Finn is such a nice horse! He’s happy just to have his halter put on and be taken for a walk – he loves interaction and physical contact. Loves to be loved on!
We set him loose in the arena, and he had lots of pent-up energy to burn. He ran around and around, kicking and farting, having a good time. Never a laid-back ear or hint of a bad attitude…just joy at moving his body. Where many (even most) other horses tend to look outside the arena as they run around and are very much on their own agenda when first put at liberty, Finn always had an ear or eye on the people in the arena, and stayed at the end close to us most of the time. He is very, VERY social – though not at all pushy. Without even trying, most of his direction changes were to the inside.
He’s quite athletic, and we didn’t see any signs of obvious lameness or unsoundness. Very quickly he was willing to come in to us and never showed anything but pleasure at being approached. No standoffishness at all.
Began working on some basic groundwork. He’s attentive and calm with everything, and is SO willing. He backed like a dream once he caught on to what was wanted, and he just naturally yields his hindquarters. He is quite submissive, but not in a fearful or reactive way. He just simply watches to see what you want, and then does it. Loves praise, no false pride – very workmanlike and calm, but interested and has good energy. He desensitized to the rope on his body and legs very quickly, and even when he was a little afraid at first, he stayed supple and soft to just one finger on the halter. He naturally looks to people for direction on how to stay safe and what to do – he is really incredibly sensible, willing, and smart – everything Quarter Horses are justly famous for!
I am guessing he will go best Western – he’s definitely not the usual build for English events, and judging from his movement at liberty, it’d be quite an effort for him to get that stocky body over any kind of jump. I can’t see him ever having that long, elegant lateral drift like a TB or Warmblood – it’s more the down-n-dirty athleticism of a cutting horse.
As long as his feet get good care and assuming there are not permanent repercussions from his old injuries, he’s got an amazing ability to get low into the dirt, rock over his hocks, engage that magnificent rump and execute serious power-turns, so he might make a great roping or “fun-show” level reining prospect – or pack you along trails until the end of time. He’s short, but stocky enough to carry an average adult. He is a bit older so I wouldn’t want to see him pushed TOO hard as he ages – but he’s got a lot of quickness left in him if managed and conditioned properly. For right now we will build up his strength with liberty and ground work and help him shed some pounds in the process.
