July 10th I received the following message from Page Campbell of Westwood Warmbloods up at Spruce Grove, AB.:
I have been asked to help rehome a very special horse. (And this is an essay, so I apologize):
Leo is a 2008 Chestnut Warmblood Gelding, 16.2 (and we think he's still growing), with a ridiculously nice pedigree; by Der Lord (Hanoverian), out of a Hanoverian-Approved, Lord Vancouver (Thoroughbred) daughter. He is one of the last breedings by Rudiger Dupierry before he retired.
He is a friendly boy, first to greet you in the field. Reasonably easy keeper, he’s lived both inside and out, always kept on a regular farrier schedule, and has had regular handling. He loads and trailers well.
He is extremely athletic and talented, with very nice movement, free jumps four feet with ease.
That said, he is not an easy horse, and circumstances have not been in his favour.
He was born here at Westwood Warmbloods, but as I mentioned, is not of our breeding program - his mother (who is lovely) was purchased in foal. As a five year old, he was sent out to be started, and they had no issues with him. When he came back, he was added to a very long list of horses in training - and unfortunately, as it so often is in this business, triage is the name of the game - client horses first, maintenance on school horses, prospects with interested buyers, not to mention teaching ground manners to younger stock, and our trainer's personal horses. Leo tends to need more persuasion than most, and a steadier, consistent hand, so even among his very small group of age-mates, he was not the first in line.
Then he bucked under saddle a couple of times, and moved even further down the list - our trainer no longer felt comfortable letting assistant trainers ride him, and he had never progressed to being ridden by advanced students. Then, he was cut from the list altogether last winter due to lack of time.
He had a chiropractor look at him, had his saddle adjusted, and a new girth, but honestly, we think it was just high spirits. He has come back into work again this spring, and he hasn't bucked since, but his work has been very limited - he's been lunged in tack at all three gaits and over poles, but so far just walking under saddle working on promoting relaxation. The trainer who started him suggested we move him back into a western saddle because that is how he was started, but our trainer doesn't ride western. From what we've done, he seems to be much more mature than he was at five, or even six.
Here at Westwood, we practice Classical Dressage in the style of Legerete, which means we have not used side reins, draw reins, or a flash noseband on Leo. We focus on getting the horse to soften, move lightly and forward. We try to reward even the smallest amount of try, so that next time the horse tries harder. Leo tends to approach all sessions the same way;
1) OMG you want me to do what?
2) Yeah, I don't think so.
3) Okay, fine, if you insist, that's really not that awful.
Leo would very much benefit from someone who had time to earn his trust; he's naturally suspicious and takes care of himself.
Sitting in a field at the bottom of the training list is no good for Leo. Our priority still has to be our clients and their horses, fiscally, we can't afford to invest in Leo as much time as he needs. However, we've found it very difficult to market Leo; he may have ten thousand dollars of breeding, and ten thousand dollars of talent, but he needs five thousand dollars of training. And not only that, he needs to sell soon; being green at seven is acceptable, being green at ten is totally unmarketable. We've priced him ridiculously low, and have spent a long time weeding out homes that are just well, inappropriate. We're willing to keep him forever if the alternative is the meat truck, but Leo deserves better.
We've also done the worst thing you can do when selling a horse - we've been completely honest about him to everyone who has contacted us.
Let's be totally honest; we are willing give Leo away to a quality home. I would love to do a Dollar, or Fonzi deal with you; but would also appreciate any help, advice, suggestions or recommendations you can provide.
Anyone reading Page's message can feel how much Westwood cares about the horses in their care and while I was completely ignorant about Leo's breeding and warmbloods in general, I felt compelled to help. At the time I explained to Page that I couldn't take Leo until I had found Fonzi's perfect person. However, once Fonzi left, I decided to spend more time with Dexter and Navar and so I sent Page a message saying I couldn't take Leo after all. Only thing is, I forgot to hit send. The following week, Page emailed asking if it was still OK to bring Leo the end of September. After discussing with Gord (who has been as neglected as Dexter and Navar), we made the decision to take him to give him a chance. Leo was delivered by the owner of Westwood Warmbloods, Erika and her brother Colin, Thursday, October 1st.
