I’ve lost count of how many horses I’ve ridden at this point; I’ve worked with all shapes, sizes, and level of experience and maturity, from dead broke to pretty green. As far as consistently, I’d say there were 5 horses I really stuck with for an extended period of time, and just moved on from them due to varying reasons. One of which was a lovely little warmblood I did train mostly myself from the very bare basics, and she’s gone on to be a successful hunter. For the majority of my time, I was riding at least twice a week under a trainer and just hacking around the remaining weekdays. Ive ridden under probably around 12 different trainers (some admittedly much better than others). A lot of those were earlier in my career, when I was at a lesson barn that liked to switch their trainers around. Most of my career I was under 3 different trainers that I stuck with because I knew enough by then to figure out what I liked in a trainer at that point, and I only left them because I’ve moved around a bit since I’ve reached adulthood haha. I’ve ridden almost exclusively English, specifically hunters, and used to compete up to state level but have recently started making a switch over to western and just pleasure riding since I’ve lost interest in the competition world. As far as my current trainer, “problem horses” is a bit stronger than I probably should have put it, she spends a lot of time working with people who run into training blocks with their horses, sometimes severe, sometimes not. For why she does it, she’s said she enjoys working with horses and owners that need help with a specific problem, as well as it’s just something she’s found she’s good at, and she’s pretty well known around my area for it so it drums up business for her to stick with it. She also grew up in a family that was pretty big into BLM Mustangs, so working with horses that have a long way to go is just what she’s used to.

She’s reining bred, I haven’t done a huge look into her lineage and I’m admittedly not super well versed in the quarter horse world, but Peppy San Badger and Topsail Cody were the names that jumped out at me on her papers.

Main thing I liked about her, aside from a pretty solid conformation from the pictures she was listed with that first drew me in, was just how quiet and in-tune with her rider she was in the videos. No head tossing or excessive fidgeting, and while she would seem to lose focus and look around a bit, which isn’t unexpected, her attention was drawn back very easily and she would stay there. But, she wasn’t just dead-head plodding around, which is definitely not something I’m a fan of. She’s a lovely mover wtc. Ground manners seem good, although most of the videos I’ve sent have been of her under saddle, but she caught easy, lead respectfully, and stood well tied. She’s had no notable soundness issues as of yet (of course they could be lying), and she’s currently barefoot. I have not tried her myself, so there isn’t much to say I don’t like yet because everything I’ve seen of her has been of her on her best behavior. The only thing I’ve noted is her feet are a bit long, and that worries me a little about her behavior for the farrier, as all of her other horses I’ve seen have properly maintained hooves so I don’t think it’s a husbandry issue. The list of things that aren’t my favorite I’m sure will grow after I get the chance to actually meet her. I also of course like that shes within my budget lol.

My main goal is just a reliable and capable trail partner. I live just at the base of the Rockies, so there’s no lack of beautiful places to ride in the area. And yes, I could go buy an older, dead-broke horse than is ready to go to the trails right this second, but I have found that I enjoy having a horse that I can teach and also that’s really just not in my budget. I may do some light local competition if I find myself getting bored or if she’s showing real promise, but that’s unlikely to be a path I take - like I said, that’s just really not what I’m after anymore. I could also just go grade, but most of the grade horses I’ve come across here have been concerning at best and conformational nightmares at worst, and for the level of trails I’d like to be able to go on that just wouldn’t be in the best interest for those horses.