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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