Steve
2006 15'2hh Bay Gelding
Just to show you what a fickle game breeding and racing horses is - Steve's father is one of the top international pacing sires with a service fee to match. Unfortunately for his owners, Steve missed out on the speed gene but got a double dose of the sweetness!
The type that likes to follow you around the paddock for a pat, he is going to be a delightful horse for someone. Currently about 15'2hh, his father is around the 16hh mark so it would not surprise me if he has some growing to do.
These photos were taken when Steve arrived in April and he is considerably harier after spending the winter in a paddock in Bredbo!
Here he is in November 2009, just after his 3rd birthday
25/01/10
Ohhh... I have a real soft spot for this fellow! He has filled out even more since the November photo, is now about 15'2 but will probably go 16hh. He is very solid, quite short in the back and a bloody big sook on the ground.
His lunging work has shown him to be quite reactive and super responsive - not a dopey boy at all. He is hopelessly unbalanced at the moment but we have at least established that you can walk on the lunge (not tear around like a mad thing all the time) and have had the occasionaly glimpse of something resembling a trot. Despite his baby brain and unco growing body as soon as I give the release or off cue he stops immediately. Doing groundwork he is totally "joined up" and tries hard even when he has no idea.
Longer lunging sessions for him this week to try and get some transitions happening and see what his movement is going to be like.
1/02/10
Well just when I thought I was going to have to rename him Gumby, Steve has finally found his feet on the lunge and we seeing the start of some balanced trot work. He is quite stiff through the body and down his off side hind quarter - interestingly just the same as Bling. Steve was only prepped, never raced but something in this early training must have affected both of them in this area. After a chiro visit I will start some massage treatments to see if we can loosen him up.
