Sophie comes from our good
friend, Gwen Moberly, of Flying Horse Ranch in Kentucky. Gwen knew
we were looking for large, big boned, natural gaited mares with
older bloodlines, so she reached out to us about Sophie. Sophie was
exactly what we were looking for. Her bone substance is superb.
She's built like the old-style walking horse. She has a big, well
sloped shoulder with great withers (actually, it reminded me of
Gambler's dam,
Image.) Her back is of
moderate length. The slope of her hip and depth of her loin are what
we love to see. She is also set well underneath herself behind with
just the right amount of angle to her back legs. Sophie gets her
tremendous size, bone and stoic disposition honest. She carries the
blood of Midnight
Sun, Shaker's Shocker,
Mack K's
Handshaker, Midnight Mack K and
Ebony
Masterpiece as well as the lesser known but equally
great Black Dust MR,
and Eb's
Frankley Mr Shankley.
Sophie had never been broke to
ride, but she has such a sweet, accepting disposition that at 19
years of age, Jarred decided to see how she would react to the
possibility of carrying a rider. We tacked her up and she stood
quietly, watching us with soft eyes. Jarred led her around with the
saddle and she couldn't have cared less. So I held her while Jarred
climbed aboard. Sophie didn't move. She turned her nose towards his
foot as if to say "what are you doing up there?" Jarred urged her
forward, but she didn't know quiet what to expect. I took the lead
rope and walked her around the ring less than a full lap when Jarred
said "let her go." I did. And she walked. I stood in the middle of
the ring and kissed to her to ask her to go. Jarred improvised and
made some funny noises to encourage her on from time to time and
bless her sweet, patient heart, she gamely tried everything that we
asked of her. She did not take a step out of line. This is EXACTLY
the kind of naturally willing, good minded disposition that we try
so hard to breed for. We are so thrilled with Sophie. What you see
here is no training, no muscle development, no experience
whatsoever...just Sophie.
Sophie was a healthy 24 year old, but unfortunately broke her leg in
a freak accident and had to be humanely euthanized. Otherwise she
would've likely lived many more years as her body and mind were in
excellent condition.
Sophie comes from our good
friend, Gwen Moberly, of Flying Horse Ranch in Kentucky. Gwen knew
we were looking for large, big boned, natural gaited mares with
older bloodlines, so she reached out to us about Sophie. Sophie was
exactly what we were looking for. Her bone substance is superb.
She's built like the old-style walking horse. She has a big, well
sloped shoulder with great withers (actually, it reminded me of
