Post by Syzygy on May 25, 2014 7:26:39 GMT -8
HUCKLEBERRY
The Basics
Show Name: Huckleberry
Barn Name: Finnegan / Finn
Age: 29
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Quarterhorse
Breed Registry: AQHA
The Appearance
Coat Color: Liver chestnut
Stable Color: Green
Height: 14-2 hands tall
The Personality
Personality: Finnegan is a push-button, been-there, done-that senior schoolmaster. Not saying he doesn’t still have his moments where he thinks he’s a youngster, but the grey around his muzzle and mane and the wisdom in his eyes reveal his age. He’s a good trainee horse who enjoys a slow ride, though if asked he still has some get-up and go in his bones.
Easy to catch and easy to handle, Finnegan has done it all in his youth, from roping to showjumping. This gelding is just easygoing and is rather much like a point-and-shoot camera… you point and he goes. He’s an excellent first horse for a rider who is new to horses.
Caution Around: He doesn’t like plastic bags or walking over tarps (though he will go over a tarp if he’s made to).
The History
Basic History: Finnegan’s life has been full, with never a dull moment. From the time he was a youngster until he was sold as a ten year old, he was a ranch horse. His days were spent saddled and tied to a hitching post for hours before being taken out and worked equally long, yet much harder hours rounding up cattle, roping them and dragging them to the fire pit to be branded and then being trailered to local rodeo’s during the weekend to compete in calf roping, barrel racing and whatever else his owners teenage son and younger daughter wanted to do.
When he was sold at the age of ten, after a tendon injury to his lower leg (which healed up nicely and gives him no trouble), he went to a girl who saw the potential in him to be a low-level jumper and dressage horse. Having an agreeable personality, Finnegan took to English riding well and spent his next several years as an English horse until the girl outgrew him and donated him to her riding stable to be a lesson horse.
As a lesson horse, Finnegan served as the first horse for beginner riders, both western and English, and was also the horse people were put on after falling in order to get their confidence back. He served as a lesson horse for several years, from the time he was seventeen until Hiroshi bought him.
Looking for a small beginner horse for his adopted daughter, Hiro knew upon seeing Finn that he was the horse they needed. After negotiating a price (2200 dollars), Finnegan left the stable to go home with the Hamasaki family.
The Technicalities
Discipline: Western all-around, English all-around
Owner: Akiko Minami-Hamasaki
Rider: Akiko Minami-Hamasaki