I have a Tumblr now. All of my horse related updates are going there now so... http://bestfootforwardandrideon.tumblr.com/

Follow me there instead. This blog will be going dead from here on. It's been a long time but I have a bigger support base over on Tumblr. This place is kind of... lonely. I kind of did what I set out to do. I've accomplished lots and shown what I can do with a youngster in a year. I'm proud of all that I've achieved. And it still continues, always continues, just not here. Thanks for following me here thus far. Hopefully I'll catch you on the other side. The Tumblr side.

One whole year

Well as of the 19th September, I've officially owned Kel for a whole year. Boy does time go fast. And to mark the occasion we went for a short hack all on our own!

Here's a run down of a year of breaking my very first project:

• September 19th: Bought Celtic Flame, Appaloosa cross at the age of 4 years 8 months, 15hh, at the bargain price of £400. Training: Almost nil. Friendly and curious but high strung and wearing a halter in the field to catch. Feet had been done in the past but not often.

• September 21st: Training starts. Work on catching.
• September 24th: Catching and leading.
• September 25th: Stabled, groomed and front feet lifted.
• September 28th: Short walk in hand and back feet lifted.
• October 2nd: First lunge session and farrier.

• 8th October: Bareback pad and girth.
• 15th October: Leant over back.
• 24th October: Lunged with full tack, stirrups down.
• 30th October: First long reining session in field.
• 16th November: Long reined around quiet lanes.
• 18th November: Backed.

• 27th November: Ridden on the lunge at a trot.
• 2nd December: Ridden off the lunge up road and back.
• 9th December: First full hack.
• 26th December: First ridden canter.
• 6th January: Lunging over trotting poles.
• 15th March: Lunging over 1ft jumps.
• 8th April: First lesson.
• 20th May: First ridden jump.

• 15th July: First show experience.

• 19th September: First hack alone.

So there you have it. He's come a long way. Here's to another fantastic year of learning.

Time tells all

Kel has really flourished over summer. He's actually looking like a horse instead of a colt.

For comparison, here he is in April of this year:

And again as of today, before the farrier visit:

Damn, he's looking good! spring vs summer coats aside, there is just so much difference in his shape. He's really developing a topline now and while his quarters need some more definition, he's certainly filled out in the shoulders. He's got this really lovely Iberian look about him now. His mane and tail are also considerably longer. He just looks like a completely different horse.

On to other news, Tralee has developed an enlarged hock. We think this is from where he rests his ringbone leg all the time and now has a form of oedema. Doesn't seem to go down with hosing of the bute, but not making him any more lame than usual. So we're just keeping him going as normal with the hopes that it's not a sign of anything else underlying.

Kel suffered a bit of sweet itch earlier this month and thinned out a spot in his tail. Annoying but we double wormed to make sure it wasn't that and then lagged his tail in Vaseline which seems to have soothed it for now. I took him to go look at a small hunter trials show the other evening. He certainly lived up to his name. :/  Thankfully I was on the ground but he looked quite the spectacle prancing around with his tail kinked over his back. He eventually calmed slightly but he's definitely going to have to see more shows before I think of doing any ridden classes.

We had the vet out to sign Nell up for bute as she's so often on and off lame. We also asked Steve whether he thought she may have navicular as Emma Richards pointed out that she was standing like she does in the field one day. Steve checked her teeth, telling us she was 20 something and may be quite a bit older than her passport says, picked up on her bowed tendon and said that it was perfectly possible for a mare of her age and symptoms to have navicular. As it is, we're doing everything any other person with a navicular sufferer would usually do; she's barefoot, ridden lightly and gently, buted when she does go out et al. So he gave us some signed her up for bute anyway, writing it down officially to be used for her bowed tendon.

Anyway, that's pretty much all for now. I'm going to try and get some more nice photos of the other horses while they're in their summer coats for the next blog.

Late update - It could have gone worse

Well, the show on the 17th could certainly have gone worse. We managed to at least get into the ring for the Tack and Turnout after an already eventful hack down to the showground whereby I had Mum help walk beside Kel. He was rather upset at leaving Tralee outside the ring and by the huge amount of horses (probably the most he's ever seen in one place in his whole life) so there was a lot of neck wringing and fighting the bit and rounding of the back. We managed to keep him walking and keep him from blowing up until about 5 minutes from the end whereby he was just becoming too antsy and geared up so I was ordered by Mum to get off. Which I did considering I had taken my body protector off for the class and really didn't want to risk getting dumped. We got a Special rossette for entering and I survived. He was a bit more settled once I walked him in hand for a while and we managed to get a couple of photos.

