Just because Connor and I are exploring sports other than Dressage and eventing doesn't mean I don't have big plans and dreams for those sports in my head. For this reason:
All photos from his lessee |
There was a time when I wasn't sure Disco was growing up into what I want, and I wasn't sure if I was going to sell him to his lessee or not. But as he's grown up, his most concerning conformation faults have softened significantly, and some time spent with Encore have convinced me that yes, I am keeping Disco.
Owning a baby for the first time is hard. I never know what is going to stick around permanently and what is "just a phase", both from a temperament and a conformation perspective. But finally I can say, at the age of 2 years and 6 months, that this is a horse I can see going far in something with.
A little "growthy" here, which is why she has chosen not to show him at the Canadian Royal Winter Fair this year. Thankfully he is doing most of his growing out and not up these days. |
Is he a warmblood-style 10 mover destined for the Olympics? Of course not, but I can take this kind of movement pretty far:
And this is still an awkward two year old! Can't wait to see what he looks like in four years. |
He has a lot more foreleg reach than Connor and knows how to sit and push from behind - especially in the canter, which I have no good media of but have seen glimpses of from behind his broodmare harem while cantering together.
Praise be, the potato might eventually sprout a wither. |
Disco also has retained his incredible brain. His lessee can't gush enough to me about how easy he is to handle, even when she's taken him to a show or during breeding season. She's sent me videos of a ten year old boy trotting him in hand, of her one year old sitting in a stroller next to him while he hand grazes with mares in their field behind him, of him being ponied off a gelding in a rope halter, of him being bellied off the mounting block and of wearing a harness for the first time.
Best of all, in every photo and video she's ever sent me, I've never seen a single image of him with a worried look in his eye. The world is a wonderful and interesting and not threatening place to Disco, and I'm so here for that attitude.
So, it will be another year before I see him again (assuming he shows at the 2024 Royal, I'm planning on making the trip) and another eighteen months before he's back in the States, and possibly even longer before he's back in my barn because I plan on sending him out for training immediately when he returns, but the wait is worth it. This is my horse for the future.
He's incredible! Can't wait to see what adventures you two get up to.
ReplyDeleteHe's looking so handsome! It's always a gamble with the babies but I'm glad he appears to fit your expectations and it's so cool that you were able to lease him for a while!
ReplyDeleteI love that last picture of him, he looks so confident and curious.
ReplyDeleteHe is such a hunk! And look at that reach in the shoulder! :) I'm glad to see your path with Disco is getting clearer. (and OMG - how cool to have him show at the Royal!)
ReplyDeleteoh wow! He looks so grown up!
ReplyDeleteAs owner of a perpetually worried horse, this is my favorite part of this entire post:
"I've never seen a single image of him with a worried look in his eye. The world is a wonderful and interesting and not threatening place to Disco"
Very excited to follow your journey together in the future!
Food for thought: My aunt has a prominent scar on her face from a stallion that bit her unexpectedly when she was nine. Please consider asking your lessee to keep more distance between your young stallion and her children. Accidents can happen very quickly and can be much worse than a lifelong scar. As a mother of three and horse lover through and through, I implore you to not allow the future of the kids and your young prospect to be so jeopardized.
ReplyDeleteOooh does this mean there are Disco babies coming soon? He looks incredible <3
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