I have an extra $40k lying around and am trying to see if I can find someone I trust in Ocala to try him for me as I won’t be in FL until January.
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This is exciting. I am here to enable.
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How exciting!! I hope you find someone. If you don’t get any leads, I do know an UL dressage trainer near that area, experienced with TBs, that I could connect you with. 
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I know an experienced and tactful eventer in Ocala. Would you like me to contact her to see if she would try him?
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I’d appreciate the connection if you can drop me a note.
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Given he’s 4 now, I’m guessing he went through that sale March 2020 and then was sold off when tracks closed down for COVID. That happened to a lot of young, less expensive ones in my area.
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He is a really cute horse. If someone gets him please keep us updated. I kind of selfishly think he wants to be a hunter though 
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If you need someone to help, let me know. I’m in the Ocala area and have lots (and lots) of TB experience from all ends, and have done some “virtual shopping” for others from out of state.
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Seriously! Love her bloodlines.
What is inappropriate is that all of this training has been done under a year. I’d pass just on the lack of appropriate basics for the level (meaning overall lack of basics–but who knows, maybe it has first levelish basics). There has to have been an enormous amount of training that is not appropriate to the age of the horse EVEN IF a thorobred and not a warmblood. Sure people ride and compete horses way before they are physically mature, but that doesn’t make it desireable in a prospect. I would pass on horses who have been broken in at age 2. I also have a two year old–uphill built, well balanced, pure rhythm and also needs a job, but he is NOT in any way physically ready to be backed.
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Horses are individuals; some are ready for early work, some are not. It is entirely your choice to start horses later.
I used to believe backing racehorses young was cruel, until my boss at that time asked me to help start a couple. Until I read the studies showing early, appropriate work is absolutely beneficial to soundness. I’m starting 4 TB colts right now. They are trotting 10 minutes in a slightly hilly field, canter a huge circle each way, and ask for a lead change. (Two of them do auto swaps, one needs a little set up, and one Does Not Get It so we do quite nice changes through trot). These are not dressage changes…they are racehorse changes, from a little hand gallop. They are ridden 20 minutes a day, max, including a walk from the barn to the field. They don’t do small circles to stress their joints. They aren’t forced into a frame; I ride with light contact and encourage forward, working gaits, but I don’t fuss where the head is. Most of the time they have good natural balance and I gently encourage straightness and mild bend through turns. That’s it. After about 30 days they will have time off.
My lovely 2yo sport bred TB was started similarly in April. He had about 10 rides, then a month off. Another 10 rides, and a few weeks off (too hot in summer!). He has been on a couple trail rides, and hacked/led around XC schooling. He has worked maybe 8 times in an arena. He has lovely self carriage, a light mouth, bends softly, spirals in/out on large circles. He goes around like a horse who has had a year of training, not less than 50 rides. Not pushed, not rushed, not lunged or roundpenned to death, never restricted his head, never even worn a noseband. Just easy, built correctly, and great brain.
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All what training? The horse literally has no collection and no true extension. It goes around in a delightfully quiet, age-appropriate frame doing a few tricks not too badly.
The horse may have been ridden 20 minutes 4 times a week (like my young giant horse was) for all we know. Some horses are precocious and make their trainers look like stars, or evil depending on your viewpoint lol.
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I’ve seen additional videos of this horse and while he’s politely going around, there’s not actually that much training there. He has a change that still needs some development, but otherwise is mostly going around pleasantly like a first level horse. He’s not remotely developed the power or anything else that would be required for 4th and the test was scored generously.
Frankly I would love to see more 4yos who have approached some of these questions with no drama. It can all be developed further on as the horse matures physically, but training the mental game is much harder than allowing a horse to offer an attempt at accomplishing the ask and you develop it from there.
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Nah. The horse doesn’t have that much innate talent to make the trainer look like a star and it look like a wunderkind. It is a nice, willing, good tempered youngster. It had to have the feet ridden off it to get half passes and changes and all that by this age. I’ve seen a shit ton of this recently. I don’t like it and am unapologetic. If you want to buy it, have at it. I certainly won’t be the one standing in your way.
I only wish the judge had the confidence to give it the 45% it deserved for showing a first level balance in a fourth level test. It would have given the trainer enough of a message that they wouldn’t have put another horse through this nor would anyone have to crow about a trainer breaking the age rules as they would have been punished enough.
If you want to see a well ridden, well prepared four year old in an age appropriate test with proper basics, watch Martin Kuhn ride Vholt in the Festival of Champions four year old test–it’s free on USEFnetwork.com
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No it didn’t necessarily have to. But keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better about whatever. Just don’t bother telling me, because I absolutely 100% know from experience (rather than from watching various trainers push young horses too far and assuming that all youngsters that show ability to do tricks have been treated exactly the same) that such a blanket statement does not necessarily cover this horse.
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Sweet, willing horse, but not really through or in self carriage. Problems with the transitions - the first halt - trot had walk steps. Transition into canter at c picked up wrong lead then changed. Changes out of half pass were late both sides one side behind, the other up front. Walk pirouettes were large. Tempo varied in walk and tension affected quality. Watched on my phone, but changes need to be more reliable for this level. Has potential, but needs consistency imo.
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Thanks for your comments! I was hoping you would let us know what you see from a judge’s perspective.
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Nah, lots of young balanced horses have natural changes and half pass is just going sideways with bend. Is it 4th level and is the half pass fit for dressage? No. But he doesn’t have to be ridden heavily to get those movements.
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And your score?
You may not know this because it’s impossible to keep track of everyone’s IRL credentials, but Dotneko is an accredited S Judge. She was a judge in my area for years. She’s plenty qualified to leave that feedback, though I love the horse and can’t wait to see what he does in his future.
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