2023
Rocky caught my attention in an advertisement because he seemed like a very beautiful horse and yet was being offered at a very reasonable price. The ad also revealed the reason for this: The just-started 4-year-old seemed to cause quite a bit of trouble. He was extremely sensitive about his ears, making bridling an adventure. Additionally, he was described as sometimes being a difficult-to-control bundle of energy. Having learned from experience that the greatest treasures often hide in "problem horses," I arranged a trial ride. Rocky appeared very skeptical of me. While grooming him, he decided where I was allowed to touch him and where not. Next, I spent about fifteen minutes trying to bridle Rocky. This was difficult because you couldn't get near his ears, let alone touch them. But eventually, I was in the saddle with a firecracker under me. He was neither fearful nor particularly nervous. On the contrary, he systematically tested me for weaknesses. After all his attempts to rear, buck, or bolt failed, he at least tried to control the direction. In short: I wanted to go right; he wanted to go left. He was as stubborn as I was, so he eventually lost his balance, and we both gracefully went down. We both stood up quite composed, and I got back on. From that moment on, he seemed transformed. I had apparently passed his test and was now able to enjoy his cooperation instead of his resistance. I bought Rocky on November 4th, 2008
2023
Rocky is one of the smartest horses I know, and I'm very glad that he never uses his intelligence against humans. He always tries to please and is pleasantly calm and gentle. Together with his comfortable gaits, these traits make him a perfect schoolmaster for beginners or less experienced riders. He approaches this role with great joy and reliability. He is very careful not to lose anyone and naturally slows down if he senses his rider is afraid or loses balance. Rocky is a reliable and sure-footed horse for trail riding, and I believe he has a certain appreciation for beautiful landscapes, as during our 2020 Alpine crossing, I often saw him gazing dreamily into the distance. With his low-set neck and slightly sickle-hocked conformation, he has a build that is rather unfavorable for dressage. Nevertheless, he masters lateral movements in all gaits, larger pirouettes, as well as a small piaffe and passage. Unfortunately, Rocky has been struggling with spavin for several years now, so I currently don’t place heavy demands on him and only work with what he offers me willingly.