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For the up and coming professional or highly experienced amateur in training with a professional that is looking to develop a horse to the highest levels of the sport. Maverick is stunning in both looks and talent. The pictures are pretty but in real life he has that something extra. Two high level professionals in the sport have said he has the potential to be "top talent." This is a rare opportunity to own such a prospect at the perfect age that has been started correctly and given time to develop. It's a chance to bring him up the levels your way without having to start from the beginning and guess what he might be like.

The best person for him is someone that likes BIG energy, is patient, doesn't get flustered, understands back to front riding, and is a calm and confident leader. Mav worries about new things he hasn't seen/experienced and needs time to process. He is super trainable and smart and if not pressured, learns really fast. He's the kind of horse that wants to give you the level 10 trot even if you only want the boring pony trot. In a clinic with top professional David Wightman, his guidance was to work on boring (i.e. long and low) because the big stuff will likely be easy for him once he is consistently working through the back. You can see that work paying off in the video.

As far as potential, the canter has a huge jump already (and he's just getting started). As he develops self carriage, strength and push, the canter in my opinion will give the big boys a run for their money. It's easy to imagine an incredible pirouette. His compact frame means changes one day will likely be balanced and pretty. His ground cover and suspension make him beautiful to watch. Several dressage judges that are friends have used the phrase "stunning."

As tempting as it has been to develop some piaffe / passage I haven't done it. The talent is clearly there and in the future I think he'll do both with ease. His work ethic is unbelievable - he's always willing to keep going and give you more and more and more. He's the kind of horse you have to tell "we're done buddy" because he'll just keep going. I've joked that he could easily be an endurance horse. Aside from that, I've never ridden a horse that just wants to give you everything all the time. It's the coolest feeling and I love riding him. Along with the incredible work ethic comes the responsibility of managing really high energy and explaining to him that he has to wait and stay with you. He's not always happy when he's not allowed to "go big" and can get tense as he tries to offer it anyway. Rather than punish (which I suspect would end badly) I instead correct by asking for a leg yield. He likes to be asked challenging questions and I've found that lateral work sufficiently gives him something to think about while helping him release tension. Recently I've been working on extended walk and he finds this work relaxing as well. These exercises also help him deal with riding with other horses. He can be horse shy and insecure about horses coming up behind him, he wants to run away or considers leaping and broncing (usually avoided but possible) when this happens. He has made great improvements in this area but this is something he needs more work on - he's certainly willing and we continue to stack up as many good experiences as possible in a public stable situation. On the flip side, he's comfortable in situations other horses can be nervous about. For example I've ridden him alone at night when it's cold and dark with cars whizzing by on the road next to the arena. He gets that he's safe and isn't fazed by it. Generally speaking he's not a "random" spooker - once he understands something he's fine with it - but he can be very worried about things he hasn't been exposed to. This requires human intelligence and the ability to set him up for success. If you've heard of the "TRT method" which is a training method that helps the horse manage himself, it's something that has been incredibly impactful for this sensitive boy. If Social Media is your thing he'd make an incredible "Makeover" story to follow.

In summary this is a horse that will need time to develop and is for someone looking for a horse with the potential to be exceptional at the top of the sport. His raw physical talent, ability to both sit and push, and a desire to work hard makes him worth the time investment. His highly reduced price reflects the time and patience he'll need to get there. My hope is that he'll go to a talented and aspiring professional that needs a top prospect but doesn't have a six figure budget (which would be his price if he were an easy amateur horse). Please no inexperienced amateurs or strong energy humans that demand submission from horses. It just won't work.

When I bought him in 2021 he passed the vet check including neck and back x-rays. He was not only passed by the local vet, but also by Dr. Paul McClellan who reviewed all reports and x-rays. Dr. McClellan was the U.S. Dressage Team Olympic vet in Tokyo. I have had very few issues with Maverick over the past few years, even the chiropractor Dr. Quay (works on many upper level horses) refuses to charge me as he says "he doesn't need any adjustment." I call him my "War Horse."

Fun fact - Maverick is exceptionally well bred and was in the process of stallion approval with a top Dutch breeder when I bought him. (Fortunately he was not bred and has lived next to mares without issue). He's related to the dam of former Olympic dressage sensation Verdades, both being line bred to one of the most important and successful horses in recent Dutch Harness history, Renovo.

For additional information please text (619) 888-2211. Located in Southern California.

**** UPDATE
High point winner at his second schooling show with a 75% in Intro B and 67.8% in Training Level Test 1!! See more videos, including highlights from the show and some recent schooling, on his Instagram page @maverickhearthorse