FLASH
Foaled: 1999
14.1 hands, palomino paint/Appaloosa cross
kids’ trail horse, 4H horse, western pleasure horse
PRICE: $5,000
If you’re looking for an extremely well-broke horse for a talented smaller rider, buy Flash. But you might have to fight my son, Jake, for him!
Flash is as nice as you’ll find, a horse with a “handle” on him! (In cowboy talk, that means he’s VERY well trained.) This is a horse that will do flying lead changes, rollbacks, spins, and side passes. He’s extremely responsive and dynamic, and has a lot of speed as well. Flash is a kick to ride, and he’s great to be around—easy to catch, great ground manners, likes people, and an all-around gentleman.
Though any beginner can ride him, Flash will do best with a good rider who can showcase his considerable talents. Do you have an extremely talented young rider in your family? This is the horse. Are you a smaller person with a lot of horse experience? This is your horse. Flash can be used as an English horse, and has been in Pony Club, but he’s broke so well as a Western horse that it would be a shame to switch him over to English. He necks reins beautifully and takes almost imperceptible cues. He stops on a dime. We think he’d be a terrific 4H horse.
Flash is a smaller horse that’s easy for a short or small person to mount and dismount. I weigh 170 and rode him to the top of Elk Mountain, and he charged up the hill, but I wouldn’t put a heavier rider than that on him. He has good feet and an excellent conformation. He does have one bump on the tendon on his right front leg, but the vet checked it out and pronounced him sound. It has given him no problems while we rode him in the mountains over very difficult terrain.