Post by Syzygy on May 25, 2014 7:23:23 GMT -8
REDWING
The Basics
Show Name: Redwing
Barn Name: Cocoa
Age: 12
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Paint
Breed Registry: American Paint Horse Association
The Appearance
Coat Color: Red and White
Stable Color: Black
Height: 15-3 hands
The Personality
Personality: The sweetheart of all horses, Cocoa hasn’t a mean bone in his body. He loves attention from anyone and follows Hiro around like a puppy begging for attention. In the pasture he may seem a bit wild, what with running, bucking, kicking out and rearing in play and fun, but undersaddle he’s never attempted to act a fool.
Even though he was kept a stallion until he was eight years old and bred on a regular basis, after being gelded Cocoa retained none of his stallion-tendencies. Extensive professional training as a youngster and proper handling ensured that he be calm, well-mannered and polite at all times.
As a riding horse, he loves to go and can be explosive when asked to run, as powerful as he is. He’s typically easy to slow back down, though. Cocoa is truly the puppydog of horses.
Caution Around: He will literally freak out if he sees an Alpaca.
The History
Basic History: Used as a breeding stallion for the first portion of his life, Cocoa lived a life of luxury in a heated/air-conditioned barn with a large stall and adjoining paddock. He was loved, babied and spoiled with many treats, grooming sessions and kind words, though he was never allowed to develop an attitude.
Gelded at eight years old, Cocoa was put up for sale for quite the expensive price. He was never sold, though, and instead his sale ad was taken down after he came in with a pretty severe injury to his leg and hoof. Thought he’d never be usable again as a riding horse, Cocoa was treated by the best vet in the county and put out to pasture for the next year once healed.
When he was ten he was brought in on a whim and saddled. Turning out to ride as well as he used to (provided he wore shoes with pads on front) with no lameness or issues other than a nasty scar going from right below the knee all the way down into the hoof, he was put back into riding-work and after a few months put up for sale once more.
Already being the farrier for the stallion-turned-gelding, Hiro knew of the leg and hoof injury Cocoa had had and knew of the specialized trim he now had to have and the fact that he required shoes and pads on front to stay sound. During a routine trim and shoeing, he mentioned to Cocoa’s owner that he’d take him off their hands if they so wanted, as not many people were interested in a horse who was almost lame barefoot, yet perfectly sound with shoes. At first, they refused, wanting to get a price for him, but a month later Cocoa was sitting in the pasture at Hiro’s house.
The Technicalities
Discipline: Western all-around, English all-around
Owner: Hiroshi Hamasaki
Rider: Hiroshi Hamasaki (and/or his daughters)