Sally Horse Quarterhorse Elkhart Lake, WI

Name: Sally (Registered as “Sally is Wimpie”)
Age: 18
Breed: Quarter Horse
Height: 14.2hh

Training: Needs experienced handler for riding, likely appropriate for intermediate handler on the ground.
Sally is a mare that will always be very near and dear to my heart. She came to AGES pregnant and feral around 5 years ago. She was eventually taught to be handled and was started under saddle. Sally was adopted and used as a lead trail horse for several years at a camp but was returned when her adopter began having trouble with her under saddle. It is not clear exactly what was going wrong or what triggered this change, whether her “explosions” were spooks, bucks, or something else, but apparently her adopter took several bad falls and so Sally was returned.

Healthwise, she has developed some chronic uveitis which can occasionally flare. Cataracts are noted on her exam as well. So far her vision loss seems minimal, but it is possible this has contributed somewhat to her behavior. It may not progress, but any adopter should be aware of and prepared for the possibility that her vision could one day decline. She is otherwise healthy for her age.

On the ground, Sally is the sweetest mare you ever met. She is easy to catch, friendly, ties well, and knows her basic groundwork. She can be a little unsure in new places and responds well to a confident handler. She stands well for saddling, as long as you do up her girth slowly.

Under saddle is where the uncertainty lies with Sally. The first two times I rode her since being back, I did extensive groundwork prior to riding and she rode off well. Needing some refinement and tuning, but no signs of “explosions." The next two rides, I did very little groundwork prior to riding and found her to be quite tense and sensitive for the first 10 minutes of the ride or so. Several quick scoots forward, a few abrupt stops, and a baby buck or two. After 5-10 minutes of lots of trotting, cantering, and transitions, she settled into the work and I could feel her start to relax. I don’t know if this is what her previous home experienced; but if she jumped like this with a less experienced rider and they didn’t immediately take control and redirect her attention and energy I could see how these little moments could escalate into bigger deals. I can’t say why she has developed this issue, but at this time it is clear she needs an experienced rider as well as preparatory groundwork before a ride to get her body soft and her mind engaged. She is NOT currently a horse I would feel safe pulling out of the pasture, saddling up, and riding off down the trail with.

She does tend to be a more forward horse under saddle, and this is another training element we have been working on as she will occasionally go to trot or canter off when I didn’t ask her to. Paradoxically, this type of horse often ends up needing A LOT of time spent at the trot and canter, so if you are not 100% confident riding in these gaits and prefer to primarily walk, she is likely not a great fit for you. Likewise, if the thought of quick movements/spooks, humping up, or kicking out under saddle makes you nervous, I cannot in good faith recommend Sally, as I still am not completely convinced I have seen the full range of her under-saddle behavior - we’ve been stuck in the small pen by footing issues, and with the vague history we were given, I would only want her to go to a riding home with a rider who was experienced not just riding, but actively working through problems like this.

As I said, I care a lot about this mare and really want her to find the right fit that will be safe and happy for everyone. I am happy to discuss her training history in greater detail with any interested parties.

**(Please contact us and we will get you in touch with Hannah, the trainer that wrote this bio!)


LINK TO ADOPTION APPLICATION:
https://goo.gl/Hz8PMP