Berkley is a SUPER easy guy to have around. I sold him a little over 2 years ago, they planned on using him for trails and 4-H. Their teenage daughter lost interest so I purchased him back earlier this summer. Since coming back he has been leased by a 14 yr old girl. She has mostly ridden him English and out on the trails. I have also been using him for lessons for riders of various levels. He has great ground manners, good for the vet and farrier (currently wearing front shoes). He will stand tied all day, in cross ties or straight tied. He is easy to load, haul and unload. We have a lot of trails on property so don't haul off often but he has been to Volga twice in the last few weeks. He is easy to saddle and bridle. He has a big stride and likes to move out so isn't your typical trail plodder. He will ride in the middle or back of the group but he prefers to ride up front. He is not spooky in the slightest and if something does startle him he plants his feet. The only thing I would fault him for on the trails is that he doesn't love to stand still. The 14 yr old rider didn't have any trouble getting him to stand but a beginner rider might struggle a bit. He will cross anything in front of him. He will cross little streams or water up to his belly. I have also been using him for lessons for kids of all ages. He knows his leads and has a great canter. He has a big stride at the trot and has been great at teaching the kids to post! He will jump but doesn't love it and wasn't great at it. He is tolerant of the less experienced kids but does what he's told regardless of if that's what they actually wanted. Due to this I wouldn't recommend him for a complete beginner who isn't under the supervision of an instructor. Berkley has been turned out with mares and geldings. We've found that he gets a little defensive towards new horses when there are mares in the pen. So we keep him in a pen of geldings. He is middle of the pecking order. He is a little squealy with new horses over the fence but nothing nasty. Berkley is being listed for sale because I need to cover the costs of expanding our barn. We considered keeping him but he LOVES trails and we spend more time in the arena. I would like to find him a home that does more of what he loves to do. I think he would be happy to do something in the arena that was more than going in circles for lessons. Dressage, drill team, etc, He also seems like he would be good for endurance or competitive trails. Feel free to contact me for more pictures/videos. Negotiable to the perfect home.
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