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pepper  Pepper     (son of Twilight Ginger) facebook for more photos

(don't miss his bareback/bridleless riding video, and also his first cantering under saddle!!) 
ARRIVED January 2008 (see summary and updates, below)
ADOPTABILITY ADOPTED, went home March 2010!!! No rehab required; never neglected or abused.
SPONSORED BY
  • Feed: Needs a sponsor, maturing easy keeper $35/month
  • Medical: needs a sponsor! Details below.
BREED/AGE 4-yo ( 2006 model) Quarter Horse Gelding, gorgeous red dunn; approx 14.3hh, stocky solid frame, GREAT mind

Skills / Report Card:

Overall Health: 

A

  • no known health problems, past or present, no known neglect or abuse at any time; 
  • Easy keeper -- 1lb Enrich 12 (mineral supplement only)/day.
  • At ideal body weight, body condition approximately 5. 
  • Carries healthy muscle tone but would benefit from regular exercise to build proper muscling including topline.
  • His hooves are healthy and have never had any problems.
  • His legs are straight, clean and healthy with no splints or other issues.
  • Appears to be finished or nearly finished growing; his chest and barrel have broadened and will likely broaden further, to match his dam's classic AQHA build.

Ground Manners:

A+

  • Exceptional! Leads to/from his pasture with a length of baling twine tossed around his neck! - or nothing at all!
  • Great manners, often handled by inexperienced volunteers.
  • Seldom wears a halter. Easily haltered, and respects being handled in halter whenever desired.
  • Cross ties calmly, will stand indefinitely (although he does paw occasionally).
  • Will stand tethered indefinitely (paws occasionally) with no concern whatsoever that he would try to pull back and break free or get panicked. Never been on a tie line but would almost certainly handle it with no concern.

Basic Riding Skills:

B


  • This young man is well mannered and willing, but NOT forward or in a hurry unless his rider is pushing him or carrying a crop (no need to use, simply carry it).
  • Walk/Trot/Back  with great confidence. Cantering easily and gaining confidence, both indoors and out.
  • As Pepper matures, he is showing more energy. He willingly trots with good energy under saddle now. He responds well to leg and to weight shifts.
  • Pepper halts with no rein, simply voice command and set the rider's weight back, reins completely loose or not even held at all.
  • Has more than 60 days worth of professional training under saddle working in an arena, and rides comfortably.
  • Pepper has ridden numerous times with early intermediate riders and also with beginners. Pepper is patient and careful with riders who are unsure or nervous, but dislikes a rider who pretends to know things they do not. Pepper LOVES children and is a great fit with young teenage riders whose intermediate skills are growing. If his rider falls forward and grips with her thighs to catch herself, Pepper reads this as instruction to accelerate and does so.
  • Already has nice balance under saddle.
  • Pepper has ridden around tractors and other loud vehicles, and is used to being near cars and trucks while riding.
  • He has done several trail rides with ease, more relaxed and comfortable than several more seasoned horses. He has ridden on state lands, with steep inclines, through rivers, muddy conditions, and more. He leads nearly all the distance of his rides.
  • Pepper is NOT AT ALL "spooky". The only nervousness he ever showed while trail riding was when his rider was nervous about going down a bank -- Pepper wasn't afraid, he was simply trying to figure out why his rider was tense.
  • VIDEOS: first canter under saddle and don't miss Pepper's 2nd day riding, ever -- bareback/bridleless!
  • In Jan 2010, Pepper had his first ride in a large indoor arena, when we trailered to a local boarding barn. He wanted to ride close to his pasture mate who came along, but otherwise he did VERY well. He was mildly nervous to start, then settled in and rode well for an additional 30 minutes.

Ideal Career

    In his time here, Pepper has shown himself to be sweet and playful, very laid back and easy going. Pepper would be quite happy as an easy going mount for a quiet rider who isn't in a hurry, yet he isn't a 'nag' or a boring lesson mount. He is playful and sweet and curious and would enjoy a working career.

    He was light-years easier to start under saddle than ANY horse either CWER trainer has met in their 30+ years experience.

     To excel for an intermediate rider, Pepper is ready to go TODAY! He loves to trail ride -- particularly in new places, and also is respectful and a joy to ride indoors and in an arena. He is sweet, playful, and fun to be around, not "a dead sided old plug" as many horses marketed toward early intermediates. He doesn't have nasty vices as do many former trail or lesson horses, and he has a sunny, adorable personality with both people and other horses and dogs alike.

     With his playfulness and craftiness in getting halters off, for example, we believe he would do very well at thinking tasks that did not require speed, such as competitive trail or ACTHA. Pepper does get bored doing 'simple circles' for long periods in our small indoor, and can be playful to entertain himself -- such as drifting away from the rail and 'blazing his own trail'. He isn't mean or trying to unseat his rider; he's simply trying to entertain himself.

     We do NOT believe Pepper would do well in a job which requires significant impulsion or speed. He doesn't take joy in playing chase in the pasture and doesn't show a natural talent for using his hind end for performance. 

