Drakkara

A well started 5 year old warmblood mare (born 4/25/01), Drakkara has all the basics firmly in place including her leads and beginning lateral work. She was started with a solid dressage foundation, she also jumps although her exposure has been limited in order to let her finish growing. She's a willing worker and very sweet but has not had consistent riding through our wet spring. Natural jumping ability, she has willingly jumped 3 foot and shows potential for much more. Lunges, ground drives, impeccable ground manners and listens well to vocal commands. A month of consistent work will bring her along very nicely, could be easily showing this summer or fall. Ideal for dressage, jumpers or eventing. Will be an excellent horse for intermediate rider with a trainer or any advanced rider. Motivated to sell, offers will be considered. However price will increase as she gets more training and shows this summer.

Questions? leahcat@gmail.com or 530-400-2469 (cell phone)

And now, more information than you probably needed to know:

TRAINING: Started under saddle at age three in 2004. Gave her the winter and spring off, started again in summer 2005. Worked 2-3 times a week. Light work through winter, now getting back into steady work as we get into this summer. I am often traveling for work, so am motivated to sell her to the right home.
She balances up well between your legs, bends evenly in each directions and takes up even contact with the bit. She will stretch down into your contact now, but I have not forced a frame on her, as I prefer to let them find their own balance first. It'll be soon though. However, she lunges well in sliding (vienna) side reins and frames up there very nicely if you keep up her impulsion.
Under saddle, she picks up her canter leads from the halt, walk or trot. Can do her changes over a small jump but not yet on her own. Jumps willingly, currently schooling with a pole before the fence so that she focuses on picking the right take off spot. Has been jumped up to 3 foot to see what she could do, but usually over 2-2'6" these days until she's spot-on. Has also galloped safely on the polo field and track. Open spaces are no issue for her. Has never taken off with me but she does have good speed in her if you ask for it.
Has done both cross country style fences as well as poles and standards and small solid jumps (coups, gates, etc).

TEMPERMENT: She is very un-marish and a willing worker. Imprinted shortly after her birth, she's been handled her entire life and been taught very good manners. Under saddle, she might test you for a moment, but if you gently give her something else to do, she gives up entirely and goes right back to work. Typical four year old questioning of authority, this stage is already passing on.
Her reaction to something spooky is to go up and sniff it/eat it, at which point it is no longer scary. Very nice, I wish my other horses were like that! She crosses tarps, walks over flower boxes and has gone through water. She is very personable and attentive to what you want, whether on the ground or under saddle. She doesn't worry about much at all and is genuinely steady in her temperament.
She is a mare, but is actually the nicest to ride right when she is in heat. She mellows out and takes a very laid back attitude about everything, making her easy to ride and very uncomplicated. Our best rides have always been when she's in heat.
She has been in pasture situations and while she won't claim alpha mare leadership, she does stand up enough for herself to be in the middle of pasture rankings.

MOVEMENT: Her trot looks fabulous and she has the same ground covering steps as her older brother, Ally. I've trotted her under saddle and once she builds up more muscle and learns a frame she'll have an amazing floating trot. Even now it's rather impressive. She can definitely run and move forward and loves to do so in pasture. In a larger round pen, her canter is fluid and full of suspension. Under saddle, her canter is incredible. Full of suspension but I find myself sitting perfectly still. It's amazing! Her walk is active under saddle and she moves forward willingly.

BREEDING: Drakkara is approved and registered with the American Warmblood Registry (AWR). Unlike the AWS (American Warmblood Society), the AWR does not accept half-breeds. Rather, they look specifically for American breed warmbloods and approve them based on European standards. Drakkara's dam was a heavy boned large TB mare who was approved for warmblood babies. The dam is from jumping lines rather than racing. Drakkara's sire is also from jumping lines and showed successfully until a knee injury put him to full time stud work. He is a registered Oldenburg out of Telstar/Nimmerdor/Farn/Fax lines. You can see him (Delta's Shadow) at: http://www.deltafarms.net/stallions.html

Information on the American Warmblood Registry is found at http://www.americanwarmblood.com

Her bloodlines can be viewed HERE.

HEALTH: Up to date on all shots including WNV (March/September boosters).
Wormed every other month.
Front and hind shoes every 7-8 weeks, no pads or anything else special. Can go without hind shoes in softer footing (we have hard gravel on the roads here).
Gets daily grain (all-in-one) with NuImage for her coat and Grand Vite Plus for vitamins. 2-3 oz salt and/or electrolytes are added because of the heat here in Davis and the fact she never touches her salt block.
Fresh water in a tub recommended, since she was raised with a large pasture trough for water.
Teeth floated 1x a year, was just done in May. Wolf teeth have already been pulled.

TACK, ETC: Currently ridden in KK ultra snaffle bit, size 5 inch. Girth size 50, depending on the saddle or 30 for dressage. Her bit and KL Select bridle will be include with her, along with her two halters (leather and nylon). Can include her blankets if wanted, but they are old and a tad small. She deserves snazzy new ones for the next winter :) (size 78 inch).

STABLE MANNERS: She clips, including the outside of her ears and legs. She was body clipped for the first time this past winter and did very well (I just went a tad slower than normal).
She baths without problems and you can hose off her face.
Loads into trailers (step up and ramps) and has trailered VERY well for 2-3 hours, both with another horse and alone (at the end of the trip).
She has excellent ground manners and rarely needs any reprimand, even when she's hyper and hasn't been out for a few days. Never used a chain or twitch on her, as have not needed to.
Stands very well for the farrier

FEED: She is currently fed 2 flakes grass in the morning and 3 flakes alfalfa in the evenings. She's been on oat hay and grass hay without problems as well.

STABLING: She is currently stalled (24 x 24 pipe pen) at the UCD Equestrian Center. Previously she's been on a dry lot pasture with her younger brother although she has been in a stall at times and adapts well. She has been in a pasture with up to three other horses, although all ones she grew up with.

As you can tell from here, Drakkara will come with a large number of photos as well as a bit of video from an hour after her birth through the present day. If any seriously interested buyers require a recent VIDEO of her at liberty, lunging and some riding, I can make one.

Also note: I own her 11 year old and 6 year old full siblings (boarded at same location if you want to meet them as well). The 11 year old gelding, Allagash, is the most like her, especially in movement, build and temperament. My 6 year old mare, Denali, is her full sister, although she is much more refined and less warmblood like than Drakkara. Denali is the subject of www.foalstory.com and many photos can be seen of her there.

PHOTOS!