Additional Comments
Toby is an aged (approx 22 yo) grade QH gelding, about 15.2 hands and big bodied. SUPER solid barefoot kinda horse! (Even here in rocky Nh) DO NOT let his age fool you…this guy will go strong another 10 years I’m willing to bet!! I wouldn’t hesitate to go for a horse of this age that’s in as great shape and care as this handsome beast! As you read, please realize…your small child is NOT my small child. Toby is NOT being marked as a dead beginner, child safe, timid rider horse.... (read more)
This decision is NOT being taken lightly and has been one that took a while to finally make so any negative comments or even remotely passive aggressive conversation will IMMEDIATELY be addressed. So let’s do us all a big favor and avoid that. ? So, keyboard warriors w your bleeding hearts…put down the fingers, take a deep breath and read the ad…then scroll. Thank you.
It’s w a VERY heavy heart that this handsome guy’s owner is putting him up to find his next home. Sadly, his owner is getting older…she has massive time constraints in regards to caring for her family (which is tough enough at her age) as well as issues w her own physical limitations at this point. However, through it all, Toby has taken care of her. He has been a rock for her on and off the ground and will make someone an absolutely STELLAR trail horse. While Toby can and will ride in the ring, he excels out on the trails and absolutely loves to take a power stroll through the dirt roads, woods and rail trails. I’ve taken out groups of riders before and I have, no joke, gotten about half my emails/“office work” done from his back because I KNOW he is a point and shoot kinda guy! He will go out solo confidently, lead or follow, crosses bridges, will stop to check out the water crossing before carefully managing his way through (he’s a thinker on the trails), doesn’t bat an eye/ear at deer or other animals, ATVs and light traffic are no issue for him and he’s more than happy to give you a nice, balanced walk/trot/canter/gallop through the woods then comes right back down to a halt if needed. This guy is the SAME horse no matter how long it’s been since you’ve gotten on his back. He will even go around w the thunder rolling or the monsoon rains falling on the indoor roof the times we’ve had storms roll up on us quickly. He’s been lightly used in lessons, here w teens and adults, at RRF and was always the goodest boy. He doesn’t LOVE to canter in the ring but w a rider that can pick him up and help him through the corners (we have a smaller indoor -120x60 - so corners come up quick lol) he will canter around just fine. This is not due to anything other than the fact he’s been mainly a trail horse and not often worked due to owner’s life these days. Toby is responsive to seat, leg and hand…he was treated a bit rough at one point and while he has tons of buttons because of this, he also is quick to please. He does NOT buck, rear or bolt and isn’t a spooky horse. If he’s going to be apprehensive about anything it’s when someone decides to just sprint in his direction when he’s hanging out tied or half asleep in the middle of the ring. I trust him to be led around, tied up, groomed, climbed all over and ridden by my almost 8 year old daughter and I KNOW he will keep her safe. However, I will NOT be marketing this horse as a “child safe, beginner ready” horse simply due to how responsive he is under saddle. My child is NOT your child. Please remember this! Would love to see him w a teen/adult unless you have a child that is a light, quiet rider that has been in the tack since they could walk as mine has. “Beginner safe is a very touchy term and while Toby has taken beginners out on the trails…this isn’t the home that’s being sought for him. If we didn’t already have far too many horses…Toby wouldn’t be going anywhere because I would snag him up in a HEARTBEAT. Along w being the absolute best trail horse ever, Toby has also been to some local shows where he did the walk/trot division and did incredible, kicking butt and bringing home ribbons. He has also been used lightly for some Gymkhana/playday type of stuff and seemed to really enjoy it…never getting too quick or wild. Lastly, he HAS had some roping done around him/off him and while it’s been a while…I wouldn’t personally hesitate to climb up and throw a rope around off him. He may take a second or two to trust I’m not going to rope his head…but he settles fast and wants to get the gold star for being the bestest boy. This horse is gonna make a confident young person an amazing first horse, someone the absolute GREATEST trail partner or even someone’s very handsome guest/husband’s horse! Toby is UTD on absolutely everything and has had a loving, caring and exceptional owner for many years now…and nothing less will be considered for him. Absolutely phenomenal for vet/farrier, super easy to hose/bathe, cross ties/straight ties/ties to the trailer and will load up and haul like he does it every day! Super easy keeper as well. The only “downside” (which really shouldn’t be a downside if you love a horse and they’re as awesome as this boy) is that we do soak his alfalfa pellets since they’re bigger and he doesn’t eat a ton of hay (but always has access to it) because he does wind up quidding some up here and there. NO HE HAS NEVER CHOKED! We do this simply out of respect to his age and the way he prefers to eat his food…he isn’t the only horse on property we do this for either. I’m extremely detailed w how my horses are fed here so…this is simply a thing I do for him. His grain itself is never soaked and his hay pellets are also fed dry. (Most of the time. Sometimes I’m lazy and just throw them w his alfalfa ?) He’s been an incredibly easy keeper, even after soaking his pellets, quidding some hay and such. Only on Vit E and a little joint supplement since he IS a distinguished, older gentleman! He grows a nice, thick, polar bear coat in the winter and sheds out absolutely beautifully come spring. He WILL stall at night behind just a couple stall chains and be totally quiet and happy but man…he LOVES to be outside in a run in so he can “watch over ‘his’ property and herd of horses”. Does well w all others but does typically wind up the top of the pecking order. However, he doesn’t run anyone around, no bite marks, etc. I am going to really, really miss this guy being around as he’s been boarded w me for years, even through our moving to a new location. But…he deserves a person that can be here daily and that’s what his owner can no longer provide. So, she is SELFLESSLY putting her own emotions aside to find him a better, more active and engaging life style! Would love to see..(see comments!) but there’s many possible options here and the most important thing is the person, care and home being provided. (Would love to see him boarded here still!! ??)
Located at Rustic River Farm LLC in Mason Nh.
NO off farm trials, ON FARM lease to own may be a possibility, PPE’s are welcome and the owner does have a lot of recent blood work/once over type of visits from making sure all things are still good at his age each spring and fall.
Rustic River Farm LLC - Mason Nh
Lessons, boarding, training, and sales
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