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A couple of years ago I had been looking for a new horse but in the same token I wasn't serious as we didn't have money to buy one.( typical horse person) I had been on dreamhorse quite often looking at horses for lease, preferably a free lease. Then one evening while I was window shoppingI came across this beautiful Palamino Quarter Horse mare. She was everything I wanted for a broodmare, she was 16 hands and near perfect conformation. She was broke to ride, as she had been shown and trail ridden. I had asked my daughter Lauren my then & year old what she thought of her. She only seen color, she loves Palaminos. We called the mares owner who lives in California and we talked for quite a while about her tempermant and of course what we would be doing with her. We promised her a loving home were she would be spoiled rotten on our small farm. Of course she would be a broodmare for me if we could find the right stallion.

Lauren and I hooked up the trailer the next availible day. We thought lets go look, we don't have to bring her home but if we did like her we should be prepared.The mare (Zipper) was living in Minnesota at her owner's mothers house just a couple of hours south of us. We arrived at about  o'clock that evening of course living in Minnesota it started to snow as soon as we headed out. They had lights in the barn so we went down and took a look at her. She still had her foal on her side so I was also able to see what kind of a baby she could produce. Yep, she was everything we where looking for, so we signed the lease and loaded her up and headed back down the road.

Lauren immediatly loved this big mare but was deathly afraid of her. She kept saying I love her so much but she is so big. She would go down to the pasture and look at her but wouldn't dare even touch unless I was carrying her. After several months Lauren started taking riding lessons. I made sure that she practiced showmanship a great confidence builder for leading that big mare. Well the moment of truth came that August when we tool them to the county fair. Lauren was so scared she was in tears. I had helped her get ready but I couldn't go with her she needed to do this on her own. She settled down after a minute and started to show her. The judge was impressed this little girl and this tank of a mare. She placed her first in the mares class. Then came the grand championship class, Lauren would have to show her all over again. This time Lauren walked in with a renewed confidence and came out with her first Grand championship trophy. Talk about one proud dad! She has won more since then too. After that class she was able to take Zipper for walks everywhere all by herself. She even was able to show her in some walk/trot classes.

In the mean time I had picked out a stallion to breed her to. He was a black stallion named Gucci Only also 16 hands so we were expecting a big foal. Lauren was out there the second that foal was born. He is a black colt named Felix aka Shark Bait.Lauren fell in love with him too. This mare has brought Lauren so much love and Lauren has gave her every bit back. Thank you Mellisa for this great mare!