H. Zsofia (1997 gray mare, 15-2 h, by H. Gyemant out of H. Monda; breeder: Cooksley Ranch)

            Zsofi is now a proven broodmare.  She is an experienced mountain trail horse, and has competed successfully at Training and First level dressage, schooling 2nd level.  She has been well started over fences.  She is sensible, sensitive, kind and cheerful.  $20,000

Zsofi’s history & detailed description:

            Zsofi was my first Hungarian horse, and she has been a joy from the time I picked her up as a yearling.  She had had only a little handling, but she walked right into my old two horse straight-load trailer, rode several hours, spent the night in a strange place, and climbed right back into the trailer next morning for the 12 hour trip home.  The farrier,, vet, and  equine dentist all love her.  When she was between 2 and 4 years old, she entertained herself by learning to open nearly any kind of gate latch, and untie or unbuckle ropes and halters.  (Oddly, she has mostly quit doing that now.)  She still trailers well, and she is good about having her legs & bridle path clipped.  I don’t believe in clipping out horse’s ears, so you would need to train her to accept that if you want them clipped.

            Thann Hanchett, who has over 50 years experience starting colts, promised me back when she was a yearling he would start her for me.  By the time she was three, he had been injured and decided to retire, but he agreed he would take Zsofi as his last youngster.  He had two telling comments about her:  “If they were all like this, I would keep breaking horses till I was 80,” and “This horse doesn’t have a belligerent bone in her body.”  That summer,  I started trail riding on her.  I did fall off her once – when another horse threatened to kick her, and she jumped out of the way.

            Zsofi went to her first dressage clinic in July of her four year old year.  I wasn’t sure she was going to be ready to show, but I gambled and sent in her entries for the Utah Dressage Society’s annual August show.  That was her first show experience, and I had no idea what to expect.  I was thrilled when she was attentive and obedient – and very surprised when she won all three classes (Training tests 2, 3 & 4), with scores over 65%, beating the horses who had been winning at previous shows that year, a couple of whom were pretty fancy warmbloods.

            Zsofi’s five year old year we did three shows, mostly at First level.  I probably should have kept her at Training that year, but she was in the ribbons and got some respectable scores at First level, from recognized judges (copies of her tests available if you are interested).  Over that winter and on through the next year, I had one of my most talented teen students start her over fences.  Zsofi loved it from the beginning, and proved clever and athletic.  She has had lots of experience over grids, mainly at about 2’6”, but has done occasional jumps at 3’ or a little higher.  She has done a few stadium-type courses, and been on a cross-country course twice.

Her six year old year I decided not to show.  I thought breeding would be complicated enough without trying to dodge show dates, and I was more interested in doing some clinics and improving than in going to shows.

            I now think of Zsofi as my “good old horse” – the one I can jump on and do anything with, and not worry about.  I would not claim she is totally bombproof, but she is not easily frightened, and if something does startle her, she gives a small shy, and then immediately settles back to work.  She doesn’t look for things to spook at.  Her gaits are pleasant and elastic, and she has a soft, responsive mouth.

 If I were showing this year, I think we could do pretty well at 2nd level.  Her walk is her best gait – she has gotten 8’s for her walk on a long rein, which is nice because of the double coefficient!  She stretches down well, and has leg-yield, shoulder-in, simple changes and counter-canter quite solid.  Renvers, half-pass and the flying changes are not confirmed yet, but she is working on them and starting to get them figured out.  Our greatest weakness at the moment is the medium trot – I haven’t been able to consistently get the lengthening without quickening.  I had the same problem with my last two horses, so I suspect it is mostly MY problem.

You should probably have any horse you consider buying vetted.  To the best of my knowledge, Zsofi is sound.  The only difficulty I have ever had with her is that she has sensitive soles on our rocky trails and gravel roads.  I have solved that problem by shoeing her with Ollov rubber-covered shoes, which have been great.

Conformation:

            Zsofi is very close to the cavalry type described in the breed standard for the early part of the 1900’s.  15-2 was regarded as the ideal size.  In good flesh, she probably weighs close to 1100 pounds.  She is deep-bodied, with clean, straight legs, adequate bone, and black, sturdy hooves (no problem with keeping shoes on).  Her head has a very slight dish, with a broad forehead and a soft eye.  She has an exceptionally lovely neck, in length, shape and the way it is set on – no dip in front of the withers.  She has good withers, fairly high, long and broad, and a good, well-sloped shoulder.  Her back is moderately short, and she has fairly good length in the hip.  I could wish she had a little broader coupling and hind end (that was what I looked for in a stallion when I bred her).  She has a small splint on one front leg that has never caused any problem, and has no significant scars or injuries.

            Her walk is excellent, with lots of overstep.  She has a good, rhythmic trot.  I was initially concerned about her canter, as she virtually never cantered till she was under saddle (she would go straight from a big trot to a gallop when playing in the pasture).  I have been pleased with how well the canter has trained (and now I see her cantering, and doing flying changes, in the pasture).  In dressage shows, under recognized judges, her gaits usually score 7’s or 6’s.

Who should think about buying this horse?

           Well, first off, if you are looking for a big fancy horse who will scare all the dressage queens in your region, look somewhere else.  But if you want a fun horse – one who will be consistent and sensible, and keep moving up based on her cheerful acceptance of correct training – take a second look.  For someone who wants to do a combination of trail riding (either competitive trail or just for fun), dressage and/or eventing, and would rather ride the equine equivalent of a Camaro than a limousine or SUV, Zsofi is ideal.  A C Pony Clubber looking to move up the ratings, and keep riding into their adult years, could have a blast with her.  I suspect if someone wanted to break her to drive, she’d also make a fun combined driving horse (I’ve driven her in long-lines, but she has never been hitched).

            If you are a total beginner, you should buy something even steadier, older and also less athletic to start on.