Tijos Spicy Pepita

About this horse

Disciplines: Advanced Rider Recommended, Driving, Eventing, Pleasure Driving, Ranch Work, Started Under Saddle, Trail Riding, Working Equitation This extremely athletic mare will be a great project horse for the right person! From the horse behaviorist/trainer: More like a zebra in temperament than a horse and requires a skilled, compassionate and confident trainer to help her with her defensiveness and insecurity masked as bold and tough. Bred and owned by same amateur but experienced owner since birth living out in a small herd on a private farm. Thus her past is well known and she’s just kinda been that way since birth. Was sent away to be professionally started at 3, colt starter style, and has had short bursts of professional training, as well as has been trail ridden very successfully but sporadically by the owner. In general very lightly used with holes in her training, total restart recommended but should go fast. Would be a fantastic prospect for working equitation, combined driving (currently getting weekly pre-driving training), working western or would probably be good on cows and love it (lives next to cows). No soundness issues, primarily healthy but does have sensitivity to flies (controlled with full-on fly gear). Not sweet, hates to be touched or messed with but loves to be scratched and is all business and very willing when under saddle on the trail, aware of life but not spooky nor hot. Just like a zebra she excels with positive reinforcement training and mindfulness ala Warwick Schiller; or TRT, Mustang Maddy type training. Very quick learner and with the right training style her sweet side and eagerness to work with you starts to glow. No, she is not a spoiled brat who’s been “getting away with it”, she’s just a little more complicated about pressure due to her dislike of being messed with. Escalating and unclear aids, and inconsistent expectations bring out her worst side but clarity and focusing on light cues with an understanding of the difference between training with avoidance vs escape are key. She’s smart, she’s fun and though it might be awhile till you get something other than resting B… face, the pretty face is in there! From the owner: This has been a slow and heartbreaking decision but I have realized that she really is too much for me. I am a 68 y.o., mostly self-taught rider, and although I would love to keep her, the ongoing professional training she needs just isn’t in my bank account. This mare has so much personality, and I absolutely love her. Her mother is much the same -- doesn't really want cuddles, but is a very happy camper doing her job - and has a sense of humor! Pepi was supposed to be my retirement horse, but I'm having to let go of that dream. She will be a spectacular riding/driving/anything horse. Located on Vashon Island, which is between Tacoma and Seattle, WA.