more training to do together and as we do this together, we learn to trust each other.
Some people might read this and call it just luck, but I feel it was Fate. I have found my little dream in a nut shell. I have my Peanut.