"CORGIALLY YOURS"
CORRAL
CORRAL
PINKY AND ME
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
By Arleen Rooney
The next day we arrived at the BLM stockade. Jack was a Wyoming native and really knew horses. He went into the pen where all the horses were and got them moving out. The mare that had been selected for me was a dark bay with a zigzag blaze. I sat high on the fence of the stockade with the BLM horsemen looking on as Jack sorted out the horses to see what the mare would do. He saw right away that she was dead lame and told me not to take her. After driving two days, I was very disappointed. I asked if we could choose another horse and the BLM workers said yes. Once again Jack went into the stockade and made the horses move out. I had to rely on his opinion because I had no inkling of what would be a good choice. He honestly said I should pass on all of them. I stared long and hard at that group of wild mustangs, disappointed in the outcome but decided to follow his advice. We had driven far for a horse but returned empty handed.
Shortly after that I started to look locally for a gentle riding horse with no particular breed or sex in mind. I checked out seven horses and probably would have fallen for any of them. My safeguard was that Jack would check out any that I favored and give me his decision. I remember one was a Pinto gelding that was extremely green and a Morgan filly that only went one way and was very spooky. One Appaloosa gelding named Tom ran away with me down the trail. After getting a negative report on the Morgan filly and the Pinto gelding from Jack, I was tired of looking. He spotted a 15-year-old Mustang mare at a local boarding stable and felt she would be a good first horse for me. I tried her out but somehow I just wasn’t inspired with that choice.
In early August of 1976, I made a very important stop at a local feed and tack store. It was Main Street Hay and Feed in Carson, CA. There was a little 3X5-index card posted on the bulletin board, which advertised two Appaloosas for sale. One was an Appaloosa gelding priced at $1000 and a 5-year-old registered Appaloosa mare priced at $825. I wrote the phone number down and made the phone call. Barbara and Leonard of Torrance, CA owned the horses. They managed a local boarding stable. I went to see both horses.
Patches was the gelding priced at $1000.00 and Pinky was the mare priced at $825. I decided to ride Pinky. I was told they had just weaned a filly from her named Charlie. Pinky was greenbroke but had been ridden on the trails and in a local parade.
My first try at riding Pinky in the arena was pleasant enough. I did not feel an instant bond with Pinky at first sight but liked her enough to try her on a trail ride. Barbara was willing to accommodate my request. One day I met her at the stable, Barbara tacked up Pinky and Patches and trailered them to the Long Beach riverbed trails.
Pinky was so good on the trail that I decided to have Jack come out and ride her. He did and told me he thought she was a good choice. I called Barbara and told her I was interested in purchasing Pinky and made an offer of $675. Barbara said they couldn’t let her go for that amount. I asked what her bottom price was and Barbara said $750. A deal was struck. I had $400 saved and made a down payment on Pinky. August 9 was my birthday and Pinky was a present to myself. I took a loan on my life insurance policy and paid the balance due a week later.
I had gotten a brand new yellow halter (which I have to this day) for Pinky and a lead rope. I remember Barbara commenting that Pinky looked good in yellow. On August 16, 1976, Barbara and Leonard trailered Pinky from Torrance to Long Beach where I had rented a stall at a boarding stable. My father and I followed the trailer in my VW. This was one of the happiest moments of my life and the beginning of 21 and 1/2 years of a team, Pinky and Arleen. My girlhood dream since the age of five, had been realized at the age of 33.
In the years Pinky and I were a team, trail riding was our first pursuit followed with riding lessons to increase both of our skills. In 1978 I showed Pinky at halter and then under saddle. We specialized in Western Trail classes. We also made our mark in National Association Trail Riders Council (NATRC) endurance trail competition in 1979. Pinky won the best-conditioned Appaloosa trophy and we finished sixth in the lightweight novice division. Pinky was bred twice to good quality Appaloosa stallions. She produced a beautiful colored colt named Cassidy on March 3, 1981 and then on February 6, 1984 delivered a bay filly named Joleen. These two foals were later shown both at halter and under saddle and did very well.
Over the years Pinky helped to boost rider confidence in timid beginning riders, enjoyed a varied show career for over 12 years, participated in a many weekend scenic California horse trail rides and was my strength in the early 1980’s when I lost my sister and father.
In August of 1995 I relocated Pinky to Palos Verdes, CA at a private residence to keep a 32-year-old mare company. We enjoyed light trail riding on the beautiful trails in the area. The last two and a half years, until Pinky’s death on February 15, 1998 from cancer of the heart, are the most special as we renewed our bond and became a team again.
To do those 21+ years of teamwork justice, a book will be written called Pinky and Me, A Celebration of Life. Pinky lives on in her offspring and in many people’s memories ESPECIALLY MINE. Although she has ridden off into the sunset, some day down the trail, we shall ride again together. Pinky and Me.
Rhapsody In Pink
"JOLEEN"
(Bay Mare)
Comments, questions or suggestions about
this site? Contact me!
Guest Book
HOME
