THEN CAME RUBY....

Kim Kellog kept calling me and bugging me about this mustang she had.  She told me she was a great little pony.  From what Kim told me, Ruby didn't sound like a good match for Athena.... so, I drug my feet on it.  Even though I'm the huge mustang fan and would of loved for Athena to have her own.... for some reason, I felt Athena wasn't ready.  So, Kim decided to haul Ruby over to the barn and ride her up the hill.....EVIL KIM... Ruby had to be the cutest little horse I'd ever seen... she had these big brown cow eyes and this fire cracker attitude to die for!  She had the beginnings of her winter coat and looked like a fuzzy stuffed animal.  Ruby was 24 at the time but looked like a young horse.  She acted like one too.  So, as Athena begged for a ride on Ruby, I knew I was suckered into the world of Ruby.  Poor Ruby has had a hard life and is keen to all of the ways of the world...but...I don't think she expected a 4 year old horse crazy girl to fall deeply in love with her.  Ruby took awhile to warm up to us and had a hard beginning with us.  I almost thought to give her back to Kim.  She is a very strong mare and has a lot of spunk.  Athena never seemed to mind Ruby's snarly attacks on the other horses or her lunging at poor unsuspecting geldings in the cross ties...I think Athena thought Ruby was her protector.  She made excuse after excuse for Ruby.  I just saw absolute attitude from Ruby and thought I made a big safety mistake when I took her on...But after a brief moment of throwing my hands up in the air and asking Kim if I could give her to a friend.... I decided to give miss Ruby another chance.  I got her teeth worked on and the rest is history.... Athena's confidence has shot through the roof with Ruby.  Ruby tolerates Athena's little pony kicks and her bouncing 4 inches off the saddle.  Ruby and Athena have an understanding.... Ruby says...."Hey kid... you can ride me all you want, put bows in my mane and paint my feet with sparkles...but when Im tired, I'll let you know with a little attitude that it's time to get off...and you better get off...."  and Athena's responce to Ruby is...."I love you no matter what and you are my forever horse...."