Major

Ooofftt. This is going to be a hard one to write. Major is for sale because it is best for him and our program. He is VERY loved and if I didn’t feel the push to get another project out of the auction pipeline he would be staying right here as my personal horse. Unfortunately as a horse trainer this is what I choose as a profession. I LOVE taking a horse that no one wants and turning them into something unbelievably fabulous.

Major is a 5 yr old draft cross gelding that we have owned for approximately 2 years. He is everyone’s absolute favorite. He has a sweet, goofy personality and LOVES attention. Super easy to catch even out in a big pasture, he knows his name and will come when called. He is perfect for the vet and farrier, no stocks needed. He loves the chiropractor and saddle fitter as well. I honestly don’t think Major hasn’t met anyone that wasn’t instantly his best friend. We got him as an auction in October of ‘24. When they said sold I was honestly surprised that I had gotten him but all the draft people had already left the sale. The only bidders left wanted light riding horses, so seemed that the bidding was just between me and a few kill buyers.

When we got him home and into quarantine Major (previously named Pete) was very standoffish. He was polite but really wanted nothing to do with us. The personality that came out as we let him slowly come around makes me want 15 more of him. He is sweet and goofy. He absolutely LOVES attention (sometimes you can catch him ‘smiling’ at you to get your attention). As much as he loves being with people he isn’t rude about it. He may be a little offended if you take someone else from the pasture to ride but he will quickly forgive you for a scratch or a cookie.

On the ground Major is a perfect gentleman, adults to little kids, he pays attention to where he is placing his big feet. Anyone of any size can groom, fly spray, pick his feet, tack up (some with a stool). We don’t clip anything other than bridle paths but he is a perfect gentleman for that. He will come to you to be caught even in a big pasture. He will lower his big head and give those learning the time to get his halter figured out. Easy to tack and bridle,

Under saddle Major is a dream to ride. Right from the beginning he will side pass over to whatever you are standing on to pick you up. He will let you have an hour if needed to get on. He does not walk off until you ask. Currently mostly direct reins but is learning how to neck rein as well (if you use your legs the neck rein is 98% there) but he is still young and has a few little baby brain moments where he forgot what the left rein on his neck meant without the corresponding leg. He has three amazing gaits, trot is big and floaty without being bounced out of the tack. Canter is like sitting on a rocking horse. He knows his leads and gets the left lead pretty much 100% of the time. Right lead is a little stickier- gets it about 85% of the time. Often when he misses that lead he is giving a lesson to someone that doesn’t know how to set him up correctly. He side passes, pivots on the forehand and haunches and backs easily. Major is very forgiving of mistakes and is happy to cart beginners around. I think he has the potential to be so much more than an up-down lesson horse. He has done some lover level dressage and the trainers were super impressed with him!

He is just now being started lightly over some cross rails. I think at this point he has gone over cross rails on 2 or 3 occasions. I am a strong believer that horses joints can not support competitive jumping before the age of 5 and with drafts I push that back to 6. He has a great start with a lot of work over ground poles and he is very willing. He could potentially make someone a fantastic fox hunter (though I highly doubt he is going to be a contender for first flight).

Major has extensive trail experience both on and off property. He will cross down trees, water, bridges, pretty much anything you point him at. He will lead, follow or ride in the middle of the group- though he has long legs and has a little harder time staying at the back if he is stuck behind really creepy-crawly walkers. He is brave and his spook is more of a startle in place. He has seem deer, turkey, pheasant, racoons and I am sure things that I don’t even want to know about in the pasture. The other day one of the girls was cantering down a trail and something ‘spooked’ him- he went sideways about a foot and a half and carried on his merry way. We have the video of that one. Major has been over night camping and stool like a gentleman all night.

Major is up to date on all cares, including shots, coggins, dewormer (we deworm based on fecal tests), farrier, chiropractic and dental. He is currently barefoot but was show when we got him. Most of our trails are grass and we didn’t have a need to put the shoes back on. Never and lameness, soundness or health issues. No maintenance, I have him on a joint supplement just because of his size and age. He is respectful of fences but high tensile and wood. We do occasionally have a hot wire separating pens if horses are getting too playful/rough over the fence so he does know what hot wire is. However it has never been his primary fence.

I know this decision is going to break many hearts in our barn so if you come out to meet him and/or pick him up expect some tears. He is truly one in a million but I can’t keep him and pull another from a similar situation. Hopefully I can find Major his perfect match and then can focus my energy on pulling something else from the sale pipeline.

Here is a link to an album with many videos ridden by both instructors and students, on the trails and in the ring plus a few cross rails. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNbDoKhTJeWzOsFg6uQbdR8SYUzoV-_rYc3tWBTZC5yyrGt81zROiBj4XQZ42AzCw?key=Zkx0aTVRbXk1OE5qa25jTFhlOVo4MF9DMktYZG1B