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HENRI de PHOENIX
5 yr old, 16.2 Dark Bay Thbd Gelding   Henri de Phoenix is a very pretty 16.2 dark bay five yr old gelding by Nassau Square (Qaudratic) out of Sonesta Baby (Black McKee-Captain's Courageous). He was bred and born in Montana, started by cowboys, lightly trail ridden as a three and four yr old, and started in basic dressage training in late fall. 
Phoenix is tall, leggy, calm, sweet, hard to spook and VERY hard to get rattled. He still has the endearing air of a sweet, tall, gawky teenager trying to figure out his long legs. Phoenix has a good walk, a respectable trot, and a BIG scopey canter. He is presently working on the basics - steady tempo (he tends to be a slight push), balance, bending, and canter departures.
He has just started trotting crossrails gymnastics and low fences under saddle (2'6 -2'9), and is steady, sane and brave to everything in front of him. Phoenix has nothing of a 'hot' temperament. He tends to be laid back and mellow on the flat, and very happy and calmly forward with a 'hooray- we finally get to jump!!' attitude when he starts over cavaletti and fences. 
Phoenix is through-and-through good natured, willing, big-hearted and talented. What he has shown us free-jumping is eye-opening - he has no problem cantering down to 4'6 oxers on the longe (he is NOT ready to do so under saddle). The general impression he gives jumping under saddle is --the fences aren't big enough. He makes no effort trotting 2'9 and 3' and has a wonderful, smooth, easy to stick with jump. 
For the sake of Phoenix' good brain and lovely temperment we take things slow with him, and it pays off-he is now ready to step up to a serious jumping education. Phoenix has no vices, gets along with everyone, loves to come in and work; ties, clips, trailers and is good for the blacksmith. Clean, straight legs, and no soundness issues. Phoenix passed a basic soundness exam (longeing, flexxions, hoof testers, etc) in November with flying colors.  
What we would like for Phoenix is a reasonably experienced rider who is able (and looking forward) to bringing along a talented young, mellow prospect. What we would consider ideal for Phoenix is someone who has steady, hands and good basics: someone who wants a really sane and talented young prospect, and someone who is looking for a horse to bring along slowly, that, in the future, they can have a fabulously fun time galloping loose-reined down to big fences on. Phoenix is offered for sale for $6900. Video footage of schooling sessions can be seen on our 'VIDEOS' page.  |