BEHS 402 – Polka Dot – BluebonnetEquine

BEHS 402 – Polka Dot

Name: Polka Dot	Status: Adopted
Adoption Fee:	Arrived At Rescue: July 18, 2009
Location: Lorena, TX	Adoption Date: October 19, 2013
Registered:	Breed: American Saddlebred Grade
Date of Birth: January 1, 2004	Color: Chestnut / Sorrel Minimally Marked Pinto
Gender: Female Mare	Height: 15

About Polka Dot

Polka Dot and several horses were removed from negligent owners in a joint effort between BEHS and law enforcement officers. Polka Dot and her herdmates were awarded to BEHS by the courts. She was adopted briefly in 2011 but didn't work out and was returned. She attended the 2013 and met her adopters. Congrats to Polka Dot and her new family!

Evaluation and Training

Polka Dot had not been handled much before coming to BEHS. She spent several weeks with a trainer who got her halter broke, taught her to load in a trailer and stand tied. She was started under saddle by a BEHS foster home. Her foster home used to ride Saddlebreds and feels that Polka Dot may be part Saddlebred and has potential as a saddleseat (english pleasure) horse or as a driving horse. She also has potential as a lower level dressage horse. She needs an adopter who is not intimidated by a high-headed, energetic horse and who is willing to work with her.

Polka Dot's current foster home has been riding her both western and English. She's crossing bridges, walking and trotting over cavaletti, and jumping small cross rails. She's also been ridden down the road and around fields and is doing well. In September 2013, her foster home took her on her first trail ride. She was nervous at first and crowded the horse in front of her, but that lasted only about five minutes. She didn't mind the cyclists on the trail, and the only thing that bothered her was the sound of kids playing baseball next to the trail. Her foster home believes that she'll be a solid trail horse after a few more rides.

Her foster home says she needs some work on steering and cantering, but she has a great stop and isn't spooky or hard to handle under saddle.

Polka Dot attended her first horse show in October 2013. She showed in several walk/trot huntseat pleasure classes. She did well, and more importantly the judge thinks she has huge potential as a show horse. The judge said that Polka Dot is a gorgeous mover and ought to be very competitive as her trainings progresses. Her foster home says that Dot did great getting ready for the show: she stood for her bath and to have her bridle path clipped (she did not allow her foster home to clip her muzzle). She loaded well, stood tied to the trailer while the foster home showed her other horse, and didn't mind the other horses at the show. She was a little high headed and nervous, but it was a great first horse show for Dot!