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:
UPDATE 09/27/2023: Video link on my YouTube channel, Western Trail Rider:
Grey Penny Lover is a registered Missouri Fox Trotter maiden mare, four years old (foal date 04/24/2019). She is well-bred, very pretty, has excellent MFT conformation, strong hooves, and is healthy and sound in every respect. She stands a measured 14.3-1/2 hands tall and has about a year left to grow, so 15-15.1 hands will likely be her mature height (her sire stands 16.2HH). Penny Lover is an appropriate name for this young lady, as she will meet you at the gate every time. She is quiet, gentle, and loves people.
Penny has received 30 days of basic professional training. She has excellent ground manners and is calm under saddle. She ties well and will not pull-back or paw the trailer. She loads and unloads easily and will come out of the trailer forward or backwards without issue. She hauls very well. Penny is good with her hooves and allows cleaning and trimming without problem. She has not yet been shod, but I expect she will behave well for the farrier. I have noted no bad habits from this pretty mare.
On the trail, Penny is calm and attentive. She is not skittish, nor prone to panic. She faces her fears well and is pleasant to ride. While she has had professional training, it was from an establishment specializing in Quarter Horses, so she hasn’t had training regarding her gaits. At this point, Penny is a little “pacey”, but the ride is not unpleasant. She is naturally gaited, tends to lateral, showing a flat-walk, rack, and a nice canter, however, even naturally gaited horses need some gait training to establish their gaits and bring things into focus for them. I am currently providing trail and gait training to Penny for the owner until she is sold. She is learning to move her hind and fore quarters and to side-pass with leg and heel cues and her gaits are coming along well. Penny loves to move out on the trail, ears always forward. No peddling his young lady.
Penny would be an appropriate horse for any rider with basic horse experience. She may be seen in Salem, Utah. Please text or leave a voicemail for more information and to set an appointment for a test ride. $8,500.
UPDATE June 3, 2023: I recently shoed Penny for the first time. She was a little resistant on her hind feet, but not too bad. She’ll be fine the next time. I was very pleased.
With those new shoes on, I took her out for a 16-mile trail ride yesterday (June 2, 2023) down in the San Rafael Swell area. While on the trail I did a little trail training to see how she handles difficult obstacles on the trail and I was very pleased with her. She is very courageous, yet cautious, just the way I like horses to be. She handled everything I tested her with, negotiating large rocks, steep ascents and descents, thick brush, and even some cliff-hanging trails.
Her gaits are coming along very well and she is even showing a Fox Trot now, but prefers a rack. She is very smooth and covers ground quickly. Likes to lead, but follows in line very nicely, as well.
I love this young lady more every time I ride her. She’s going to be a gem for whoever takes her home.
UPDATE June 6, 2023: I uploaded the following video to YouTube this evening:
Chaco is no longer for sale. The owner has elected to keep her, as one of his kids has claimed her as his horse.
Chaco is a double-registered Rocky Mountain Gaited Horse/Kentucky Mountain Horse mare, 17 years old, certified for both gait and breeding. She stands 15 hands, medium build, and is sound in every respect. She is the classic Rocky Mountain color, chocolate dapple with flaxen mane and tail. She is beautiful!
Chaco has been lightly used her entire life and shows no signs of age. She has a very nice gait and is expert on the trail. She handles even the most difficult trails easily and safely. She is quite courageous and will willingly try things she hasn’t experienced before with just a little urging. Chaco is affectionate and forms a bond of trust with her owner/trainer, although it takes a bit of handling for that bond to form.
I have spent many hours on Chaco, over the past six months, refreshing her saddle training. It is evident to me that Chaco had some excellent training in her early years. She is very obedient and responsive to voice and heel cues. She will side-pass, move her fore and hind quarters, and gait on cue. I can open/close gates from her saddle. She also longes very well in a round pen without a lead rope. She has a nice space-eating walk, a flat-walk, rack, and excellent canter. She is very responsive to the bit, voice, and leg/heel cues. Chaco neck reins very well, but can also be guided with leg cues alone. She is enthusiastic on the trail and never needs to be “peddled.” A prior owner told me she used the Pirelli Natural Horsemanship training methods with Chaco, but I believe that was restricted to ground training. Chaco handles well with spurs (I train with spurs) or without.
Chaco is easy to handle on the ground and is good with her hooves for the farrier. She is easy to saddle and to bridle. She is easy to catch in the corral, once a little trust has been established. She rides well in a trailer and loads and unloads easily. She has ridden double without issue. Chaco is good with other horses, does not kick or bite or cause problems in a group setting. She is gentle and affectionate with people.
Chaco apparently has little experience with small children, as she tends to shy at them and is easily surprised. On several occasions she has pulled back from a tie when surprised. When handled regularly, this has not been a problem, however the current owner has several small children (1-5 years old) and Chaco has shied at them several times, which is why she is for sale. Chaco has occasionally kicked-up with inexperienced riders, but she has not done that with me. I suspect she does this out of frustration with the rider, as I have been using her to teach the owner’s family how to handle and ride horses. In saying this, I will confidently state that she has not actually tried to unload the rider. In fact, recently, she kicked-up and bounced the 12 year-old boy onto her neck, then stopped and allowed him to push himself back into the saddle. She allows a nine year-old boy to lead and brush her and lift and clean her hooves.
I truly enjoy riding Chaco on the trail or in the arena. She is suitable for any rider with a little experience and some confidence in the saddle. As I said, Chaco is very willing and very obedient and she likes to move out quickly. She will try to do what ever is asked of her, which is why the rider should have a little experience. She will try, even if she is not sure what is being asked. I am happy to offer coaching, so that the new owner will understand how Chaco has been trained and what cues she responds to. With some regular riding and handling, this mare forms a bond of trust with the owner and becomes a pleasure to ride and to be around. I have told this owner that it is a mistake to sell this mare at any price, but his concerns about the safety of his small children overrides.
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Registration papers:
Here is a short video about Chaco:
PRICE REDUCED: Chaco is offered for sale at Goshen, Ut for $11,000 with a 15-day trial period. Please text or email to schedule a showing and test ride. Tony@385-424-9788, tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com
If Chaco is not sold within the next couple of months, she will be listed on an online equine auction site.
She is currently being advertised for sale on ksl.com classified ads at:
UPDATE 03/15/21: Today Oreo sold to a fellow from Wyoming, who is going to make a great trail partner for Oreo. David will pass his rock-solid Kentucky Mountain Horse to his wife and he will take Oreo for his new trail horse. He is fully aware of the work that is going to be required of him to get Oreo where she needs to be and he is looking forward to many trail miles with her.
