Red Curly Opal, Registered Missouri Fox Trotter Mare

SOLD

PRICE REDUCED TO $8,500

Opal (registered name Red Curly Opal) is a four year old red roan curly Missouri Fox Trotter (foal date 05/11/2019). They don’t get much rarer than that! She stands 14-3-1/2 hands (measured 07/15/23) and still has a little time to grow. I expect she will finish out at an even 15 hands. Opal has nice MFT conformation, good hooves, and a wonderful disposition. Being a curly, she is also hypo-allergenic, for those who love horses, but suffer from allergies when around them. She is current on Coggins and vaccinations and is healthy and sound (vet certified) in every respect. UPDATE 09/21/23: Opal now measures an even 15 hands.

Opal is very gentle and calm. She greets you at the gate and never turns away. She puts her nose right into the halter. She has no aggressive tendencies toward other horses and does well in a herd. Opal stands well for grooming and tacking and is good with her hooves. She is good for the farrier. She ties well, is not skittish, and does not pull back or paw. Opal loads into and unloads from a trailer very well. She will back out or come out forward. She also hauls very well. In fact, Opal has no bad habits.

Opal received 30 days of professional training earlier this year. She has excellent ground manners and is calm under saddle. Having said that, Opal lacks experience on the trail and she needs coaching with regard to her gaits. Opal shows a flat walk, a very nice fox trot, and a canter, however she needs work on selecting and staying in gait. For that reason, the owner brought her to me to further her trail and gait training. I will continue to provide training to Opal until she is sold.

To update the above, Opal has responded very well to her training. She is now responding well to heel and leg pressure cues, moving her hind and fore quarters and side-passing. She neck reins well and is soft on the bit. She has a very nice square flat-walk, an excellent fox trot, and a nice, rolling canter. I have been improving her trail experience as well. She is very solid on the trail and does not respond to hikers, bicyclists, deer, dogs, or ATVs. She makes steep ascents and descents safely and without hesitation. She also crosses water easily and without hesitation. She handles trail obstacles calmly and safely. Opal tends to be just a little skittish when being ridden in rural situations alone (trash cans, tires, etc), but she is improving quickly in this respect as well. Opal does not respond at all to vehicular traffic.

Opal would be an excellent show prospect and would throw very nice foals as well.

Opal was specifically bred by the owner for his grandson, who is allergic to horses. However, the grandson’s interest lie elsewhere, so Opal is being made available for a new owner. She is going to make some lucky person a wonderful trail partner for many years to come.

If you think Opal might be a good choice for you or yours, please come by and see her. Photos just don’t do her justice. She is a sweetheart and her curly coat is just wonderful! Makes you want to hug her all the time!

Opal is offered for sale in Salem, Utah at $10,500. Please contact me by text, email, or phone call to schedule a viewing and/or test ride.

UPDATE 09/21/2023: The owner has reduced the price to $8,500, in hopes we might find a local buyer. If we do not find a local buyer, she will be offered for sale on an online horse auction site, but we hope to avoid that complication.

Please revisit this post again, as I will be adding photos and a link to a video soon.

I recently took Opal into the Manti-La Sal National Forest for an overnight pack trip (August 2023). I rode Opal under saddle and packed my 3 year old colt. Opal handled the trip excellently, showing herself to be strong and solid on the trail. She is careful, steady, and not prone to spooking. She handles well among other horses and acts much more mature than her young age on the trail. Below are some photos: