Currently walk, trot, canters on a loose rein and working with more contact every ride. She rides well off leg and seat aids. Neck reins a little but has not been formally trained for that. Backs up well and working on leg yields and counter bending. She carries herself well with natural uphill transitions. Good balance of being forward, but happy to stop when asked. She does have a motor and a great walk, especially on trails. She can really cover some ground while being in a relaxed, free flowing walk. I’ve played around with jumping her from the ground and she seems to really enjoy it. I would love to jump her undersaddle but I haven’t jumped in years. Since I’m so out of practice I’d rather someone that knows what they’re doing give her some good first experiences with jumping undersaddle.
Izzy is best suited for an advanced rider or an advanced/beginner working with a trainer. Not once has she ever bucked with a rider or thought about doing anything bad; but she does have a motor and a soft feel with a few buttons. Although not bomb proof just yet, her spook has been nothing but a jump in place. She adores my nieces and nephews and allows them to climb all over her so could definitely see her loving a kid one day.
Despite not being officially started until Spring 2024 Izzy has always had a “born broke” kinda attitude. Ever since she was 3 years old I’ve been sitting on her at liberty while she ate her dinner or grazed around the pasture. She spent several years getting hauled between Eastern NC and the Uwharrie mountains where she’d spend a few months in the Spring and Fall turned out on 25 acres with my herd. Growing up in that terrain gave her surefootedness. The only reason she was started so late was because I couldn’t make her a priority with other life decisions like marrying someone in the military and too many client horses. Spring of 2024 is when I finally made the decision to hold off on a few client horses so I could make time for my own. I’m a big believer in proper ground work so her foundation started when I purchased her as a 1.5 yr. That ensured the first time riding her was a dream. She stepped right into the canter like a seasoned horse without an ounce of concern in either one of us.
Izzy has been taken on several off property group trail rides and has done very well. With more miles she could be a great trail horse. Will lead, follow or hang out in the middle of the group. Because it was so dry this Fall we didn’t have many opportunities to cross water so she can be hesitant. Never a question that she will cross it ,but she likes to jump water if she has the option. Bigger bodies of water like the corner of a farm field that has been flooded she is happy to walk through. She is a “looker” and If she does spook it has been a jump in place kinda thing. She hasn’t been one to hold on to nervous energy, she has always been quick to chill. Although she has spent a good chunk of her udersaddle work on trails, she would prefer an arena life if given the choice. She is much more comfortable riding around in circles LoL.
The end of October we went to her first little schooling show. No exaggeration when I say she had never stepped foot in an arena or sand footing and had never trotted or cantered around other horses. This was a very laid back, one day event so the plan was to take it one class at a time and see how she handled the environment. She processed everything SO well! Truly was over the moon with how she handled herself. Horses cantering up her butt or a random kid getting thrown off their horse right in front of her did not faze her in the least. She has had no formal training for hunter undersaddle or western pleasure but she made it a fun and enjoyable day while we tested the waters in a show setting. Beginning of November we went to another show only for her to improve even more.
This little horse has yet to have a negative experience with a human, she thinks more like a labrador retriever and would be a house dog if given the chance. She loves her human and wants to do everything in her power to please. She is a mare and can have a mare-ish day every once in awhile but nothing nasty, she just may not be as eager to work if she’s in heat. She has always been pastured with mares and geldings with a mare being her best bud and Izzy tends to stay in the middle of the herd pecking order.
She is just the most personable and willing horse to have around and I want to be sure she goes to a great home with a rider that appreciates everything she is and sees the potential of what she could become. Would love to find someone that can offer a forever home and if for whatever reason, at anytime in her life you decide she’s not your forever horse, I would hope to have her back. This is not a “quick flip” kinda deal. I want her to have the opportunity to find someone that loves her as much as I do and has more time to offer her - $8,500