Kel is going to need quite a bit more work and experience before he's ready to show properly under saddle but it was far from disasterous for his first show. He needs a lot more schooling for a start to get him over his crow hopping and neck wringing stage which may actually be sorted out by one of the Twins down at Tregurtha as they have a much better velcro seat than myself and more confidence to push him on. It seems to only be during schooling or when he doesn't want to do something because we went for an enjoyable hack the other day without incident. He's definately getting to a defiant teenage stage where he's going to try and test me and I'll have to try and nip it in the bud before it escalates. He needs to see larger crowds of horses and go to more shows too. There is another one on the 8th of July that we are just going to ride down to but not enter so that he can start getting used to the sights and sounds of showgrounds.

We'll get there eventually. It's easy to forget that back in September he was practically wild and that he's had to grow up so fast compared to other youngsters. He's intelligent and smart but he is still mentally just a baby and is going to need time to mature.

Emotional Wreck

Nell gave me a big scare today. 8:00 in the morning and I get a phone call from Mum saying she's down in the field and won't get up. So I run down there (note: panic + running = not being able to breathe) and Emma Richards and Lauren are pulling up on their horses wondering what the problem is. They all rush over and get some ropes on her legs and try and pull her to her feet. I, in the meantime have burst into tears because Nell looked dead and I had visions of heart attacks or broken legs and am not much use other than running back for a headcollar. Turns out the silly mare had lain down in a dip in the field and got cast because her legs were uphill and her belly was stuck in the ditch. They rolled her all the way over and she finally got up. I had meant to go riding today but after that I just can't keep focused enough to ride Kel. She really did scare me today as she's never done something like this before. I don't know what I'll be like when she finally does go. She's fine now although we're keeping our eye out for any signs of colic given that she was down a long time and looking pretty exhausted afterwards. Tralee and Kel had been biting her to try and make her get up too. They all knew something was wrong. Horse keeping can truly be one of the scariest things in the world sometimes.

Pre-show nerves... two weeks before?

It's over two weeks until the show and my gut is already doing somersaults. Best way to combat that? Groom. And groom. And groom some more. I might not even be doing a class and it's only a small show and yet I ca't help but be a little obsessed. Well, tbh, the aesthetics of my horses have always mattered a lot to me regardless of if they're going to be showing or not. A well groomed horse shows that the owner cares and if they look good on the outside, they're probably healthy on the inside. And now I'm rambling. Being tense seems to make me want to blog and write more. Anyway, here's a braided up Celtic Flame. It should help train his mane to lie on one side and grow out better. It is sort of a diamond braid but his hair is just so thick and I had to grab large amounts because he was impatient that its not really for style. His mane is also really short in one place. Oh well, function over form.

Diamond in the rough

Just a couple of weeks and Kel is off to his first show. He's looking good and behaving well under saddle so we're taking him to a small local show for some experience and possibly his first class, depending on how he is when he gets threre. I'm nervous, but after a long and very good ride today, I'm more certain he'll do just fine.
We had a very nice jeffries leather show saddle fitted yesterday so I now need to possibly invest in a black leather bridle, leather chaps and a show jacket and I'll be sorted for the summer. We also had him measured properly and he's just a little under 15.1hh now. Emma (Tregurtha Downs) thinks he's grown loads. So either he was actually about 14.2-14.3hh when we bought him (which I doubt because I'm sure he was taller than Nell) or he just looks a lot taller because he's filled out and is brighter in himself. Either way, she confirmed what I thought, which was that he should mature at 15.2hh.
I'm now working to get his mane and tail looking better (both are longer and thicker now) and starting him over small jumps. I know he's perfectly capable when the need arises but it's just about giving him more confidence now.

