Trooper
Registration Lost
  Gallant Man's Scout
1998 Paint Gelding
VIDEOS AVAILABLE FOR THIS HORSE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
SADDLING  |   RIDING
CLICK ON THE LINKS ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEOS - DIAL UP USERS WILL TAKE APPRX. 15-30 min to load
The saddling video shows a quick shot of how he is with his feet and a quick shot of how he is for saddling.  We only have a limited amount of time for our video so the saddling process is not completed, nor is anything really done with his feet in the video - it is more to show how he behaves.   He is the same for the rest of the foot work and for the saddling process as demonstrated by the short video clip.  We do not have a bridling video and I was not there when he was bridled.  My daughter says he is about average for bridling.  Not spectacular, but not a total jerk either. 
The riding video shows a walk, a stop at a walk - a trot - control at a trot by going around a couple of barrels - a canter - a stop from a canter and a back up.  His back up is very sloppy - His transition to the canter is very good - better than he is normally - but I suspect riding him with a crop would ensure that he takes the canter quickly.  His stop from the canter is sloppy as well but he is very controllable at all three gaits.  

Asking Price: $1500
Age of Horse: 10 years (Born in 1998)
Breed: Grade (Possible Pinto Registry)
Height: 16HHeight
Registration: Supposedly Registered but we have no papers.
(Scales of 1-10)
Temperament: Laid Back0 -  High Strung 10: Trooper is about a 2 or a 3
Training: Green Broke0 - Well Broke10: Trooper is about an 8 or a 9
Level of Rider needed: Inexperienced0 - Very Experienced10: Trooper is about a 1-3
Ground Manners: Poor0 - Excellent10: Trooper is an 8
Soundness: Has a mild case of heaves.
Vices: None that we know of.
Known History: This gelding was a camp horse from the time he was 4 until he was 10.  He was used for all types of riders from beginners to advanced.
Our Observations:  This is a nice gelding.  He is listed with a registered name in the camp records but cannot find out what registry it is with.  He would likely still be in the camp program except that he has a mild case of heaves.  From our observations the heaves are barely noticeable if he is on pasture or fed good quality hay.  He will not make a good horse for someone who likes to spend all their time galloping as he  will come up short of wind if galloped for a prolonged period of time.  He will make an excellent 4H horse  or an excellent trail mount for someone who wants a dependable riding horse.  He's got the looks and build to do well in the show ring for an intermediate 4Her.   This is a big gelding.   He is well broke, but not necessarily well trained.  He is dependable for safety but does not know all the proper cues nor more advanced things like leads and side-passing, but does seem to be reasonable to get along with for teaching.  He does neck rein, but rides better with two hands in a snaffle bit.  He's willing enough to move forward but not very crisp when asked to lope - takes him a few strides and he wants to make sure you are serious about asking him :)  He is not a dominant horse in the herd and gets along well with other horses.  He's just a real nice all around horse.   His price is very cheap at $1500  because of the heaves - he is sold with a two year guarantee that he will be usable for a min. of two years or we compensate with a foal from our ranch.  

The heaves can be controlled with medication - either single injection when he has an attack - or consistent doses of prednisone every day.  Either method is very cheap - as the medications for this particular problem are not expensive.  Attacks are most common if he get into dusty feed or during harvest time - much the same as a person with asthma.  The attacks are not Emergency type situations, but more like the horse is uncomfortable and needs relief.   A typical scenario would be having to give an injection twice or three times a year.  The medication is about $40 per bottle and usually one bottle is sufficient for one year.  WE have sold horses with heaves before and the people are still having lots of fun with the horse to date - they managed to get an excellent horse at a price they could afford.  That same quality of horse - perfectly healthy would have been way out of their budget range.  I also own a horse with a much worse case of heaves than Trooper has (I've had her for about 6 years) and we don't hesitate to use her for trail rides whenever we need a good horse.

We have not ridden Trooper off the yard yet - my initial suspicion was that he would be herd bound, but I no longer think that would be an issue.  He may put up a mild fuss the first time or two he is asked to leave the yard, but I suspect he will go willingly when he trusts his rider and knows the area.

PICTURES DO NOT DO THIS HORSE JUSTICE - He is so well proportioned that he looks small until you get right up beside him and you realize he really is a big boy.  Don't miss the opportunity to own this very nice horse.

WE DO TAKE PARTIAL TRADES ON ALL OF OUR HORSES - WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED 
IN OLDER BROKE HORSES AND PONIES.