Meet AppleJack, the sweetest Quarter Pony gelding you’ll ever find. At seven years old, he’s got his whole life ahead of him, and at 13.3 hands, he’s the perfect size to teach your kids to ride, but big enough for the grownups to ride too. They don’t come any prettier than AppleJack; with his baby doll head, pretty round hip, silky white mane down to his chest, and a dappled palomino coat as golden as honey, he is sure to fulfill any kid’s dream. Regarding personality, AppleJack’s is far bigger than he is. He is smart, playful, and extremely friendly, like a giant puppy dog. He’s not just the first to greet you at the gate; he is the true pocket pony that will follow you around all day while you do your chores, just in case you have a spare moment for scratches. He LOVES children and actively seeks them out to be pampered and loved on. He’ll stand all day patiently while they groom him, even without a halter on, gently holding up his feet while they learn how to pick hooves. I’ve caught my daughter sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the ground, cradling his hoof in her lap while he carefully held it up so she could diligently pick away some tenacious mud. He wants nothing more than a little one to braid that mane and tail all afternoon while singing to him. We’re not a family that carries cookies, so he’s not mouthy or nippy at all like spoiled ponies can get. He is careful on the ground, so the kids can crawl under and over him and you don’t have to worry about where his feet are. At our house, he’s been exposed to trampolines, bikes, balls, dogs, goats, chickens, fireworks, loud music, birthday parties, balloons, tarps, and every sort of banner, streamer, glitter, or ruffles a kid (or pack of kids) could scrounge up to decorate a pony, and nothing fazes him. He even loves bath time and stands politely for the vet and farrier. He loads like a dream, and trailers and boards without any drama. Under saddle, AppleJack is the quietest, most reliable lead-line pony you could ever find, making him a big hit at a birthday party. You can plop a baby in the saddle and lead him past a bounce house, knowing he’ll take good care of his passenger. He also takes great care of his rider on a trail ride or if the kids want to cruise around the neighborhood. He’ll lead, follow, or ride in the middle of the group, through thick brush or across the water, impervious to a squirrelly kid that keeps dropping a rein or water bottle or wants to try riding backward. As long as he’s out with his friends, he’s a happy horse. In the interest of honesty, I have to disclose that he can get a little buddy sour if taken out alone by a little kid, but for an adult or more experienced kid, he’s fine going out alone. We don’t have cattle, but at the home that raised him, he was used by a kid working cattle, and I was told he’ll really track a cow. He’s not a finished arena horse, as he’s spent his whole life packing kids. He’ll walk/trot/lope, but he doesn’t necessarily collect or always pick the correct lead, and he’ll stray from the rail if you don’t hold him there. He neck reins and backs up but doesn’t yet know how to side pass or make fancy pivots. He’s really smart, willing to please, and eager to learn; he’s so young, he could easily be finished in the arena and made into a nice little Reiner or sweep the 4-H circuit. My littlest one has used him the last two summers in our local riding club shows, and she was the high-point winner in the leadline group last year! He loves spending the day at the show, palling around with his little girl and her friends, and displaying all his blue ribbons. AppleJack is up to date on vaccines and wormer. He had his teeth floated in April and will get a new set of shoes this week. We always keep him barefoot in the winter, but he does have a slightly softer hoof and has needed shoes if we’re going to hit rocky trails in the summer, or he’ll chip his toes. He might not have the straightest conformation in the back (he’s a little turned out at the hock), but he has a nice square stance, a broad chest, and has never taken a lame step. The only health concern we’ve had with AppleJack is that he tends to get “winter diarrhea.” The vet workup has been negative for any parasites or disease, and he’s never dropped weight, mounted a fever, or acted the slightest bit ill, but he does require a high-quality 2nd cutting grass hay to keep from having diarrhea during the cold months.
Don’t hesitate to email or call with questions about AppleJack or make an appointment to come out and try him. I know you’ll fall in love with this special little horse; we sure have!
