Horse Profile: Tralee

This picture was taken on the day we bought our first horse home. Tralee is a 15.2hh connemara x Gelding who is now 19yrs old. We had owned a loan horse before him which hadn't worked out so before buying Tralee we took him on loan for 2 weeks. He was previously owned by Captain Sparrow of the Western Hunt so naturally for the 14 yrs that the Captain owned him his job was to be a hunter. Not the kind of hunter that trots around a ring and then has to jump a few logs; no, Tralee was a real fox hunter, hardy, tough and reliable.

His vetting didn't come back all clear - He has low ringbone in his near hind - but his eyes are bright and heart strong. The ringbone does not seem to bother him although he will rest that leg more often than the others. We introduced him to Harriet on his first day home. Large ladies must do something for him as now he thinks he's a stallion. ;)

This was mum's first hunt. Tralee was keeping an eye on the Morgan stallion that he thought might try and steal his girlfriend, Harriet.

Years of hunting and little schooling has left him somewhat ewe necked but overall he's a fantastic little horse that is built to last. He has a pony stride and generally takes his time in everything but is so reliable and bombproof its not worth moaning about. He can go fast when he wants to, however and his age sometimes comes into question when he's prancing down the road or spooking at an ice-cream sign. Last christmas Mum took him hunting and he was behind the red-coats all the way and was in his element to be back hunting.


This year Tralee got a sprained ligament which was a long time healing. Although we were still able to ride him it was very slowly. He seems to finally be getting over it and Emma even did a small jump on him the other day.

Captain Sparrow, and Tralee as a 4 yr old; not long after being imported by Tregurtha from Ireland.

Not surprisingly, Tralee is very well known here in the lower parts of Cornwall. Many times while hunting last year did Mum have people come up to her and say: "That's Captain's horse, that is". It was great having all the history of our old boy and knowing exactly what has happened throughout his life. Quite often people have no knowledge of what there horses may have suffered previously much like how it is with Nell, our 1/2 haflinger mare.

A quick run down:

• Name:Tralee
• Height: 15.2hh
• Gender: Gelding
• Breed: Connemara x (Welsh D?)
• Colour: Chestnut with Flaxen mane/tail
• Place and DOB: Ireland in 1989

• Strength: 3/5
• Stamina: 4/5
• Speed: 3/5
• Riding Comfort: 2/5
• Temperment: 5/5