Cookie
Appaloosa gelding. Moonblind but VERY CALM and ridable.
Can be ridden out in open fields, arenas, etc. When we found this horse he was sold to us as sighted and had responded to round-pen techniques out in the open pasture where he was frightened of the rest of the "horse-trader"s herd. We knew that he must have some sight problems and that the man who sold him to us was not being up-front with us. He had used him on mountain trail rides and such for hunting. When Ann rode this horse to try him out, he did WONDERFULLY even with a stable-dog running up under him and snapping at his chin. When we got him home (to our old home) it was fall, there were drifts of leaves and they were blowing all around. Ann rode Cookie straight off and he showed no fear. We had other horses in a paddock by the barn and they came running pell-mel toward the new horse. While we know that Cookie heard them, we also know that he barely flicked an ear to them, not even knowing that he was seperated from them by a paddock fence. Cookie simply trusts his rider. This gelding would be ideal for arena type riding, dressage, reining, anything where he can place his trust in the guidance of his rider and be safe. He currently runs with G.B. at Abraxas Baroque and has NO TROUBLE getting around. Cookie uses caution and will listen to a guide if you act as one. I have found that tapping the sides, top, and bottom of a doorway with a dressage whip tells him exactly how to get through an opening. If not given a guide, he will feel his way through the situation slowly and carefully.
NO VICES. Cookie DOES tend to jigg a little when a rider mounts (courtesy of the horse-trader we bought him from) but we feel he will QUICKLY get over this habit once he has a rider he can trust and whom he recognizes will not run him off cliffs or anything like that.
Cookie would also be suitable for lead-line, companion animal, or a lesson horse. Cookie has helped introduce several people to horsemanship, especially ground and barn training. Cookie is great for teaching new-comers to the horse world because he is honest about what makes him nervouse, but he does not over-react, allowing the Instructor to point out to the student what makes most horses uncomfortable, and what, as a good horse-keeper, they should do to correct these situations.
Cookie is currently serving as a lesson horse at Abraxas Baroque, but if you are interested in giving this gelding a wonderful permanent home please contact us as Abraxas Baroque has limited space at this time. Cookie is very special and people tend to fall in love with him quickly, we want what is absolutely best for this horse, as we want for all our horses, and are open to the idea of placing Cookie in a forever home where he need not dodge grumpy brood mares.
Cookie has not only been trained, long before he reached our hands, he was also LOVED. We've fantasized many times about finding his original owner, or whoever it was who taught this horse what it is to be loved and not just trained.
He came by the name Cookie because when we first acquired him he refused to eat for days. Only when we took him out of his stall and hand-fed him horse treats (horse formulated cookies) did he consent to eat.
This is a very special horse who has many years left. He is not "Spooky" as most people believe blind horses to be, he would be a great, calm, horse for lead-line, or any discipline once he knows he can have confidence in his rider.
We offer Cookie for lease because we feel we cannot do him justice. He still has many years ahead of him in which he could be doing so much. We do not have him at the Emerald Dreams Farm due to our large herd and a desire to make sure none of our active, playful, mares accidently push him off the side of the hill!
