Cob 13.2 Stubborn/Sensitive/Smart/Positive reinforcement homes only

• Cob
• Piebald
• Gelding
• 14 years
• 13.2hh / 138cm

Barney is a sensitive pony and is suitable for a confident teenager or small adult.

He's very clever but lacks confidence, and I think for him to get the best out of life he needs to be with a family that can offer him time and security. I lost my confidence around the time I bought him three years ago after an accident on another horse, and while he looks after me superbly (never reared, bucked or bolted with me) I know I'm not giving him the life he deserves.

He's in the prime of his life and I'm too scared to even canter again. I have such a mind block that it's just not fair to him.

He loves to hack (in company). He's more stubborn in the arena, but with positive reinforcement training (clicker training), he's really starting to enjoy the arena setting. He likes to be the only horse in an arena- like I mentioned he lacks confidence. He's the bottom of every herd (but you can turn him out with any horse), and if other horses are in the arena it can shut him down especially if he doesn't know them. This happens when he's out show jumping as well, and it can take a bit to get him started on a course of jumps often being led over the first few jumps before he settles in and then he flies around.

He does enjoy jumping but after being with me a few years his fitness isn't there so he'd need someone to go gently with him. I think he'd excel at cross country. He's not a first ridden, and has grumpy man syndrome but once he knows you and trusts you he's the funniest, quirkiest and sweetest pony.

He likes his routines. Loves the sunshine and hates the rain. The summer is his favourite season. He can be nippy, so clicker training with treats and a lick are the only times he gets a hand fed treat. He'll do absolutely anything for food. He can bolt on the ground when he spots that the feed room door is open or there's a patch of grass if you're leading him. He never endangers himself or anyone, he just follows his belly.

He survives on air. He's cheap in terms of his daily needs and he's barefoot. He will be a work in progress for someone who has the patience to work with him and his occasional bad attitude. He will not tolerate heavy use of a crop as he will shut down completely. Like I said he's very sensitive, and smart and responds to positivity after bad experiences in his past. A sole owner would be ideal.