I have been asked to help rehome a very special horse. (And this is an essay, so I apologize):
Leo is a 2008 Chestnut Warmblood Gelding, 16.2 (and we think he's still growing), with a ridiculously nice pedigree; by Der Lord (Hanoverian), out of a Hanoverian-Approved, Lord Vancouver (Thoroughbred) daughter. He is one of the last breedings by Rudiger Dupierry before he retired.
He is a friendly boy, first to greet you in the field. Reasonably easy keeper, he’s lived both inside and out, always kept on a regular farrier schedule, and has had regular handling. He loads and trailers well.
He is extremely athletic and talented, with very nice movement, free jumps four feet with ease.
That said, he is not an easy horse, and circumstances have not been in his favour.
He was born here at Westwood Warmbloods, but as I mentioned, is not of our breeding program - his mother (who is lovely) was purchased in foal. As a five year old, he was sent out to be started, and they had no issues with him. When he came back, he was added to a very long list of horses in training - and unfortunately, as it so often is in this business, triage is the name of the game - client horses first, maintenance on school horses, prospects with interested buyers, not to mention teaching ground manners to younger stock, and our trainer's personal horses. Leo tends to need more persuasion than most, and a steadier, consistent hand, so even among his very small group of age-mates, he was not the first in line.
Then he bucked under saddle a couple of times, and moved even further down the list - our trainer no longer felt comfortable letting assistant trainers ride him, and he had never progressed to being ridden by advanced students. Then, he was cut from the list altogether last winter due to lack of time.
He had a chiropractor look at him, had his saddle adjusted, and a new girth, but honestly, we think it was just high spirits. He has come back into work again this spring, and he hasn't bucked since, but his work has been very limited - he's been lunged in tack at all three gaits and over poles, but so far just walking under saddle working on promoting relaxation. The trainer who started him suggested we move him back into a western saddle because that is how he was started, but our trainer doesn't ride western. From what we've done, he seems to be much more mature than he was at five, or even six.
Here at Westwood, we practice Classical Dressage in the style of Legerete, which means we have not used side reins, draw reins, or a flash noseband on Leo. We focus on getting the horse to soften, move lightly and forward. We try to reward even the smallest amount of try, so that next time the horse tries harder. Leo tends to approach all sessions the same way;
1) OMG you want me to do what?
2) Yeah, I don't think so.
3) Okay, fine, if you insist, that's really not that awful.
Leo would very much benefit from someone who had time to earn his trust; he's naturally suspicious and takes care of himself.
Sitting in a field at the bottom of the training list is no good for Leo. Our priority still has to be our clients and their horses, fiscally, we can't afford to invest in Leo as much time as he needs. However, we've found it very difficult to market Leo; he may have ten thousand dollars of breeding, and ten thousand dollars of talent, but he needs five thousand dollars of training. And not only that, he needs to sell soon; being green at seven is acceptable, being green at ten is totally unmarketable. We've priced him ridiculously low, and have spent a long time weeding out homes that are just well, inappropriate. We're willing to keep him forever if the alternative is the meat truck, but Leo deserves better.
We've also done the worst thing you can do when selling a horse - we've been completely honest about him to everyone who has contacted us.
Let's be totally honest; we are willing give Leo away to a quality home. I would love to do a Dollar, or Fonzi deal with you; but would also appreciate any help, advice, suggestions or recommendations you can provide.
Anyone reading Page's message can feel how much Westwood cares about the horses in their care and while I was completely ignorant about Leo's breeding and warmbloods in general, I felt compelled to help. At the time I explained to Page that I couldn't take Leo until I had found Fonzi's perfect person. However, once Fonzi left, I decided to spend more time with Dexter and Navar and so I sent Page a message saying I couldn't take Leo after all. Only thing is, I forgot to hit send. The following week, Page emailed asking if it was still OK to bring Leo the end of September. After discussing with Gord (who has been as neglected as Dexter and Navar), we made the decision to take him to give him a chance. Leo was delivered by the owner of Westwood Warmbloods, Erika and her brother Colin, Thursday, October 1st.
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