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Liberty, he is a 19 year old Percheron/Thoroughbred gelding. I have been riding him since I was 10 (so 13 years) and I have owned him for the last 5 of those years. About 6 years ago he got loose one night and got a bit rusty nail embedded in his front right hoof. The vet (who was an incompetent fool) did nothing right to treat the injury and Liberty went dead lame. His owner at the time was getting a big board fee reduction because she was letting the barn owner use Libby for lessons and once he was no longer rideable she couldn't afford the board. So she was going to send him to auction... I big horse like him that was totally lame wouldn't have gone for anything but slaughter. So I offered to buy him, and she gave him to me, free. It took a year or so of light exercise, vet visits, special shoes etc. but he eventually became sound again. We did a few shows and jumped 2'6 (he used to jump 3'6+ but i refused to push him that high after his injury) But last year he went off again on that hoof, I had him x-rayed and hes developing arthritis in the coffin bone. He's sound again now, we mostly to trail-riding, at shows we do equitation classes, road hacks etc. We still jump once in awhile, but nothing over 2' and no more courses! He's the love of my life!
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Amber I bought her last November 2008, without even trying her out (not smart I know, but I had hurt my back and was waiting to have surgery so I couldn't ride) She had only been walked a couple times under saddle at that point any way so she was basically unbroke. She is a 5 year old Percheron/Thoroughbred mare. She is the sweetest and most playful horse i've ever met, but if she doesn't want to work she lets me know! We've had our share of disagreements and we're still sorting out her canter, but shes getting there. I've free jumped her 3' and we're working on some basic dressage. I'm hoping to do a couple training level tests with her in the spring, and hopefully have her eventing Beginner Novice by 2011, that's my goal!
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Rio He is a 3 year old American Miniature gelding. Right now he's just a fluffy ball of pasture puff pony, but he jumps in hand with wonderful form, he basically lunges himself, and he's been ground driven. I want to show him in some in hand mini classes this summer and eventually teach him to Drive.
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Galahad He's not mine, I'm working with him for my barn owner. He is a 6 year old Percheron Cross. He was a rescue and is scared of everything (poor boy) he was trained to drive by whoever had him before, but I don't think they were very nice to him at all! He is green broke under saddle but scared to death about being mounted. So i've been doing a lot of ground work natural horsemanship type stuff with him. I will eventually be training him for dressage.
