Susan and Miss Capri – Finding the Perfect Horse

Image from Shagya France

Before moving to Brooksville, FL and starting E.N.V.I., I taught and trained in Pinellas Park. Still new to the area, Mrs. Susan, now a beloved friend and client, decided to give me a try and hired me to find her “dream horse.”

Susan is an aspiring dressage rider who loves Arabians. She had very clear specifications. She wanted a calm, bay Arabian, who would be successful at dressage.

She also had personality specifications, as this would be her lifelong pet. What a challenge!

Not An Easy Task

We literally looked at hundreds of horses! Susan was very organized and helpful, and had computer folders full of horses she liked and wanted me to look at to see if they would work. Of course, one was an Arabian, but gray, and hot. One was a bay, and built great for dressage, but not an Arabian. She was willing to consider horses outside her specifications, however the look on her face told the story that she really wouldn’t be happy with anything less.

A majority of the horses, just wouldn’t work for her. Susan is also very petite, and would benifit from a wider backed horse to give her more of a base, and stability in the saddle. That posed another challenge.

A Lucky Find

Well, low and behold, along comes Capri. All the way in Missouri. There was a 14.1hh bay Arabian mare. Her conformation was PERFECT for dressage and the owner posted extensive video of the six weeks of ground work and basic start under saddle she had put on her so it could be seen that she wasn’t too hot. In fact, she is quite calm. That was all I needed.

My experience told me “buy her sight unseen!” As long as she passed the vet check, everything else could be worked out.

An Even Luckier Coincidence

Well, it just so happened, that Susan and her husband had planned a vacation at a horse ranch less than two hours from where Capri was, that next weekend. They went and visited her, and found that she was quite affectionate, giving Susan lots of hugs, and when spooked, she would stop dead in her tracks, as opposed to more dangerous explosive alternatives. They made their decision and shipped her to Pinellas Park!

After she arrived, it was also observered that she has a wide back. So wide in fact, Susan had to purchase a custom saddle. She was happy to do this, and having paid only 15% of her original purchasing budget for Capri, she had plenty of “extra” money to do so.

Susan and Miss Capri

What They Are Up To Now

Currently, Susan and her husband, and Ms. Capri are here in Brooksville. Susan and Capri have their very first show ever and together this upcoming weekend.

Their progress has been steady as they are both willing and skilled students. We anticipate much success!