Lovers Quarrel Loves Peppermints, Jumping and His New Career and Home!

Lovers Quarrel is already in training for his new career as a sport horse. He loves to jump.

Just a note to tell you how much we love this new boy – he constantly amazes us with how level headed and sweet he is. Took him out today to the ring and he surprised me that he knew how to longe already! After a bit of W/T/C each direction I then proceeded to see how brave he was and led him over some poles on the gound between standards. He didn’t even look down as he stepped over them. I then led him at a trot over the green roll top grass (we have it on a pole where you can roll it up or let it out and drape it over a fence. He just trotted beside me, cocked his head and then jumped it! Couldn’t believe it! No snorts, stops, bug eyes or anything – he was like “well, it you lead, I’ll follow!” I then proceeded to hand jump him over a few other things ending with longing him over a pole with a barrel underneath it. He just paused the first time then jumped. Seems to love it and have fun with it. He is so smart and level headed – I just love his brain and how he thinks! I then led him up the small bank jump and then back down it before heading back to the barn for more grooming and peppermints (doesn’t like the horse cookies or the lik-it stall toy I got him, but LOVES the soft puff peppermints!)

Click on the image to see more photos of Lovers Quarrel in his Photo Gallery.

A few hours later I couldn’t stand it and just had to sit on him. Tacked him up and got another dose of his personality. As soon as you start tacking him up, he starts playing. Nibbles here, nibbles there, had the reins then the noseband and everything else in his mouth before I could get the bit in his mouth. He’s not bad nor is he being onery… he’s just a playful, intelligent 4 yr old. but took the bit out of my hand – easy to bridle! Off to the ring – Bobbie said she had taught him to stand still to be mounted – thank heavens – he’s the biggest thing I’ve gotten on in a long time! We walked, we trotted, we even cantered! Easy on the reins – good with the voice cues – SO WILLING and pleasant to work with. We even trotted over poles on the gound. After a few times he started pulling me towards the “fences”. We’d be trotting on the rail and he’d pull off the rail going towards the “jump”. Just love him! At the very end I tried a turn-on-the-forehand and he did it quite well! So easy off the leg.

I cannot tell you how much we love this new “tall boy” in the barn. No one realizes how big he is until you get up beside him because he’s so balanced. My mother who has only in the past loved the fat lesson ponies, she adores him too and says he’s special and will be fabulous. After we untacked I turned him out in the front four acre pasture for a while – he promptly trotted around the perimeter coming to a small stack of rail road ties that we have stored and instead of going around them – JUMPED THEM!! all on his own like it was no big deal – then came back to me for a peppermint before going to graze. He just blows me away.

Thanks again for everything – Bits & Bytes Farm has another fan for life. Will keep you updated on his progress. Enclosed are some pics from his first ride here at Canterway Farm.

Best wishes and blessings
~Lara Borson