Oreo is a registered Tennessee Walking Horse mare , registered name “Kansas Windmill”, registration number 20411109 TWHBEA, 16 years old, standing about 15-1 hands (estimated – I’ll measure her and edit the post). She has very nice conformation, good hooves, and is good on the trail. She is a beautiful horse. Oreo recently had her teeth floated, she is current on her Coggins and has received her spring vaccinations for 2021.
Oreo is a very nice ride. She has a wonderful walk that really covers ground, and a smooth run-walk. On the trail, she walks out quickly and never needs to be “peddled” along. She is willing and takes obstacles easily. She crosses water, handles steep descents and ascents without hesitation, she loads and unloads well and is good with her hooves. I have ridden Oreo on some extremely difficult trails and found her to be very sure-footed and confident. She has seen light use throughout her life and is in good physical condition. Oreo ties well and never pulls back. She stands well for tacking/untacking and mounting/dismounting. She is not head-shy and is easy to halter and bridle. Oreo has a gentle demeanor, despite her current skittishness.
Oreo needs an experienced rider, because she is a little skittish from being at pasture for a couple years, but once she gets out on the trail she’s fine. She needs to be kept in a corral for awhile, because she is difficult to catch, however, she is improving quickly in that regard. I have been working with her and she is improving in all aspects. This morning (03/06) she walked right up to me and accepted the halter with just a little hesitation. She is somewhat herd-bound, but will go out alone as well. She just needs some attention and miles under saddle and all these issues will smooth out.
A little bit of a backstory on Oreo:
Oreo came to me in 2018 as partial payment for some services I performed for a friend. At the time, she hadn’t been used as a saddle horse for quite some time. The previous owner purchased Oreo in 2016, but never rode her and she remained at pasture on 80 acres in the mountains until I acquired her. Due to her lack of personal touch and handling, she became difficult to catch.
I took Oreo in hand and in no time she progressed to the point that I could walk up to her in the pasture and halter her. She was a pleasure to ride, although at first she was somewhat skittish, having lived almost like a wild horse for more than a year. With a little work and a few miles in the saddle, she settled right down, her gait became smoother, and she was a pleasure to ride. I didn’t have her long before I was approached in early 2019 by a horse owner who asked me for help in working with her horse that was in need of remedial training and was a little “too much horse” for her to handle. As things happened, after working a little with her horse, I realized her “hard-to-handle” gelding fit my needs better than Oreo did. This owner and I ended up trading horses. She took Oreo, who fit her needs and abilities better than did her gelding.
Recently, this same owner advised me she had taken Oreo for her sister to ride, but since then her sister has given up horses. Oreo was no longer being used and was just sitting in a pasture. She asked me to find a new home for Oreo.
As it turns out, Oreo hadn’t been ridden or handled more than a couple times in the past two years. As a result, Oreo reverted to her former hard-to-catch ways and became a little skittish again. I have had her for a couple months now and have been putting some miles on her. She has been a “handful” at times, but is settling down nicely once again. I have enjoyed several long trail rides on her recently (March 2021).
Oreo loves to move-out on the trail. She has a walk that will leave non-gaited horses in the dust, moving along at about 5 miles per hour. She can really cover ground. In the company of other gaited horses, she moves along smoothly in her run-walk and is easy to handle. She is a bit herd-bound, as most horses are, and she gets a little anxious when she thinks she’s being left behind. Yet, she will go out solo and does very well. She has a canter, but I do not usually train Walkers to canter (it tends to disturb their run-walk), so I have not worked on it. Her run-walk still needs a little tune-up, but she is naturally gaited. When she speeds up, she tends to slip into a pace, but even her pace is smoother than many horses I have ridden. She has a very nice run-walk at about 6-7 miles per hour. The more miles I put on her, the better her run-walk becomes and the less she tends toward the pace. She just needs more miles under saddle.
Oreo is the right horse for someone who wants an excellent trail horse and is willing to put in a little time and effort for a horse that just needs a little attention. She is not the horse for the owner who rides only a few times a year.
Copy/paste this link in your browser to see a short video of Oreo gaiting: https://www.facebook.com/509966419044236/videos/2307766905923687
Oreo is offered for sale at $4,500 with a 15-day trial period, in Salem, Utah. Call and leave a message or text me to schedule a test ride.
Calypso has been sold to a very nice lady from Cedar City, Utah.
Calypso is a Rocky Mountain Gaited Horse mare, not registered, about 14 years old*. She stands 15 hands and has a medium build. She has nice conformation and is sound in every way. Calypso is gentle and calm around people, leads very well, and is very good with her hooves. She ties well and does not pull back. She loads and unloads in the horse trailer easily and trailers very well. She has well-formed hooves that are hard and tough. She has been barefoot most of her life, but is easy to shoe for those longer backcountry trips. Calypso is easy to catch and halter from a pasture, as she usually comes to the gate when I approach. She loves attention from her “people.”
Calypso is a very experienced trail horse. She has served as a pack and saddle horse on multiple long-distance pack trips in Arizona and Utah. She has also been hauled to Alaska, where she was a pack and saddle horse on a moose hunt in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. She is a tough, strong, competent trail horse. I have ridden Calypso through some very rough country and I am never concerned about my safety with her. She is among the most sure-footed trail horses I have ever ridden. She will cross rivers without hesitation, mud is no problem, steep ascents are easy, she carefully handles steep descents and drop-offs.
Calypso really steps out on the trail, but does not push. She is not the horse for you if you like to lallygag on the trail! She has a very nice walk, a flat-walk, a foxtrot, a rack, and the nicest canter I have ever ridden. She is a very pleasant saddle horse. She will ride out alone or with other horses. She is a horse that loves the trail.
Having said all that, Calypso is best suited for a rider with some experience. I have owned her for about a year and a half and most of that time she has been pregnant**. You can see from the photos that she threw a beautiful colt out of a Missouri Fox Trotter stallion.
Her colt is now four months old and is being weaned, so I am again riding her regularly. During the time I have owned her, I have introduced her to some new things, as her prior training was lacking. She is learning to move her fore-quarters and hind-quarters independently and she side-passes well. She is learning to allow me to open and close gates from the saddle. She backs and stops well.
