We don’t know Bandera’s history, but he seems to have had some rough or traumatic handling in the past. He’s nervous with new people but can be caught, leads, and stands for bathing, grooming, and farrier work.

He spent time with a trainer preparing for the 2024 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. She taught him to lunge, line drive, and worked on his ground skills. She said he acted scared of the saddle and would buck if saddled, so she didn’t get further in his training and withdrew from the Challenge.

His current foster home says he tries very hard but does seem worried. The rescue he came from said he was a Hackney, and his foster home has experience with Hackneys and that he does have the trot and energy level of a Hackney or cross.

She will continue working with him, and you can follow their progress on his Facebook page CLICK HERE

He could be adopted as a companion and would need an intermediate handler. If someone was willing to invest time and effort, he could be retrained to ride or drive. He would need an advanced rider or a professional trainer to help him overcome his saddle anxiety.