"Waffle" Black Gelding Happy Hacker

Waffle is a much-loved, brave and inquisitive 6-year-old cob, standing at approximately 14.3hh. I have owned him since he was two and am still in touch with his previous owner, so I know him well and know his history.

He was professionally backed two years ago, and since then I have taken a slower, relationship-led approach to his education, doing lots of groundwork, positive reinforcement training, some liberty work and some hacking, though due to lack of time he has been in inconsistent ridden work. He has been ridden both bitless and also worked in a bitted bridle. He has mainly done hacking and liberty with me but enjoys new challenges and will excel in whatever area he is educated.

Waffle is a real character and bonds well to his human. He can be incredibly engaging and affectionate with a playful personality that is impossible not to fall in love with. He is a genuinely brave and curious horse who enjoys learning and investigating new things. He always greets you at the gate and will follow you around the field like a puppy.

Waffle was given the winter off, and I began bringing him gently back into work in the spring. He has been ridden in recent weeks, progressing nicely and hacking out alone. However I am a novice and my riding and horsemanship skills are not good enough to further the education of a young horse with personality. Waffle has on two occasions put in a buck and unseated me, I feel both occasions would have been easily handled by someone with experience and more than novice riding skill and would not have happened if he were in regular work. As I am a novice I have lost confidence in riding him and he has not been ridden now for a number of weeks, and as such is sold from the field, although I continue to do groundwork and liberty with him regularly.

Waffle is generally a very submissive and easy going character and any ‘native’ moments he has would be easily managed by anyone with experience. Waffle has the makings of a really lovely happy hacker and it is heartbreaking to be considering letting him go but I recognise he needs someone with more skill and experience than I have to take him further. He is lovely and polite to handle on the ground, he is barefoot with good feet and good for the farrier, he is very soft and listens to his handlers body language on the ground and is a very quick learner. He has been brought on without rushing him, with an emphasis on building confidence, communication and a willingness to learn.

He is still a young, green horse and so would benefit from an experienced, confident owner who can continue to help him grow into the wonderful horse I believe he can become. Finding the right home is far more important to me than finding the quickest sale. I would much rather take my time and find Waffle’s person than see him passed from home to home.

He has been hugely loved since the day I bought him and I want his next home to be somewhere where he will continue to be valued. I am looking for someone who will see Waffle for the wonderfully quirky, clever, brave young horse that he is, and who will enjoy helping him become everything he has the potential to be.

Experienced home sought. No dealers, please.

Located in Herefordshire.

Genuine enquiries welcome.