Another horse on trial

So, I have the bay mare here on a trial. Her name is Dolly and she is very cute.  I’m hesitant to write too much at this point, but I’m guardedly optimistic that she might work out.  (Note - I will add a picture later this afternoon - I don't have many at this point.)  On a side note - I think trials are the best thing ever - it really gives you a chance to get to know the horse before you have to commit - I've been lucky with Hank and now with this mare to have a chance to think about things before I end up with the wrong horse.

I took into consideration the advice left in the comments of my last post – and have been approaching this horse with as much objectivity as I can.  No horse is perfect and there is bound to be something that may or may not be a problem long-term.

She is a 9yr old registered half-arab (other half is QH).  She arrived last Wednesday night and I’ve been waiting to do a post about her, since the first 48 hours didn’t go so well. She was very nervous and unsettled when she arrived – which isn’t a huge surprise really…  My friend and the barn owner have been great about helping me with her.  By Friday night/ Saturday morning, she was much more relaxed and we were able to see more of her true temperament - which is quite nice - she is very willing to work.

We are able to confirm that she is very well broke, but we believe that she hasn’t been worked regularly for well over a year.   Dolly showed up pretty out of shape – she is on the chubby side and her hooves aren’t the greatest at the moment. I don’t see anything wrong with them, but they have the look of not having been trimmed regularly, which is totally easy to fix with regular farrier work.  She was trimmed for the first time in a while (12 weeks or so, by my guess) just before arriving at my barn. 

So far, the only minor problem that we have found is the fact that the horse hadn’t been ridden regularly in a long time. The owner was a bit vague about the last time she was worked regularly – which is ok – riding a horse regularly is an easy fix. She is solid w/tc/ and I think she will be capable of a decent western jog when she is in shape.  She has the basics of lateral work and will sidepass and turn on the fore/haunches.  She is responsive, without being hyper-sensitive or totally dull, which is just what I am looking for.

We haven’t tried her out on a hack yet, I’m hoping to get to that this week. That will be the big test for this mare – I need a horse that will walk out well and not spook at every little sound.