Well, it has been 5 months already

And I finally fell off Kel.
We had a successful first ride up to Kestal without another horse and Mum cycling along with me. He rode out like a champ, no problems at all although he did mostly want Mum in front for support.
Anyway, we got to Kestel for our second lesson without a hitch. Kel thought the lesson was boring, became a bit dead sided, snaked his neck a little and popped his shoulder during the trot turns. Otherwise not too bad though and my instructor is impressed with him; she really likes his temperment. I asked to end on a canter which at first - due to excitement, my dodgy position and a too-hard kick - resulted in a decent sized buck. Unperturbed we did it again and this time had a really nice canter all along the top edge of the field. He collected when I wanted him too and then sped up when I asked. Overall it was a lovely, smooth and enjoyable pace to end the lesson on so that he also got a bit of enjoyment out of it.
We made the journey home fine too, at least up until the point where we were on the lane to the stables; couldn't have been more than a yard or two from where I dismount. We were both relaxed - we were home, we'd made the whole ride and a lesson... and then a bird flew out of the hedge. Neither of us expected it and while my brain had time to say reasonable things like; oh, it's a pidgeon... grab the reins... don't let go or he'll run away and he'll be scared and undo the training... ouch, I hope I didn't break my skull as well as my helmet - My body did not react quite so quickly and had in the meantime fallen over the left shoulder when he spun, kept hold of the reins, landed first on my head and was then pulled onto my back because I still had hold of the reins, finally let go when I reasoned he wasn't going to stand still and let him canter back to the other horses and Mum.
As it is, I'm fine, albeit very stiff and sore. Grazed my arm and thigh, wrenched my hip and shoulder, had a major headache where I'd hit it and a sore neck... but it could have been so much worse. All I can really say is thank god for helmets and body protectors. If my head hurt enough while wearing a helmet, I'm certain I'd have a fracture or worse had I not been wearing it. (If anyone can take something away from this - please! wear a damn hard hat when you ride. They might cramp your style a little but believe me you will not look cool sitting unconscious in an ICU with a broken skull and brain bleed.)
I'm surprised in some ways it has taken this long to part company with Kel but I guess that's a testament to his forgiving nature. This hasn't in any way put me off so expect me back in the saddle by next week or maybe even the weekend if I can lever my hip over him.

In other news, I'm saving up for a DSLR camera. The Sony A55 to be exact. It's about £500 but has 16mp and 10 fps!! Huge speed for getting those all important action shots. It'll probably take a year or so to save up but will be worth it.

The verdict?: He's a keeper.

Taken last week after trimming and a towel wash. He's grown a bit, filling out and looking to be quite an athletic and handsome chap!

So much for breaking and selling. Celtic Flame is now going to be a permanent resident with us now. Tralee is getting older and this summer we had to increase his bute when the ground is hard to the highest it's ever been. We've gone from using No Bute in his first year to half a sachet for two years, started giving him one full one last summer and he's now up to one and a half. We have near enough decided that as soon as he's up to two or two and a half just to stay semi comfortable he will have to be put down. A harsh reality perhaps but what kind of life is it for a horse who has worked all his life and enjoys the mental stimulus to be stuck in a field doing nothing for 24/7? Nell would be OK as long as she got to be a babysitter (although if she was too lame to ride I think she would also be too lame to be comfortable as a pasture pet) and Rocky couldn't care less. We bought him to cuddle anyway so it's no great loss if he stands in a field for the rest of his days. Tralee has always been too work-oriented to leave without riding though. He escapes his field when he's bored. Not because he's hungry - he's broke through fencing even when there was a whole field of lush grass - but because he needs to be doing something. So we decided that once he's outlived his useful life, Kel will be his replacement. If we are very lucky, we shall get another 5 years out of Tralee (We've already almost had him 5 years; gosh how time flies!) by which time Kel will be 10yrs and perfect for mum's riding needs.

On a less doom-and-gloom note, Kel has started schooling sessions. Intermittently, admittedly, but he has indeed started. Next stage is to get him going out for rides on his own. We should have done this ages ago but I've been riding him a bit too spontaneously and the amount of rides he's done is not much compared to how long he has actually been broken for : /

17th June is likely to be his first show experience. Maybe only just to have a look around or an in hand class if there are any. We'll have to see closer to the time. Either way I have about 6 weeks to get him up to scratch and get some show gear together. Wish me luck - I'm always so unorganised.

