Bucky

age: approx 25
sex: gelding
breed: unknown
color: bay
height: 15 hh

Located in Auburn WA
Status: Available for Adoption

Adoption fee: $1

Bucky is an older gelding, approximately 22-27 years old. He was surrendered to SAFE originally in January 2007. He was rehabilitated and eventually adopted to a couple in Oregon. Unfortunately, due to illness in the family, Bucky has been returned to SAFE and is once again available for adoption as a companion horse, suitable for light riding.

Bucky has been diagnosed with Cushings and is currently taking daily Pergolide to treat it. He was restested recently and the vet found that his ACTH levels are back in normal range so he is doing well on the medication. He has regained a good weight and his winter coat, while thick, is not terribly curly. He is bright and perky and seems to be feeling well.

Update (9/26/09):
Well, Bucky sure gave us a surprise today! His weight is looking great, no more ribs, and he's now wasting half of his mush so I've had to cut him back. Allison and Katie decided to take him out and saddle him up and see how he did. He was great for tacking up...he's just a doll with his little ears! You can see he still has a little bit of that long hair hanging on, but the winter coat he is getting looks quite normal. His feet still need a lot of work but he seems to be moving soundly.

We put him on the lungeline for a few minutes to see how he was. He doesn't lunge super well, and he surprised us by being pretty excited, putting his tail up and letting out some cute little bucks. But once he started moving, we noticed he moves a little strangely. We couldn't decide...is he lame or footsore on all four feet, or is he gaited?? But once I got on him, it was pretty apparant that Bucky is, in fact, gaited. He was like butter to ride...I absolutely had a blast.

VIDEO OF BUCKY UNDER SADDLE

I have never ridden a gaited horse before so forgive me if I don't know how to describe his gaits. He has a very smooth running-walk like gait where your butt barely moves in the saddle, and another trot-like gait but there is barely any bounce at all. And then a canter-like gait but there is more like a side-to-side motion without the moment of suspension like a true canter. In any case he was SUPER smooth. I don't think he was a gaming horse at all. He really was quite sensible, although a little barn sour and tried to go towards the gate a few times, but he just feels like he is wound up because his legs are doing a lot underneath you. He has a lot of go in him but he was easy to stop and steer and really, really fun. He is very out of shape and he got sweaty pretty quickly but he is really a fun ride! So what do you think? Could he be Paso Fino, Peruvian, Tennesee Walker? I have no idea of the different gaits..all I know is he was smooth as silk.

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Please read SAFE's adoption policies prior to submitting an adoption application for any SAFE horses listed on this site. SAFE Adoption Policies can be found HERE. SAFE has a strict no-breeding policy.