- Skills / Disciplines
- Dressage, English Pleasure, Natural Horsemanship Training, Trail Riding, Western Dressage, Working Equitation
Additional Comments
A Fool For Jeans aka “Poppy”
Please read the entire ad, I am a brutally upfront, honest person and everything about this horse is in this ad. If you like a horse that is forward, adjustable, responsive, and tries whatever you ask then Poppy might be your next partner. Poppy is a 15.2hh 13 year old April 1st, 2011 Grulla Paint mare, ½ Tb ½ Paint QH. Poppy was a boarder’s horse at a barn I owned in Washington state and she was there two years until I moved out of state so I know her very well.... (read more) Summer 2024 her owner of 9 years reached out due to circumstances necessitating that she no longer could keep Poppy. I bought her to see if she would be my second riding horse. She has been in Illinois since August and I have trail ridden, done a hunter pace (Our team came in first), and gone horse camping up in Wisconsin. She has been ridden western in a bosal for the past 9 years. I ride english so I tried her in a snaffle and she’s done great. She rides off your seat and leg primarily, is quite balanced, and like many smart mares, knows your wishes often before you ask. Poppy is sensitive, but not spooky or reactive, particular about what she likes without being naughty (What good woman isn’t? Can I get an amen?!?!?) she has never bucked/reared/bolted and is very safe. You can W/T/C this horse in a rope halter. If she has not been ridden in a while or it is cold/windy, she is more forward but zero naughty business. I would not recommend for a complete beginner just because of how forward and big her canter is. She has done flying changes but they are not finished just an experiment for fun so I will not be doing them for demo but it would be easy to finish them and I have a video. She can sidepass, open gates, do shoulders-in, and has played with turn on the haunches/forehand etc. She is a mare and in her case this is what it means: she makes mare faces when she’s eating and/or is disturbed, she does not love to be groomed and isn’t super cuddly, occasionally she will leave her stall because she can't be bothered. She’s easy to catch in a paddock or large pasture and goes out well with any horses in the pasture, middle to low on the pecking order, does great in mixed company on trail rides no matter who is close even if they bump her she hasn’t ever squealed. She had a bad incident many years ago in the cross ties and since then they just tied her to a ring or draped her lead over it, I have cross tied her but I would not say that’s the best option-she ties well on a tie ring, to the trailer, a fence post etc. She doesn't love crossing water but can be convinced and I just don't have much water around to consistently work on this. She’s great for the farrier, good to bathe (loves her udder cleaned), good for the vet, and decent at trailering. When I first got her in August, she really hadn’t done much trailering so we worked a lot on it and she does very well now-occasionally she stops and asks “Remind me why I have to do this?” and I have attached a video of what that looks like. She needs front shoes because when we attempted to go barefoot she got a case of traumatic laminitis from extreme thin soles (I have radiographs before and after to show no coffin bone changes and I will happily let anyone talk to my vet, it should never be an issue again providing she's in shoes) She is slightly girthy, she takes a few rushed steps right after saddling even with the girth loose and I had her looked at when I bought her and there is nothing ouchy/problematic, no ulcer indicators. She does stock up in her legs like many appendix horses do and she has a lump on her leg that the vet thinks is an old stabilized splint. She had two small sarcoids on her ear and face that have been treated with cryotherapy. She has been completely sound except for when our barefoot experiment went south. I have not jumped her other than to pop over a few cross rails for the heck of it, because that was not my goal for her but I have a video of that. I think she would absolutely excel at Working Equitation or lower level dressage, she is not a horse for barrel racing or speed western events. So why would I want to sell such a gorgeous, wonderful horse you may ask? I have 4 children under age 7 and I fractured my back years ago and it is not loving the workload of riding this mare and my other mare. She really is a gem and needs someone to have fun with her. I hate to do this because she is so fantastic so I will be picky. Please do not inquire if you plan to resell her, she is a mare with a sensitive soul that needs one person to be her partner, to have fun with all her talent. I will potentially be needing references so if you don’t think yours will live up to my scrutiny, then Poppy will not be living with you. PPE welcome at buyer’s expense. Located in Wayne IL. I am potentially negotiable to the absolutely perfect home but no low ball ridiculous offers Video link for Poppy : Watch Youtube Video
