- Irish Sports Horse
- Chestnut
- Gelding
- 14 years
- 16.1 hands
- Competed successfully up to BD Advanced Medium - yet happy to do a Prelim. Judges love him!
- Gorgeous loving temperament. Calm and compliant, with perfect manners ridden or handling.
- Wonderful to hack alone or in company, front, back or middle. Never strong or silly.
SMART & SAINTLY DRESSAGE SCHOOLMASTER
Harry, who is a 16.1hh ISH, is one in a million. It’s an over-used phrase, but he really is. Here’s why (and who he’s right for):
• Competed successfully up to Advanced Medium, but equally happy to do a Prelim (you can look up his record on BD – ‘Keep Spirits Up’).
• Wonderful to compete for the most nervous/amateur of riders – so chilled at a competition
• A true schoolmaster – dozens of gears and buttons – incredibly amenable at all levels
• Excellent conformation and way of going - ‘born on the bit’
• Incredible manners, both at home and away in every way – in the field, stable, with the farrier, dentist, vet, loading, at a competition – you name it, he does it all with grace and charm
• Never, ever known to buck, rear, spin, bolt, nap or anything horrid, no vices.
• Wonderful to hack out in any situation, on his own or in company, takes anything and everything we meet out hacking in his stride – and doesn’t change his way of going out hacking even when very fit.
• Adores people – loves his cuddles
• So chilled to look after – if he has to stay in due to fields being wet for days on end, he still won’t hot up; turn him out on his own or in company – no ifs buts or anxieties (other than a rug in the corner of an arena that wasn’t there the day before!); if you can’t ride him for a couple of days, he’s still the same!
• A very good doer (cheap to run) and yet very easy to keep in good shape
• Healthy, great feet and teeth, low maintenance vet-wise
Harry may be right for you if you:
• Want to compete in dressage anywhere between Prelim and Advanced Medium (n.b. his points mean you have to compete at BD Silver, not Bronze), and want a truly seasoned, calm performer and schoolmaster – great for BD/Petplan and/or riding club teams
• Love to hack out, alone and/or in company on a horse you know you can trust
• Love the idea of a true schoolmaster with whom you can really progress and learn – or maybe you just want a great friend with whom you can put into practice what you already know, at the level you’re happy with
• Love being around your horse as well as riding him – he’s delightful company and loves people
• You’re not a novice looking for a horse to learn to ride on – you’re a competent amateur who would love to benefit from his experience and form a partnership to enjoy competing/riding club/hacking. You need to ride him, not be a passenger.
• You don’t think, hmm he looks like he can jump. He can, but he just doesn’t particularly enjoy it. I would like him to go to a flatwork home.
• Like to keep a horse like a horse, not a machine
I bought Harry when I was recovering from an illness two years ago and I thought I would keep him forever, but the illness has returned, and he needs to go to a home that can get the most out of his talents and wonderful nature. Over the last 2 years, other than one brief outing, I haven’t been able to get him out and about competing, but he is kept at at a dressage yard with excellent facilities, hacked out and ridden by me, being trained by Georgia Stokes, and also ridden and schooled regularly by the yard owner, who rides at Inter 1 level, again with Georgia training. I’m in my mid-60s with an ongoing illness, but he’s just as polite and willing for me as he is for a professional rider. He is fit and ready to compete now.
He has hunted and is apparently wonderful, with immaculate manners, and not strong. He used to event, but he really isn’t interested in jumping, although happy to do pole work, raised poles, etc.
A good, active, loving home and references essential. He turned 14 in late April– he has years of experience behind him, and years ahead of him for you to enjoy.
Hard to put a price on his saintly nature and true schoolmaster qualities, but I would pay the asking price over again anytime – his blend of kindess and knowledge is unmatched in any horse I’ve ever met – and others say the same.
Can be viewed at livery 5 mins from Bodmin Parkway station in Cornwall, with excellent facilities.
Please email me and tell me why you would be interested in Harry and something about you. I’ll then be happy to send you videos and more pictures.
Note re videos: There's a video of me cantering up a field, just so you can see him in an open space, and me riding him in the school, so you can see how he is with a real amateur who has never ridden above Novice BD. Further videos available on request.