BEHS 1306 – Shandy

Shandy's foster home began working with her once she was healthy and said she was great to saddle and bridle. In October 2022, she attended the Bluebonnet Horse Expo and was evaluated by trainer Dawn Fraser. Dawn said, Shandy was calm, smart and very trainable. She has good ground manners and saddled and bridled easily. She had some trouble working on her right side at first. She wasn’t scared, just very sure I didn’t need to be over there. She bucked when she first moved out under (western) saddle (not being ridden). She had a good understanding of the bit and caught on quickly to a one rein stop. She got a bit worried when I first got up, thought to get herself moving but we were able to find a calm place to stop. We quit there.

Overall she feels like a calm natured mare that is green to this type of riding. With some more groundwork on that right side, time packing around a saddle, and a competent rider that can teach her the basics, I think she has a great deal of potential."

Shandy’s foster home says she’s a really nice horse and thinks an intermediate rider could continue her training now. She’s been riding her at a walk and trot both in the round pen and in pasture. She says she’s well behaved and hasn’t offered to buck, rear, bolt, etc. She’s a very sensible mare. Her foster home thinks she could be a nice hunter/jumper or she could do low level dressage with training.

She has been introduced to dogs, chickens, cows and other horses. She does well with grooming, picking up hooves, and farrier. She can be protective over her food and her foster recommends feeding her separately from others.