10 y.o. anglo-andalusian mare looking for love

[3horsemom]

this is sophie. she lives in dallas,tx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFT2AOrq_1Q


this is the thread that i started regarding sophie

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=141515&highlight=throwing+in+the+towel+wwyd

no need for discretion now as we are no longer affiliated with the trainer that sold sophie to us.

please read the thread.
sophie has been much better behaved and much happier these past 6 months with her new trainer. however, nothing and no one is ever going to make sophie want to do dressage. i think the folks who suggested that sophie be ridden on the trails are correct...however, we are in an urban area and trail riding is a haul.
so, i am posting sophie as a give-away to a good home. i will ask for references. sophie is a very easy keeper and currently barefoot. she is utd on all her shots.
this girl just needs a shot with the right person. she is so sweet, quite intelligent and sturdy as they come.

[FlashGordon]

Just want to say, I remember the original thread well and I wish you luck in finding her a new home. She's cute and seems to have potential, with the right person she may do alright. Perhaps a career change will suit her.

Good luck to you all and I hope your daughter finds something fun and safe!

(PS - peacing out on the trainer that sold her to you was probably a good move.)

[lexiodell]

i am a PRE andalusian breeder and my daughter is looking for a highschool rodeo horse and a pleaseure horse just to ride . she has been riding for six years and easy to get along with

royal eclipse andalusians

[3horsemom]

thank you flash. yes, thank goodness dd made the correct decision...but that is another thread.

lexiodell, how old is your daughter? sophie has been very well behaved since moving her to a new trainer but she did rear as a resistance to movingforward. my opinion is that she was overbitted. but it is just my opinion. please read the thread if you havenot already done so.

[anuphillbattle]

wow - if you can't find that lovely mare a great home..., omg then there is no hope for the also rans! I LOVE her! Ditch the harsh bits she wants to go forward and appears to go nicely in those clips!!

Rodeo horse? - not so much - too nice to be doing barrels and poles and such and wrecking her not designed for that body!

Who is riding in the first segment? in the 3 day segments? looks like different person.

[anuphillbattle]

Just talked to a friend who reminded me about a little Arabx mare she took in to help owner. This horse was totally bad...scared, reared, bucked I don't think she kicked but broke lead ropes and wouldn't tie, did the Mexican hat dance when feet touched.

She turned her out in big pasture with 2 other horses, worked with the mare on the ground and gained her trust, the mare was sold to a 10 yo with a trainer after 10 weeks. That trainer gets credit for the riding part of the training. She had looked at the mare before my friend had her and said she wouldn't consider the mare then though she liked her and thought she had the potential. That girl did slack off in school and the Mom sold the horse to another of that trainer's clients - she had given warning and was the type of Mom to follow thru. The mare is now doing prelim eventing with a 14 yo. She is lovely and loves her girl and would do ANYTHING for her and my friend gets updates and pics.

[3horsemom]

sophie is being ridden by a professional trainer in the flat segment of the video. my daughter is jumping her.
thank you for your kind words. sophie is a very pretty mare who was just dealt a bad hand. we are doing all we know to do too give her a shot at a full and happy life. she is happiest going in a snaffle. however, she can be strong. just look at her...she is a brickhouse.
i just want her to land on her feet with the right person.

[lexiodell]

my daughter also needs a jumper for pony club would she be good for pc

[sickofcollege]

How do you think she would do with a very experienced 21 y/o female rider?

My best friend is looking for a special horse to work with. She goes to college in Jackson, MS and is tired of riding school horses all the time. She does exercise horses for their owners for extra riding time. But, she really wants to get one of her own.

She is a very quiet and patient rider. She has ridden forever with a few different barns in San Antonio, Tx.

Plus, she works at the barn in Jackson and works alongside the trainers there. She is their 'special' student.

I'm going to send her all of the info on your mare so far.

[Over the Hill]

Too bad I live in Florida, I would take Sophia in a heartbeat ! I'm looking for a trail mount to ride the wonderful trails all over north central Florida. I will not trail ride my Andalusian stallion. I've owned Andalusians ( two stallions and a stag ) and have dealt with a handful of others. They do take some patience and understanding, but are so worth the effort put into them.

[3horsemom]

my personal opinion is that the age of the rider won't matter as much as the rider's skill level and patience. i would not put my child back on her but then again i am very cautious. and i will say it again, sophie has been very well behaved of late.
this mare is very andalusiany in temperment. she is smart and athletic. she needs a great deal of patience but somewhere in there is a really great horse for the right person.

[middy]

I wish she was closer as I would come get her. I am looking for a project horse for myself and as I do not show it is mostly trailriding and maybe a hunt or two during the season. But I have always had horses that were a challenge and though I love my mare now she is getting ready to be leased to a very timid boy for the summer.

