Highland Dancer

Introduction: Barbara is an absolute delight to ride, handle and compete. She was purpose bred by her owners, for her owner’s daughters, and she is now very sadly outgrown. Barbara was meticulously bred, broken in, prepared, competed, and trained with guidance from some of Australia's  finest coaches. She has excelled and progressed beautifully as an exceptional smaller performance horse and she presents a wonderful opportunity for a buyer to purchase a young, sound, sane and rideable horse which will succeed at the top levels of the sport. 

Bloodlines: Barbara was undoubtedly bred in the purple - sired by Noble Dancer. There are few ponies that move with the kind of elegance, rhythm and elasticity that he does! Noble Dancer epitomises the dressage pony and also shows amazing talent over jumps! Perfect rideability and attitude to work reflect his faultless character. Noble Dancer is, seen by many to be, the ideal sire to produce Dressage and Performance Ponies.

Barbara is out of Sunday Grace, a lovely thoroughbred mare who has given her a little bit of height and increased athleticism. 

Conformation: Barbara is a wonderful example of the modern performance horse - compact, athletic and refined. 

Education, riding and experience: Barbara is well established to elementary level on the flat. She has a snaffle mouth, willingly collects and is light and soft in the contact. Barbara has automatic flying changes and laterals. She is schooling the medium movements of half pass and extended trot. Barbara is ‘built’ for dressage and her paces display elasticity, power and activity suitable to progress up the levels.

Barbara has competed successfully to 90-100 with experienced riders. She is an exceptional jumper - willing and responsive as well as competitive against the clock. Barbara is extremely careful and, as such, would be best suited to an experienced family to solidify her 'junior' proof jumping, if competing over 90cm. She has had placings at 1m with a 15 year old though guided and ridden by an experienced adult as well.

Barbara is an absolute family favourite and has been ridden by the children, under guidance, since they were four years old. This variety of riders, as well as her natural kind temperament, has made her tolerant of rider mistakes and always aiming to please.

Barbara is currently in work and competing. 

Handling: Barbara is generally very patient and well mannered on the ground to rug, wash, shoe etc. She is very easy to travel in either a float or truck and self loads onto the float. 

Behaviour: Barbara has traveled all over Victoria and NSW. She is happy in big city environments as well as being stabled in basic ag show situations with fireworks every night. She travels well - loads and unloads without fuss and eats and drinks well when away from home.  

Barbara is sensible and reliable to ride and handle. She does not have any vices and is not at all ‘marey’. Barbara enjoys socialising with other horses and is fun to have around. 

Barbara’s only quirks are that she can sometimes be a bit nippy which is easily managed with a simple voice command. She can be somewhat horse shy in a warm up - only when big horses are cantering directly towards her. She just moves slowly sideways. This does not happen at all even in a busy dressage warm up. 

Feeding and management: Barbara does not have any special feeding or management requirements. Barbara is happy to be stabled, yarded or paddocked on her own or in a herd situation.

Medical history: Barbara does not have any medical issues. She is injury free and issue free.

Rider Suitability: Barbara would suit a competitive junior or smaller adult rider who is looking for a straightforward and competitive horse to move up the levels. 

Reason for sale: Barbara is for sale due to being very sadly outgrown.