I’m skipping ahead of horse #4 – though I will do a post on him later because the amount of drama and craziness in that story is epic – and onto Horse #5 as he’s an actual candidate.
This horse was actually a late addition to our shopping excursion on Sunday, but we figured we were already 2.5 hours from home, what’s another 90 minutes? This is a 9 year old, 16.2hh Saddlebred/Arabian cross gelding. He’s a true black (not dark bay) and white pinto. And he’s a sweet-heart.
And he’s has spent his life in the Arabian flat hunter show world. Have you ever seen these classes? They more resemble saddle seat than what USEF hunters look like.
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| Arabian Hunters @ Scottsdale Arabian Show |
The whole experience was a little bizarre. The barn was out in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but farms and cattle as far as we could see. And the last town had been a while ago. And the sun is setting so I’m starting to get a little worried. Then we pull up and it’s this luxury stable with a lit indoor arena. And not only is this stable fancy, the horses are clearly fancy as hell.
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| Just some of the ribbons, trophies, and pictures |
We’re not in the same league.
When we arrived, the trainer was actually working with the horse’s owner and one of her other horses. She owns 5 – down from 7 – and he’s making her pair down to 3 to be more competitive with those three. She’s going to the Scottsdale Arabian Show with the other horse, which was also gorgeous. So the horse we were looking at is a good horse, but just not in the same quality as these super fancy horses.
The trainer was great. Pulled him out of his stall, groomed him, let us poke and prod and ask questions. Then he trotted him back and forth and lunged him for us. As he was trotting around, I commented to my husband that this is the soundest looking horse we’ve looked at. And given the atrocious state of his feet, this was rather surprising.
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| Needs an inch+ knocked off |
The first question I asked was “how crazy is he?” I’ve seen a few of the saddlebred/arabian crosses at endurance rides, and read about others. And every one of them has been crazy. I even had a conversation with Fig before the horse shopping started about how I hoped to avoid this cross. The trainer said (I take everything a trainer says with a grain of salt) that’s because they’re usually rejects from the show circuit. The horses get “jazzed up” in order to make them good show prospects and then if they can’t make it, their price drops and they got sold off to endurance people. We were told this horse was hot, but not crazy.
We had the trainer ride him first and he looked good. Walk/trot/canter, just basic stuff. He comes back down to walk really nicely. No jigging, no anxiety about going faster, but he goes when you ask. He clearly has energy and some high-stepping moves, but he comes right back and behaves when you ask. One big drawback to this horse is that he’s very retracted/ behind the bit. Of course, he’s been trained to be this way so it’s not his fault, but I imagine untraining it will be pretty difficult.
He also absolutely knows nothing beyond w/t/c and go around the edge of the ring. He can circle, but it’s not awesome. My husband tried to get him to do a turn on the hindquarters and he backed up. I asked the trainer what he works on with him and he said, “going around the ring and trying to keep his head down.” Well then.
My husband hopped on next and went bouncing around. Shasta is a quarter horse. She moves in the low, swinging, easy/flat fashion of a quarter horse. It’s very comfy and very easy to ride. This horse rides like a rocking horse. He’s also trained to “cluck up” to his big trot and “kiss” into canter. I told my husband this as I was watching the trainer ride. My husband rode him and did none of those things so when I went to get on the trainer came over with me and explained all that and I was like, yeah, I know.
My husband did have a good ride though. Just w/t/c, but he was very well-behaved. I hopped on after and it started raining as I was getting on. The horse really wanted to look at the open side of the arena because a horse had walked past out there going to the round pen. We had some major discussions about going straight instead of swerving all over the place trying to stare outside. His attention was just not on me at all. I finally asked him to canter away from that side and he pitched a little buck. I got the hell after him and he settled down and actually listed to me after that. He has lovely gaits. The trot is easy to sit and the canter, while big and rocking, is really comfortable to sit.
He’s another one who knows his commands and knows his job and does not understand why the hell I am bugging him with my leg. I don’t blame him. Once we got past the whole rain noise + horse outside distraction, he was very good. He’s a well trained horse who is forward without being crazy hot.
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| uphill canter much? |
I liked him. My husband liked him. However, we weren’t able to try him on any trails since it was pitch black outside and raining. We also weren’t able to try any jumping with him because apparently he’s never done that before. My biggest concern though is the long, long back on this horse. He’s out of shape right now and never asked to not go hollow, but no matter how much muscle we put on that topline, it’ll always be long. The back is an issue for both longterm soundness and dressage/jumper/endurance skills. He may have a hard time putting himself over a jump or over rough terrain with the disconnect between the front and back end.
My husband wants to go back next weekend to try him on the trails, but it’s supposed to rain again next weekend. I also highly doubt this horse will stay on the market for long. He’s going to get snatched up.
