- Skills / Disciplines
- All Around, Athletic, Beginner, Blue Eyed, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Dappled, Draft, Dressage, Equitation, Flashy, Gymkhana, Husband Safe, Natural Horsemanship Training, Performance, Ranch, Ranch Work, Ridden English, Ridden Western, Trail, Trail Riding
Additional Comments
When you meet Whiz, you can't help but fall in love. He's got two beautiful blue eyes, long, thick mane and tail, he's dappled, plus he's so stout he'll make anyone's butt look smaller than it actually is. He is the kind that looks like you can pretend to ride into a famous Lord of the Rings battle, moves fancy enough to enter him in the all-breed Ranch Riding & Trail shows, and then is handy enough to load him up in the trailer and go gather and work cows long days on the weekend.... (read more)
He's a draft cross, wears a size 2 shoe in the front, and is built to last with a strong neck, back, shoulders, and hind quarters. He's very surefooted no matter the terrain and will go where you point him. He rides out alone and with other horses, and maintains the same pace whether you're leaving the barn or coming back to it. He's happy to hang out with you all day long and is not herd/barn sour. He will go over bridges, teeter-totters, open and close gates and has gone through deep rivers. He's great to pony young horses off of. He is more whoa than go but will give you speed if you ask for it. He's been trailered many different places and has been played with on the barrel and pole pattern.
With Whiz's bald face (this is common in horses with bald faces), I believe he is deaf. He is not bothered by any loud sounds whatsoever and doesn't seem to hear you approach if you're not in his line of vision, but when he sees you he will whinny at you immediately. Because of being deaf, he can occasionally do a little scoot if he sees something behind him all of a sudden and needs a second to figure out what it is. His scoot consists of one, maybe two quick steps forward/away from whatever he's seen, nothing to unseat you, but I could see intimidating a beginner/not confident rider. Most rides this doesn't occur, but worth mentioning to give the full picture. With more miles and considering he's still young, I believe this will completely go away with time. Whiz has had beginner riders on him and gotten along with them great.
Whiz picks up both leads and moves beautifully. He has great transitions, a fancy extended trot, and gets really soft in the face. I have videos of him riding outside and in the arena I'm happy to send. A good picture of his temperament is how he handled carrying a flag for the first time: I showed him a flag off another horse, then got on him, he took a minute relaxing into it and getting used to it, then ten minutes later we were loping while carrying the flag. I have video of this as well. Basically, he may take a minute to look at it, but will ease into things and do anything you ask as soon as he understands what you're asking/doing.
He has impeccable ground manners and loves scratches (makes funny faces while you do it), stands great for farrier (but will give farrier kisses while doing front feet), loads into the trailer without any hesitation, ties, bathes, stands for saddling/mounting. He's done horsemanship exercises and loves to work with you in the roundpen. Whiz will crib if in a small stall. Turned out on pasture he doesn't crib. He'd make an outstanding backcountry horse, ranch horse, trail riding horse, and has the movement to even really do well in the Ranch Riding & Trail classes or Western Dressage. Feel free to reach out for more information, pictures and videos! The sweet boy has a heart of gold and has the charm, personality, grit and looks to be someone's dream come true.
