14/07/2021
Scout is a 12yr old gaited draft cross (Fox Trotter/TWH) that stands at a sturdy 16.2hh. I’ve raised him, he was born on my grandpa’s farm, so I know his whole background. We also owned his mother, who was the best beginner/husband/kid safe horse you could ask for. He is a very curious, in-your-pocket type. If you’re out in the pasture fixing fence, he is right there beside you the whole way.
Pros:
He is a SUPER easy keeper. This boy gets fat from just looking at food. He is currently just on a ration balancer and pasture, and I’ll give him access to a round bale during the winter. He has always been on 24/7 turnout. He would not do well being stalled, even if it’s only for part of the day. He needs to be outside. My grandpa kept shoes on him, as he did with all of his horses, but I’ve had him barefoot for the past 3 years and he has good, strong feet. Never comes up lame from rocky trails. He lives with mares and geldings. He will ride out alone or with a group, and ride the same either way. He will lead or follow. My 80yr old grandpa still rides him, as does my husband. Stands great for the farrier and for the vet, not needle shy or head shy. He has always been ridden in an O-ring snaffle. We’ve ridden him through switchbacks and across rivers. He is a tried and true powerhouse of a trail horse. He will go all day long and always rides at a nice, steady pace. He will also kick into his gait really easily, and is a very comfy ride. He has never tried to bolt or buck, ever. I’ve been riding him for almost 10 years and he is the same every ride. He can sit in the pasture for 3 days, 3 months, 3 years, you can pull him out and go hop on right away. He doesn’t get fresh or cold backed. He stands tied quietly, stands quiet to be saddled. Loads and trailers with no problems. UTD on Coggins and vaccines.
Cons:
He does not neck rein. If you want something fancy broke, he’s not it. But if you want something safe, sane, and built to last, he’s your boy. Sometimes he thinks fly spray is scary but after the first or second spray, he’s fine. Sometimes he will spook at something silly on the trail (a sign, a rustling bush) but the most he’ll do is sprawl his feet and keep trucking. He will not spook at people, other horses, vehicles, etc. He did suffer a suspensory injury in August 2019, which has since completely healed and he was cleared by the vet with no limitations, but for the sake of transparency, I’m bringing it up. I was very strict about his stall rest and rehab and it paid off because he is now 100% sound and shows no remnants of the injury. I will provide a vet letter saying that he is healed and sound. He is also a dominant guy. High on the pecking order. Not aggressive or mean, but he rules the roost unless there’s something else that is more dominant than he is. Then he will back down.
Ultimately, Scout would be the perfect trail partner for someone who just wants a safe mount. He was broke the old fashioned way, so he doesn’t have any fancy buttons or anything. But I have seen him patiently stand still as my 80yr old grandpa mounts/dismounts and I know he will take care of whoever rides him. I will stand behind this horse 100% to be exactly as I describe him. There’s no surprises and no guesswork to him. Just point his nose to a trail and he does the rest.
I will be very picky about where he ends up. It’s time he finds someone who wants to trail ride as often as he does. My reason for selling is that I want to dive into the world of English a little bit and take lessons and do jumping, and I can’t currently do that with either of my current horses. PM me for any questions, I can tell you all about him.