Any thought from readers? I’d especially love to hear from anyone with Saddlebred experience. This is one type of horse I’ve never really worked with before.
Finally someone who knows how to sell a horse.
so when I saw the first picture I thought- oh oh, his back is pretty hollow. Then I looked at the trot on the lunge and REALLY liked what I saw.
He would need some re-training that's for sure. Some lunge work and work over cavalettis and he would develop. The behind the bit can be fixed but it may always be his 'go-to' if the hand gets too strong.
I also think that he's adorable looking. Has he ever been on a trail?
I grew up with Saddlebreds, got away from them as I moved into eventing and then ended up with a pinto Saddlebred mare as my new eventing packer.
In my experience they are a forward horse, not necessarily hot/crazy. I've only ridden one who was super hot, and she actually was a show ring reject. Also, most of the Saddlebreds I've known have been super trail horses and have excellent longevity (my mare is 19, eventing at Training and still completely sound).
Eeeek, those feet are terrifying. It may take you years to get them back to where they should be – I can't even imagine how contracted his heels are. That first pic of him is also not flattering – it may just be the angle, but it looks like his hind end is really strangely put together. And looking at the trot still, I'm not impressed. That's a really short stride, he's not tracking up, and it looks like his butt doesn't exist. He's VERY cute, but he doesn't strike me as a horse that's put together for covering ground or long-term soundness.
Seems like a bit of a gamble between the feet, training & conformation, although his color is pretty. Never buy for color though, which I know you know already.
According to the seller he's been on trail. But not a lot and it hasn't been his usually job. Supposedly he's "looky" which could be okay, but if he pulls that swivel around to look at stuff while on a narrow single track, he'll just fall off the side of the trail. So we need to try it out.
Interesting that you confirm the show ring reject as crazy theory. I think you're the only one I've heard of doing eventing with a saddlebred. It's good to know someone can do it.
I know. The back really scares me. The feet we could fix eventually. The heels were surprisingly not too bad given low long his feet were. We saw a few horses in the barn with pads, so I am guessing he's actually been kept long on purpose. I think this would be easier to fix than under heels. But the back. There's definitely a disconnect between from and back end.
I love the color, but it's not actually why I like him. I like his attitude. He's forward without being crazy. Lots of energy, but actually comes back to a nice, calm walk when you ask.
I think he looks lovely 😀
I worked at a high-class saddlebred barn for a while. The show horses knew when and how they were expected to perform, but were sane and surpsingly calm otherwise (obediently amped to do their job, but not crazy at all). They were sensitive and intelligent animals. His feet are pretty typical; if he's sound like that, I expect he'd be just fine with different care.
Retraining him would take time, but is definitely do-able. When I got my horse (QHxTWH), he was extremely hollow and broken at the 3rd (any contact and he'd pin his nose to his chest). He loves stretching now and takes a good contact; he occasionally goes behid the vertical (but only slightly).
Incidentally, he also has a long back and it is very obvious when he's using his hind end properly vs. letting it trail. It had a mind of its own originally.
He actually loves to jump and is quite good at it. His back has been more solid than I would have expected, with minimal soreness when he really should have hurt (he was roughly used before I got him).
I think this guy might surprise you if he's retrained and remuscled properly.
Had one that tried to kill herself, kill me and was complete nutso. She broke more halters and lead ropes than I could count, would freak out and run out into traffic. She once ran out into traffic and backed into a cement mixer, with me hanging off her head. Thankfully, the driver was very sweet and just parked his truck until I could drag her off the road again. Could spook and turn on a dime. She was not trained when I got her, but then neither was Ashke. I really wondered if something in her head was messed up. She certainly did not have the proper upbringing. My only experience with a NSH and I will never own another.
Thanks for the input; I really appreciate it. I thought the feet seemed typical for the type of training he's in. I'm glad to see that confirmed. My TWH had messed up feet like this, but his have never recovered. He's actually sound even over rocks, but his feet look upright and contracted so I do wonder if all cases are fixable.
Yes. I have experienced these horses and that was my concern at even looking at this type of cross. This one did not seem so crazy though.
Lovely is as lovely does.
WOW, he is SO uphill in his canter.
Yup…feet are unfortunately typical. My first horses were saddlebreds. Mare was insanely spooky, but otherwise very kind though painfully bouncy. Ha. My gelding was a saint. I have a friend with Arab/ASB crosses and they're great, though she's had them all since they were young and has been the primary person handling them. I thim they are smart and more resilient than people give them credit for.
Also Dom has done some endurance on a NSH. Perhaps reaching out to her would be beneficial for asking questions.
http://harnessphoto.blogspot.com/2014/08/rbtr-2014-in-which-dom-is-deserter.html
It's lovely. So comfortable to ride and so fancy.
I really wish they didn't ruin their feet like this.
I should email her. Most of her experiences with them have not been that positive. At least not to my reading of them.