Calypso is somewhat herd-bound and tends to “mother” other horses around her. She does well in a herd environment, but does not like to be alone. I have been working steadily on that and I normally ride her alone. She tends to want to turn around at the beginning of a ride and gets a little anxious as we leave the other horses, which is why I suggest an experienced horse person for her. However, once away from the barn, she turns her attention to the trail and becomes a pleasure to ride. She is very gentle and affectionate with people, but occasionally gets anxious, which causes her to fight the bit and toss her head. She is much improved since I have owned her. She has never offered to buck with me. She rides with other horses very well and is not a kicker.
Calypso on left
Calypso is a wonderful, trouble-free pack horse. She stands to be loaded and leads perfectly in the tracks of the lead horse. She does not lead a pack horse quite so well. She doesn’t like to have a horse close behind her, as she has had her heels stepped on a few times. She prefers to have a pack horse to the side of her hind quarters. She will haul game without problem. On the trail, I now use a neck rope on her, rather than a halter, because she has learned to slip the halter in a matter of minutes when tied or high-lined at night.
I as I said above, Calypso has the best canter of any horse I have ever ridden. I love her canter! I could ride around all day in her sweet little canter! She also has a very nice foxtrot, but keeping her in that gait will require some tune-up. She has a nice, smooth rack, but tends to slip out of it and get a bit pacey. She just needs more miles to get her tuned-up and smoothed out. I am working on that and she gets smoother every day. Calypso occasionally fights the bit when she gets anxious, but more and more she is becoming compliant and soft on the bit. She is learning to flex at the poll and give to the bit. She will handle well with or without spurs (I normally ride and train with spurs).
Calypso is offered for sale in Diamond Fork, Utah at $3,500.As usual, my 15-day money-back trial period applies. If she’s not right for you, bring her back in good health and I’ll refund your money 100%.
Here is a video link to my YouTube channel for a video about Calypso:
*I advertised her in 2019 as being a 14 year-old. Since then I have located a previous bill of sale on her and been able to calculate she was then 12 years old, making her 14 years old now.
**Last year my registered Missouri Fox Trotter colt, then 18 months old, jumped a gate and bred to Calypso. In May she produced a beautifully gaited dark bay colt. I expect I’ll keep him. She was an excellent mother. The young stallion is now a gelding. 🙂
Copper sold today to a very nice young couple in Fairview, Utah. They have several gaited horses and love to do trail rides and horse pack trips. Copper is going to have a great life with them!
UPDATE 12/25/2020:
I have owned Copper almost a year now, and I have decided he’s ready for a new owner. I will leave all the prior information on this post, since it contains what I know of Copper’s history and the training I have given him. This short update will include any changes that have taken place in the meantime. I am more than happy to answer any questions that may remain after reading this post.
Copper is now 7 years old (2013 model). He has now been trained to pack and does so very well. Copper has proven to be an excellent trail horse and does well on extended pack trips. He is careful on the trail, not prone to spooking, and handles even the most extreme terrain with confidence. I have yet to find an obstacle that he will refuse (at least not one I’m willing to ride a horse through!)
Copper under packs
I have truly enjoyed owning Copper, but I have had little time to work with him, as I have been engaged in training horses for other clients. I decided to sell him to make room for another horse I am training for a client (see Missy).
As you will read below, I obtained Copper last January for the purpose of putting him through my trail training regimen, however, he was already a wonderful trail horse, so what I worked on with him was improving his bridle manners and tuning up his gait. He was sold three times in quick succession, but returned each time, because he wasn’t the right fit for the riders. However, I liked the horse so much I decided to buy him for myself. Since I have had him, Copper and I have shared a number of excellent rides, including an extended pack trip in central Utah. Copper has been up to every task I have asked of him.
I have had one instance in which Copper fought me on the bit and pushed to go faster and was difficult to control, while on a group trail ride. Some horses left the group early and got out ahead of us. I think Copper thought he was getting left behind. I figured out later that the new curb strap I had put on the bridle was too loose and had gotten down around his lower lip. I think that allowed him to push against the bit with no adverse pressure to discourage it. Once I figured out what happened, I have not had that problem since. I find him to be very willing and comfortable on the trail. He will still occasionally push a little, but responds readily to pressure on the bit. He is easy to control. Copper is calm and non-aggressive around other horses and does well in group settings. He is sound in every respect, has good hooves and conformation, and is well-mannered around people. Copper is easy to catch in the pasture, loads and unloads easily in the trailer, and is good for the farrier. He is current on Coggins and vaccinations and was recently wormed. Copper is appropriate for anyone who has some experience and is a confident rider. He may not be appropriate for a first-time horse owner.
I now offer a 15-day trial period, rather than the 30-days I originally offered. I have found this is sufficient time for a prospective buyer to determine whether he/she is a compatible partner for Copper.
He is offered at Salem, Utah at $7,000. Please contact me by text or email for further information or to schedule a viewing/test ride.
Tony Henrie
tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com
385-424-9788
UPDATE 05/23/2020:
This morning I sold my favorite saddle horse, Apollo, thus opening the way for me to purchase Copper Sunset. So, as of the coming week, Copper Sunset will be my new primary horse. He will receive the bulk of my personal riding time and mileage until Chief is of sufficient age to be able to share the mileage more equally. I’m pretty excited about that!
UPDATE 05/17/2020:
Copper is back at my place. He has been returned to me three times for various reasons. Most recently, from the information I have been able to gather, Copper spooked at something and the new owner fell off and was severely injured. In over 200 trail and training miles I have put on Copper, I never experienced anything like this, so it was entirely unanticipated. However, it should not have happened, so Copper is no longer for sale. I have said a number of times that if I could afford it, I would buy him myself, so I’ve spoken with the owner and we have reached an agreement. I am putting my money where my mouth is. I will be buying Copper.
I recently returned from a good couple days of trail riding and training near Moab, Utah, during which my sister, Crystal Barton, rode Copper. He performed very well on some very difficult and technical terrain, both in the red rock desert and the high pines and aspens. His gait has continued to improve and he is a pleasure to ride. I love the horse and expect to travel many happy miles on his back.
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Copper is back on the market. He was recently sold to a buyer who was a first-time horse owner, who found him to be a little above her comfort zone. She exercised her option to return him under my 30-day money-back trial period policy. He was then sold to another couple, who found he did not want to slow down to walk with the non-gaited horses their grandkids ride, So, he is being re-listed and is again available for sale at my place in Salem, Utah.