[3horsemom]

I wish she was closer as I would come get her. I am looking for a project horse for myself and as I do not show it is mostly trailriding and maybe a hunt or two during the season. But I have always had horses that were a challenge and though I love my mare now she is getting ready to be leased to a very timid boy for the summer.

this is the life that i think sophie would love. no pressure, but fun and forward.

[3horsemom]

my daughter also needs a jumper for pony club would she be good for pc

pony club might suit her. lots of variety. sophie does like to jump. i do know a couple of pony clubbers that i would not have any problem having them ride sophie. both are very good riders and one is 13 or so.

[archieflies]

I am sending you a PM!

[middy]

this is the life that i think sophie would love. no pressure, but fun and forward.

I would love to have her!! She seems right up my alley but with the gas prices these day a road trip that far is kinda out of the question.

[3horsemom]

i understand. we will be in lexington in july. is that close enough? :)
i want to also thank the people who have pm'd me about sophie. i plan on speaking with you all personally this week.
this is hard. for whatever reason, i feel very protective of this mare. in the right hands, sophie could be a terrific horse.

[middy]

I am sending you a PM

[lexiodell]

any news my daughter is d2 going for d3 at the next rating she has only started pony club in late jnuary and there ha only been one rating but what do you think about her or pony club

[3horsemom]

any news my daughter is d2 going for d3 at the next rating she has only started pony club in late jnuary and there ha only been one rating but what do you think about her or pony club

i sent you a pm.

[gammillgirl]

Just wanted to commend you for really going all out with finding this girl a great home, I am impressed with your openess and honesty! Good Luck with placing her, she is too cute!

[3horsemom]

Just wanted to commend you for really going all out with finding this girl a great home, I am impressed with your openess and honesty! Good Luck with placing her, she is too cute!


thank you for kind words. this is harder than one might think. all i want is for this mare to end up with the right person. please keep sophie in your prayers.

[imissvixen]

Gee, she is very attractive and seems to be going very well on the flat. I am wondering why you think she doesn't want to do dressage. I think she is doing quite nicely for a relatively green horse. I also wanted to mention that if you are concerned about the mare being dangerous I would require your trainer to wear a helmet and to sign a release of liability.

Good luck to Sophie. She looks to me like she is going to make someone a nice little eventing horse. I think if I were you I would advertise her on your local area eventing website. You can do that for free.

[3horsemom]

Gee, she is very attractive and seems to be going very well on the flat. I am wondering why you think she doesn't want to do dressage. I think she is doing quite nicely for a relatively green horse. I also wanted to mention that if you are concerned about the mare being dangerous I would require your trainer to wear a helmet and to sign a release of liability.

Good luck to Sophie. She looks to me like she is going to make someone a nice little eventing horse. I think if I were you I would advertise her on your local area eventing website. You can do that for free.

that is a good thought about trainer/helmet.
i am sure that sophie would appreciate your compliment. it takes a great deal of patience and perserverence to get sophie to that point in the video.

[sproonee]

Good luck for her - we live in Dallas as well and I have some friends who are wonderful riders that may be looking... Gentle and patient people. I'll spread the word!!!

[3horsemom]

Good luck for her - we live in Dallas as well and I have some friends who are wonderful riders that may be looking... Gentle and patient people. I'll spread the word!!!

thank you.

[imissvixen]

I also wanted to mention, hopefully not to offend the moderators, that the uspc website has a classifieds section and that I have had alot of success with it. I advertised a free lease horse on it for an experienced rider and must have gotten at least 15 responses. One was from Texas as a matter of fact.

I know it took a lot of work to get her to the point she was in the video, but it is a pretty good point and I bet with time that work will lessen. Some of these horses are as thickheaded as teenagers but then all of a sudden some magic chemical gets released and they learn. She really is a cutie pie.

[3horsemom]

so do you think there is hope for my teenager?!!
please say yes:)
sophie is so cute and looks as if she should be a terrific dressage horse. she does not want to do dressage. plain and simple. i am afraid that if i tell someone that she just needs work that they will get frustrated and make the same mistakes that have been made with her before. that is why i am encouraging fun and forward type riders.

[3horsemom]

this mare has found a home!

[imissvixen]

Hurray!!!!!

[middy]

Tomorrow morning Sophie will be leaving Texas to come to her new home in Virginia with me.

[middy]

Sophie arrived safe and sound this morning at 4:30 AM. I am now trying to stay awake through work so I can go home and play with her.

[red mare]

Sophie arrived safe and sound this morning at 4:30 AM. I am now trying to stay awake through work so I can go home and play with her.

How wonderful! I hope I am as fortunate finding a good and loving home for my girl. Best of luck with her.

