Seeking Information About Saddlebred and Need Your Help
Posted: Friday, February 17, 2012
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
We know next to nothing about our horse. Sadly, we know very little about his background and breeding, and would appreciate any help readers can offer. A private party rescued him out of a paddock where several Percherons were ganging up on him, and had him down and nearly out. She sold him to us and he’s been with us ever since.
Patrick was a teenager when he came to live with us. The vet estimated he was between 13 and 16 years old then. I keep forgetting that Patrick, his new name, is getting older and he’s now in his late teens or early 20’s. At some point in his life, we think he was shown. He has a set tail, is a great 5-gaited mover and stretches. We think he went through an auction or two, found himself in a hacking stable and we know little else.
Pictures show how Patrick wears his ears and his clearing defined white blaze.
This fellow know his gaits. He is five gaited and can really move on down the line at the rack. His slow gait is stately and methodical, just the way I personally like it. His head is carried on a great arched neck; his mouth is soft. When asked to slow gait or rack, Patrick moves really well and becomes naturally animated. In fact, he seems to actually enjoy racking. He is zippy and needs no urging. On turns, he has occasionally tried to break into the canter but with Dave Arnold’s retraining, Patrick had vastly improved and he was getting terrific. He wears no long foot or weights and still he is highly animated. It’s obvious that his lofty way of going is natural. He certainly has lots of style, animation and speed under saddle.
We have since moved him home from the LaSalle/New Venture show barn. Now Patrick lives with us in total peace and quiet, enjoying comraderie with his two miniature friends.
He’s not goofy about his head and ears any more as he was some years ago. He allows grooming and loves it. Clipping whiskers and everything about the head is ok, but we do is slowly. Still, his ears are mostly off limits. Patrick allows me to scissor them and, while I do a fine job, the results are not as good as the clippers. It’ll do since he doesn’t show. I’m certain that if I persisted, he would also allow ear clipping – but it’s the hardest thing for him to accept.
We’ve let him relax and soften up with lots of TLC so he’s not a lean and mean muscled up showman these days. He can still set up, prick up those ears and look fine - Certainly pleasing for us.
Above left: Looking anything but "Saddlebred", Patrick is relaxed, fat and sassy these days. Note the depression in his left side where we think he had an injury. Pictures above clear show his white markings.
This fellow has come such a long way and we simply adore him. He is sound, kind, and a total joy. He’s a talker – When he sees me, I am greeted with a wonderful whinny whether it’s feeding time or not. If he’s out and I call him, he perks up and whinnies. When it is feeding time, Patrick chuckles and talks up a storm. I “egg” him on by mimicking him. We have a regular horsy conversation. I can sort of hear him say, “Enough already. Give me the food!”
Patrick must have sustained an injury sometime in his life because he carries a big indentation/scar on his left side. It appears like a backward seven. The hair is not white in that area and there is no apparent scar; it is obvious though that there was a problem once.
I am seeking information about Patrick since I am interested in his lineage. He is such a remarkable horse that one day, it would be wonderful to seek out another horse with his background or breeding.
Please, if you know anything about our horse, Patrick, please get in touch at the website number or via contact forms.
Looking forward to hearing something – anything.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Hope you find out all you need to know about Patrick, for he's a handsome fella....Seems sturdy and peaceful in the pics.I doubt whether I'll learn much. Unfortunately. This horse has a lot of stories in him, of that I'm certain. I've had many wonderful animals, but Patrick has a special spot. He is actually a pretty amazing boy. Only bad habit is his separation thing and that will probably never change. He just loves his friends. And does he ever adore my granddaughter. He is like a lamb with her. Follows her around, comes to her no matter what, and once, when she was riding him, he spooked but contained himself until he was standing there quivering because he wanted to jump around so badly but he stayed put for her sake. Most amazing thing I've ever seen.
Love that you read and commented. I'll get around to reading again in a bit. Won't forget your great stories for too long :-)
It's as though he's silently communicating every time he looks at you with those big brown eyes.Thank you so much for visiting my article on Patrick. He is our special horse and, I agree with you, he is full of expression and he does communicate silently and also with his many sounds. Pretty amazing horse.
I enjoyed reading about your horse. I really hope you will find some record or history of him. I don't know that much about Saddlebreds. But I'll think about this and see if I can think of anything too. Here's hoping for you. Great article though.Thank you so much. I've been trying to get some information but nothing yet. I'm hoping that some time and some how I'll connect with someone who remembers Patrick's markings.
Wow. The pics. Such a beautiful guy. Thanks for your article.Thanks much. We really are pleased with this big boy. He's been the best!
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