Warrior - For lease/Sale
Kids safe, lesson horse, mountain trail horse, husband horse, & pack horse extraordinaire
Warrior is a 15-year old grade paint gelding that has been there, done that. He stands at 15.1hh and has been a trail horse almost all of his life. Warrior came to us in March of 2024 after sitting in a pasture for a little over a year. In his previous life he was a resort trail horse. He needed some TLC and some time off after we became aware of an old injury to his left front leg (likely the result of getting kicked by a previous pasture mate). After getting a clean bill of health from Bend Equine, he got a training tuneup and has been used consistently for trail riding, kids and adults horseback riding lessons, horse camping, ponying (& being ponied!) and even wears the pack saddle!
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Since Warrior has been here at GWC, it has been clear to me that he was given an incredible foundation by is previous owners. He loads & unloads from the trailer willingly and loves to hit the trail. Warrior is one of the most solid horses I have ever had the pleasure of riding. I have been consistently taking him anywhere from 5-16 mile trail rides since the end of May. He is more woah than go when heading out & typically is the most comfortable as the caboose (even though he will ride in any position, he just sets a pretty relaxed pace that most other horses aren’t used to!) On the way back he enjoys spending some time in the front, but easily rides in any position.
One of his biggest perks is that he does incredibly well with beginners on the trail — I put my sister & father on him (both beginner level riders) during our first camping trip as a family back in June! On one ride, my Dad fell while attempting to dismount, got his foot stuck in the stirrup, and Warrior didn’t move a muscle. He stood still until I was able to dismount from my horse and help get his foot unstuck. His biggest vice when I started working with him was water crossings—but we have worked on that consistently over the past 2-3 months and he is now crossing and drinking willingly as long as he knows he won’t be allowed to refuse. He is not bothered by bikers or hikers, crosses bridges, and jumps logs (though not very gracefully lol).
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Another thing to note is that since Warrior was a nose-to-tail trail horse for a large portion of his life, he tests every new rider that gets on his back to see what he can get away with. He is not just a point/shoot kind of horse at first, but with trust and consistency in his rider, he has become that for me! If he has a more confident rider that sets the expectations early on, you’ll rarely have any issues with him. On trail with beginners he will sometimes try to veer off to the nearest grass patch, see if he can slowly convince you to let him head back to the barn, or trot up to the horse in front of him if he is lagging behind.
He is ridden by kids regularly for lessons in the arena, but as soon as he gets on trail he will test to see if he can eat or go back to the barn. If you have a confident kiddo riding him with instruction, there’s usually no problem, but a more passive rider might get taken to the nearest patch of grass!! He walks, trots, and canters — but is pretty lazy and isn’t asked to canter very often. He is also currently being trained to use hobbles and I am working on opening/closing gates. He has also been horse camping multiple times with me this summer and (if he doesn’t sell) I have 2 more planned for this trail season.
He has never offered to kick, bite, buck, or rear while being ridden or handled on the ground, but does get pushy with other horses in a herd setting.
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At his most recent vet check, it was noted that Warrior has arthritis in his back left hock. He can be a bit stiffer during the winter months, but the vet recommended regular riding as the best way to manage the condition. I also give him a prescription of Equioxx before long rides or full days of lessons to help keep him comfortable.
Warrior has been seen by Bend Equine 2-3 times since March. He came to me with mild lameness that was found (after radiographs) to be the result of an bone fracture to his front left leg. After time off, an ultrasound, & more radiographs to ensure that it was fully healed and his suspensory ligament was not impacted, he has been sound and ridden per usual. My vet also acknowledged that he would likely benefit from some joint injections in his hind end at some point. He also is regularly seen by my equine chiropractor once a month.
It is important to note that he NEEDS to wear a long fly mask with a nose and have sunscreen applied to his face at least once a week during the summer, he gets sunburned easily and ideally should have shade in his stall/turnout/pasture. If he gets sunburned, he gets really fussy when touching his face/applying sunscreen/bridling. Any pre-vet checks are the financial responsibility of the potential owner, but are welcome and encouraged. I am also happy to share all of the current/past vet records that I have for him.
As a paint horse with white feet, he is happiest with a set of front shoes. I have yet to take them off, but would try likely more towards winter if he wasn’t too ouchy to still do lessons/minimal trail riding just to give his feet a break. He stands well for the farrier if the farrier has good horsemanship & is patient. After having his feet done, he can be a little tender for a couple days and not want to walk/ride on any rocks or gravel. This always goes away after a couple days in my experience.
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Warrior goes out well with other horses in the pasture, but is dominant and will push other more submissive horses off of food. He has been out with both geldings and mares, but can become possessive over the mares and pick on other geldings if out in a large group. He is a pretty easy keeper and will get plump on pasture grass. As far as herd dynamics on the trail, he is typically happiest as the caboose and doesn’t mind ponying horses that he is familiar with. He also squeals like a mare whenever he meets new horses.
See Warrior in Action
Rider desired: The perfect home for Warrior would be one where he’s used for what he does best—trail riding, packing, hiking, or as a safe, steady mount for a husband or kids. He’s a great lesson horse and would also be a solid choice for someone looking for a confidence-building horse. Warrior is not the fastest or most agile, so he may not be the best for high-speed disciplines like roping or barrels, but he could handle 4H or gymkhana as an introductory horse. He’s the perfect “go-to” horse for leisurely rides, making him ideal for a family or someone looking for a dependable companion. He handles new situations well, but my hope is that he goes to a home where he can just be appreciated for the reliable, kind horse he is, rather than focusing on training for something new.
Reason for Lease/Sale:
I never intended to sell Warrior—he’s been an incredible part of my program, and I truly enjoy riding him. He’s dependable and safe, and I’m confident putting anyone on his back, knowing he’ll look to me for support if needed. However, as I’m finishing up my graduate school program and balancing two part-time internships, I’m finding myself with limited time to ride more than a few horses and am not teaching lessons as of right now. I’m offering Warrior for lease (or potential sale), hoping to find him a great home where he can continue doing what he does best—trail riding and being the steady, confident horse he is. Whether leased or sold, I know he will bring joy, safety, and confidence to his next rider out on the trail. If he is leased, that does not mean a guaranteed opportunity for sale.
Lessons w/lease or sale: I include 4 free lessons with any lease/sale to ensure the best chance of success for a new horse/rider partnership. If sold, I am also open to boarding him on property if his new owner is willing to let me continue to use him for lessons.
For lease: $350/month (off-property) For Sale: $9,500
*Price always negotiable to the perfect home, I would love to have him back someday for my future Equine-assisted Counseling program and would be willing to sell him for less if the buyer is willing to agree to sell/donate him back to the program someday.