[gammillgirl]

HOORAY FOR SOPHIE AND MIDDY, Best of luck you two!

[MelantheLLC]

Good luck, she sure looks brave and pretty in the videos.

[love]

Hi,
I'm interested in your mare. I'll send you a pm.
newnamelove@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Sharlene

[JSWiley]

Hi,
I'm interested in your mare. I'll send you a pm.
newnamelove@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Sharlene

Im pretty sure this mare has been placed..........

[3horsemom]

is this wierd?
hopefully sophie is well with middy in virginia.

[Calamber]

Particularly weird since the exact same message was sent to someone with a completely different type of horse and the email address is newnamelove.....

Not getting the warm and fuzzies over this.

[Horsecrazy27]

give us updates on the mare...we'd love to hear how she is adjusting and how your bonding. :)

[perpetual_novice]

Particularly weird since the exact same message was sent to someone with a completely different type of horse and the email address is newnamelove.....

Not getting the warm and fuzzies over this.

She stopped trolling for free horsies long enough to enough to drop by the Dressage forum to respond to the following post:

I'd sell my soul for it to be an 18" not a 17". Would probably even risk it if it was 17.5... But 17" just won't fit, no matter the price. :no: I know better.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180307328049&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123



with

The sell your soul part gave me a kind of abomination feeling or a ugh or a yuck feeling.

I guess we'll all be going to an unpleasant place in the after-world due to coveting that saddle :rolleyes:

[3horsemom]

give us updates on the mare...we'd love to hear how she is adjusting and how your bonding. :)

i wish middy would post and let us know how sophie is faring. i am afraid that she has chosen not to stay in touch.

[Calamber]

3Horsemom, I tried to pm you but your box is full.

[3horsemom]

i cleaned house.
thanks.

[outofthebox]

Any updates on Sophie? I just read the whole thread and would love to know how things are working out. I too found the perfect person for my difficult horse and it is great to get occasional updates that all is going well.

[3horsemom]

no, none.
really disappointed because i thought that middy understood how much i cared about this mare in spite of the fact that she was not the right horse for my daughter.
sigh..............

[middy]

I'm sorry that I haven't kept everyone up to date but I have changed jobs and am working more than I was so all my free time has been dedicated to my horses not the internet.

Sophie is well and happy here in Virginia with me. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS MARE, though I would not wish her on my worst enemy. She is a very difficult mare. It took me 3 months for her to start trusting me. She is very resistive to any contact or asking for her to go into a frame. That is really fine with me as we have just been mostly trailriding. She is doing well and she seems to love her low stress job, Now don't get me wrong we do not do walking trailrides we move out and it is a very forward moving ride. She is very bold and normally leads the group as she has the biggest walk of all the horses in our group (one is a 17H hannovarian) She is doing well and I have taken her to some cross country schoolings here and she is amazing. There is a event trainer a couple of miles from where I live who wants me to send her to him so badly (he has been drooling over her for months) I have told him that she is staying right at home and she wouldn't be happy with him. We have been to a couple hunter paces and she has done amazing with the huge coops here. They just don't faze her. She will jump absolutely anything you point her at. Unfortunately I haven't been able to take her hunting yet (I just haven't had the time) we all believe she would be wonderful. You can see pictures of her on my webshots page.

[Calamber]

Thank you so much for the update Middy. I know this will make some sleep easier. Sorry you have to work so much you cannot enjoy her as much as you would like but at least you do have horses, some of us do not have that luxury so have to live vicariously.:no: boo hoo....

[Tazer]

She is a beautiful mare, and someone will be very lucky to have her in their life.

Tazer
Dux's Mom

[3horsemom]

so very glad to hear that sophie is well and has retained her strong sense of self.
i would love to see some more recent photos as those on your website were taken upon her arrival.
give sophie a pat and good luck with your new job.
as always, i am interested in sophie's welfare and look forward to updates. again, if for any reason sophie cannot remain in your possession, please let me know and i will return her to texas.
thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule to post and let us know that sophie, the iberian warmblood, is doing well.

[outofthebox]

Ah, so glad Middy posted to let you know that your horse is still well loved. This story is very special. A difficult mare with nice breeding and probably rather valuable, has an owner dedicated to finding her the right home, even if means she has to give her away to open up the pool up perspective owners. You can tell by Middy's post the mare has found her person!

[middy]

This mare has found her home. I absolutely adore her. She keeps me on my toes and that is good for me as I tend to get bored then I don't ride up to my potential. She and I have clicked from day 1 though there has been some hurdles we are doing great. She has list weight and is looking great. I will try to get some recent pictures up on my webshots page.