The complaint from both buyers was that Copper tends to walk faster than they desire and tosses his head when they try to rein him back. Copper does, in fact, have a very nice walk, but it is faster than the average non-gaited horse, particularly when heading toward home. He responds with pressure on the bit and will slow down, but immediately gets back to his normal walking speed once it is released. His head-tossing is an old habit that seems to have resurfaced while he was with the above buyers. I am working on resolving that issue and teaching him to slow his walk. If you are riding with other gaited horses, there appears to be no issue. His run-walk is very smooth and he has a nice canter.
Copper Sunset is a 7 year old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding, date of birth 05/24/2013, not registered but purebred. He stands 14-3 hands (measured) and has a nice build and good conformation. Copper has excellent hooves and is sound in every respect. Copper is microchipped. The owner is out of the St. George area, but I have Copper available in Salem, UT.
The story behind Copper is that the owner, shopping for a top-grade trail horse, paid $8,500 for him in Tennessee and had him shipped out to Utah during September 2019. It turned out the horse, though he was 6 years old, wasn’t well trained. Other than being soundly broke, he was pretty green. On one occasion late last fall, the owner and the horse got crosswise, and the owner, who is in his 60s, ended up on the ground, injuring his arm upon landing. During January 2020, the owner got in contact with me and asked me to put Copper through my trail training program. During the month of February, I put Copper through 100 miles of trail training, in which he did very well. I spoke with the owner toward the end of the training to report Copper’s progress, and he informed me that his situation has recently changed with a move of residence and more involvement at work. He has asked me to offer Copper for sale through Western Trail Rider.
We have agreed on a sales price of $7,000. The owner has agreed to my standard 30-day money-back trial period. Take Copper home and try him out for a month. If he’s not the horse for you, bring him back in good health and I will refund your money 100%.
Now let me tell you about Copper.
I picked up Copper on January 24, 2020 at Hurricane, Utah. My first ride on him was with a group in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada that same day. As this was a get-acquainted ride, I did not wear spurs and was quite careful initially. After just a mile or so, I realized that Copper is a very willing trail partner and is absolutely courageous! We hadn’t made many miles before I began to test Copper to see if I could get him to balk at any obstacle. Not once did he refuse to go forward on anything nor did he spook at anything. Plastic bags, hikers, dogs, no issue at all. We climbed ascents that made other riders think we were nuts! He dropped off ledges and rocks almost without hesitation. In fact, on some obstacles, he went a little faster than I like. We found a narrow culvert tunnel that passed under a two-lane road. After a little coaxing, he went right through and never flinched. Copper proved himself very confident and sure-footed on that ride.
The following day, I rode Copper with some members of the same group on the Cottonwood Trail in the Red Cliffs Conservation Area near St. George, UT. Toward the end of this ride, I tested Copper by riding away from the group for a while. While he would have preferred to stay with the other horses, he put up very little argument, and we had an enjoyable half-hour or so by ourselves, rejoining the group at the trailers.
My evaluation of Copper after those initial rides was that he was already an exceptional trail horse, well-mannered around people and other horses and not spooky at all, but that he had very little training as a saddle horse. He loaded and unloaded to a trailer very well and was good about handling his hooves and his head. He had no understanding of neck reining, was resistant to pressure on the bit, and was unschooled in his gait. Nor did he have any knowledge about leg or heel cues to move his body. Never at any time did he make me uncomfortable or concerned about my safety or that of others. If he did any misbehaving at all, it was simply being resistant to the bit. So, my efforts with him have focused on improving his abilities as a saddle horse that is to be ridden on trails, with groups and alone.
I have spent the past 100 miles working on Copper’s bridle manners, leg and heel cues, neck reining, and smoothing out his gait.
I am happy to report that Copper has proved to be an excellent student. He has made great strides (excuse the pun) in his gait and in his other training. He is now learning to be supple and compliant to the bit and to flex at the poll. He neck reins very well and responds well to leg and heel cues. He moves his front quarters, hind quarters and side-passes when asked. He is just now learning these things, so he will become more precise at performing them over time. He stops and backs well. His run-walk has smoothed out and presents a very comfortable gait at about 5-6 miles per hour. He will take the lead, middle, or rear, at your pleasure. Copper will leave the group without problem. He is fine to take out alone for those solo rides.
I have also been training Copper to “park-out.” This is asking the horse to stretch his front legs forward, thereby lowering his back several inches to make it easier for the rider to mount-up. Getting on a parked-out 15-hand horse is almost like getting on a 14-hand pony. For those riders in their “golden years,” this is a very nice little convenience. I find that teaching a horse to park-out is much more useful on the trail than teaching it to sidle up to a stump or trailer fender.
As already mentioned, Copper is very good with his hooves, he is not head-shy and is easy to bridle. While he does not come to me in the pasture, he is easy to catch and halter. He leads well and stands very well to be saddled/unsaddled and mounted/dismounted. Copper trailers well and does not get anxious when separated from other horses or trailered alone. He is calm and and personable. Copper loves to have his neck scratched but does not have that obnoxious rubbing habit.
Copper has not been broke to packs, but if the buyer wishes, I can do that for them.
My evaluation of Copper now, as I offer him for sale, is that he is an exceptional trail horse with all the training and abilities I value most in a trail horse. He is fearless on the trail and willingly goes where he is asked to go, no matter what. Just hang on and he does the work! He is easy to ride and easy to control. He can be relied upon to get you where you want to go and back again safely. He can take as many miles in a day as you can. He can handle extreme mountain trails as well as the leisurely ride along the road near home. Copper would be an appropriate trail mount for anyone with some horse experience, from a youth to a senior citizen. . Simply said, he’s a good horse.
Copper may not be appropriate for someone with no horse experience, although a little tutoring in riding knowledge and skills would remedy that. He may not be the right horse if your riding partners normally ride non-gaited horses, as they will not be able to keep up and teaching a Tennessee Walker to walk slow is like trying to teach a Labrador retriever not to fetch a ball; it defeats the whole purpose of their breeding.
Again, Copper is offered at $7,000 at Salem, UT. I will deliver him within a reasonable distance (by agreement for the cost of fuel). He comes with my standard 30-day money-back trial period.
If interested, contact me by email at tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com, by facebook messenger, or by text or voice at (540) 422-1990.
