Gilley

Meet Gilley, a 4-year-old red roan Appaloosa gelding currently standing 14.3 hands. From the moment I met Gilley, I could tell he had been started the right way. From his ground manners to his riding and everything in between, he has a solid foundation. His demeanor alone is enough to make you fall in love. He has never met a stranger, enjoys his people, and is always respectful. In the arena, Gilley has a great handle with the ability to go in just about any direction. He walks, trots, and canters, knows his leads, works off body and leg pressure, stops, backs, pivots, and neck reins. He’s gentle, willing, and easy to get along with. He has been ridden by beginners and kids, has always been honest, has never been cold-backed, and has shown no desire for any funny business.  Gilley trail rides better than many seasoned horses. He will ride out alone or with a group and very little seems to bother him. If something does catch his attention, it’s usually just a slight look or a small step before he goes right back to work. He does well with traffic, loud trucks and trailers, bicycles, and confidently steps through or over whatever is in his path.

His training has clearly included plenty of desensitizing. He carries a flag, handles bags being shaken around him, has been worked with tarps, is comfortable around a bull whip, and has been introduced to gunfire. He has also been exposed to cattle, ropes, and dragging objects. Most recently we’ve been introducing him to the barrel pattern, and he picked it up quickly.  He’s already slow-loping the pattern and making lead changes.  On the ground, Gilley stands quietly tied, lunges, bathes, loads easily, and is good for the farrier. He recently got his second set of shoes and handled it like a gentleman. If you’re looking for a young horse with an exceptional foundation and the potential to become a true all-around partner, Gilley deserves a look. While he has been ridden by beginners and children, if he’s going to a beginner home, I would recommend continuing with a trainer not because of his age, but simply to continue building on the great start he already has. Gilley has been an absolute pleasure to have in the barn and is going to make an outstanding addition to someone’s family. He is current on hoof care, teeth, vaccinations, and deworming, and has no scars or blemishes.