Quick update

Things are going well with Celtic. We're getting out on hacks when we can, he's getting braver and I'm enjoying riding him. I don't feel unsafe at all which is bizarre but then I think a lot of it is down to his very honest nature. If he is really scared he is really scared. I think as time goes on he'll put it on a bit but currently he is trying things first and only letting the other horses go first if he is genuinely scared.
We attempted water and puddles the other day which was a spectacular fail. I'm going to try a flash on him to help with the evasion issues and it will allow me to keep him in a snaffle. On the plus side we went under a huge amount of low lying trees and brush with plantlife snagging at him on one side as he banked the sides of puddles. While I was leaning under all that vegetation and the branches were scraping me and making lots of noise, Kel pushed right through at a steady walk with not so much as a false step. I was totally at his mercy in such a position and its a real testament to his good nature that he just carried me through it all and didn't spook and dump me.
If we wern't already overstocked with horses and I didn't want to do this breaking project again I'd keep him in a heartbeat. It'll be so hard to sell him now. Especially after we've started nicknaming him the Poopaloosa.

Much smoother

Well haylage is out and Hay is in. I took Kel out around the block today and there was certainly an improvement in his behaviour. He's not keen on puddles and avoids them where possible so at some point I'll have to start working him through water to build his confidence. We got past the place where they keep the pigs, (the pigs are not there atm but they had been on previous occasions) and had several decent trots where he slowed down easily when asked. He was being a little greedy and trying to eat on the way around but otherwise it was a fairly good ride. I should be schooling him this week to start fine tuning his turning, stopping and starting.

Interesting is an understatement

So we decided to ride today while the weather was mild and it was a learning curve to say the least. Kel protested to standing still on the yard with a little buck - a first. He was pretty wired most of the way along the roads and irritating Tralee in front despite fighting with him to not bite the old boy on the backside. Thankfully Tralee is very tolerant of Kel and didn't even bat an eyelid.
Well we had already made up our minds about having a first canter before he really gets his feet so today was the big day. He was definately ready for it and rather desperate to just go. We jumped a puddle on the way into the field (I still feel bad about jabbing him in the mouth when I got left behind the movement) and after a few seconds of just walking to keep him settled, asked for a trot and then canter. He was unfazed by my bumping in the saddle at first (gosh that's a wake-up call my legs are unfit to stand at canter) then as he evened his pace out I managed to take up a decent position and get off his back. He slowed up nicely which was better than expected.
Then the problems started. He wanted to keep trotting. He's feeling fresh and abit fizzy at the moment which I think is related to being on haylage despite Peter saying it wouldn't make him hot. He was prancing and refusing to quiet down by evading the bit. So we turned downhill in the second field over, waiting for him to chill out. I left Mum and Tralee standing in the middle while I attempted to walk him up and down to get him listening again.
Kel was having none of it. Evaded the bit, ignored the outside leg and refused to go forwards. He put in a little rear which was easy to sit to thanks to my forward seat (Its the bucks that get me). Then when he did stand quiet and I turned him back towards Tralee the trotting started again so hauling him to the right, I tried to ask him to walk quietly again. After digging his feet in and refusing to budge, I used the old trick of slapping the end of the rein on the shoulder to get him moving. After a couple of slaps he rushed forward and sideways, very nearly unseating me. I felt the air beneath my butt before a handful of rein, mane and a solid leg on the opposite side got me seated back in the saddle.
After the tantrum, I did finally get my way though and he walked back up the field and for the majority of the way home -Not tired but defeated in this battle at least.
So we're cutting down on the haylage and this week I'm going to start his schooling education - particularly in regards to stopping and turning when asked. This has been just a taster but Kel is a smart boy. I hope he realises that after trying and failing to get me off, he's better off just listening first time. We shall see.

Mares and Geldings

I wanted to post my opinion on something I have a good deal of experience with; keeping mares and geldings together.
First things first - it can be done. We've had our horses in mixed herds for years now with the only exception being for a couple of years at Kestel where we had an all boy's herd.
Secondly, there is an old myth that says if you have a mixed herd, geldings should never outnumber mares. Perhaps in large and frequently changing groups this may ring true but from personal experience we know that several geldings can get along just fine with fewer mares.
We have 3 geldings and 1 mare all living quite contentedly in the same field. This is because a horse's social heirachy dictates there to be 1 lead stallion in the herd and lower ranking stallions that are tolerated as long as they don't try to dominate or mate with the lead's mares.
With geldings, this is taken to a greater degree because the lack of testosterone allows them to also form bonds with other geldings without constantly thinking about rivalry.
That's not to say geldings don't also think about sex because anyone who has owned one will know they still get aroused and that many will also mount other horses - mares and geldings alike. They are just generally less inclined to be so high strung over it.
Our herd has Tralee sitting pretty at the top as herd leader. He used to regularly mount Nell but has recently lost most of his libido. He used to be quite rough but has become more chilled since Kel arrived, allowing the youngster to do most of the work for him. Kel has pushed Rocky out of the second in command spot and has tried it on with Nell but that may be more coltish behaviour than rigginess. They have quite a tight bond now and Tralee is most of the time, willing to allow that. Kel is still very young and not much of a threat to the leader and is therefore tolerated like a young colt. Rocky is less liked by Kel but still ranks third because he acts more dominant towards Nell. He has never shown any inclination towards mares so is never a threat to Tralee. He is mostly on the outskirts of the herd and less bonded to the others but still important in the herd dynamics. He has the role of a submissive stallion who is usually lower than the higher ranking mares. Nell sits at the bottom of the pecking order but is now more protected by Kel, making the whole group calmer and happier. She has been subordinate in all herds she's ever been placed in and is probably happiest like this. She takes the role of the lowest ranking mare - a follower not lead.