Buckskin Gold Bandit, aka Bandit, is a registered Tennessee Walker gelding (THWBEA 20408448/BU), 16 years old (April 2004), bred by Dream Walker Ranch, Las Vegas, NV. He stands 16-1 hands tall and has a strong build. He is one of the most athletic horses I have ever ridden. Bandit has a big motor and likes to be moving out ahead. He is easy to control, but takes a strong hand on the reins when riding with a group. For that reason, he requires a confident rider. He is not aggressive around other horses or people and does well in a group setting or by himself. Bandit is experienced on the trail and around cattle and shows some “cow sense” when pushing a herd. He is not prone to spooking and is sure-footed on the trail.
I have had Bandit on extended pack trips in the Blue Range Primitive Area in Arizona as well as the Jim Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming. I have ridden him on some pretty tough trails in Utah as well. I recently rode him with a group to the Secret Corrals, near Salina, Utah, where I split saddle time with another horse. When I was not riding Bandit, I tied his lead rope around his neck and let him follow along. He stayed right with the group, followed in line, and caused no disruptions at all. Here’s a video of that trip, shot by my friend, Jon Tanner. Toward the end, there’s a lot of footage of Bandit handling the trail (I’m the rider with the red shirt and blue BYU cap).
He ties well on a high-line, to trees, or to a trailer, and does not pull. He is a pleasure to ride in the mountains. He is strong and can keep up his gait all day long.
Bandit has a very strong run-walk. Because he tends to push in a group, he often gets a little prancy, which is not unpleasant, but not as smooth as the run-walk. I am working on tuning him up to select and stay in the run-walk. He has a very nice canter. I have had him in a smooth rack at close to 15 mph without breaking into a canter, but he will canter when asked. He can really move when let loose to show off! An owner who is knowledgeable about TWH gaits would be able to get the best out of him in no time with a little consistency in riding. At this time he is getting very little use, which is why he is a little out of tune and why he is for sale.
Bandit is a tall horse, which could be a challenge for the average-height person to mount, however, Bandit was trained to “park-out” and will do so on cue. He extends his front legs forward, stretching out, lowering his back by nearly six inches, making mounting almost as easy as getting on a pony! Anyone can do it!
Bandit stands well for saddling/unsaddling and for mounting/dismounting and for grooming. He stands well for the farrier. He loads and unloads from a trailer effortlessly and will back out or come out forward. Bandit is easy to catch in a pasture or corral, normally coming right to hand. He is easy to halter and lead. He is friendly and gentle. He is good around traffic, handles bicycles and dogs well, and has a calm disposition. But, once you get on his back, he really wants to get moving!
Here are a couple videos I put together of Bandit:
Here are some photos of Bandit:
UPDATE:
Bandit sold to Megan Stewart, of Show Low, Arizona in January, 2023. She helped me and a friend out of a tough spot while on a pack trip last July, so she got a special deal on Bandit. I’m happy that I found the right person for Bandit. I think they’ll both be very happy.
Trigger is sold to Anthony Dorsey. His family is going to get a big surprise this evening. They’re going to love this horse!
UPDATE 04/28/2020:
I was very sad to learn this morning that Dave Nelson passed away yesterday. His family has asked me to help them find a new owner for Trigger. I am waiting for details and will post Trigger for sale as soon as I have more information.
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Trigger was sold New Year’s Day to Dave Nelson in Torrey, Utah. Dave has a place that backs up to the Fish Lake National Forest, near Torrey, Utah, so Trigger is going to a very good owner in one of Utah’s premier riding areas. Sorry to see him go, but happy for his new owner.
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Be the envy of your horse riding friends!
My followers know that I train and sell excellent gaited trail and pack trip horses. I like them strong, sure-footed, gentle, and tough. I do not list horses that do not fit into well into this class of horse. I take particular care to try to match my horses to the right owner. This horse has a special place in my heart. He is likely the best horse I have ever known, from a breeding, conformational, and behavioral perspective. I did not train this particular horse, but I have been acquainted with him for several years. He is owned by my daughter. If you are looking for a horse that can carry you or a loved one through a parade downtown, a pleasure ride on the backroads, a trail ride with a group, or a pack trip on the roughest trails you can imagine, and never once cause fear or concern in the rider, this is the one. He also happens to be absolutely beautiful.
Sarah on Trigger
Trigger is a Tennessee Walker gelding, 16 years old (born April, 2004), standing 16.1 Hands tall, and very well-built. He is a chocolate palomino with a white blaze. He is not registered, but I have the registration papers of his Sire, Trouble’s Golden Sun (TWHBEA 981237/PA). Trigger has been lightly used all his life and is physically young for his age. He is well-trained and well-seasoned on the trail. He is not prone to spooking and does well around traffic, bicycles, people, and other horses. In my herd he is the top of the pecking order, but he is not aggressive to horses or people. Trigger neck reins, moves his fore and hind quarters and side-passes on heel cues. He has an excellent run-walk and can move along smoothly at 5-6 miles per hour all day long, yet he will also slow down and walk with your Quarter Horse riding buddies.
Trigger is a special horse. I have one friend who considers him to be the handsomest horse he has ever seen. When he has an expert rider on him, he’s an expert horse. With a child on him, he’s a babysitter. See the video of my granddaughter learning to ride on him at 5 years old. This video was taken in 2017.
When I have friends go with me on my trail rides and pack trips, Trigger is the horse I put them on. He is easy to control, but is no slouch. He will lead out, follow, or take the middle at any time. He is easy to handle for novice riders, yet he is a very comfortable and energetic ride for experienced riders, as well. Trigger has never bucked and has never given me any reason to be uncomfortable around him.
Trigger is a very seasoned and experienced trail horse. I have had him on extended pack trips in the Blue Range Primitive Area in Arizona and in the Jim Bridger Wilderness Area in Wyoming.
Anyone familiar with those areas can attest to the difficult terrain and rough trails. Trigger is strong enough to carry heavy riders on extended trail rides. While I have never had pack saddles on Trigger, because he is always under riding saddle on my trips, I have no doubt he would accept a pack without any problem.
Trigger (center) in the Jim Bridger Wilderness
Trigger stands well while saddling/unsaddling and mounting/dismounting. He is excellent for the farrier. Trigger loads and unloads easily and trailers well. He will back out or come out forward from a trailer. Trigger has large, strong hooves and is sound in every respect. He comes to you in the pasture or corral and is easy to catch.
Here is a short video of his run-walk:
Trigger is the kind of horse that will put a smile on your face all day long, even in the most difficult terrain and roughest trails.
He is offered for sale in Salem, Utah at $6,500. As usual, my 30-day money-back trial period applies. Take him home and if in 30-days you decide he’s not the horse for you, bring him back in good health and I’ll refund your money 100%.
