05/03/2026
Rex 🦖
Sire purebred Shire
'Southwind iolaus'
Dam pinto Sporthorse
'Riverdance Mckenzie'
3.5yo Rex is… tall.
Really tall.
And he knows it.
Rex has a habit of invading space — leaning in, pushing through, and generally using his size to his advantage, especially when he finds himself in situations he’d rather not be in.
He’s not nasty. Not even close.
In fact, he actually tries hard to please.
He’s just a big, smart, sensitive horse who hasn’t quite figured out yet that size isn’t a negotiating tool.
He’s also a pretty cuddly guy, which creates a bit of a balancing act. He enjoys being close and getting scratches, but at the same time he can’t just crash into people whenever he feels like it.
It can be a hard call when you want to be close and cuddly with a horse like this, but then have to suddenly come in with 100% pressure to reclaim your space. Rather than constantly switching between those two extremes and confusing him, I prefer to put a clear “give me space” cue on horses like Rex.
That way he understands exactly when he’s invited in, and when he needs to stay out of the handler’s space.
The goal is to achieve this with as little pressure as possible — but it does require a good amount of awareness and presence from the handler.
Rex’s owner has asked for a light start 🪶 as he still has a lot of growing to do.
But at his size, there are things he needs to learn now before he becomes difficult — or unsafe — to handle.
He’s being developed with the expectation that he’ll eventually be a ridden horse for intermediate to advanced riders, capable of doing a bit of everything. That means he needs the tools to handle the world around him.
Upgrades (in order):
✅ Clear cues for space & boundaries
✅ Lower that high head carriage
✅ Saddling (easy does it ⏳ — he’s sensitive and reactive)
✅ Desensitised around ears, face & mouth
✅ Bridling
✅ Operating calmly and happily
✅ Backed and going under saddle
✅ Exposure to new environments
✅ Walk, trot, canter
✅ Beach or forest ride
✅ Turned back out to grow
Big horse.
Good brain.
Just needs the right tools and a clear set of rules.
Handled right now, he’ll grow into something pretty special. 🐎🔥
