Last fall we expanded our stable to include a third horse, this one for me. I’m a novice rider – I’ve been on a horse less than a dozen times in my life and as a heavy guy – I’m terrified of falling. So my wife spent a great deal of time looking for a horse that I could safely ride. She found Sky.
Sky is a red roan Percheron/Quarter horse cross gelding in his later years. We think he is about 21 years old and has a sensitive disposition. He had been working at Horses of Hope near Salem Oregon; an Equine Therapy Center for people with physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
The center director was looking to retire Sky as he “needed fewer riders” to be happy. We went to the center and I rose him with one of the therapists/trainers and we hit it off quite well together. For a donation, we were able to take Sky home and introduce him to Stanley and Rivian, Bridgett’s two Off Track Thoroughbred’s. There were some initial quarrels but the group soon settled with a pecking order of Stanley the boss horse, followed by Sky, and then poor Rivan who seems to get picked on constantly by the other two.
Sky is very intelligent and has magic lips. He is able to manipulate gate latches, and this has resulted in a few escapes into the barn to much down on hay, grain, or whatever else he can get into. We’ve had to beef up the stalls considerably to keep that under control and warn anyone who helps take care of the animals if we are gone. He loves treats and is very social nickering frequently when he sees us. He’s grown attached to Stanley and Rivian and gets upset when one of them isn’t in the pasture or paddock with him.
While I haven’t ridden him much yet – He wintered well (maybe a little too well – he’s gained some weight) and I’m looking forward to learning to ride better this spring and summer on the trails with Bridgett.