- Skills / Disciplines
- Beginner, Husband Safe, Kid Safe, Parade, Ranch, Ranch Versatility, Ranch Work, Ridden Western, Roping, Schoolmaster, Trail, Trail Riding, Western Riding, Working Cattle, Youth
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Some horses come through your program and leave an impression. Others become part of its story. Turtle is one of those horses.
In 2021, I hand-selected Turtle for my program because I knew exactly what he was the moment I swung a leg over him: an old soul, a true best friend, and the kind of horse that makes everyone around him feel a little more confident.
His name suits him perfectly.... (read more) Turtle takes his time, thinks things through, and never seems to see a reason to hurry. He is steady, forgiving, uncomplicated, and kind—the kind of horse you can trust to show up the same way, every single time.
Turtle is the epitome of a seasoned ranch gelding. He is thick-boned, substantial, and built with the kind of substance you want in a horse that has spent a lifetime going to work. He has an exceptionally quiet mind and the work ethic to go about his job with poise and purpose.
His résumé speaks for itself: accomplished head horse, ranch using horse, trail horse, and trusted guest horse.
He spent time on a New Mexico cattle ranch, where he became accustomed to rugged country, ranch chores, doctoring cattle, dragging to the branding pit, and even helping sack out and start colts. In his younger years, he was also a little boy’s horse and trusted compadre—the kind of horse that quietly earns a place in a family’s memories.
On the ground, Turtle has impeccable manners. Under saddle, he is straightforward, uncomplicated, and steady. He has a rocking-chair lope, punchy neck rein, good stop and back, picks up his leads, works a gate, and possesses all the practical qualities you want in a true working ranch horse.
More importantly, he is forgiving and kind.
He has been ridden by kids, safely carried older riders, and is equally comfortable and handy underneath an experienced rider.
Turtle will ride alone or in a group, through water, over bridges, across rough terrain, and through whatever obstacles the trail happens to offer. He does not care if he falls to the back of the pack, but he is perfectly willing to step up and lead when asked. He is never in a hurry, but he will move out when you ask him to.
He is also an exceptional babysitter for younger or greener horses. His confidence simply does not waver, and he has the experience to quietly teach another horse that there is nothing to be worried about.
Turtle has always been the horse we reach for when guests come to town. He is the first one pulled out of the paddock because we know he will take care of whoever is sitting on his back. He rides in traffic and has remained quiet and sensible even when a train came blaring by.
Very little seems to bother him. He simply goes about his business and does his job like the seasoned horse he is.
And that is perhaps Turtle’s greatest quality: he is dependable.
Ride him once a week or once a month, and he comes out the same horse. He has no buck, rear, bite, kick, bolt, buddy-sour, or gate-sour tendencies. He loads, stands quietly in the cross ties, is easy to catch, and genuinely enjoys the simple things—cookies, shoulder scratches, and a good grooming session. He is even learning to smile for treats.
Turtle has recently returned to our program after five years with the same owner, and his story is the reason this particular sale means so much to me.
He originally sold from my program in 2021, finding a wonderful home with a repeat client within just 12 hours of being listed. For the years that followed, he was exactly what we had always known him to be: a reliable recreational trail, pleasure, and check-fence ranch horse for an older gentleman.
He was loved, trusted, and simply continued being the same good old Turtle everyone knew.
Sadly, his owner is now facing terminal cancer. When we were notified of his circumstances, we immediately asked that Turtle be allowed to return to our program so we could find him another forever home.
He has been back with us for approximately 45–60 days, and we have been taking care of everything necessary to get this old gentleman feeling his best again. His feet, Coggins, chiropractic care, teeth, and routine maintenance are all current.
At 18 years old, Turtle is entering his senior years, and I want to be exceptionally transparent about what that means for his next home.
His recent dental examination revealed an aging mouth with very limited back teeth. Because of this, he is no longer able to properly masticate a round bale of coastal hay and will require an alfalfa-based diet along with soaked senior feed.
When he returned to us, he had not been ridden in well over a year—possibly closer to two—due to his owner’s declining health. Understandably, he had some freshness to work through when we first started bringing him back into a program and did a little frogging around on the lunge line.
But the moment we stepped into the stirrup, Turtle was honest.
He has continued to be honest, willing, and dependable as we have gradually brought him back into shape.
Because he is currently in full-time work with us and rebuilding his fitness, he has also been maintained on daily Equioxx. For someone purchasing him for occasional light riding, this may not be necessary, but it is currently part of his program while he is being conditioned.
He is pigeon-toed conformationally as well, which does not hinder his work or performance.
At 18, Turtle is no antique. He still has plenty of good years ahead of him with someone who understands the needs of a senior horse and is willing to give him the care he deserves.
Aside from his dietary requirements due to his aging teeth, he has no other known health or soundness issues.
I am not looking for someone who simply wants a cheap trail horse. I am looking for someone who understands the value of a seasoned, well-broke gelding that has had over a decade of ranch experience and trail miles put under his belt.
He deserves a home where he can spend the rest of his life being exactly what he has always been—a trusted companion, steady trail partner, seasoned ranch horse, and the kind of horse who takes care of his person.
For that reason, I have a strong preference for a lifelong equestrian who understands senior horses and is prepared to give Turtle the quality of life he deserves. I could especially see him being a wonderful fit for an older gentleman or lady looking for a trustworthy, seasoned partner to enjoy trails, ranch life, and the simple pleasures of owning a good horse.
I will require the next owner to keep me updated on Turtle throughout his life. And should the day ever come when he needs to retire, Turtle will always have a home here.
I never want to see a horse passed from home to home or end up at a sale simply because he has grown older. He has earned better than that.
He has taken care of countless riders through my program, carried an older gentleman faithfully for years, and proven time and time again that he is the kind of horse people hope to find but rarely do.
There is something special about a horse who has spent a lifetime being the dependable one—the horse everyone reaches for, the horse you trust with your guests, your kids, your greener horses, and your family.
Horses with this kind of résumé, temperament, experience, and heart are worth their weight in gold.
For those who would like to truly get to know Turtle before making the trip, I have a collection of videos from 2021, when he was originally in my program, as well as current videos from his return to us available to view on my website.
Being able to watch him then and now gives prospective buyers a unique opportunity to see the consistency in this horse—his way of going, his temperament, and the same dependable Turtle that we have always known and loved.
Turtle is AQHA registered, although he is selling grade because his registration papers were lost during a divorce. His exact birthdate and breeding are known; I simply do not have the original papers in hand.
He is currently located in Terrell, Texas. We would love to see him remain local, if possible, but nationwide shipping can be arranged for the right home.
Turtle is not looking for just another owner.
He is looking for his forever person. ❤️
Terrell, TX | Shipping Available Nationwide
