Maverick is our auction "wonder" horse.  I tell people we were at a "backwoods" local auction (Georgia) in search of some extra buckets....isn't that how it always happens?  We decided to stay and watch the horses and next thing I  know this gorgeous little horse comes walking into the arena.  He looked like a small Morgan so I was surprised when the auctioneer started into his description "2002 American Sporthorse...Percheron/Arabian colt.  Sire is imported straight Egyptian Arabian and dam is registered black Percheron.  Trail, show, dressage prospect.  Should mature to 16 hands.   Eager to please.  Can be registered as half-Arabian Sporthorse/American Warmblood."  The next thing I knew he was on his way out of the arena because the minimum bid had not been met.

 

Because we had been looking for a half draft for Mike, we went out back to have a look at him.  The owners took him back off the trailer so we could trot him up and down the driveway...in the dark of course....to make sure there were no obvious conformation/disposition issues.  All of us fell in love with him so we made an offer.  The owners generously transported him to our house  (our trailer was at home as we had only gone to the auction for some buckets) and needless to say, we have never regretted our hasty decision because Maverick has grown into a hansom black beauty. 

 

While he makes a fabulous trail horse, I have tried over the last couple years to get him to jump.  Unfortunately we have always gone "bowling for dollars".  I had pretty much given up hope of ever jumping him when Pepper came down sick.  I had recently committed to going to a local pair pace so I decided to substitute with Maverick and downgraded to the baby level of 18".  I took him to my weekly jumping lesson just to make sure I wasn't going to hurt either of us over the "solid" cross country jumps.  I warned my instructor that she would probably be picking up a lot of rails but I think Maverick heard my comments and decided to show me up!  He didn't knock down a SINGLE rail!  Just had to grow into his body I guess...as he has grown another inch this year!

 

We have also discovered that Maverick makes a fabulous babysitter.  When Arrie got too big to go into a stall with her older sister Anniko, we put her in the oversized stall with Maverick.  He shows just enough patience mixed with discipline to know he has another job when the girls start having babies.

 

Update:  Maverick has been sold.  Congratulations to Mary Ellen Zager!