Regie has a long stride and can cover ground w/an easy lope. We've had her in the arena around the barrels and poles and she did well. We did not run her at speed - we did let her lope between the barrels but she trotted around them. We weren't 'patterning' her, we were just letting her get a taste of being out in the arena.
We've had her on several trail rides, both on road and off road. She does better on the off road rides - not too sure about all those cars whooping past while riding on the road. She didn't misbehave... she just didn't fill me w/confidence so I got off and led her during the road portion. :-) She has kicked another horse who came up behind her and bumped into her. She was reprimanded but I think she blamed it on that other horse rather than thinking it was a correction for improper behavior on her part. (silly girl) She hasn't offered to kick again but she would need to be watched in close quarters.
She is gentle to handle and good for trimming and vetting. She goes well on all terrain barefoot. She still wants to move around too much for my taste while being saddled and will stand still for mounting but you have to remind her to do so. She stands right at 14.3h right now but should mature around 15.0 - 15.1h.
You might notice in the pictures she has a long back, both her parents were long-backed. Long backs = weak backs, or so I've heard. I have found that long backs = smooth rides. :-) If not ridden too hard too soon, and if a horse is taught to carry themselves correctly, a long back is not a weakness and can actually be a strength. She should also fill out a good bit more through the chest and shoulders. Her sire was VERY wide. sylvia