On another note on the general day to day life at the stables, Kel and Nell are sharing a stable. The tie up area is just too wet to be used so they're now official bunk buddies.

Diets and Hacking

I know I said I'd post pictures of Kel's first ride but my god, I hate how I look in them. It was a bit of a "come to jesus" moment and while I know it was not a flattering jumper, I still feel I looked fat in those photos. So for the past two weeks I've been on the no junk food diet and esentially cutting out all the rubbish to drop a few pounds. While I don't look it most of the time, on my heaviest days I weigh up to 11 stone 10. For my height (5ft 5"), I should really be about 10 and half stone maximum. After two weeks I weighed in at 11 stone 1 so it seems to be working. I'm excited by the prospect of seeing myself back in the 10 range and I already feel a bit better in myself.

Back on the topic of horses; Kel went for his first full hack around the roads on friday in company. He was quiet and rather well behaved although lost concentration near the end and was trying to bite Tralee and play with him. The following Saturday we upped the ante and took all four horses out. Kel was unfazed and very good up until a point where we came across a huge German Shepard in a field by the road. He stopped, thought about spinning, went forwards at a trot then partially bolted past before coming to a standstill when he realised none of the others were following. It wasn't naughtiness but genuine fear so I give him credit for stopping and going back to look afterwards. He's only in a little eggbutt snaffle at the moment and I managed to stop him in that so I'm hoping he won't need anything stronger.

Ride number 4 and we're ready to hack

Ride 1: Sitting and being led.
Ride 2: Walking in the round pen on the lunge.
Ride 3: Walking and some sitting trot in the round pen on lunge.
Ride 4: First ride up to the farm and back.

I think this is pretty good proof of just what a willing little horse Kel is going to be. I've been long reining for a long time now so the steering and brakes are all in good order. Getting him to move off the leg is the next phase as he has a habit of shutting down when leg is applied. I shall let you all know how that progresses.

The weather was absolutely trashy as well so it was certainly a test of his metal. It tipped it down and was dark by the time we set out. Mum accidentally pulled the bit off the side of his bridle when she tried leading him off Tralee so I dismounted, stuck the bit back in, went back, got back on and set off again without the use of the leadrope which I surprisingly felt safer with. Mum really wanted the rope on but then she also later told me that she had been shaking, watching me get on him. I think it's harder for her than it is for me which is understandable.
It wasn't a long ride at all - 10 minutes or so - but for his 4th ride I'm very proud.

It's not all plain sailing though. Kel decided a few days ago that he was not going to stay in the field with Rocky while Nell and Tralee went for a ride. So he jumped the hedge and the 4 and a half foot post and rail fence at the top and flew right over into the round field. Thankfully he caught easily and I stuck him behind the electric fencing without incident but he's certainly going to be quite the athletic little jumper when he's older.