CURRENT STATUS (08/19/2021): Missy is for sale. She is current on Coggins and vaccinations. I intended to ride her through the Grand Canyon in May, but was forced to cancel the ride, due to circumstances beyond my control. I have continued to ride Missy and reinforce her training. She is a wonderful trail horse and ready for a new owner. I have updated the information in the writeup below.
I have been working with a mare that is very special to me.
Missy was a brood mare for the first 10 years of her life. She was sold to my friend, Derek Habel, in June 2017. It went something like this:
Derek: Hey Tony, want to go for a pack trip in the Bob Marshall Wilderness?
Me: Sure! When?
Derek: Monday (This conversation was on Wednesday).
After we had the horses loaded and were in the truck and heading down the highway toward Montana we had a little more conversation, like this:
Derek: Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. We’re going to stop in Blackfoot, Idaho to pick up a couple horses. They’re not broke. Do you think you can break them to pack for us on this trip? We don’t have any pack horses.
Me: You WHAT?!
As it turned out, one of the horses was lame, so we didn’t take it, but the paint mare looked good. Luckily, she was halter broke. It took me about 45 minutes of working with her to get her to lead and to load into the trailer. That evening we stopped in East Helena, at the home of Derek’s parents. Derek and I took a few minutes to see if we could get a pack saddle in place on the mare. Here’s the video we shot of the exercise.
The next day, we got up in the morning and headed to our trailhead for the Bob Marshall Wilderness. While camped there at the trailhead, I worked with this girl for about two hours and was able to get her to wear a pack saddle. I was also able to trim up her hooves a little. She was quite calm, but very cautious. Later in the day, we loaded her with a light pack and took her for a short trail ride, to get her used to being led behind a horse while wearing a pack. She did well, with minimal trouble. The following morning we headed down the trail with her in tow with a full-sized pack.
The pack trip was very difficult for the the little mare, which garnered her a place in my heart. Her courage, in spite of the difficulties, endeared her to me. I began to call her Missy and it stuck. She was not shod and the difficult terrain, combined with her not being used to carrying a pack, took its toll on her. Her hooves were so bruised and sore after the first day that we simply left her in camp. After several days, she was able to move around and we kept hoof boots on her as much as possible. By the time we headed out of “The Bob”, my own saddle horse had lost three shoes and both horses were very tender. We decided I should start early and hit the trail with my horse and Missy, while the rest of the group broke camp, so I could go slow and spare the two sore horses. We figured the group would pass me along the way, but we would be that much closer to the trailhead. That’s how it worked out. I rode the ten miles in company of my saddle horse, J Golden, and Missy. They were great company and great listeners. I talked to them sang to them, asked them questions, and they seemed to enjoy the ride out as much as I did. It was a pleasant day.
After getting Missy back home, I took her to my place, where I planned on letting her rest and recover, before starting her under riding saddle. As it turned out, I let her rest for nearly a month, before starting her. Her hooves were so sore she just wasn’t capable of handling much training work. We did quite a bit of ground training in soft sand during this period.
After about a month, I finally put a saddle on her and let her move around the arena without any control. She was still pretty tender, so bucking or any other kind of foolishness was far from her mind. I took it very easy on her and limited my session to about a half-hour each. Sadly, our training was interrupted by events beyond my control.
During 2018, Derek took Missy on another trip into the Bob Marshall as a pack horse. She was shod this time and did well. However, she showed she knows how to buck a couple times, when she tried to unload her pack. Derek even put her under riding saddle one time. He didn’t get bucked off, but it wasn’t very productive.
During August 2019, I took Missy on a horse pack trip into the Jim Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming for a week as a pack horse. As I said before, I have a soft spot in my heart for this girl, due to her courage in handling the difficulties of her first pack trip with me. On this trip I took special care to make sure she was handled and packed properly. She was a pleasure during the entire trip, never once giving me a problem.
Missy paired up with my Tennessee Walker, Apollo, with which she matched up well in size and gait. I would let them loose to graze together and never worried about them. They always stayed together and would return to camp when I whistled for them (Apollo is trained to do so).
During September 2019, Derek and I again undertook a moose hunt in Wrangell-St Elias National Park in southeastern Alaska. This year Missy went with us as a pack horse. I consider this hunt trip to be a post-graduate course for trail horses. It is an extremely difficult pack trip for both man and horse. Despite getting several rub sores from her packs, Missy finished the trip in good shape. It was a difficult trip for her, as for all the horses, and she lost quite a bit of weight, but she remained sound and reliable. In the photo below, Missy is the last in the string.
Missy has now been recuperating for the past six weeks, left to graze freely on the mountainside above Derek’s place in Diamond Fork. She could still use another fifty pounds or so, but she’s looking much better. While I was looking her over this afternoon (being November 15, 2019), she came over to me and seemed to want to be scratched. I started scratching her chest, neck, and back and she obviously liked it. She even began to scratch my shoulder with her teeth, as some horses will do when scratching each other. I haltered her and took her to my trailer to give her a good brushing with a curry comb. She truly enjoyed that. When Derek showed up, he suggested I start working on her again to break her to ride. I was happy to do so. As I said before, she has a special place in my heart.
So, today (November 15, 2019) I started Missy’s saddle training again.
I had no idea what to expect from her, so after saddling her, we walked the horses down in to the grassy pasture where our training trail begins. There I mounted and sat on her a few minutes to see what she would do. She was calm and just wanted to eat the tall grass. After unsuccessfully trying to get her to move forward for a few minutes, I had Derek take her lead rope and lead her for awhile. After about a half mile or so, I was able to take over and ride her freely. She learns quickly and by the time we were finished with the ride, she was understanding forward motion, backing, turn right, turn left, and stop. I was very pleased. It was a very productive ride.
I will work with Missy during the next couple of months and get her settled as a saddle horse. I have no doubt she will be an excellent trail horse, as she has been packed into some of the most extreme country I have ever ridden. She’s a natural. Once I feel she’s ready, Missy will be offered for sale on this website.
Missy is 13 years old (2007 birth year) and stands 15-3 hands with a medium build. Missy is trim and fit. She is a sweetheart of a horse. She is sound in every respect and has very nice color and conformation and excellent hooves. She trailers well and will load easily and unload both forward and backing out. She ties well and stands for the farrier, although she still needs a work in this area with her rear hooves. I will post photos of her papers when I advertise her for sale.
