"Derrick" Chestnut Gelding All Rounder

15hh Welsh Section D Gelding | 19 years | High Hurstwood/Buxted, East Sussex

It breaks my heart to write this advert, but after 13 wonderful years together, the time has come to find Derrick the home he truly deserves.

I bought Derrick in March 2013, and he has been my best friend ever since. Together we've experienced so much - British Eventing, four Pony Club camps away from home, four years at Hartpury University, British Showjumping up to 100cm, hunting, pleasure riding and, ultimately, discovering the discipline he was born for... dressage.

Derrick absolutely comes alive between the white boards. He loves to perform, has incredible presence in the arena and three consistently correct paces with established collected, working and extended work.

He is confidently established in:

Shoulder-in

Half pass

Travers

Renvers

Walk pirouettes

Leg yield

Extensions

He has the trainability and temperament to continue progressing through the levels.

British Dressage record:

12 Novice points

139 Elementary points

32 Medium points

Highlights include:

🥉 3rd - British Dressage Welsh Championships (Elementary Bronze)

🥉 3rd - British Dressage Winter Championships/Festival (Elementary Bronze)

He schools happily in a Comfort Myler snaffle but is also established in a double bridle.

Temperament:

This is where Derrick truly shines.

He hacks alone and in company and has often been the horse trusted to escort young or nervous horses out hacking.

He is:

Excellent to clip

Excellent for the farrier

Excellent for the dentist (no sedation required)

Easy to handle on the ground

Kind, genuine and honest

He may occasionally have a look or a snort at something, but he has never had a nasty bone in his body. He is the definition of a kind horse.

Home:

I am looking for a knowledgeable, loving forever home.

Although Derrick has previously evented and showjumped, I am looking for a dressage or hacking home only. While he still enjoys popping the occasional small fence, I believe he deserves to spend the rest of his career doing what he genuinely loves.

He would suit someone wanting an experienced schoolmaster to learn from, or a lightweight rider looking to bring an experienced horse back into work and enjoy producing him again. Although currently a blank canvas from a fitness perspective, he has all the education and knowledge there waiting to be unlocked.

He comes with:

Double bridle

Rugs

Selection of numnahs and bits

(No saddle or other tack included.)

Health:

In April 2025, Derrick was turned away in a field as he had unfortunately suffered a freak field accident which resulted in a small tendon injury to a front leg.

The veterinary advice was 6–8 weeks of box rest followed by a slow, controlled return to work. However, knowing that I couldn't commit the time needed to manage his rehabilitation properly, I made the difficult decision to turn him away for a longer period instead, allowing him the best opportunity to recover naturally.

The vets were happy with his progress and advised that he could gradually return to work after 4–6 months of turnout.

Sixteen months later, Derrick has been consistently trotting up completely sound for over a year. Unfortunately, due to my own circumstances, I have still been unable to bring him back into work, and I have now made the heartbreaking decision to let someone else give him the future he deserves.

He is therefore sold as seen. He is welcome to any vetting, but as he currently has no fitness and I have since sold all of my tack, he cannot be test ridden.

I have extensive videos and photographs of him competing and training before his injury, which I am very happy to send to genuinely interested buyers.

His price reflects both his extensive education, competition record and quality, whilst also taking into account that he has been out of work for over a year.

If you would like videos of his tests, schooling or further photographs, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

📍 High Hurstwood/Buxted, East Sussex

📅 Viewings:

Weekends

Early Monday mornings

Friday evenings

✅ Open to vettings

☎️ - Click here to reveal phone number - 📧 - Click to contact -

Please, no time wasters.

This has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make and there have been many tears along the way. My only priority is finding Derrick the perfect forever home where he can make someone else as happy as he has made me over the past 13 years.