07/10/2025
We have a special horse available for adoption, who will need a special home.
Dutchess is a registered APHA mare who stands about 16-16.1hh. She is registered as "spotcleanedjeans" and is by the stallion "itsallinmyjeans". She is a 2018.
The Good:
Dutchess is a puppy dog personality, who loves to get up in your business, and nuzzle your pockets for cookies. She is easy to catch, lead, load, tie, and handle. Picks up feet very well. Single or cross ties. Does not pull back or get anxious tied up. Has hauled locally with no issues by herself and others, though does prefer to have a buddy in the trailer. Dutchess has been under saddle for about a year due to a late start in life (she was originally rescued by us as an untouched horse, then adopted, and now is available again). She stands well to mount, and goes walk/trot/canter. She will ride indoors or out and has some trail experience. Dutchess has gone to shows including high school equestrian team, hunter/jumper shows to 2'6'', and eventing derby at the beginner novice level. She is not spooky, and will cross water and has done obstacle clinics with ease. Dutchess shows a lot of promise for jumping and has jumped well over 3' successfully.
The Not So Good:
Dutchess is HOT under saddle. She does not bolt, or refuse to stop, but if you are trotting or cantering she often does not want to slow down (she will stop, but not slow easily within the gait). She could use a lot of slow, long and low work, dressage, hill work, etc to help her use her body better. She could be walked around by anyone, but to do trot/canter work she needs a more experienced rider. Not for younger kids. An older teen would be fine.
Dutchess is currently in shoes and pads to help her following some poor farriery. She came up lame after a trim in November and got some time off - when the time off did not improve things, xrays were taken and her feet are unremarkable besides some thin soles. Shoes and pads have helped a lot, and she looks sound most days, but sometimes seems to need to warm up first before looking 100%.
She has had most of the things checked (saddle fit, teeth, chiropractic, several farrier appointments, massage, etc) and all seems good. However, she does have days where she looks 95% sound and not 100%. We have asked two vets who both saw her on a "good" day and therefore thought I was a crazy person saying she has off days.
Anyway - she's been brought back into work, and this has improved her soundness. A dressage-based program for a few months, plus high-quality farrier work would likely return her to 100%, 100% of the time. However, this is my best guess and unfortunately, I can't see the future, and so anyone who adopts her needs to understand that she may have limitations in a soundness way we can't foresee (true for any horse, especially true for her). I could see her doing very well in a program and being an excellent eventer or jumper one day.
If you are interested in her, please check out our website or message for more info.
www.starryskiesequinerescueandsanctuary.com
