Andy
Breed: Quarter Horse/Arab cross
Sex: Gelding
DOB: ~2002
Height: 14.1 hh
Color: Bay
Markings: Star and snip
Arrival Date: September 2004, returned in June 2006
Location: Pittsburg, TX
Adoption Fee: $500
 

Temperament: Andy is a laid back and intelligent smaller horse.  He has potential to be a kid's horse someday, he still has a ways to go in training though.  He has some basics, but reinforcement of those training basics has been sporadic and he needs some consistent months of riding and work.

Physical problems / health issues: None known.

Interaction with horses: Gets along fine in his current herd of two mares, has tried to mount them.

Interaction with people:

History: Andy was donated since his owner fell on hard times. He was adopted, but has been returned as he's not a seasoned enough horse for the little girl that adopted him.  It was through no fault of his.

Training / abilities: Early 2006 started under saddle: We started with basic ground work to see what he knows. This horse learns very quickly, gives easily to pressure and retains what he learns.  He responds well to the work we've done with him, so we moved right on to tacking up.  The first day we introduced a saddle pad and he stood quietly; we then introduced a saddle without cinching up and he stood quietly, so we stopped for the day.  The next session we put him in the round pen, saddled him up, tightened the cinch and he bucked around the round pen; when he stopped bucking and got quiet, we removed the saddle.  The next session we tacked him, tightened the cinch and he stood quietly. We moved him out in the round pen and he performed very nice walk/trot/halt transitions without a single buck or crow hop. He acted as if he'd always carried a saddle.  We put weight in both stirrups and he stood quietly.  We will move on to mounting and moving him out next.  What a great little horse!  So far I haven't seen Andy spook at anything. We've sacked him out with different types of objects and he's just curious, not spooky.  Recently on a windy day I had him on the halter and a piece of paper blew at him and he side-stepped, but that was it.  When he first came to us he had a fit when being fly-sprayed, you can now fly spray him easily without much fuss.  He stands quietly for the trimmer and grooming.  Also when he came to us he wouldn't "allow" you to touch his pole or forelock; he now gives nicely to pressure on his pole and can be groomed all over.

Andy received 3 months of work in a training foster home, where the son rode him all over, on trails, in an arena.  Though Andy lacks the finesse of a truly finished horse in terms of reining and other refinements, he's got the basics and just needs the miles now.  Any rider must be aware that he's very sensitive to leg pressure, so no squeezing or kicking him and definitely no spurs!

Andy does have a slight build up front, more arab than quarterhorse, so he should be ridden in a saddle suitable for arabians.

Experience level required to work with this horse: Advanced beginner on the ground for daily handling, but intermediate needed to work him under saddle.

Has this horse ever:  Bucked? Yes, under saddle, he needs light leg, he can be a bit "goosey" when it comes to too much pressure, pretty typical green horse behavior though, no malicious intent. Reared? No. Kicked? No. Bitten? No. Other?  

Ground handling: Catch? Yes. Lead? Yes. Tie? Yes. Trailer? Yes. Clip? Unknown. Trim Feet? Yes. Bathe? Yes.

Special needs: He needs nothing special except love and is an easy keeper.

Other comments: Andy is the pocket horse type just looking for someone to see him on his way to riding. He would make a very nice hunter or western horse - versatile looks and build. His current photos don't do him any justice and we hope to have new ones soon, he's gorgeous!. This is a very enjoyable horse to be around.  He's fun to train and has a neat little personality. He'll make a great horse for a smaller adult or currently, an experienced older child that can put the miles on him.

More pictures:

Adopt: Please contact us regarding adoptions at adoptions@habitatforhorses.org or call 1.866.HFH.LSER(866.434.5737).

Are you unable to adopt but would still like to have Andy in your life? Sponsor him through our Virtual Foster program.

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