[middy]

3horsemom Since I posted on the Event board about Sophie I thought I would post an update on her I couldn't find the Thread named Sophie's Choice and since everyone here seemed to keep up with her saga I figured I would just tack it on to this thread.

Well I have had Sophie for alittle over a year now. Sophie has lost a little weight (so she isn't so roley poley anymore) and she is SUPER FIT after hunting this year. I am still in love with her and wouldn't trade her for the world! She hangs out in the field with 2 geldings now (a 12 year old that belongs to a neighbor down the street who is at my horse to be sold & a 4 year old STB that has been gelded about 45 days now) She is the queen of the field and while the two boys get into all kinds of scrapes (really quite funny) she just looks at them like "you guys are so stupid, get away from me!" They both jump to do what ever she wants. It is hot here right now (about 100 with the heat index) and the boys end up in the big run-in shed under the fans (I have 4 in there), she stays out in the field and looks at them like they are crazy I can see it on her face she doesn't think it is hot up here after being in TX.

I live in a neighborhood where about 6 of us have horses and all ride together and some of us share horses. My TB mare is leased out down the street to the family that I have their gelding for sale for their son to ride. When Sophie came last year everyone wanted to ride her and they thought she was just soo cute (well she is) after the first couple of group trail rides where she pulled her stuff they didn't ask anymore.

She has come a long way!! She definately has a GO button (something I think she lost in TX) (3horsemom can you please mail her STOP button to me I think she left it there :winkgrin:) I can now get about 15 good min of dressage work out of her bafore she shuts down. She absolutely hates it!!! I believe that every horse should have at least basic dressage and I can get most of it done out on the trail with no problem. After 15 min of doing circles and asking her to reach and stretch into the bridle she shuts down and is back to being pissy (cranking her tail and pinning her ears and she actually stomps she is absolutely miserable) so we don't do much of that. I will tell you that she is one of the best hunt horses I have evre ridden (if you ride the way she wants to be ridden:rolleyes:) She takes a very soft ride out can't sit too heavy or hang on her face. I had a british woman fall in love with her and actually offer to buy her from me. I told her she wasn't for sale. She pushed, I told her that if she really wanted to see why she wasn't for sale I would let her ride her during the next ride (as long as she signs a release) an I would ride her gelding. Well.....she lasted about 15 min before we stopped to trade back. Not only is she a star in the hunt field (while I'm on her) but this mare absolutely loves beign in teh woods! Her whole body relaxes and she seems at peace when we are out there. She will jump absolutely anything you point her at and had even started scanning the woods to see it she can find stuff that looks like fun to jump. She was my bulldozer this spring when we were trying to cut new trails she will go through the brush, not get upset if she gets into some really thick stuff and stand there and let me trim while on her till we can get out. Everyone loves her she is very sweet and we always take her when we have babies going out (you can bounce anything off that butt and she just looks at them)

This mare has a life time home here with me. She is just so much fun to ride as long as I don't let my guard down and I need this type of horse or I get bored and my riding suffers. We are very happy and enjoying ourselves. She meets me at the gate everyday with this look like what are we doing today mom? She is still barefooted and hunted this year barefooted, my farrier wants to cloan her feet. I am going to try to get some new pictures of her up on my webshots albulms.

Sorry this was so long but I just am so happy that this mare has found her place because she has so much personality and love to give.

P.S. She still rears, backs up and spins from time to time (I think it is just her way of voicing her opinion) but not nearly as often as it was when I got her and normally it just happens once during a ride and it is so fast that if someone isn't looking right at the you would never know it happened. After she looks around as if checking to see if anyone saw her temper tamtram.

[Nin]

I am glad you posted. I read your post on the Eventing board too.

I have often thought of Sophie this year, and hoped she was doing well. (I sorta bonded with her electronically last year.)

I appreciate the update.

[3horsemom]

thank you for the update. i think you found sophie's "stop" button...it is called rearing:)
sophie is what she is and i am thankful that you can appreciate her despite her quirks and issues. she is the definition of cute and i look forward to seeing pictures of a more svelte sophie in full hunting regalia.
middy, the thing i am most thankful for is that you are living up to your word and are honoring my requests that sophie not be sold or bred. again, if for any reason you cannot keep sophie please let me know asap.
as always, i am interested in sophie's story. please give miss priss a pat for me. she has always been loved in spite of herself!

[middy]

3horsemom - I knew the conditions of me taking her and will always hold my end of the contract. Not if I could comehow guarantee that I could get a Filly out of her then I might come to you and cay I want a little bigger carbon copy of her but I don't think that will happen in her or my lifetime. You will be the first to know if I can't for some reason keep her. But I really don't forsee that happening. I have always loved mares that have personality and she has it in spades!! I think she will always be a challenging ride but I am looking forward to many years to come with her on the hunt fields and trails.