Safe, Fun & Flashy 14.1hh, 5 Yr QH Mare - Videos

Category:	Quarter Horse	Pet Name:	Rio
Ad ID:	22090568	Date of Birth:	Jun 7, 2004
Advertiser ID:	532506	Gender:	Female
Ad Expiry:	expired
Price/Adoption Fee:	$2000
Location:	Eustis, Florida

NAME: RIO
BREED: Grade Quarter Horse Mare
COLOR: Sorrel
HEIGHT: 14.1hh
DATE OF BIRTH: 2004

PRICE REDUCED FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY FOR IMMEDIATE SALE:
Due to several commitments that will take me out of town, Rio is reduced temporarily to $2000 for immediate sale. If she has not sold by mid-July, her price will return to $3,000. (May consider trade for young dressage prospect)

Home is more important than price and I may be negotiable to OUTSTANDING, permanent home.

22 Minute VIDEO OF RIO'S GROUND MANNERS AND BASIC SCHOOLING can be found at motionbox.com/videos/d498deb01312e5c75c or visit my website at HorsesInHarmonyONLINE dot com for the link. There are also more photos on my website.

Rio has been at Harmony for approximately one year. She has been undergoing professional training in classical dressage and also jumping up to 2'9". Although she is patient, forgiving and obedient with us, we feel we are doing her a disservice in asking to her to work in our discipline. It is obvious she was bred for something along the lines of speed events, barrel racing, poles, cutting or a similar discipline that requires a brave, bold, forward, fast, safe and sane horse. Rio has speed and she has agility. She is built like a typical quarter horse with powerful hindquarters.

Although she is schooling some second level dressage movements, her lateral work is outstanding - she just wants to go forward (not bolt, just forward). She is fairly competent and shoulder in, haunches in, walk to canter, collected canter (on the left lead - not the right), her leg yields are impressive! A super sensitive mare that requires little to no leg pressure - just a slight weight aid will get her to move in the direction you wish, and you simply have to THINK trot or canter, and open your fingers momentarily and she will quickly and happily make a bold upward transition. We are constantly looking for relaxation, rhythm, connection, suppleness and obedience for dressage - and although the suppleness and obedience are there, it takes a lot of effort for both her and her rider - she is an over-achiever who loves to work and she wants to go! Again, I must stress, she does not wish to bolt or take off - she is very happy in a canter! Her movement is a little quick for dressage or western pleasure, and her eagerness does not translate well into either discipline either.

She LOVES to trail ride and although she does not have a ground covering stride, she would willingly go all day, and quickly (trot or canter). Very brave on the trail - she might take a hesitation to stare at something new, but 9 times out of 10, she will go right on over to investigate and then move on. This is a brave, bold mare that will check out the problem rather than run from it.

I have grown extremely fond of Rio, but I have to consider that after one year of professional training - she is simply a square peg in a round hole in our dressage training facility. I feel she would be happier doing what she was most likely bred to do. Western! Trails or speed events. We do not ride western at our facility and therefore we are unable to show her potential in these disciplines.

She is safe, sane, sound, loves to work but does not get crazy if she has time off. I never need to lunge her prior to getting on her back. She is a stocky mare - I am a fairly lightweight but tall adult (5'11") and she takes up my leg comparatively well considering she only stands around 14.1-14.2hh.

At 6 years old, she has an entire future ahead of her. I would like to see her with an intermediate/advanced rider who will enjoy her enthusiasm and bring out the best of her potential. Advanced beginners or timid riders are going to find her too forward once she begins to trot! She will walk all day with no rein and happily take a beginner or nervous rider at this pace, but once you ask for the trot transition, the first few steps are quick before she comes down into a more relaxed trot, or even a jog. We do ride her in a mild, wide mouth snaffle bit and no other gadgets - so we have not trained her with force or restraint. We do not believe in short cuts with our training.

Rio is a grade, quarter horse mare! She stands quietly in x-ties for bathing, grooming, wrapping, vet, farrier etc. She also stands obediently whilst being mounted and dismounted. She loads easily in the trailer, too. I call her my "mushroom face" as she does maintain a fairly defensive look on her face - but it is an act. She has never followed through with a bite or kick. Her previous owner did her no favors and consequently we have had to overcome many issues due to poor horsemanship prior to Rio's arrival at our farm. Rio is actually highly sensitive, craves attention, notices everything and very, very intelligent! The defensive look on her face is a residual of previous ignorant handling, but a quick hug will get the ears pricked forward again. She loves praise and attention!

She is great on the trail, although she does prefer to be the lead horse. We have put quite a lot of trail miles on her - she would be, as mentioned before, incredible as an competitive trail horse as she never seems to run out of energy or enthusiasm, yet is as safe, smooth and solid as can be! She has beautiful gaits - very athletic, rhythmic and fluid. She is very type-y of a quarter horse with a dainty head and ears, a stocky and compact body and a powerful quarterhorse hindquarters. She would make a wonderful and SAFE endurance, speed event or even an eventer with her dressage/jumping/trail experience. She is not papered, and therefore not recommended as a broodmare!

Rio is up to date on negative coggins, farrier and wormer! She goes barefoot and has comparatively strong feet. She is trimmed on a five weekly basis.

Rio gets along well with other horses ... she may bully a more submissive and smaller horse, but she is does not hold the Alpha Mare status in our pastures. She has no vices such as weaving, cribbing, windsucking, stall walking, rearing or bucking. She does pin her ears when having the girth tightened, but this is largely due to the ignorance and heavy handedness of the previous owner. Hopefully, as time progresses, the ear pinning will get less and less.

Rio has had no history of injury or illness whilst at our barn .. and to the best of my knowledge, nothing of note with the previous owner.

Rio is for sale to an approved home. Please no time-wasters or tire-kickers! Thanks!

If you read any of our horse ads, you will notice that we are brutally honest in the description of our horses. We provide many photographs (See Image Gallery), videos and a "warts and all" description of each horse. Our goal is to match the right horse to rider .. this helps guarantee a loving, happy, safe and long-term relationship between horse and owner. We encourage you to be very honest about your level of experience, your riding ability and your current financial obligations! Remember, the least expensive part is buying the horse, it is the maintenance that hits the wallet! This is a long term emotional, physical and financial commitment - please be honest with yourself that you are ready to take on your next horse!

Link: http://www.HorsesInHarmonyONLINE.com