   Pepper is not forward -- he isn't pulling at his riders hands constantly wanting to go faster. He is willing to increase his gait upon a clear instruction, but is in little hurry to do so.

Stall Manners

A

  • Relaxed and easy when stalled for feeding or longer periods.

  • Waits patiently to be led when his door is opened.

  • Plays with feeder, latches, buckets. Rarely will paw or make noise. Very capable of entertaining himself.

  • Pepper would easily transition to a normal stalled boarding situation.

Trailering Skills:

A+

Pepper loads himself on the trailer -- even in the dark with no trailer lights (!), waits calmly for the wall to be closed, and rides well when traveling. He waits to be unloaded and exits easily. He has had numerous local shorter trailering experiences (ie 1 hour to state park) but has not gone on any long distance rides. He rides well with other horses and is a great calming effect on a more nervous buddy.

Companionship / Pasture Manners

A

  • Playful, respectful with all types of horses. Loves to play halter tag and other games, but doesn't bite or scrape other horses.

  • NO studdish behaviors, no gelding issues.

  • Great with dogs and cats. 

  • Currently pastured with a young steer.

  • Doesn't show interest in babysitting or protecting new members of the herd.

Managability for Routine and Medical Care

A

  • Shots -- A+, no need to halter;
  • Vet Care -- A+ for all treatments to date;
  • Dental Care -- A+, minimal sedative required;
  • Farrier -- B+ (still has a little trouble balancing for his back hooves)
  • Grooming -- A+ loves it!
  • Ears -- A+, no reaction to any handling (never tried to clip)
  • Clipping -- NA, never exposed
  • Bathing -- B, only bathed once in '08, mildly nervous.
  • Tying: A. Pepper has been tied for significant periods of time without any concerns. We are confident Pepper would easily learn to be picketed for camping and long trip trail riding.
  • Cross-ties: A. Pepper has been groomed, saddled, and trimmed while standing in cross ties. He moves to each side easily, is respectful of his handler, and never tests the ties. He does paw occasionally.
RIDING VIDEO --
  1. ( click here.) remember, this footage is only his SECOND DAY riding -- including bareback, then bareback and bridleless!!
  2. (click here) November 2009 -Pepper's first canter in an arena, and also his only spook ever with a rider.

 

Updates:
Summary:

The family who donated Pepper, Twilight Ginger and Jackie had financial emergencies that made it impossible for them to continue to care for these three. Unlike many horse owners, they didn't wait until there was no feed left in the barn and the horses were emaciated before asking for help. They contacted us as soon as they knew they would not be able to care for their 3 properly throughout the winter, and donated not only the horses but feed, hay and tack. 

   Pepper is turning 3 in 2009, and the son of the Grulla-colored mare, Twilight. He arrived as a yearling, fit and in very good health, simply in need of time to finish growing and of course training.    He has a darling dunn stripe down his back + the cutest face ever! His coat/color is actually much more impressive than the photos capture.

History:  

Intake Notes, Jan '08: Pepper arrived very curious and interested in people, healthy and happy, but with a few bad habits. He quickly learned to lead better and more respectful of people's personal space...

1/5/09, See Pepper's 2nd day riding video above (his first ride was on 1/4/09.)

January 2009 update: Up until a week ago, Pepper has had no real challenges set before him. We've simply allowed him to mature and grow into being a horse. Here is a CWER email list post about Pepper's progress in the last 4 days...

     Thursday, I decided to try to get at least a bit of a start on pepper's pre riding training. So, in goes pepper to the round pen. Play around a little. put him in a stall while mike works stormy, fit him with a baby's bit and bridle, and let him figure this metal thing out. Put a surcingle on just to let him feel it on his belly, not tight. Take them off, turn him out, call it a morning.
     Thursday evening, he takes the bit like a champ. Surcingle, he lets me get it to a reasonable tightness with no fuss. We put long lines on and just have mike lead him a little tiny bit. nothing major. Mike works him some, is able to get him to turn in either direction but still unsure of forward.
     Friday evening, bridle and surcingle, and i'm able to do basic ground driving. He's still a little unsure, but is going forward now.
    Saturday morning, long lines again. I can stand in the center of the arena as if lunging, and he will trot, the lines at full length but not tight or pulling, and trot all day long. Halt, walk, reverse, lines across his rump, anything. It doesn't faze him. Let'sput a saddle on, just to show it to him. No interest. let him trot around free in the round pen with the saddle, no concern whatsoever. 

   Saturday evening, put a bridle on with regular reins and a saddle. tighten the girth. no reaction. 'ground drive' him, but this time standing beside his girth, using his regular riding reins. in about a minute, he understands. walks along, does about anything i ask. stand him at the mounting steps, weight in his stirrup. he couldn't be less concerned. "what we doin, mom? lets do this thing." A minute later, we're riding around the arena, mike's stepped out, and we're doing it on our own. walk, halt, reverse, turn, a little steering disorder but not nearly as bad as most babies.
     Sunday morning, riding again, ride #2. with minimal help, we are trotting, both directions, smaller and larger circles (still plenty large to be safe for his young body), easy transitions to a walk and up again. doing amazing. Tory takes a short ride on him, then Gerry does. he's fabulous all along the way. i get back on, ask him to halt from a trot with no reins. he gets it the 2nd time i try.
     NOW it is Sunday evening, and he has an audience. Kelly M and Erin --pepper's mommy's mommy -- are out to visit. Erin was the first person to sit on pepper ever, a few weeks ago, and the only person to have sat on him before YESTERDAY. 