I will post about her progress. Stay tuned.
Anyone interested in purchasing Missy may contact me by email at tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com.
UPDATE 05/17/2020:
I have now enjoyed about 10 rides on Missy. She has progressed very well and very quickly. She successfully negotiated some pretty rigorous trail training down near Moab, Utah this past week. I was quite proud of her. She is responding very well to the bosal and learning her leg and foot cues. She walks out very well and even did well leading my young colt, who was in training as a pack horse. She still needs work on her gait, to get it sorted out, but she has a nice comfortable gait.
Yesterday I rode Missy with our local Back County Horsemen Association group on a group ride at Monk Hollow in Diamond Fork Canyon, near Spanish Fork, Utah. She was excellent with the other horses and showed no fear nor aggressiveness. No kicking or biting. She gave little resistance when leaving the other horses when I wanted to bushwhack a little. She was easy to coax to try obstacles that were somewhat daunting to other horses and to approach and walk around objects that caused her concern.
Missy still shies at moving motorized OHV vehicles and moving bicycles. We will need to work on that in the future. I have found little else that even makes her roll her eyes.
Missy has done so well with the bosal, that I plan to transition her to the bit next week.
She’s going to be an excellent trail horse, and she is absolutely stunning in appearance. Long, slim legs, trim body, built like a Ferrari!
UPDATE AUGUST 20, 2020:
I had to lay off Missy’s training for awhile. Too many other horses with more urgent needs. I’ve been able to get back to her training in the past several weeks and have been riding her regularly, if not daily, so here’s today’s update information.
I had a nice training session on Missy today. She’s coming along nicely. She’s still pretty skittish, particularly about anything around her flanks and hind quarters while we’re moving. I’m still working on getting her accustomed to a crupper and things banging around in saddle bags. However, her gait is coming along nicely and she is responding well to her leg and heel cues. Her side-pass is still tentative, but she is now learning to allow me to open and shut gates from the saddle. She moves her fore and hind quarters well now and neck reins almost like power steering. She’s very light on the bit.
I gave her a light hoof trim this morning, just to round over her toes and knock her heels down a tad. She is very good with her front hooves, but still gives a little resistance with her back hooves. We’ll work on that.
Missy is now in a corral alone with no other horses nearby, so she is learning to look to me for companionship and leadership. She meets me at the corral gate each morning and seems to want to be around me. This is making a big difference in our training sessions. She now pays attention to me and what I’m asking her to do, rather than watching for her other stable mates and because of this, she is progressing well with each session. I still think it’s going to be a couple more weeks before she will be ready for another rider.
I sure like this mare. She’s a sweetheart and a real beauty!
UPDATE August 27, 2020
I had a very enjoyable training session with Missy yesterday. I have been working with her daily and she is progressing well each day. She is responding well to her cues in the arena and is very light on the bit. Her gaits are improving as well. She has a very nice flat walk and run-walk (she tends to lateral, so she does not show a true fox trot). We have not yet worked on her canter, but when she steps into it I find it very smooth. I want to get her run-walk ironed out well, before working on the canter, so as not to disturb the run-walk. Missy’s side-pass is coming along well now and she reliably allows me to open and shut gates.
Out on the trail, however, we encountered a little trouble. Missy is still quite skittish. She is especially reactive to anything that touches her flanks, which surprises me, as she has been used extensively as a pack horse. I started working on that yesterday, allowing my feet to slide back into her flank area and touching her with my boots and spurs. By the end of the ride, she was tolerating my touches well, without reacting. She needs more work in this area. I may put a pack back on her to see if that gets her past this issue.
I will put together a video of her working in the arena and on the trail soon.
UPDATE 08/28/2020:
Today I started riding Missy without spurs. She has been doing so well with her cues that I decided it was time to start getting her used to recognizing the same cues without the spurs. It took her a few minutes to understand that even without the little poke of the spur, I was asking the same things. Once that was clear to her, she executed her cues with good precision. I was very pleased.
We also introduced a couple of new things. I am teaching Missy to park-out, which is to say that she is learning to stretch out her front feet in front of her to lower the height of her back when I mount. It will take many repetitions before she “gets it,” but she is willing. I also started teaching her to ground-tie, which means I can dismount and drop her reins on the ground and walk away and she will stand fast, as if tied, until I return. She picked up on that right away and did very well.
I once read a story about a cowboy who claimed he once knew a fellow who left a horse in the shade of a tree ground-tied, while he went off scouting some country on foot. The hapless cowboy was attacked and killed by a bear. They found his remains the following year, along with the remains of the poor horse, which had remained ground-tied there under that tree until he starved to death!
Well, maybe that’s true and maybe it ain’t, but a horse that will ground-tie and not leave you stranded in the backcountry is one to be treasured.
UPDATE 09/19/2020:
Missy’s training has been coming along very well. I am pleased to announce that I think she’s ready for sale to an experienced rider/owner. She still exhibits some skittishness on the trail, but she is very willing and very sure-footed.
Missy has excellent conformation and is sound in every respect. She has a small bump on her back in the lumbar area from a minor injury, which is completely healed and does not pose a soundness issue. I have ridden her on numerous long rides and she does not exhibit any soreness.
Missy handles any kind of terrain and most obstacles with ease. She is very easy on the bit and responds very well to neck reining and leg cues. She backs, side-passes, moves her hind and fore quarters to heel cues, handles gates, and moves well. She crosses water, mud, wooden bridges, and steep ascents and descents well. She prefers to be in company of other horses, but will ride out alone. She is still a little skittish when she is alone, but is beginning to relax a little more with each ride.
Missy’s ground manners are excellent and respectful. She will lead right behind the handler’s shoulder, will stop when he/she stops and will backup when the handler backs up. She is learning to ground-tie as well. She does not react to ropes tossed or spun around her head, body, or legs.
As Missy stands about 15-3 hands, I have been training her to park-out to make mounting easier. I have also been training her to ground-tie.
Missy still needs work on various things, which is why she requires an experienced rider/owner. She is not the horse for a beginner or for a timid rider/handler. Missy hesitates when loading into a trailer alone, but loads easily when another horse is in the trailer. I will continue to work with her on this. Missy is also quite “touchy” and skittish under certain circumstances. She is very sensitive about things touching her hindquarters and flanks while under saddle. She is having trouble accepting a crupper and gets reactionary when a rope is brought up under her tail, but she is doing better every day. I am continuing to work with her on this and she is beginning to relax. Having said this, she has never offered to buck. Even while trying to kick off her crupper, she has never tried to get me off her back. Even when she becomes excited, she responds well to the bit.
