My New Horse Red

I wasn't sure I wanted to go to the horse auction last Saturday, but Kelvin really thought it would be good for me to go and at least look. All my "excuses" disappeared: my boss offered to fill in for a few hours so I could go, the sap didn't run, and Kelvin insisted he didn't have anything to do all day until chore time. So we went. The first thing we saw when we parked where the buggy horses hooked to sulkies, demonstrating their pulling abilities. We stood waiting for them to pass so we could go in to get our auction number when I saw him. The first thing I noticed was his coloring-he had black front legs, a bushy mane, and his coat color was the same reddish-bay. I was taken. Kelvin reminded me that we hadn't even been in the sale barn yet-there were a lot more horses to look at.
We went in and looked at all the other horses. In my mind there was only one horse there that should go home with us. Kelvin saw two other options, and I agreed; they were nice, but nothing like the first one I spotted. We went around the barn until we saw "my" horse. We learned from the dealer that he was a belgian/standard bred cross (same as Roy!) whose name was Red. He was trained to drive single or double. He didn't think he'd ever been ridden.
All the driving horses were going high-the average horse was bringing $2,700 to $4,200. We had a budget of $1,000. One of the one's Kelvin had his eye on brought more than we could see paying. We waited and waited for Red to come through the ring. About three hours into the sale, I saw him coming. I started praying. Hard.
The way it all went was a miracle. The auctioneer started Red's bid at $2,800 no one bid. The bid dropped to $800 when I put up my number to bid. The auctioneer didn't see me, and two other people were bidding on him. the bid was to $900. I was trying to decide whether to yell to get the auctioneers attention or to let him go, because he was nearly out of our budget when I heard a voice behind my yell, "up here". I turned to see our local auctioneer! He said: Do you want me to bid? I nodded. He told us to let him know when to stop. Kelvin said: "Keep going." We were ready to give him up when the bid reached $1,100, but our friend and auctioneer told us "you've almost got him" and we did get him! I know I wouldn't have gotten him if it weren't for our auctioneer being right there. He knew how to bid; he paused, he considered, he nodded when the time was right. I would've had to drop out because the bid would have skyrocketed his price if I had bid too eagerly, or I never would have dared dream that we would get him so might not have yelled to get the auctioneer's attention. When the auctioneer banged his gavel and said "Sold to the lady on the top row" I melted down and started crying. Everyone looked away and must have thought I was crazy-if they only knew!
He trailered up like a dream and seems to be enjoying his new home. The other horses are very curious about him and none of the have figured out who's boss yet. Really, they all seem to like each other. Prince especially loves him, which is good because we'd like them to pull together. I think Red is going to end up taking over Roy's job of herd boss; he's just being more patient about establishing rule than Roy was.
He pulls beautifully. His trot is very snappy. Now I want a buggy for him to pull-he's way too fancy for a farm wagon! Kelvin took him for his first saddle ride & I've ridden him twice. He did well, but he doesn't know how to gallop or walk. He a trotter; and must be every time he was hooked up, all he was expected to do was trot! And he doesn't like being ridden in the woods/fields-he keeps wanting to go to the road. Once on the road, he moves along at a very nice trot! Well, now I know what I'll be doing :)
~All the pictures of him are in the posting below~
P. S. -I'm not sure I like the name Red. Should I change it? May I should just give myself some time & the right name (or the same) will stick!