Kel's backed

Well its been a long month of saddling, lunging and long reining. Kel is slowly becoming less fidgety and a little more patient - a good sign he is making the transition from baby to adult horse. His croup has risen and we're expecting another inch of growth in the next few months. He's roughly 15hh at the moment so he's going to be at least 15.1hh by the time he leaves us and perhaps 15.2hh at the most when he's finished growing. We only expected another inch but from past experience with cobs we know they usually don't really finish growing until they're about 7 or 8.
By all accounts he could have been backed a little earlier but a combination of bad weather, me being lazy and being introduced to NationalNovelWritingMonth (NaNoWriMo), I'm just a week or so behind schedule.
No matter though because he was backed this morning. After an absolute fiasco two days ago involving long reining, scary pigs and Kel bolting I wasn't wholly sure that he was ready. I walked him down past the pigs today and while he was indeed terrified, we got past them without incident. Then Peter got me on board and Kel walked around that yard like he'd done it every day of his life(Pics to come later). So a nice bottle of whisky for Peter for helping me out is in order.
Next stage will be riding on the lunge line then the round pen without a lead and then I'll set up a schooling boundary. I give it three weeks until I'm starting to school him and perhaps even his first hack in company.
Already he's tripled in worth and I could easily sell him now for £1200. But I'm in it for the long run and I won't be selling until he's had a good solid few months riding on him, has jumped a little and has seen his first show. I'm expecting about £2000 for him by the end of it, if not more considering he's such a showy boy.
Anyway, pictures will be following soon and I'll try to update you all a little more often.

Kel is doing very well and has settled quickly. In the course of three weeks he:

• No longer wears a halter in the field


• Comes to be caught in the field


• Catches and leads much better


• Has been groomed all over


• Lifts all four feet


• Has been bitted and bridled


• Has had a bath (very scared of water currently)


• Has been stabled for the first time


• Has been rugged for the first time


• Ties


• Has seen the farrier and been wormed


• Has had tetanus shots and microchipping


• Has been lunged


• Has been taken for a mile long walk in hand


• Has had a bareback pad put on and the girth done up

He is brave, genuine and smart and I predict he will be ready to back by November. He's still a bit fussy with his head and likes to chuck it all over the place but he is getting there. He has also been in the field with Nell who flirted something terrible. He was glad of the company although he was a bit confused by Nell's behaviour. We've decided to keep the groups separated to avoid any injuries and unneccesary vet bills which may eat into my profit. He is kept right next to them and stabled with them and we are also fine with he and Nell going in together when Tralee is not around.

Big steps forward

Kel was stabled for the first time today in his life. Whe first confronted with the small, dark box he followed me in while shaking like a leaf. Within a few minutes though and with a haynet and likit up to keep him busy, he chilled out. It was also the first time outside of the field since tuesday. He doesn't like puddles and he leads pretty badly. He's very strong, walks very close and is quite fidgity with his head - its all over the place. On the plus side, despite being totally overwhelmed and scared of everything, he kept moving forwards. No balking, no spinning. He even took the lead which was surprisingly easier that trying to keep him behind Nell or Rocky. He stood on my foot once when trying to dodge a puddle and once sidestepping in the stable, both through no fault of his own but I have my first youngster related injury now.
He had his first grooming session with me today so he's looking a little more presentable (with the benefits of added handling and bonding) and we tested his ability to pick up front feet which wasn't too bad after a bit of encouragement. Tomorrow we test his ability to tie and back feet. He accepts me grooming his back legs so I'm not expecting too many issues - although its always best to keep an air of caution around green horses just in case. So far he is turning out to be a decent little chap and although very inexperienced and nervous, is soldiering through it all. Despite the lack of confidence I think he'll be quite brave when confronted with the unknown. The signs are promising so far.

Celtic Flame

Told you he's a pretty boy! I'm going to passport him as an appaloosa x cob. He's got quite heavy bone but his fairly sparse tail indicates that appaloosa breeding was fairly close up on his pedigree so that's the cross I expect. I'd describe him as lightweight as he hasn't got the standard, short legs of a cob. The rest of him is quite well put together. His neck is a bit short but that's not really going to have much of an effect on his way of going under saddle. He's a nice straight mover and he has a big trot for a small horse. We shall see though. First things first will be to find out what he does and doesn't do.

The Project starts...

Finally, I have a project horse. He was an absolute bargain at just £400 although I've let myself in for something more than I originally intended.

So he's called Celtic. Or Kel. And we're passporting him as Celtic Flame.
He is a lovely 15hh, 5yr old bay appaloosa x cob. And he's a tad feral... He's insecure and I've certainly chosen a good one for my first breaking project. But he seems good natured enough. He's very nervous. They people who had him before did sweet FA with him from what I can tell and he's been nothing more than a spoiled field pet. He's never really seen anything and was fairly difficult to lead when we bought him back so there is going to have to be a major refresher course on manners and personal space. I havn't much time to blog tonight but I'll get a picture up soon. His conformation is pretty good and he moves nicely so somewhere along the line he should be a nice riding horse. For now though slowly does it.