Untacked

BEST OF WEB & PRINT u What's Not For Sale When they're not hitting the road on assignment or in the trenches working on a big issue, Chronicle staff members frequently take time to reflect on their own experiences as horse people. And many of our readers were especially touched by Executive Editor Beth Rasin's recent blog about the bond she shares with her horse of a lifetime—one that is both unique and yet familiar to riders everywhere—and the choice she made long ago to make him a permanent partner. "When you've had a horse for well more than a decade, they're like markers of your life: He's seen me through several boyfriends, good and bad, kept silent on my choice of which to marry, been there when I've lost grandparents and dogs and when my baby was born. In every sense, he is a family member," she writes. "It's hard to say why we ever prefer one horse to another. I don't love this horse for the events that we won or the things I learned about riding from him. When he goes, which I realize can't be in the too distant future, I will feel older myself, as if a last connection to the fearlessness and confidence of my past is gone. "I'm not sure who I'll be without him, the horse who was the reason I got out of bed for so many years. But one thing is sure: Money couldn't have bought me anything else so meaningful." Read the full story at COTH.com/article/whatnot-sale. 94 W INTER 2013 U N TAC K E D Have To Pay To Play? In this exploration into the international horse sales landscape, Associate Editor Molly Sorge delivers a candid analysis of a record-setting transaction: Janika Sprunger's sale of her 10-year-old jumper gelding Palloubet d'Halong to Jan Tops for $15 million. "It's not just the daunting thought of purchasing one of those horses—the majority of U.S. show jumpers buy younger, more affordable horses that they hope will turn into one of those superstars," she writes. "It's the fact that if they buy a young prospect and develop it over years to become a clean-round-jumping machine, they'll inevitably start getting offers they can't refuse. And the sad reality of the horse world is that it very rarely makes sense to say no to selling a horse. So, young up-and-comers like Janika Sprunger wave goodbye to their championship medal hopes for the next few years as the horse van pulls out the driveway in a cloud of cash." Get the full story at COTH.com/how-much-do-you-havepay-play. u The Souls The Barn Builds "The barn teaches all the major lessons of life within its four walls and pasture fences," writes amateur rider Kristin Carpenter in this poignant blog—a reflection on what she wishes she could share with the struggling urban youths she encounters in her full-time job near Washington, D.C. "It doesn't take into account age, gender, race, education or family history. It teaches with the severity and grace of life itself. "It's easy to get wrapped up in the side of life fueled by possessions and titles and bank account balances. It's easy to focus on what you don't have and who you aren't. But the barn will teach you better. "The barn will build your soul, and it will give you all the gifts you need to be a good, gracious person. It is up to us to keep these things when we pass through the gate." Read more at COTH.com/article/souls-barn-builds. DEBIBISHOP/ISTOCK.COM PHOTO Have you bookmarked COTH.com yet? Because you don't want to miss our daily coverage of horse sport news, competition results and equestrian issues, plus phenomenal blogs, photo galleries, videos and more. Make sure you're up to date with all the stories setting the industry abuzz: u How Much Do You ARND BRONKHORST PHOTO What's Hot On The Web

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