- Thoroughbred
- Bay
- Mare
- 8 years
- 16.1 hands
- Would most suit a competent and experienced teen / young adult. Not a novice ride
- Loving, sweet and willing mare with lots left to give.
- Good ground manners, easy to do in most ways.
Swede is a very willing and forward thinking mare, and is always looking to please. She’s very kind on the ground, however can be slightly bolshy when exited but nothing dangerous. She used to be really fidgety to tie up, but now stands quietly, she’s just a bit nosey and likes to know what everyone’s doing!
Swede loves her stable, so isn’t one to be turned out 24/7. She’s never been a door kicker/ weaver/ box walker etc. Isn’t a particularly fussy feeder, and can be bedded on most things. She ideally needs company when turned out or in however will settle by herself over time, she’ll go in with mares and geldings or can be in an individual field with neighbours. She can get a bit stressy / worried and may take time to settle in a new place, so a patient and understanding home is a must. She is respectful of electric fencing proving she can see it, the only time I’ve had trouble was when it was one strand of thin wire and she didn’t see it.
She’s pretty easy going in all ways, good to tack up/ untack/ rug and unrug. Easy to catch and easy to handle on the ground. Shes incredible to clip and will stand happily with a haynet without being tied up. Shes very good for the vet, she can get nervous about being hot shod (smoke can spook her but is getting better) but other than that she’s well behaved. Over the winter months i only have her shod on the front as she isn’t in as much work, but is fully shod the rest of the year. My farrier has worked hard over the last year to get her feet looking amazing and strong.
Shes mostly fine to load, and will travel alone or with company, however she had never travelled in trailer until I got her. Shes been fine but I think she prefers Lorry’s and horse boxes over trailers!
Swede currently goes in a snaffle, however she can be strong and the rider must have soft hands, she’s not a fan of riders with hard hands. Since coming out of racing a few years ago, she’s been ridden in both jump and dressage saddles, and different types of tack doesn’t overly bother her, however she has preferences.
Swede is amazing to hack out, she will settle out alone, with company and from in front or behind. She’s good in traffic, she may have the occasional spook at big lorries or loud vehicles like tractors, but has never done anything nasty or dangerous. She thrives off of reassurance from the rider / handler.
Previously, she has competed SJ and jumped double clear up to 90cm and has potential to go higher, however she lacks confidence and technique. She needs a brave, confident and competent rider to feed off of. Shes not at all spooky, will jump most fillers without even looking, the most she will do is pretend to spook! She’s never stopped or refused due to a fence being too colourful or spooky. She is careful with her feet however she loves to jump, so she can get very strong / excitable, so again will need a calm and knowledgeable rider. Of course, over time and patient training she will become more relaxed.
Swede has done one Preliminary dressage test with me, and got a score of 67%, coming 2nd in the class with the comments of “lovely horse with balanced paces” from the judge. Her dressage is her weakest phase, but with good work I’m sure she would get some lovely scores at low level. Unfortunately I just haven’t had the time or energy to put into her!
I haven’t yet taken her to do any XC or hunting, however she has done arena XC, loves jumping and will canter across fields for miles, so I imagine she will love it! Sadly she just wasn’t fast enough to continue racing.
Swede is also good to lunge and long rein, and is good with in hand work too. She doesn’t mind a good fuss and groom but being a typical mare she may not always be in the mood!
Now for the bad bits; sadly Swede has got mild stringhalt in one of her hind legs, however;
- I’ve never had an issue with it
- It’s only really noticeable in walk and rarely canter
- It hasn’t gotten any worse in the time I’ve had her
- It tends to become less obvious with more work
- A vitamin E supplement helps to make it less obvious
It’s more obvious in the winter, as she’s stood in more and is stiffer. (Happy to provide videos of all paces and jumping)
She also has a few sarcoids on her belly, however again I’ve never had an issue with them. They are only small and not in any places that cause an issue. The only slight problem is she can occasionally be a little bit girthy and sensetive with her belly due to her previous owner messing with them, but she’s never kicked or bitten due to this. Of course these things might put someone off, but as I’ve said I’ve never had a massive issue with them and they don’t seem to bother her, it is reflected in her price though.
Swede is up to date on vaccinations, teeth and feet, and has been clipped. She would suit a brave, confident, competent, knowledgeable teenager who’s looking for something to have lots of fun on and is willing to put in the work to make her incredible! She’s 100% not a beginners ride, she is a hot and firey mare! I bought her from the stud yard that she was bred from, so most of her history is known, but there may be little things I’m not aware of.
Im not looking to hide anything, the most important thing to me is a good home and to make sure she’s happy, getting the time and attention she deserves! She really is a sweet, loving and willing mare, and she could really bond with someone special and take them on lots of fun adventures! Open to multiple viewing, happy to take someone who’s interested on a hack with her or arena hires! Just want to find her the best, most suitable home, her welfare is priority.