Horses and Horoscopes: Have You Chosen a Pet Based On Your Horoscope?

While chatting with a horse-loving online buddy yesterday we suddenly started talking about our sun signs and horoscopes. I mentioned I had a fascinating story to tell her about horses and horoscopes, but had no time at the moment. So it occurred to me that our readers might also find the story quite amazing.

Many years ago, when I was deeply involved with horses, a lovely liver chestnut Quarter horse named Pat de Foie totally stole my heart. She became my best friend and confidante. And as she was getting on in years, but had foaled successfully several times, with my veterinarian’s approval, we decided to breed her to a magnificent dapple- bay thoroughbred stallion.

About a month later, we were thrilled to learn Patti was in foal. We could hardly wait those 11 months for her baby to arrive. I was so sure she was carrying a filly; the baby in utero was named Pat de Deux. Everyone at the barn was anticipating the new arrival.

But one freezing winter day our phone ominously rang very early in the morning. It was the barn owner calling, asking to speak to Bill, my late beloved partner. I could tell by the expression on his face she was not asking him to the barn to work on frozen pipes. He handed me the phone.

The words, “Patti was found dead in her stall this morning,” are forever emblazoned on my memory. My world would never be the same.

Not being able to deal with the double loss, like a crazy lady I became consumed with finding another horse. Over several months my trainer and I traveled thousands of unsuccessful miles.

But one morning he called, telling me of a three-year-old Quarter horse mare for sale that sounded promising. “Much too young”, I thought to myself. But when the owner brought her into the paddock I nearly freaked out; with the exception of her Grulla coloring she could easily have been Patti’s twin.

 My mouth fell open when I watched my trainer riding her. She moved exactly like Patti. When I was on her back, her comforting familiar gait brought back wonderful memories. I knew Patti sent her to me. But here the story gets really weird.  

I had been left a small inheritance by my late Aunt Sarah. The mare’s name was Sarah, and her owner’s asking price was precisely- to the penny- the same amount left me. When I saw Sarah’s pedigree, it was almost identical to Patti’s.  

The moment I got home I called my astrologer, telling him the exciting news. I gave him Sarah’s birth date and time. From all the “coincidences” he surely thought this would be a done deal. But two days later he called, warning me not to buy this horse; that she was unpredictable and I might get seriously injured.  I was devastated . . . so the search began anew.

Then a few weeks later, while visiting a Quarter horse barn, I heard a familiar woman’s voice coming from the aisle near us. She was inquiring about breeding her young mare to one of the owner’s stallions, insisting he be extremely quiet. This was crucial, since her mare was flighty, with “unpredictable” behavior.

You guessed it, she was referring to Sarah. No wonder she wouldn’t let us take her home on trial. “Drugged” horses are often known to be well behaved!

And while this is the end of my story, it would be interesting to learn: have horoscope reports ever come into play when you were choosing a pet? Tell us about it in a comment.