Look for a copy of Bluegrass Champion: Harlequin Hullabaloo, a novel by Dorothy Lyons, c1949. Interesting story of a (fictional) early pinto ASB back when some Saddlebred folks only approved of solid-colored ones.
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The ranch still exists. Michelle Davis MacFarlane now runs it, and the horses are in the Rose Parade every year. Her parents were killed in a house fire on the ranch in 1998.
Growing up in San Diego, I always wanted to visit the ranch. We drove past it on the way to see my grandparents, and occasionally I’d see pinto horses there.
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Yes, they did rebuild. As I mentioned, Michelle did carry on with her mother’s breeding program.
I will always remember Ellen who said “please call me Brownie”, and her kind and generous nature. I knew who she “was” in San Diego, and in the Saddlebred world by reputation, but did not know her by sight.
I was watching a Saddlebred class from the rail (not the stands, I was there with a hunter barn and had a pass) and we were standing next to each other. I asked if she had a horse in the class and she said “yes” and introduced herself. She was very kind, explained what the judges looked for in the class (I was clueless) and invited me to their barn party. I have to say, I have never attended a barn isle party that was so incredibly well catered, it was astonishing.
I didn’t speak with Michelle other than being introduced but I’ll never forget her mother.
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I must have read that a dozen times!
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She’s lovely.
If she is used to turn out, do make sure she has enough exercise. As she gets enough to eat, she will need to be able to walk (or run) off some energy.
Congratulations, she’s so pretty. I’m sure you’re thrilled to pieces!
congratulations!
I completely agree. Right now I’m just focusing on being around her, and hopefully getting some weight and muscle on her because she desperately needs it. Also working on her ground manners, as she is a little pushy/clumsy. So we’ve been working on walking on the lead line quietly and not pushing me through doorways and stuff like that. She even let my husband lead her yesterday and she was so sweet about it. Good girl!
I’m already learning so much about her. She loves mini horses, she is scared of puddles, she’s intrigued by sheep, she loves to be groomed. I’m getting her teeth done tomorrow and she’s already beginning to pull her shoe.
I’m excited to get to work with riding. So far I’ve had two short rides in the week she’s been home. The first was just walking the indoor. Yesterday we rode outside with a few small trot circles. Then I noticed the shoe.
I may be circling back to you guys for bit suggestions. But TBD on that for now. She tosses her head, roots, just seems genuinely evasive right now. But that could be so many things. I’ll try out some of my different bits on her to see if I can find a good fit. And talk with my trainer when we get the shoe situation solved and get back to riding. But I’m in no rush. It’s nice just being with her.
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I can’t tell what sort of bit you’ve got rigged up on her in the pics, and I don’t know what TBD stands for, but y’all both look happy, and I’m old and a traditionalist (to a degree) and I’d probably try a plain single-jointed loose-ring or eggbutt snaffle on her at first and if she goes fine in that, great. If not, give her time to get more used to it, and you and your hands and aids. Y’all make a lovely pair and I love your red and black color scheme!
And I love how she walks like a Saddlebred! 
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Sounds like nothing is “wrong”. She just does not know how and when to do what. Some are pretty good punishing “bad” behavior and not so good consistently teaching them what they are supposed to do.
What OP describes sounds like a horse that just does not know how to act. Easy fix.
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This. Just get her forward and in front of the leg. All your problems will disappear.
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Yep - I find these lightly uneducated types do well in something super basic at first - either a French link or happy mouth Mullen. Then ignore the head flipping and general confusion and praise praise praise for good effort.
They usually quiet down when they realize no one is going to kick and pull them around. It can take a bit of feel and a chilly seat, but I like the older ones that seem to have moved past the desire for wild shenanigans 
. We tend to agree that parking in the shade to chat is more fun than flinging ourselves around!
OP y’all look super nice together and I’m sure you will settle in together in no time!
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She just needs to be taught what to do when, put on some weight and get that coat healthy. Be sure to follow the other two threads on bringing them back from the dead. This one is, thankfully, in much better shape but its kind of a low bar.
That color will be spectacular by next spring and with the angles gone, drool worthy. OP here is on the same but a bit shorter journey and those other two threads on bringing Bo and Matilda back from much worse shape, have much information that will apply to this mare.
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Thank you! I really appreciate that!
I feel like I should emphasize I’m not referring to bitting up. Just trying to get a good baseline. In these pics she’s in a single jointed snaffle with some rollers bc her old owner said she likes to play with a bit. But I have a double jointed eggbutt on the way. I’ll look into those other recommendations, too! Thanks everyone!!
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Thank you! I will look for these threads bc her weight really has me anxious and I’d love some tips.
Thank you all for your happy thoughts and tips! 
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No need for anxiety here, just proper nutrition, vet and dental care over a looong period of time. She appears pretty healthy, just…unkept and unschooled.
On the bitting. Right now its like asking a 3rd grade child of average 3rd grade reading ability if they prefer Shakespeare or Milton. She doesn’t know enough yet to evaluate her correct response to various bit variations. Her previous riders skipped some basic steps, like ground manners and who knows what steps in accepting contact. Slap a bit on her and just go, she just doesn’t know. She’s a nice girl, doesn’t want hurt anybody so could get away with inconsistent, off and on “ training” for, what? Ten years or so
Just keep it simple, basic WTC, start, stop and steer. Consistent, every ride the same way. Ignore baby behavior and diversion tactics because she doesn’t know any better. Yet. She will get there when you teach her what is expected via positive reinforcement and consistency. Then you can worry about what bit.
BTW, IME, when you get one like this? When you start feeding them up, fix the teeth, fix the feet? They start getting full of themselves after about 60-90 days. Expect that and don’t over react to healthy, confident horse behavior. Be ready to direct any increased…ummm…ambition… constructively.
ASBs love to show off, they are bred for it. But it is all show, they are lovely to work with, tolerant, learn fast and thrive with a regular schedule. They WANT to please, all you have to do is teach them what to do.
Shes going to be great fun. Be sure to take regular pictures so we can follow her progress.
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I wish I could like this whole post more than once! I’d recommend printing it out and hanging it on the fridge to go back and refer to as good, solid advice.
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I love this so much. Thank you! 
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I think what you’ll find is that ASBs are very people-pleasing horses but they also share what every other horse is thinking. They are very very expressive and often big expressions don’t mean the same thing they’d mean in a different breed. For instance, my Saddlebreds can appear to be freaking out, but then after being caught lead completely quietly into the barn. If my QH is freaking out, he’s actually freaking out and will be difficult to handle. This takes some people some getting used to.
Regarding the bit - Mine go best in a mullen mouth with a roller. Anything else gains a quick ptooie kind of reaction to the bit - they want it to be very very stable and they want very very quiet hands (I have two of them - saddlebreds…and hands, I suppose).
They are definitely the life of the barn, and they will be your best friends forever. I love all of my horses, but my saddlebreds have my heart. I was not a saddlebred person before I bought mine, now I won’t go without one.
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