Lot # : 38 - (VIC) SOPHIE - PERCHERON X GYPSY COB MARE

*AS PROVIDED BY VENDOR * NAME: Sophie BREED: Percheron x Gypsy Cob SEX: Mare HEIGHT:15.1 hh(Not measured) AGE: 15 Sophie was a carriage horse in Melbourne who lost her job due to covid and the banning of carriages in the CBD. I bought Sophie in January. Her sale advert said: Ride and drive single and double harness. Been used to teach students how to drive children and novices under supervision. Been driven amongst traffic trams cars buses etc. been in parades good with crowds weddings and Debs good to catch shoe and float very reluctant sale. When she arrived she was very skinny and had ulcers. Her feet were overgrown with under run heels. She had seedy toe in both front feet and thrush in all four. She'd definitely been doing it tough for some time. Along with improving her nutrition, she's been wormed several times, vaccinated, treated for ulcers, and given a course of pentosan. I gave her the pentosan just because I think all horses should have a course especially when they have a working history like Sophie has. Her teeth have been done. She had a wolf tooth on the upper off side which has been removed. Her feet have responded well to good trimming, her farrier says she now has great feet and her overall health is good. When she was physically ready to start doing a bit of work, I had a physio check her over and his only finding was she's a bit stiffer on the right but he said it was no more than many horses and he felt stretching and exercise would be enough to improve it and I think she's pretty good now. Her advert said broken to ride and drive however, while she may have had people sit on her, she wasn't broken to saddle and didn't understand legs or seat. This was disappointing as I'd hoped to use her to pony young ones off. She's now been started under saddle and can walk, trot and canter on both leads. The first ride, she had a small pigroot in her first transition to trot but she didn't tense up or go on with it. It also took her two weeks to feel confident enough to try canter but once she had a go and realised that she wasn't going to fall over, she was fine. Sophie isn't very forward, she would prefer to stand around looking decorative rather than work up a sweat but she is obedient and will do what is asked of her, she might need to be asked a few times though. I do think her forwardness would be improved with more time under saddle. She's also not a fan of the arena and prefers to be out and about seeing the world so I think she would like a trail riding home. Currently she is green and I would not recommend her for a beginner rider but I think she does have the right basic temperament and probably could be with more work, but for now she needs a balanced rider with an independent seat who can continue to build her confidence with her new job. I don't drive carriages so I can't give an opinion on what she's like in harness but her work history and the photos will hopefully give some idea about that. Sophie stands still to be mounted and dismounted and is easy to catch, she will come up to you in the paddock to be haltered. She is good to tie up, rug, tack up and wash. She picks her feet up nicely and is great for the farrier. She's been spelling for the last few months while I deal with other things and I've done pretty much everything I can do for her. While she isn't going to be suitable for me, she will make a great horse for someone else. Pick up location:Bangholm VIC PLEASE NOTE : Andrew Wilson & Co only acts as an agent between the vendor and buyer and as such can give no advice as to the suitability or compatibility of the horses on offer in our auction. Andrew Wilson & Co can’t provide warranty or guarantee to the information provided by the vendors, and all lots are sold as is where is, therefore we strongly recommend you conduct your own due diligence before bidding