Rocco is a very handsome 2018 bay 16.2 1/2hh Friesian X gelding, registered with the FSHR. He is 25% Friesian and 75% Morgan. He is a lifetime member of both USEF and USDF.
He was bought by a young eventer, unbroken, directly from his breeder in February 2023 and was only broken in at that time, so very low mileage. I purchased him in July 2023 as a very green broke potential event or dressage horse with a view to training him up and riding him as a project, whilst my mare was in foal. He has been in training with a professional GP rider and myself since July last year and has progressed to a fully established First Level dressage horse and currently training at second level at home. He earned 71.7% at Training level at his first ever schooling show earlier this year and recently scored 62.7% and 64.7% at a recognized show at his very first try at First level at a big CDI competition with a big atmosphere and tough judges! He received very complimentary remarks and shows obvious talent for much higher scores and potential for the higher levels with further training and more exposure - this was only his 2nd outing ever away from home.
He is very quick to learn, intelligent, very loving, comes when called and is eager to please, however he is not a beginner or novice riders horse as he is a lot of horse to 'hold together' as he moves more like a big warmblood. He is perfectly well behaved in our indoor arena and outdoor jump and dressage arenas (I have given lessons on him to juniors and to amateur ladies), but he is young and can be 'looky' at times and therefore I feel would require either a confident, experienced amateur rider or a professional to continue his training and really bring out the best in him. He has been ridden over trot poles regularly in the past 10 months and very recently was reintroduced to jumping. He really excelled in that he jumped everything he was aimed at and seemed to enjoy it (the video shows him being jumped by one of my amateur petite clients for the very first time in 10 months). He would obviously need further jump training, but seems willing and enthusiastic and I would imagine he could end up being either a very good event horse or a top level dressage horse. He has 3 good paces, good correct walk with a big overtrack, a rhymical trot with nice shoulder action and a nice balanced uphill canter. He is currently ridden in a snaffle and has a good ever improving steady connection. He is forward thinking (no spurs or whip necessary), he is naturally built uphill and has good self-carriage. He lunges and pessoas very obediently in our round pen. He has extremely good ground manners, is turned out with a mare (and previously turned out in a herd) and really likes people and enjoys being handled, groomed and being given attention. He is shod in the front and bare foot in the hinds and stands well for the farrier and vet. He loads into my trailer easily by himself or with others and has no issues with clipping, he has a full clip and I regularly clip his legs. He has no vices, is an easy doer (lives on a handful of enrich and hay), has never been lame in the time I have had him or with his previous owner and is super easy to handle. He arrived in Texas during the heatwave last year and handled it very well. He is worked 5 times a week, goes on our horsewalker, is turned out all day and is fit and ready to compete. He is current on coggins, all vaccinations and dentistry and is microchipped. I have tried to give as much information as I can and be totally honest with full transparency and as such, full access to my vet's records is available.
My mare's foal is being weaned this summer, at which time my mare will be started back in work. I am very sad to have to sell this really nice horse and really wish I could keep him, but I just do not have the time to ride 2 horses or the finances to keep 3. I have lowered his sales price from $25k to $15k for a quick uncomplicated sale and due to the fact that I need his stall by the end of July! The correct home that will not waste his talents is priority for this really sweet, nice, personable young horse who just wants to please. He really could go in any direction you choose.
Contact me (via email preferably) for more information or to come and try him. Located west of Houston, TX
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8jaSpnjILsNf3P_w61ExGRl6-6IeWrxi
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 832 348 3999 (after 7pm)