Missy is 13 (foal year 2007) years old, but she is only recently started and trained. I am the only person ever to ride her, so the new owner/rider will need to become familiar with my methods in order to be able to relate to her, while she becomes familiar with the new owner/rider’s methods. She is a quick learner, very intelligent and willing.
Missy always meets me at the gate and is quite affectionate. She is a sweetheart of a horse and has earned a place in my heart.
UPDATE 08/19/2021:
I intended to ride Missy through the Grand Canyon in May 2021, but on the way to the canyon I blew the engine in my truck, so the trip was cancelled. Still, that shows the confidence I have in this mare. She is now 14 years old. I have continued to ride and pack Missy regularly and to reinforce the training she has received. She executes all her heel and leg cues well and is easy on the bit. Missy now loads effortlessly into the trailer, alone or with other horses. I just throw the lead rope over her neck, show her to the door, and she loads herself. She is current on her Coggins and vaccinations and is sound in every respect. Missy is affectionate and easy to catch in a pasture or corral, normally coming to the gate.
I will be producing a video on her in the coming weeks and will post a link to it as soon as it’s ready. There are a couple short videos of her training on my facebook page, Western Trail Rider. I will be posting an advertisement for her on KSL Classifieds as well.
Her asking price will be $6,000 at Spanish Fork, Utah.
Please contact me by email to schedule a viewing and/or ride.
05/23/2020: Apollo is sold to Marcia Korver, of Roosevelt, UT. Thanks, Marcia. You’re going to love him!
Apollo is 9 years old (born 2011), stands 15-3 hands (measured), and is a pure-bred Tennessee Walking Horse. I have his birthdate and the names of his dam and sire, both of which are registered Tennessee Walkers. I have spoken with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association (of which I am a member) and found Apollo is eligible to be registered. He is healthy and sound in every way.
I acquired Apollo in March 2019, in a trade for Oreo, a Tennessee Walker mare I had offered for sale. Apollo’s owner had hired me to put some trail training on Apollo, because he was hard to handle on the trail. He was spooky and suffered severe separation anxiety whenever he was separated from other horses. After riding him a couple times, I was certain I could turn him into an excellent trail horse, but the owner was concerned that he might still be difficult for her to handle even after the training. I offered her a trade for Oreo, which she accepted.
Right off the bat, I found I really enjoyed riding Apollo. He was smooth and well-mannered under saddle. His primary issue was that he had almost no experience outside an arena. He was afraid of just about everything. I am certain he had received no formal training outside an arena. I believe this contributed to his severe separation anxiety when separated from other horses or when loaded in a trailer by himself.
Shortly after I acquired Apollo, I sold my two primary trail horses, so Apollo became my primary mount. Over the past several months I have put several hundred miles on him on some of the roughest trails imaginable, from Alaska to Arizona. He is now an exceptional trail horse and has earned my appreciation and respect. I truly enjoy riding this horse.
In March this year, I put over 100 miles on Apollo on trails in and around St George, Utah, Zion National Park, and on trails near my home in Salem, Utah. He learned to cross wooden bridges and small streams, and to be out on the trail without the security of other horses nearby. He was a little spooky, but progressed well. He started overcoming his propensity to refuse obstacles and challenges. He proved to be very sure-footed.
In April this year I rode Apollo on some very challenging trails in the Moab, Utah area. He learned to cross streams, climb rocky trails, descend drop-offs into riverbeds, and even to hop off rock ledges. See this short video clip:
Also in April, I rode Apollo as a saddle mount and pack horse on the Sesquicentennial Golden Spike Wagon Train ride, in which we rode 75 miles as part of a wagon train through northern Utah. He became acquainted with noisy wagons and being in large groups of horses and vehicles on the trail.
In May I rode and packed Apollo nearly 100 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona to the Grand Canyon National Park. He performed very well. He presented not a single problem on that trip. He learned to tie high-lined at night, learned to wear hobbles, to come to my whistle, and proved his mettle in making over 20 miles per day while loaded with me, my heavy saddle, and my personal gear on a long pack trip.
In August, I took Apollo as my primary saddle mount on a pack trip to the Jim Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming. He performed flawlessly over extremely rocky and difficult trails at elevations over 10,000 feet. I often left him free to graze and never worried about him leaving us. He always returned to camp when I whistled for him.
In September, I took Apollo to Alaska for my moose hunt. He proved to be a ready and willing mount and pack horse through some of the most difficult country I have ever ridden. The hunt includes a 4-day haul to the trailhead in Yukon Territory, Canada. From there we pack 20 miles into the back country of the Wrangell-St Elias National Park in southeastern Alaska, nearly three weeks in camp, then the 4-day return trip to Utah. It is a grueling trip for both man and horse. Apollo handled the trip well. I consider this trip a post-graduate-level course in trail craft for the horse. Apollo scored well.
In addition to the above trail training, Apollo received some excellent training before he came to me. He moves on cue about his forehand, hind quarters, side-passes, backs, and is very bridle-wise. He is easy to handle and very smooth. Apollo has a nice run-walk, but often prefers a stepping-pace. I have worked on teaching him to select the run-walk over the stepping-pace. He also has a very nice canter. He handles very well under bridle and is easy on the bit. He handles well with or without spurs and he has never bucked with me.
Apollo is healthy and sound in every respect and has very good hooves. Apollo is very friendly and gentle. He genuinely likes people. He gets along well with other horses and works well in groups as well as alone. He is good for the farrier and ties well. He loads easily, trailers well, and will unload backing out or forward.
Apollo lost quite a bit of weight during the trips of the last couple of months, due to the mileage and the difficulty of the trips. He also received a minor injury to his back on the Alaska trip. It raised a small bump back in the lumbar area of his back. I put Apollo at pasture in Diamond Fork, while he recovered the weight lost during the Alaska hunt and to let his back heal up. He has healed completely, although he still has a small calcified bump. He is now back at my stable and looking good. I have put some hard miles on him and his back is fine. He is in very good physical condition and completely sound.
When I just want to go for a relaxing ride in the foothills or along the road, Apollo is the horse I choose.
I consider him appropriate for anyone above the most basic beginner as a horse person.
Apollo is offered for sale at $6,000 with a 15-day money-back trial period.
Anyone interested in Apollo may contact me by email at tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com.
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