     Pepper rides fabulous for me, walk / trot, backing, starting to do very mild lateral work, steering disorder nearly gone. almost zero need for the crop. a real gentleman. 
     PUT YOUNG ERIN ON HIM. with me walking with him, he was exceptional for her. he stopped a few times, unsure, but did what he was asked and always listened and respected me, just what we wanted and hoped for. 
     I'd actually considered doing his first rides bareback as he'd been so comfortable with someone just sitting on him, no saddle. but I'd decided against it. so, today, ride 3, i pulled his saddle, and we walked and trotted bareback. 
     For those who dont know, pepper is an escape artist. so he doesn't wear a halter, otherwise we find them laying all over the farm, usually broken. instead, we just toss a lead around his neck and lead him that way.
    So, mike offers me a neck rope -- which i have NEVER ridden this way before by the way -- and off pepper and i go, walking and trotting, no hand on his reins, just using the neck rope, and pepper is neck reining! doing so well, mike talks me into giving up his bridle.
     So, here is video to enjoy, me, riding a green coming 3 year old, no bridle or saddle, neck rope only, on his second day riding!!!!  (see the YouTube video box above or click here.)

 August 2009 This summer, pepper has had the chance to ride with a variety of volunteers as time has allowed. He often goes weeks without being ridden, then is asked to tack up and go trail ride around our property, in our rolling hills pasture or nearby, with an early intermediate or above rider. Pepper has always done so happily and easily. We are very confident that Pepper will be an easy partner for any family or adult rider looking for a quiet, easy mount who isn't "dead horse walking". Pepper's playful personality is a joy to be around.

 

November 2009 The past 2 months, Pepper has had more extensive riding experience. He has trailered to a local state park and gone on several trail rides, including steep inclines, muddy conditions, riding into a river, and more. Pepper found these trips fun and interesting and, from his first trip, wanted to lead the bulk of the ride. On one such ride, Pepper was allowed to canter up a relatively steep, slightly slippery incline, to allow him to use his own balance and power to more easily get up the hill. He did so with confidence and balance, and halted easily when asked. He then walked on calmly on  a long, loose rein.

Pepper has also done a lot more indoor riding in these past 2 months, including riding with a beginner more than once. Pepper has taken exceptional care of his beginner riders, and is patient with a nervous rider as well. He seems best suited to early intermediate riders, and to more experienced riders who are relaxed and easy in the saddle and not in a great hurry to go anywhere.
January 2010 Again, Pepper has had a lot of indoor ride time these past 2 months. We trailered to a regulation indoor dressage arena, and his only flaw was that he wanted to follow his barn mate that was riding with us. He was mildly nervous at first, then settled right in and rode just as he does at home.

We have focused extensively on walk/trot work, balance, backing, figure 8s and similar gymnastic exercises. He has done VERY well with these skills. We are just starting to ask him to leg yield and pivot on the forehand.
March 2010 Pepper has met what we believe will be his forever mom! Pepper will be learning to do civil war reenactments and lots of major trail ride excursions. We believe its an ideal fit for Pepper and can't wait to hear stories and get video!
PEPPER WENT HOME SATURDAY 3/27/10, TO LEARN TO BE A CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT MOUNT. WE'RE SO VERY EXCITED FOR HIM!
Sponsorship:

FEED: He needs a feed sponsor, to cover his monthly feed expenses. As of November 09, his feed costs are $35/month for Enrich 12 -- a vitamin/mineral supplement that fills in the gaps from our grass pasture.

MED: He also needs a medical sponsor. So far, he has not had any special medical needs, nothing besides normal basic care -- vaccinations, wormer, farrier care, dental care. Even if you cannot be a permanent med sponsor, please consider making a one-time donation to help us to help these horses.

Adoption Fees: Generally, we try to set our adoption fees at half what we feel a similar horse would sell for, but still making sure we are above $750 to ensure the horse does not end up at a low end auction or worse, sold to slaughter. In a case like Pepper, it is very hard to compare him to other horses since he is such a unique personality, and so instead we take his training time into account. He already had over 60 days professional training, and his adoption fee of $1250 includes that training -- so he has $1,000 in professional training included in his $1,250 fee. We are able to do payment terms when needed for the right adopter.

The fee listed is as of 11/1/09, and is subject to change as training and other variables effect. Please call or email for confirmation of his adoption fee and any other questions you may have about this or any of our adoptable horses.

Please visit our adoption qna page for details on how our contract works, adoption application, and an explanation of when and how we transfer ownership.