FOR SALE: "W.O. Tiara Twist", 1/2 Welsh, 1/2 Arabian 3 yo Palomino Pony Mare

Pedigree
BF Oliver Twist (Welsh sec A) X Jade Promenade (Arabian)

This is a journal/diary of Tiara Twist and her first year and a half of training - pre-school thru first grade per se. She was sent to Barnes Paddock in September of 2005 as an early 2 year old with minimal handling, from Winding Oaks Welsh in Florida. She was started with extensive ground training and eventually light and sensible lunging. She had a 2 month break over the winter of 2005, then started lightly under saddle in the spring of 2006 (as a late 2 year old). Video of her can be seen of the work she is currently doing. We will try to up date it every other month.

Video taken in July of 2006 after about 3 months of light under saddle work (3 days per week), and others taken in December 2006, then February 2007.

You will need the Flash 8 plug in for your browser to view this. Use the grey/triangle scroll arrows ( < left and right >) at the edge of the last viewable video buttons to view all the video buttons (currently there are 16). Click a button to load a video (in some cases you may have to press the PLAY button). Please see the text description under each video.

All trail work as an early 3 year old has been mostly at the walk with brief periods of trot and canter on open and flat footing with Kaye Barnes as the rider. She has been to; Raven Rock State Park, Walther Moss Foundation & Weymouth Woods (Southern Pines) Umstead State Park, Little River, Twin Oaks, and the Horse Park in Georgia. Her last ride out was to Double D in Louisberg with aprox 20 other horses/riders. She did some of the 'baby novice' cross country jumps. She got a bit excited hand galloping up and down rolling hills, but nothing too wild. :-)

She has had some arena work with cavaletti, small X jumps, and lunging a rider. See her videos for latest arena work. In the fall of 2006 she was on a 2 or 3 day work week. Going into winter 2006/2007 she is getting more arena work.

She is very experienced at loading, hauling and traveling. She cross ties and straight ties. She stands reasonably for the farrier but is just a tad 'suspicious' until a few minutes has passed. She will stand for hosing while tied but does dance around a bit. Easy to deworm, good for the vet for shots/coggins. Her ground manners are very good (does not crowd, get pushy, balk, graze, or nip).

Currently she lunges very well (including w/a rider), has experience in side reins, knows all verbal commands and will pick up the correct lead 9 times out of 10. Under saddle she is easy to convince to do downward transitions to 'lower' gaits but still has some balance issues (which, at this age, are normal). Tempo is not yet regular, but she does understand the concept of a 'working' pace and a slower more relaxed pace at walk, trot and canter. She understands the basic concept of a half halt but it is not yet confirmed. Steering aids are very simple/child like (not yet focusing a lot on lateral bending).

Tiara would probably be suit suited for a true intermediate level owner/handler. She is in no way mean or aggressive, but due to her timid disposition we feel she needs a calm yet firm 'leader' that is experienced enough to reinforce her training up until this point, and to continue her onward. Lesser experienced owners/handlers/riders should probably seek assistance with a trainer. She would not be suitable for a beginner/novice or small child at this point. Her gaits are reasonable to sit (not springy, bouncy or rough).