Looking for a draft-sized unicorn.
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:35 am
We had a tragedy in our barn last week. One of my barn mates lost his beloved Clydesdale mare to colic, very suddenly and unexpectedly.
The poor man is devastated. This was his first horse, they were a mutual adoration society (really, this guy would come home from a business trip, came straight to the barn and she would come running up the pasture to greet him. It was really very sweet.) She also took great care of him as they trail-rode all over creation--while he is the nicest guy, he is still a bit of a beginner and has beginner moments so he needs a bit of a babysitter.
The family has literally just moved to the area full time (they were second homers here before and the horse was in full care at our barn) and he was so excited about being able to trail ride every weekend and go out with his young son, who they have just bought a nice horse for.
So, after the initial "I'm never riding again" reaction, Dave has proved that he really is a horseman, and has decided he needs a new trail mount. We all said we would put out feelers for him, so here I am.
Dave is a big man, so he wants a draft or part draft. Mare of gelding. Needs to be gentle and able to take a joke, but also be able to take him for a canter out on the trails without killing him. He rides in a Western saddle, a grab the horn and go kind of guy. He's not going to be taking lessons in an arena, but he doesn't have scary horrible hands or ride in a curb bit or wear spurs. This does not need to be a trained dressage horse, but does need to have the training to be a bombproof rockstar. It will get tuning rides from a very competent trainer.
In return, the horse will have a very cushy and loving home for life with daily pasture turnout and a huge stall, and excellent professional care from people who understand caring for drafts and feathers and diets and footcare (we have a very fine farrier who is really good with draft horses) and all that stuff.
He will pay an appropriate amount for this paragon of horsey virtue and he will travel just about anywhere to find it. (Actually, he will send our trainer first. She has a good eye for exactly what's needed.)
So, if anyone knows of anything that might fit the bill, let me know. We have a 19 hand hole in our barn at the moment that needs filling.
The poor man is devastated. This was his first horse, they were a mutual adoration society (really, this guy would come home from a business trip, came straight to the barn and she would come running up the pasture to greet him. It was really very sweet.) She also took great care of him as they trail-rode all over creation--while he is the nicest guy, he is still a bit of a beginner and has beginner moments so he needs a bit of a babysitter.
The family has literally just moved to the area full time (they were second homers here before and the horse was in full care at our barn) and he was so excited about being able to trail ride every weekend and go out with his young son, who they have just bought a nice horse for.
So, after the initial "I'm never riding again" reaction, Dave has proved that he really is a horseman, and has decided he needs a new trail mount. We all said we would put out feelers for him, so here I am.
Dave is a big man, so he wants a draft or part draft. Mare of gelding. Needs to be gentle and able to take a joke, but also be able to take him for a canter out on the trails without killing him. He rides in a Western saddle, a grab the horn and go kind of guy. He's not going to be taking lessons in an arena, but he doesn't have scary horrible hands or ride in a curb bit or wear spurs. This does not need to be a trained dressage horse, but does need to have the training to be a bombproof rockstar. It will get tuning rides from a very competent trainer.
In return, the horse will have a very cushy and loving home for life with daily pasture turnout and a huge stall, and excellent professional care from people who understand caring for drafts and feathers and diets and footcare (we have a very fine farrier who is really good with draft horses) and all that stuff.
He will pay an appropriate amount for this paragon of horsey virtue and he will travel just about anywhere to find it. (Actually, he will send our trainer first. She has a good eye for exactly what's needed.)
So, if anyone knows of anything that might fit the bill, let me know. We have a 19 hand hole in our barn at the moment that needs filling.
